The Milwaukee Brewers escaped a dramatic ninth-inning jam Friday night at American Family Field, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in Game 1 of the 2026 World Series to seize a 1-0 series lead.
Christian Yelich sparked an early two-run first-inning rally with an RBI triple, Jacob Misiorowski delivered five solid innings, and closer Trevor Megill struck out Jonny DeLuca with runners on second and third to secure the victory after an overturned double play briefly gave the Rays life.
The sellout crowd, celebrating Milwaukee’s first World Series game since 1982, was treated to an instant classic. Jackson Chourio led off the bottom of the first with a single off Rays starter Nick Martinez. Yelich, in his first career World Series plate appearance, followed with a line drive that glanced off a diving DeLuca in center, scoring Chourio and allowing Yelich to reach third. William Contreras then lined a single to left to bring Yelich home, staking the Brewers to a 2-0 lead.
Misiorowski, the hard-throwing NL Cy Young contender, opened the game by setting a World Series record with a 103.5-mph fastball to Yandy Díaz. He allowed one run on four hits and a walk while striking out three over five innings to earn the win. The Rays answered in the fourth when Junior Caminero ripped a 112.7-mph double and Jonathan Aranda scored on a Liam Hicks groundout to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Milwaukee added crucial insurance in the seventh. Cooper Pratt walked, advanced to second, and scored on Chourio’s RBI single off Kevin Kelly, making it 3-1. Contreras, who also threw out two Rays baserunners attempting to steal, helped keep Tampa Bay in check through the middle innings.
The game turned chaotic in the ninth. Megill loaded the bases with one out before Hicks grounded into what appeared to be a game-ending 4-6-3 double play. Fireworks went off and Brewers players began celebrating, only for replay to overturn the call at second base—Cooper Pratt’s foot had come off the bag. A run scored, tying the game at 3-2 with runners on second and third. Megill recovered to strike out DeLuca swinging, ending the threat and sealing the win.
“You have a big range of emotions,” Yelich said. “It’s a big credit to Trev for locking back in right there and making some huge pitches.”
Martinez took the loss after allowing two runs on five hits over five innings. The series continues Saturday night in Milwaukee with Game 2. Both clubs are seeking their first World Series title.
