World Series Game 1: Brewers Hold Off Rays 3-2 After Replay Reversal; Game 2 Tonight
The Milwaukee Brewers won World Series Game 1, 3-2, over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night at American Family Field, surviving a ninth-inning scare that included a game-ending double play being overturned on replay. Milwaukee leads the best-of-seven series 1-0, with Game 2 set for 8 p.m. ET tonight in Milwaukee. Whoever wins, the 2026 World Series will crown a first-time champion.
World Series Game 1: What Happened
The Brewers struck in the first inning against Rays starter Nick Martinez. Jackson Chourio led off with a single on the first pitch, Christian Yelich followed with an RBI triple, and William Contreras singled Yelich home for a 2-0 lead, according to Yahoo Sports’ live coverage.
Tampa Bay got a run back off Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski after a Junior Caminero double, making it 2-1. In the seventh, Chourio again swung at the first pitch, lining an opposite-field RBI single off reliever Kevin Kelly that scored Cooper Pratt from second for a 3-1 lead.
The ninth-inning scare
The Rays loaded the bases with one out in the ninth against closer Trevor Megill. Milwaukee appeared to end the game on a 4-6-3 double play, and fireworks went off inside the ballpark. But the MLB Replay Center overturned the call because Pratt’s right foot was slightly off second base. A run scored to make it 3-2, and Megill then struck out Jonny DeLuca swinging on a 2-2 pitch to end the game.
Key Stats From Game 1
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final score | Brewers 3, Rays 2 (Milwaukee leads series 1-0) |
| Brewers starter | Jacob Misiorowski: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 78 pitches |
| Rays starter | Nick Martinez: 5 IP, 2 R (both in the first inning) |
| Save | Trevor Megill (his fifth of the postseason, per FOX Sports) |
| Chourio | 2-for-4, RBI single in the seventh |
| Rays with runners in scoring position | 0-for-6 |
| Fastest pitch | Misiorowski’s first pitch: 103.5 mph |
Sources: FOX Sports, Associated Press via Yahoo Sports. Full box score: ESPN.
A record-setting first pitch
Misiorowski’s first pitch of the series was clocked at 103.5 mph, the fastest pitch thrown in a World Series since pitch tracking began in 2008, according to FOX Sports. It topped Aroldis Chapman’s 103.2 mph from the 2016 World Series. The Brewers have won all three of Misiorowski’s starts this October.
A costly baserunning out
With Tampa Bay trailing 2-1 and two outs in the fifth, Rays right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. was thrown out trying to steal third by Contreras, ending the inning with Yandy Díaz at the plate. Díaz hit .370 with runners in scoring position this season, the best mark in the majors, per FOX Sports. Rays manager Kevin Cash said the team would not abandon its aggressive approach.
What They Said
- Trevor Megill (Brewers closer): “It’s good to get the first win out of the way.” (AP)
- Kevin Cash (Rays manager): “This is an extremely confident group.” (AP)
- Jackson Chourio (Brewers outfielder): said “it’s important to start with a good foot ahead.” (FOX Sports)
Why the 2026 World Series Matters to Fans
This is the first World Series between two franchises without a title since the 1980 Phillies beat the Royals. Both clubs are among the five MLB teams that have never won a championship, along with the Rockies, Padres and Mariners, the AP noted.
- Brewers: 103-59 in the regular season, a franchise record and the majors’ best record for a second straight year. They beat the Padres in four games in the NLDS and swept the Dodgers in the NLCS, where Jake Bauers was named MVP. Milwaukee’s only previous World Series was in 1982, when it lost to the Cardinals in seven games as an American League team (MLB.com).
- Rays: 98-64 and the AL’s top seed. After a first-round bye, they swept the Yankees in the ALDS and beat the Guardians in six games in the ALCS, with Freddy Peralta named ALCS MVP. Tampa Bay lost the 2008 World Series to the Phillies and the 2020 World Series to the Dodgers (MLB.com).
Historically, the Game 1 winner has gone on to win the World Series 62.8% of the time, according to the AP. That is a historical rate, not a forecast.
What Comes Next: World Series Game 2 and Schedule
Game 2 is tonight, Saturday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m. ET at American Family Field. The listed starters are Drew Rasmussen for Tampa Bay (16-5, 2.67 ERA in the regular season; 2-0, 1.29 ERA this postseason) and Logan Henderson for Milwaukee (11-3, 2.47 ERA; 3.00 ERA in two postseason starts), per the AP and FOX Sports.
| Game | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Fri., Oct. 23 | Rays at Brewers — MIL 3, TB 2 | Final |
| Game 2 | Sat., Oct. 24 | Rays at Brewers | 8 p.m. |
| Game 3 | Mon., Oct. 26 | Brewers at Rays | 8 p.m. |
| Game 4 | Tue., Oct. 27 | Brewers at Rays | 8 p.m. |
| Game 5* | Wed., Oct. 28 | Brewers at Rays | 8 p.m. |
| Game 6* | Fri., Oct. 30 | Rays at Brewers | 8 p.m. |
| Game 7* | Sat., Oct. 31 | Rays at Brewers | 8 p.m. |
*If necessary. All games air on FOX and FOX Deportes and stream on FOX One. Schedule source: MLB.com. Tampa Bay’s home games are listed at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, where the Rays returned in 2026 after hurricane repairs.
More Vanderbilt Report Sports Coverage
- ALDS Game 5: White Sox vs. Guardians Winner-Take-All Preview
- MLB Division Series Begin: Game 1 Schedule, Starters and What to Know
- MLB Final Weekend: Historic AL West Race and the Wild Card Chase
- Week in Review (Oct. 19–23, 2026)
Verified facts in this article are drawn from MLB.com, FOX Sports, ESPN and Associated Press reporting. Quotes are attributed to the speakers as reported. Historical percentages describe past results and are not predictions.
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