The Rays left American Family Field with a 3-2 World Series loss, but not without reminders of the formula that carried them here: keep the game tight, trust the arms and wait for one timely swing. On Friday night, Tampa Bay got the pitching. The swing never arrived.
| World Series Game 1 | R | H | Key figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rays | 2 | 7 | 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position |
| Brewers | 3 | — | Jacob Misiorowski: 5 innings |
Nick Martinez gave Tampa Bay the sort of start it needed in a road opener, settling in after Milwaukee scored twice in the first inning. He worked five frames and allowed only those two runs, while the Rays’ bullpen surrendered one more run the rest of the way. Manager Kevin Cash said Martinez did not allow the early damage to affect his work after the opening inning and praised the veteran for keeping his club within reach.
That has been the Rays’ calling card throughout the year. They entered the game 79-12 when permitting three runs or fewer, including a Major League-best 72-11 regular-season mark and a 7-1 postseason record. This time, the narrow margin belonged to Milwaukee.
Missed openings against Milwaukee pitching
The Rays had traffic almost from the start against Misiorowski, the hard-throwing Brewers starter. In the first, Tampa Bay put runners at first and second with one out, only for Junior Caminero to line into a double play. In the fourth, runners stood at second and third with one out. Liam Hicks brought home a run on a groundout, but the inning did not produce the larger hit Tampa Bay needed.
Another chance went away in the fifth. With a runner on second, two outs and Yandy Díaz due up, Victor Mesa Jr. tried to steal third and was thrown out. Mesa said afterward that both the quality of Milwaukee’s pitching and the expectation of a close series may have contributed to an overly aggressive decision.
Cash viewed getting Misiorowski out after five innings as a modest gain, but the Brewers did not offer much relief from there. Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby combined for one hit allowed and five strikeouts across three innings.
“We had men on base all night, but we did not get the hit that changes an inning,” shortstop Taylor Walls said. “Hopefully we get those opportunities again tomorrow and make them count.”
A ninth-inning push falls short
Tampa Bay made its final charge against Trevor Megill. Chandler Simpson and Jorge Mateo executed a double steal, Caminero drew a walk and the Rays had the bases loaded with one out. What initially appeared to end as an inning-ending double play was changed after replay review into a run-scoring groundout, leaving runners at second and third with two outs.
Jonny DeLuca then struck out swinging, ending the Rays’ last threat.
“It was a close game, and there were moments when we could have broken through,” left fielder Chandler Simpson said. “We will take something from it.”
Cash did not see a club in need of rebuilding after one loss. He pointed to how near the Rays came to taking the lead with one hit late, calling the group confident despite the frustration.
The rotation plan moves forward
Tampa Bay’s World Series pitching arrangement was built with more than the opener in mind. Martinez handled Game 1, Drew Rasmussen is lined up well-rested for Game 2 on Saturday night, and ALCS MVP Freddy Peralta has been held for Game 3.
Walls said the Rays remain convinced their starters and bullpen can continue to keep games manageable. The offense, he said, had a sound approach against Milwaukee; it simply did not get the result. After one game, the task is plain: turn seven hits, two walks and repeated baserunners into the extra hit that keeps the series from slipping to 2-0.
