Milwaukee claims first World Series title after 57 years

The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in game five of the World Series in Florida on Wednesday to secure the franchise's first championship in its 57-year history. The victory completed a 4-1 result in the best-of-seven Fall Classic.

Milwaukee's only previous World Series appearance came in 1982, and the franchise entered Major League Baseball in 1969 as the Seattle Pilots before moving to Milwaukee after one season. The club is based in MLB's smallest market and finished this year with the 19th highest payroll among 30 teams, while for a second consecutive season it recorded the regular-season best record in the major leagues.

In the playoffs the Brewers swept the two-time defending champions, avenging last season's National League Championship Series defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers and securing a place in the 123rd World Series. That run set up the postseason finale against the American League's top-seeded Rays.

Milwaukee catcher William Contreras was named World Series most valuable player; the 28-year-old became the eighth catcher to win the award and the third Venezuelan recipient. Contreras and teammates Jackson Chourio and Antonio Senzatela also helped Venezuela win the World Baseball Classic in March.

The Brewers took the first two games in Wisconsin and won the opening game in Florida before the Rays, the American League's top seed, forced a deciding fifth game. Milwaukee then closed out the series in game five in Florida to clinch the title.

Scoring in the clincher began in the top of the second when a Cooper Pratt single sent Brice Turang home, and Milwaukee added a run in the fifth on a hit by David Hamilton. The Brewers extended the lead in their next at-bat with a double from Contreras followed by a sacrifice fly from Pratt. Milwaukee starter Jacob Misiorowski left the game in the sixth inning, and Tampa Bay reached the scoreboard in the ninth when Chandler Simpson's double sent Liam Hicks home.

The series opener included the fastest pitch in World Series history.

Milwaukee finished the postseason with 11 wins from 13 games and, by prevailing 4-1 in the World Series, became Major League Baseball champions for the first time in the franchise's 57-year existence.