EFE / OLIVIA PARKER
Updated
The Milwaukee Brewers came back from a four-run deficit this Saturday and defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4, a result that extends their lead to 2-0 in the Major League World Series.
With an 11-hit attack and an outstanding performance from its relief pitching, the Milwaukee team put its rival in a difficult situation. If they want to be champions, the Rays will now have to win four of five games, two of them on the road.
Defeated 3-2 this Friday in the opener of the series, Tampa Bay's "Rays" quickly figured out pitcher Logan Henderson and scored four runs in the top of the first inning.
Cuban Yandy Díaz reached second base on an error by shortstop Cooper Pratt; Chandler Simpson and Dominican Junior Caminero each drove in a run with hits, and Liam Hicks drove in two with a home run.
The "Brewers" pulled two back in that very first inning against pitcher Drew Rasmussen, by stringing together singles from Venezuelan Jackson Chourio and Jake Bauers that left them stranded on the corners.
After surviving a bad fielding play by Mexican Jonathan Aranda in foul territory, Venezuelan William Contreras connected on an RBI single and Garret Mitchel drove in the second run with a hit.
From there, the pitchers took over, but the home team took advantage of the visitors' poor defense and in the fourth inning cut the deficit by one run. Cooper Pratt drew a walk, reached third base on a hit by Sal Frelick, and scored on an error by Aranda.
A home run by Frelick tied the game in the sixth inning and set everything up for the Brewers to seal the win with another run in the seventh. Brice Turang hit a double, advanced to third base on a flyout by Mitchell, and scored on a hit by Pratt.
In the ninth inning, the visitors opened with a double by De Lucca, but reliever Aaron Ashby got the Cuban players Víctor Mesa Jr. and Yandi Díaz out, and in between recorded an out against pinch hitter Ben Williamson.
For the Brewers, Frelick went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI; for Tampa, De Lucca went 2-for-4.
The game was won by Dominican reliever Abner Uribe, with one and one-third innings of work in which he allowed no hits, issued one walk and struck out one opponent. Tyler Wells took the loss and Aaron Ashby earned the save.
This Sunday will be a day of rest and the third game will be played on Monday. Robert Gasser will pitch for Milwaukee and Dominican Freddy Peralta for Tampa Bay.