57-Year Wait Ends: Brewers Beat Rays 4-1 in Game 5 for First World Series Title in Franchise History
The Milwaukee Brewers won the first World Series title in franchise history on Wednesday night in St. Petersburg, Florida, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 to complete a four-games-to-one series victory and end a 57-year wait for baseball's biggest prize.
The Brewers arrived in Milwaukee in 1970 after one season as the Seattle Pilots. They had reached the World Series only once before, losing in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982. It took them 44 years to get back to the Fall Classic.
The pitching hero was Jacob Misiorowski, who threw five and two-thirds scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out two, before departing following an injury delay in the sixth inning.
Tampa Bay's best early opportunity came in the fourth inning, when Liam Hicks was hit by a pitch and Chandler Simpson singled, with Sal Frelick's fielding error leaving runners at second and third with two outs. Misiorowski induced a groundout from Ben Williamson to leave both runners stranded, then retired the Rays in order in the fifth.
Rookie Cooper Pratt drove in two runs. In the second inning Brice Turang doubled, Frelick was hit by a pitch, and Pratt's single to center scored Turang. Pratt was caught trying to reach second, but the Brewers had the lead.
Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen, pitching on three days' rest, kept the deficit at one through four innings before manager Kevin Cash turned to his bullpen. Milwaukee immediately added another run: Pratt singled off Kevin Kelly, Garrett Mitchell followed with another single, and David Hamilton's ground-ball single to right brought Pratt home for a 2-0 advantage.
The Brewers widened the gap in the sixth. Christian Yelich was hit by a Garrett Cleavinger pitch and scored on William Contreras's double to left. Turang singled and stole second, and Pratt's sacrifice fly into foul territory in right scored Contreras to make it 4-0.
The Rays threatened with two outs in the ninth. Liam Hicks doubled, Jonny DeLuca struck out, and Chandler Simpson lined an RBI double to right off Trevor Megill, cutting the lead to 4-1. But Megill induced a groundout from Richie Palacios — to second baseman Turang, who threw to Jake Bauers — to seal the title.
After the win, Yelich said: 'I know the city's waited a long, long time for this and we're so happy to bring it home to them. Can't wait to get back there and celebrate.'
Misiorowski said: 'I don't even have words. I know they're going crazy in Milwaukee.' Asked about the fans' support, he added: 'Damn it, I'm getting emotional.'
The championship capped a season in which Milwaukee posted a major league-best 103-59 record before winning the National League pennant for the first time.
For manager Pat Murphy, it was the crowning achievement of his third season in charge. The 67-year-old, previously Craig Counsell's bench coach, had already won consecutive National League Manager of the Year awards.
The Brewers won the first three games of the series — 3-2 in the opener, 5-4 in Game 2 after coming back from four runs down, and 10-1 in Game 3. On Tuesday they were three outs from a sweep before surrendering a 12th-inning lead and losing Game 4, 4-3; on Wednesday they did not let the chance slip.
Tampa Bay, who won an American League-best 98 games, suffered their third World Series defeat, following losses in 2008 and 2020. The matchup guaranteed a first-time champion, the first such World Series since Philadelphia faced Kansas City in 1980. Still seeking a first title are the Rays, the Colorado Rockies, the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners.
Amid the celebrations, Yelich remembered beloved Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker, who died last year aged 90. 'He's smiling, man. He's smiling. I really wish he could have been here to see this,' he said. 'This one's still for Bob.'
