After a Thrilling Opener, Game 2 Tonight: Brewers Eye a 2-0 Lead as the Rays Fight to Level the World Series
Game 2 of the World Series takes place tonight. The Milwaukee Brewers, up 1-0 after winning the opener, are looking to take a commanding lead, while the Tampa Bay Rays face the challenge of fighting back to level the series.
The Brewers' win in Game 1 was not an easy one. At American Family Field in Milwaukee on Friday, October 23, the home side jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one inning — and, though pressed throughout, they never relinquished it.
In the first inning, the Brewers got to the Rays' starter, Nick Martinez. Christian Yelich hit an RBI triple for the first run, then catcher William Contreras hit a single to score the second run for the Brew Crew.
On the mound, Jacob Misiorowski pitched well enough to keep Tampa in check. But the game never felt overly comfortable, as the Rays kept applying pressure.
Tampa scored a run to make it a 2-1 game, but getting within one run was not really enough for the Rays. The Brewers then ran their lead back out to 3-1.
The biggest drama waited in the top of the ninth, the Rays' last chance, when they had the winning run at the plate with one out. The hitter was Junior Caminero, the best hitter for the Rays, with a chance to tie the game or take the lead.
Caminero ended up getting walked. The next hitter grounded into what looked like a game-ending double play, but the call was reversed — the game went one more hitter, and the score became 3-2.
The extra life did not matter for the Rays, as the Brewers closed it out to take the first game of the series.
That Game 1 picture sets the stage for Game 2: the Brewers know they lead, but they also know the Rays do not stop fighting until the final moment.
A win tonight would put the Brewers up 2-0 — a commanding lead. For the Rays, victory would level the series at 1-1 and effectively restart the contest.
In Game 1, the Rays looked like a team that walked in knowing they were unlikely to win, but ready to be happy if it happened to work out. That same mindset could be their biggest weapon in Game 2.
Tonight's game will decide which way the momentum of the series turns — whether the Brewers tighten their grip, or the Rays level matters and turn the World Series into a genuine fight.
