Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Sal Frelick whipped his wrists through the zone and splintered a fastball over the center field fence for a near-earthquake-triggering. game-tying home run, guiding a thrilling Milwaukee Brewers rally past the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday in Milwaukee.
The Brewers, who trailed 4-0 in the first inning, leaned on a dominant bullpen as their bats warmed throughout the 5-4 victory at American Field Field. With their seventh comeback win this postseason, they moved within two victories of their first World Series crown.
"Regardless of if we are down or up, that chip-away mentality is just how our offense is designed," Frelick said on the Fox broadcast.
Each team packed the base paths with early traffic, but the Rays capitalized most off that live lumber.
Left fielder Chandler Simpson drove in designated hitter Yandy Diaz for Game 2's first run in the first inning. Third baseman Junior Caminero plated Simpson with a single in the next at-bat. Catcher Liam Hicks followed with a 411-foot, two-run homer to give the Rays a lead they kept until the sixth inning.
But the early electricity shorted, as Brewers pitchers did not allow another run.
The Brewers cut the deficit in half through RBI singles from catcher William Contreras and center fielder Garrett Mitchell off Rays ace Drew Rasmussen in the bottom of the first frame. Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt scored a third Brewers run off a fielding error in the fourth.
Frelick tied the score when he led off the bottom of the sixth with his 408-foot solo shot off relief pitcher Ian Seymour. Pratt returned for his go-ahead RBI single in the seventh off Tyler Wells.
Bullpen arms JoJo Romero, Dustin May, DL Hall, Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby combined to allow just four hits and no runs over the final six innings.
"As long as there's game left, we have a chance," Pratt said. "I think we've all bought into that."
The Rays threatened with a final base runner in the top of the ninth, but Ashby cemented the triumph with a game-ending strikeout of Diaz.
"It was just about making pitches," Ashby said.
Brewers right-handed pitcher Logan Henderson allowed three hits and four runs, including three earned, over the first three frames. Rasmussen allowed six hits and three runs over 3 2/3 innings.
Frelick, Contreras and left fielder Jackson Chourio collected two hits apiece for the Brewers. Center fielder Jonny DeLuca, who went 2 for 4, was the only Rays player to log more than one hit.
The Rays (0-2) will host the Brewers (2-0) in Game 3 of the best-of-seven game series at 8 p.m. EDT Monday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.. They will host Game 4 at the same time there Tuesday.