The Milwaukee Brewers ended a 44-year drought with a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at American Family Field.
Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and held a 3-1 advantage entering the ninth. Relief pitcher Trevor Megill then faced a bases-loaded threat before securing the final out. The Brewers had not won a World Series game since 1982, when they last reached the Fall Classic.
Friday’s result marked their first victory in the series after a franchise-record 103-win regular season and a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
Starter Jacob Misiorowski worked five innings, allowing one run on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts. He earned the win after leading the majors with a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts during the regular season. His first pitch of the night registered 103.5 mph, the fastest recorded in World Series history.
The Rays scored their run off Misiorowski in the fourth inning. Milwaukee added an insurance run in the seventh on Jackson Chourio’s RBI single to push the lead to 3-1.
Megill entered to start the ninth and immediately allowed consecutive one-out singles to Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson.
After a double steal, he walked Junior Caminero to load the bases with one out. Catcher Liam Hicks then grounded into what appeared to be a game-ending double play. Replay review overturned the call at second base after shortstop Cooper Pratt’s foot came slightly off the bag, allowing a run to score and placing runners at second and third with two outs.
“The rule is you can challenge,” Murphy said after the game. “And they [officials] got it right probably.”
“A lot of time those plays stand during the year, but now I’m sure they have every angle, and they took their time and got it right,” Murphy added. “And Megill kept his composure. We talked about it all the time: when there’s a challenge, do not walk off the mound.”
Megill remained on the mound during the review, then struck out right fielder Jonny DeLuca swinging to end the game. He finished the inning with two hits, one earned run, one walk and one strikeout on 20 pitches for his fifth postseason save in five opportunities.
Entering the game, Megill had not allowed an earned run in 5 2/3 postseason innings. His regular season line included a 2.63 ERA and 30 saves in 61 2/3 innings.
“That’s baseball. You got three more games to play, three more wins [to go],” Megill said. “And we gotta go out there and just keep doing what we’re doing.”
The Brewers used four scoreless innings from the bullpen after Misiorowski’s exit to preserve the lead. Game 1 winners have gone on to capture the World Series 62.8 percent of the time historically.
Milwaukee leads the best-of-seven series 1-0. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday night in Milwaukee.
