Brewers End 44 Year Drought With Game 5 Win Over Rays
Milwaukee's 4-1 victory caps a series defined by small ball and marks the franchise's first title since the Seattle Pilots era.
By Rosa Wojcik ·
Ordinary fans in Milwaukee gained a long overdue trophy on Wednesday night after the Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-1, in Game 5 of the World Series. The win at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, ended a 44 year championship drought for the franchise and secured its first major league title since moving from Seattle in 1970. Thousands of supporters packed the stadium to witness the final out, which occurred when closer Trevor Megill retired Richie Palacios on a grounder.
The victory was anchored by the performance of 22 year old rookie Cooper Pratt, who reached base in all five of his at bats. Pratt recorded two hits and two runs batted in, extending a Series rookie record with six consecutive hits before a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. World Series MVP William Contreras also contributed with an RBI double. The team’s pitching staff limited the Rays to just one run, with Jacob Misiorowski throwing 5.6 scoreless innings before leaving due to a calf cramp.
Manager Pat Murphy credited the team’s unity for the outcome. Murphy, who won National League Manager of the Year awards in 2024 and 2025, noted that the 2026 group cared more about collective success than individual statistics. "This group of guys right here, the 2026 team, will be remembered forever and they deserve that because they were a team," Murphy said. He emphasized that the players were not worried about their own stats but focused on coming together to win.
The series highlighted the financial disparity between the two clubs. The Brewers, who led the majors with 103 regular season wins, ranked 19th in payroll as of August 31. The Rays, an expansion team that debuted in 1998, ranked 25th. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the teams combined for only four home runs in the entire series. This approach to the game occurred while baseball owners push for a salary cap, a move they argue is necessary for small market teams to compete. A management lockout is currently projected to begin on December 2.
The Rays now hold a 0-3 record in World Series history. They join the Brooklyn Dodgers and Detroit Tigers as the only other clubs to lose their first three postseason appearances. Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash described his team as close knit and grateful for the way they carried themselves despite the loss. The Brewers, who went 11-2 in the postseason, will return to Milwaukee for a celebration that includes a parade.
The result concludes the 2026 World Series. The Brewers finished the series with a 4-1 record in games, having come back from a three game deficit. This marks the first time since 1991 that two teams from the bottom half of the payroll rankings met in the championship game.
