Milwaukee (AFP) – Milwaukee captain Christian Yelich tripled in one run and scored another to lead the Brewers over Tampa Bay 3-2 in Friday’s opening game of the 122nd World Series. Yelich did his damage in the first inning, and strong pitching from Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski and relievers frustrated the Rays, who put the tying run on third base in the ninth before Milwaukee secured the victory.
“It feels great. The guys settled in right away and did a great job,” Yelich said. “We’ve still got a ways to go but nice to get that first one.” A sellout crowd for the first World Series game at Milwaukee in 44 years cheered on the Brewers, who host game two Saturday before the best-of-seven Major League Baseball finale shifts to Florida.
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“It was amazing. Just to have the city behind me, it means the world,” Misiorowski said. “We couldn’t ask for anything better.” The 24-year-old American right-hander became the youngest pitcher since 1997 to win a World Series opener. “Not perfect but good enough to get a win,” Misiorowski said of his performance. Each club seeks its first World Series title. The Brewers’ only other appearance was in 1982, while the Rays are in their third World Series after 2008 and 2020. It’s only the second World Series in more than a century featuring two teams that have never captured the crown, the other in 1980 when Philadelphia beat Kansas City.
Misiorowski, known for his fiery fastball, hurled the fastest World Series pitch ever recorded at 103.5 mph (166.5 km/hr) to begin the game. Misiorowski, who went 16-5 with an MLB-best 252 strikeouts and an MLB-best 1.80 earned-run average this season, broke the old mark of 103.2 mph set by Aroldis Chapman of the Chicago Cubs in 2016, eight years after pitch speeds were first recorded. He struck out three and scattered four hits over five innings while allowing only one run to earn the victory.
Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio hit the first offering from Rays starting pitcher Nick Martinez for a leadoff single in the first inning. Chourio scored when designated hitter Yelich smashed a triple off the glove of diving Rays outfielder Jonny DeLuca. “He prepares, he’s a leader and he has helped us a bunch all year,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of Yelich. William Contreras followed with a single to drive in Yelich for a 2-0 Brewers lead.
Tampa Bay’s Jonathan Aranda walked to open the fourth inning, reached third on Junior Caminero’s double to the centerfield wall, and scored on an infield ground out by Liam Hicks to cut the lead in half. Milwaukee added what proved to be the deciding run in the seventh after Cooper Pratt walked, advanced on a ground out, and scored on Chourio’s single to right field.
– Scary finish –
Brewers relief pitchers dominated down the stretch with Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby combining for five strikeouts while allowing only one hit over three innings. But in the ninth, Milwaukee closer Trevor Megill allowed back-to-back singles to Aranda and Chandler Simpson, then pinch-runner Jorge Mateo and Simpson executed a double steal to reach second and third bases. Caminero walked to load the bases, and Hicks appeared to ground into a game-ending double play. Video replay showed an errant throw pulled the fielder’s foot off the bag at second, and Mateo scored with Rays runners on second and third.
With the game on the line, Megill struck out DeLuca to secure the victory. “A big range of emotions,” Yelich said. “Big credit to Trev for locking back in right there, making some huge pitches after you have that emotional dump. Everybody had faith in Trev. It’s the World Series. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. He did a great job.”
© 2024 AFP
