The Brewers turned World Series Game 1 into a bullpen game by design, then survived one last ninth-inning jolt to beat the Rays, 3-2, on Friday at American Family Field.
Trevor Megill recorded the final out with the bases loaded after a replay reversal extended the game and allowed Tampa Bay to pull within a run. His strikeout of Jonny DeLuca sealed Milwaukee’s victory and delivered his fifth save of the postseason.
Milwaukee’s relief plan held up again
Jacob Misiorowski gave Milwaukee five innings before manager Pat Murphy went to the formula that has carried the club throughout the season. Abner Uribe was first out of the bullpen and got four outs. Aaron Ashby followed with five more, setting the stage for Megill in the ninth.
The Brewers led the National League with a 3.40 bullpen ERA during the regular season, and their relievers have been even tougher in October. Through nine playoff games, Milwaukee’s bullpen has surrendered nine runs, seven earned, across 44 2/3 innings for a 1.41 ERA.
Uribe, Ashby and Megill have covered 28 1/3 of those postseason innings and have been charged with only three runs.
Uribe brought premium velocity against Tampa Bay, touching 100.3 mph with his sinker. Murphy said the right-hander looked as sharp as he has in some time, calling the appearance “really special.”
Ashby then retired five straight Rays, stretching his scoreless run to 19 innings. Fourteen of those shutout innings have come during the postseason.
A ninth inning that would not end quietly
Megill began the ninth by retiring Yandy Díaz, but the Rays soon put the Milwaukee closer under real pressure. Two singles, a double steal and a walk filled the bases.
Liam Hicks followed by bouncing a ball to the right side. Brice Turang tried to start a double play that initially appeared to finish the game, and fireworks were set off before the review was complete. The call was overturned when replay showed Cooper Pratt had come off second base while making the pivot.
The reversal allowed a run to score, cut Milwaukee’s lead to 3-2 and kept Tampa Bay alive. With haze from the early fireworks still hanging in the ballpark, Megill had to reset on the mound.
He took deep breaths during the review, checked with an umpire about the ruling and threw a few pitches to stay loose. Then, after falling behind DeLuca 2-1, Megill used a knuckle-curve near the inner edge for a called strike. He came back with another breaking ball beneath the zone, and DeLuca chased it to end the game.
“You’ve just got to stay ready,” Megill said. “You’ve got to plan for Plan B there and get ready to attack the next person. And that’s what we did.”
A group built without pecking order
Milwaukee had not received a winning decision from a starter during this postseason before Game 1, underscoring how heavily Murphy has leaned on his relief corps. The manager had an opportunity before the Series to arrange his bullpen the way he wanted, and the Game 1 sequence reflected that confidence.
“There’s no hierarchy of seniority or anything,” Ashby said. “Everyone’s even. And I think that’s what makes us special.”
Megill said that shared approach has been part of the Brewers’ clubhouse for four years.
The Rays at least came away having faced each of Milwaukee’s three top relief options, an experience that could matter if the Series reaches later games. But Tampa Bay has yet to consistently break through against the group that has been the Brewers’ defining strength.
Rays shortstop Taylor Walls said Milwaukee’s plan has been apparent all year: get through the early innings, hand the ball to the bullpen and let the relievers finish the work.
Megill, whose only blown save since June 5 remains his lone slip in that stretch, kept the Game 1 result in perspective.
“It means a lot, but it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t get there,” Megill said. “It’s just one step in the right direction.”
Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET, with the Brewers holding a 1-0 World Series lead.
