Milwaukee celebrated twice on Friday night, and only the second one counted. The Brewers edged the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 to open baseball’s championship series, but not before a video review wiped out what looked like the final out. Milwaukee had not staged a Fall Classic game since 1982, and the noise under the closed roof of American Family Field matched the occasion; some fans had set up their tailgates by mid-morning.
Milwaukee struck right away. Jackson Chourio singled to open the first inning, and Christian Yelich, appearing on this stage for the first time after a long career, lined a triple past a diving centre fielder to bring him in. William Contreras then drove Yelich home for a 2-0 lead. Starter Jacob Misiorowski, whose earlier playoff outings had raised doubts, lasted five innings and allowed one run, which followed a scorching double by Junior Caminero. Nobody had ever opened a Fall Classic game with a faster pitch than his 103.5 mph fastball.
Contreras was the quiet star. The catcher threw out two Rays runners trying to advance, killing rallies in the fifth and sixth. In the seventh, a Chourio single pushed the lead to two. Then came the ninth: Tampa Bay loaded the bases against closer Trevor Megill, and an apparent game-ending double play set off fireworks and a Springsteen anthem blaring through the ballpark.
The Rays challenged. Replays showed shortstop Cooper Pratt’s foot had slipped off second base by a fraction, so a run scored and the inning resumed. Megill composed himself and fanned Jonny DeLuca to close it out properly. Manager Pat Murphy praised him for staying calm and keeping his focus on the mound while the review dragged on. Milwaukee now lead the best-of-seven series 1-0, with Game 2 also at home.
