Brewers' Fifth-Inning Surge Puts Rays One Win From Series Elimination
Milwaukee set a World Series record with eight two-out runs in the fifth inning, winning 10-1 to take a 3-0 lead.
By Ethan Cook ·
The Milwaukee Brewers took a 3-0 lead in the World Series on Monday night after routing the Tampa Bay Rays 10-1 at Tropicana Field. The victory puts the Brewers one win away from their first championship in franchise history.
The decisive moment came in the fifth inning, when the Brewers scored eight runs with two outs. This marked a new World Series record for runs scored with two outs in a single inning. The rally turned a tight game into a rout.
Brice Turang initiated the offensive wave with a sharp ground ball that evaded the glove of Rays shortstop Taylor Walls. The play resulted in a two-run single. From that point, the Brewers recorded seven consecutive hits. No home runs were hit during the rally.
Christian Yelich, the team captain, credited Turang for starting the sequence. He noted that Turang worked the count and made the pitch count. The Brewers have outscored the Rays 18-7 in the series while hitting just one home run. This grinding approach mirrors their regular season success, where they finished with a major league high 103 wins.
Jackson Chourio led the Brewers with four hits. William Contreras added three, bringing his postseason total to 18 hits, a franchise record. In the ninth inning, Brandon Woodruff entered the game to secure the final three outs. Woodruff, 33, made his first appearance since injuring his shoulder in early July.
Rookie left-handed pitcher Robert Gasser dominated the Rays' offense for six shutout innings. He allowed only one hit and faced the minimum number of batters. Gasser became the first left-hander to face the minimum over at least six innings in a World Series game since Sandy Koufax in 1965. His postseason ERA dropped to 0.60.
Manager Pat Murphy remained cautious despite the commanding lead. He emphasized that the series is still seven games long and that the Rays remain a capable opponent. The players echoed this sentiment, focusing on treating each at-bat with the same intensity as previous games.
Historical data shows that in the 121 World Series prior to this one, a team holding a 3-0 lead has always won the title. In 21 of those 25 instances, the series ended in a sweep. The Brewers aim to join the 1976 Cincinnati Reds as the only teams to sweep both the League Championship Series and the World Series.
A large group of Brewers fans traveled to Tampa Bay, creating a home-field atmosphere for the visitors. Junior Caminero, playing through an interpreter, stated that the Brewers are currently playing better. The next game is scheduled for Tuesday night, where the Brewers will seek the fourth win.
Sal Frelick, an outfielder for Milwaukee, said the team is treating the upcoming game like a Game 7. He noted that the focus remains on winning every pitch and every inning, rather than anticipating the end result.
