Brewers win first World Series title, beat Rays in five games

The Milwaukee Brewers won the first World Series championship in franchise history Wednesday night, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 to take the series four games to one.

Rookie Cooper Pratt drove in two runs, and Jacob Misiorowski pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings at Tropicana Field. The title ended a 57-year wait for a franchise that began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and moved to Milwaukee the following year.

“I know the city’s waited a long, long time for this and we’re so happy to bring it home to them,” Christian Yelich said. “Can’t wait to get back there and celebrate.”

Milwaukee took the lead in the second inning. Brice Turang doubled and scored on Pratt’s single to center after Sal Frelick was hit by a pitch. Pratt added another hit in the fifth, then scored on David Hamilton’s ground-ball single to right to make it 2-0.

The Brewers doubled their lead in the sixth. Yelich was hit by a pitch and scored on William Contreras’s double to left. After Turang singled and stole second, Pratt hit a sacrifice fly into foul territory in right field, bringing Contreras home.

Misiorowski allowed two hits and one walk and struck out two. Tampa Bay threatened in the fourth, putting runners at second and third with two outs, but he got Ben Williamson to ground out. CBS News reported that Misiorowski left the game because of a right calf cramp; Brewers fans behind the Milwaukee dugout gave him a standing ovation.

The Rays scored their only run in the ninth on Chandler Simpson’s RBI double off Trevor Megill. With the score 4-1, Megill got Richie Palacios to ground to second baseman Turang, who threw to Jake Bauers for the final out.

“I don’t even have words,” Misiorowski said. “I know they’re going crazy in Milwaukee.” Asked about the fans’ support, he added: “Damn it, I’m getting emotional.”

Pratt, 22, had four hits in Tuesday’s Game 4 loss and two more Wednesday. His six consecutive hits set a World Series rookie record before his sixth-inning sacrifice fly, CBS News reported. The outlet also reported that Jackson Chourio’s 11 hits set a five-game World Series record.

Milwaukee had won the first three games before Tampa Bay rallied for a 12th-inning victory Tuesday to avoid a sweep. The Brewers finished the season with a major league-best 103-59 record and their first National League pennant, according to The Guardian. Their only previous World Series appearance ended in a seven-game loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982.

The Rays, who won an American League-best 98 games, were also seeking their first championship. The Guardian reported that this was their third World Series defeat, following losses in 2008 and 2020.

Yelich also remembered Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker, who died last year at 90. “He’s smiling, man. He’s smiling. I really wish he could have been here to see this,” Yelich said. “This one’s still for Bob and this is still for you.”