Brewers hold off Rays after ninth-inning replay reversal to win World Series Game 1

Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in Game 1 of the World Series in Milwaukee on Fri 23 Oct, with Trevor Megill striking out Jonny DeLuca with runners on second and third to end a chaotic ninth-inning sequence after a replay overturn. The victory came after a video review erased what had been ruled a game-ending double play and set up Megill’s game-ending strikeout.

Christian Yelich’s run-scoring triple in the first inning keyed a two-run rally that provided the margin, and Jacob Misiorowski allowed one run and four hits over five innings to earn the win. The game was played before a sellout crowd in Milwaukee’s first World Series game since 1982. Milwaukee had swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series and used the extra days to set its rotation, handing the Game 1 start to Misiorowski, the hard-throwing NL Cy Young Award favorite.

Tampa Bay’s ninth began with Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson hitting consecutive one-out singles off Megill, and a double steal — involving pinch-runner Jorge Mateo and Simpson — put a potential tying run in scoring position with Junior Caminero batting. Caminero walked on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt to load the bases, and Liam Hicks then hit a grounder to the right side that Brice Turang fielded and threw to Cooper Pratt for what was initially ruled a game-ending double play. After fireworks and celebrations, a replay review showed Pratt’s right foot came off the bag as he caught the throw; Hicks remained out at first but the overturn left runners at second and third and the score 3-2. “I thought Coop had him, and obviously I was wrong,” Misiorowski said.

Yelich’s one-out triple in the first came on the second pitch of the game after Jackson Chourio’s leadoff single to right on Nick Martinez’s first offering, and DeLuca covered 85ft to track down Yelich’s drive before the ball glanced off his glove on a near-diving attempt. William Contreras and Chourio each finished with two hits; Contreras delivered an RBI single that scored Yelich and threw out two runners attempting to steal. Yelich was batting third for the first time since 3 August and, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, became the seventh player to triple in his first World Series plate appearance and the first since Lynn Jones in 1985.

Tampa Bay’s lone run before the ninth came in the fourth after Aranda drew a leadoff walk and Junior Caminero doubled on a one-out liner with a 112.7mph exit velocity that sailed over Garrett Mitchell and off his outstretched glove; Aranda scored on Liam Hicks’ groundout to the right. Milwaukee added an insurance run in the seventh when Cooper Pratt drew a leadoff walk from Steven Matz and scored from second on Chourio’s two-out single off Kevin Kelly. “The guys settled in right away and did a great job,” Yelich said. “We still have a ways to go, but it’s nice to get that first one.”

Misiorowski opened the game by throwing the fastest pitch ever recorded in a World Series, a 103.5mph ball to Yandy Díaz, and finished with a season-low three strikeouts. Nick Martinez struck out five and allowed two runs over five innings for Tampa Bay. After the replay overturned the apparent double play, Megill sealed the win when Jonny DeLuca struck out swinging. “You have a big range of emotions,” Milwaukee captain Christian Yelich said. “It’s a big credit to Trev for locking back in right there and making some huge pitches after you have that emotional dump and then have to get back on it.”

All times are US Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Fri 23 Oct Game 1: Milwaukee 3, Tampa Bay 2. Sat 24 Oct Game 2: Tampa Bay at Milwaukee, 8pm (Fox). Mon 26 Oct Game 3: Milwaukee at Tampa Bay, 8pm (Fox). Tue 27 Oct Game 4: Milwaukee at Tampa Bay, 8pm (Fox). Wed 28 Oct Game 5: Milwaukee at Tampa Bay, 8pm* (Fox). Fri 30 Oct Game 6: Tampa Bay at Milwaukee, 8pm* (Fox). Sat 31 Oct Game 7: Tampa Bay at Milwaukee, 8pm* (Fox). In the US, all World Series games will air on Fox and Fox Deportes, with streaming available through Fox One. In the UK, the series will be carried by TNT Sports. In Australia, fans can watch on ESPN, with streaming available through Disney+ and Kayo Sports.

The series is a best-of-seven; Game 2 is scheduled for Sat 24 Oct at 8pm ET in Milwaukee on Fox.