The Milwaukee Brewers survived one of the wildest ninth innings in World Series history, holding off the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in Game 1 on Friday night at American Family Field in front of 43,250 screaming fans.
Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski set the tone from the very first pitch — a 103.5 mph fastball, the fastest pitch in World Series history. The 24-year-old allowed one run on four hits over five innings (78 pitches), striking out three, and became the youngest pitcher since 1997 to win Game 1 of the World Series.
World Series Game 1: Brewers Score Early, Misiorowski Dominates
The Brewers wasted no time against Rays starter Nick Martinez, who got the nod when ace Drew Rasmussen was pushed back to Game 2 for extra rest. Jackson Chourio singled on the first pitch and scored on Christian Yelich‘s one-out triple off the glove of Jonny DeLuca’s diving catch attempt. William Contreras followed with an RBI single to left, and it was 2-0 before most fans had found their seats.
The Rays chipped back in the fourth on Liam Hicks’ groundout that plated Jonathan Aranda. Chourio’s RBI single in the seventh restored the two-run cushion, and Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby combined for three scoreless innings, striking out five.
World Series Game 1 Ninth Inning: The Overturned Double Play
Closer Trevor Megill entered the ninth and immediately ran into trouble, giving up consecutive one-out singles to Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson. Pinch runner Jorge Mateo and Simpson executed a double steal, and Junior Caminero walked to load the bases with one out.
Then came the chaos. Liam Hicks appeared to bounce into a game-ending double play — the fireworks went off, the party started. But the Rays challenged, and after a lengthy review, it was ruled that shortstop Cooper Pratt had come off the bag at second before firing to first. Caminero was safe at second, Mateo scored, and suddenly it was 3-2 with the tying and go-ahead runs on base.
Megill regrouped, struck out Jonny DeLuca with smoke from the premature fireworks hanging in the air, and sealed his fifth postseason save in five chances. “I thought we won the game,” Yelich admitted postgame. “You have a big range of emotions, and it’s a big credit to Trev for locking back in right there.”
It is Milwaukee’s first World Series win since 1982 — the organization’s only other Fall Classic appearance, a seven-game loss. Game 2 is next in Milwaukee, with the Brewers’ 44-year wait finally behind them.
Trevor Megill closes out Game 1 of the World Series (Credits: USA Today / MLB)
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Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
