Milwaukee’s World Series opener ended twice Friday night at American Family Field. The first finish lasted only until Tampa Bay asked for a replay review. The second sent the Brewers into the clubhouse with a 3-2 Game 1 victory over the Rays and their first new World Series win in 44 years.
Fireworks had already gone up and Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days” had filled the ballpark after what appeared to be a game-ending double play. Then the Rays’ challenge stopped the celebration. By the time the review was complete, the Brewers still needed one more out.
A finish overturned at second base
Trevor Megill entered a tense ninth inning and allowed consecutive one-out singles before Chandler Simpson and Jorge Mateo pulled off a double steal. Megill then walked Junior Caminero, loading the bases.
Liam Hicks hit Megill’s first pitch on the ground to Brice Turang at second. Turang pivoted and threw to shortstop Cooper Pratt for the force, and Pratt’s relay to first appeared to complete the double play that would finish the game.
Tampa Bay challenged the force at second. Replay showed that Pratt’s right foot had come off the bag as he took Turang’s throw, and the ruling was changed. Mateo scored on the fielder’s choice, trimming Milwaukee’s lead to one run and leaving Jonny DeLuca at the plate with two outs.
Pratt said he did not expect the call to change.
“It was obviously close, but I didn’t believe there was enough to reverse it,” Pratt said. “From my view, my cleat was still dragging. They must have had another angle that I hadn’t seen.”
Megill initially figured the Rays might be questioning the relay at first base, perhaps on a bobble. Once the video reached the scoreboard, though, he understood the focus was the force play.
Rays manager Kevin Cash credited replay coordinator Nick Rogers for identifying a possible opening. Cash said the play was close enough that Tampa Bay had little reason not to use its challenge.
Megill resets for the final out
The review left DeLuca waiting in the on-deck circle, watching the center-field board with the sellout crowd of 43,250. He said the pause was difficult because neither side knew whether the game was truly over or whether another at-bat was coming.
“Momentum matters in this game,” DeLuca said. “You don’t know whether it’s finished or whether you’re about to get an opportunity. That’s why the challenge system is valuable. You just have to get yourself ready again.”
Megill did exactly that. After the frame-by-frame review erased the double play, the right-hander stayed on the mound and struck out DeLuca with a knuckle curve for the 27th out.
“I picked Cooper up there, and he’ll pick us up tomorrow,” Megill said.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy pointed to Megill’s composure after the reversal, calling the DeLuca at-bat the biggest one of the game. Murphy also supported the decision to overturn the call, saying the sport is better served by getting the play right rather than reviving the old “neighborhood play” standard around second base.
“We want the correct call,” Murphy said. “Even if that costs us two runs and the game, the rule exists for the right reason.”
Starter Jacob Misiorowski shared that view after the game, saying he would rather see close plays reviewed than leave their outcome to uncertainty.
Once Megill finished the job, the fireworks returned, Springsteen came back over the speakers and the postgame television setup could finally go on without interruption. Milwaukee had waited 44 years for another World Series victory. A few extra minutes did not change the result.
The series moves on to Game 3 on Monday, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX One.
