Game 1 of the World Series was won behind the plate. Milwaukee catcher William Contreras threw out two Tampa Bay runners on the bases, and the Brewers turned a night of missed chances by the Rays into a 3-2 victory at American Family Field on Friday, taking a 1-0 lead in a series where neither club has ever won a championship.
Tampa Bay went without a hit in six chances with runners in scoring position. Twice, the Rays tried to run their way back into the game, and twice Contreras ended the threat with a throw. Victor Mesa Jr. was caught in the fifth inning, and Jonathan Aranda was caught in the sixth, and both outs killed rallies before they could become runs.
Defence in the details
The Rays did not lack for chances. They also had a big defensive play of their own, when Mesa started a relay in the fifth inning to cut down David Hamilton stretching a double, thwarting a Milwaukee scoring chance. That exchange set the tone for the night: two teams that pitch and defend well, trading plays that kept the score low and the tension high. Milwaukee finished with eight hits to Tampa Bay’s seven, and neither team made an error.
Milwaukee’s runs came early and late enough to matter. Jackson Chourio scored on a Christian Yelich triple in the first inning, Contreras drove in a run with a single in the same inning, and Chourio added the decisive run with a seventh inning single. Jacob Misiorowski, who opened the game with a 103.5 mph fastball to Yandy Diaz, pitched five innings for one run before the bullpen took over.
A ninth inning that almost changed everything
The ninth inning showed why Game 1 will stay with both clubs. Tampa Bay scored on a fielder’s choice, loaded the bases, and briefly survived what had looked like a game ending double play, after a replay review overturned the call at second base. Closer Trevor Megill then held on, and Milwaukee escaped with the win it had led from the first inning onward.
For the Rays, the lesson of Game 1 is about discipline on the bases and patience at the plate, because running into outs against Contreras is a losing trade in a low scoring series. For the Brewers, the lesson is that their defence travels, even on the biggest stage. Game 2 is in Milwaukee on Saturday night, and if Tampa Bay runs again, Contreras will be waiting.
