Brewers one step closer to World Series glory after Game 1 thriller originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Milwaukee Brewers moved one step closer to their first World Series championship Friday night, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in Game 1 at American Family Field.
Milwaukee wasted little time establishing momentum, scoring twice in the opening inning before holding off a late Tampa Bay rally to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Christian Yelich delivered an RBI triple that scored Jackson Chourio, giving the Brewers an early advantage. William Contreras followed with a run-scoring single, extending Milwaukee's lead to 2-0 against Rays starter Nick Martinez.
However, the biggest storyline belonged to Brewers rookie pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, who made World Series history with his remarkable fastball.
The 24-year-old right-hander threw a 103.5 mph pitch to Yandy Díaz, establishing a new World Series velocity record. Misiorowski surpassed Aroldis Chapman's previous mark of 103.2 mph, set in 2016.
Misiorowski allowed just one run across five innings while striking out three batters. His performance provided Milwaukee with the pitching stability needed to protect its early advantage.
Tampa Bay finally broke through in the fourth inning when Liam Hicks delivered an RBI groundout, scoring Jonathan Aranda and cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Brewers take game 1
The Brewers added an important insurance run in the seventh inning, pushing their lead back to two runs.
Tampa Bay refused to surrender, scoring once in the ninth inning to make things interesting. However, Milwaukee closer Trevor Megill secured the final outs, preserving the victory and earning the save.
For the Brewers, the victory represents another significant moment in a remarkable postseason run. Milwaukee entered the World Series after sweeping the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
The Rays, meanwhile, must regroup after falling short despite keeping the game competitive.
Game 2 will take place Saturday in Milwaukee, where the Brewers will attempt to build a commanding 2-0 series advantage before the championship shifts to Tampa Bay.
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