MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Sometimes in the baseball postseason, you have to clench your fists, sit tight, and hold your breath.
That was exactly what 43,250 inside American Family Field were doing as the umpire waived off the FOX television crews from the first base side of the ballpark. It was probably what a handful of players in the Milwaukee Brewers’ dugout were doing, too.
As the video replay of what was initially a game-ending double play showed on the centerfield big board, a collective groan emitted from the crowd as Cooper Pratt’s cleat was shown lifting off of second base before recording the first of the two necessary outs. The tension had built throughout the ninth inning as closer Trevor Megill found himself in trouble.
After the replay delay, what did Megill do? The same thing the Brewers bullpen has done all October: lock in and seal the deal.
Megill got Jonny DeLuca to chase a pitch in the dirt, and Milwaukee secured its first World Series victory since October 17, 1982 with a 3-2 nailbiter over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Asked immediately after the game on WTMJ, Pratt said he thought on first glance he kept a cleat on second base, but credited Megill for picking him up on the next at-bat.
“It’s intense, every playoff game’s been intense,” said Pratt. “We got out of it, but the guys [were] grinding out there. It’s a good win, especially for the first game here. It’s electric.”
Manager Pat Murphy says the most important part of the whole replay sequence was Megill’s composure and ability to stay in the zone. It started with Murphy instructing Megill to stay loose as chaos unfolded around them and TV crews rushed on, then off, the field of play.
“We talk about it all the time, when there’s a challenge do not walk off the mound,” Murphy said to reporters after the win. “[Megill] kept his composure, and that was the biggest at-bat of the game.”
Stars come up clutch
It didn’t take long for the scoring to start, with captain Christian Yelich dotting a hit that was nearly robbed by DeLuca in center, followed immediately by William Contreras ripping a 108.4 mph liner right off the glove of shortstop Taylor Walls.
Contreras’s biggest contribution, however, was his arm. The man many would argue should have been a Gold Glove nominee had two putouts from behind the plate, one on a questionable decision to try and steal by Victor Mesa, Jr. and another on a strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play. He also made a bit of World Series history with the first successful ABS challenge in Fall Classic history on a pitch in the second inning.
The third and final run came off the bat of Jackson Chourio, who snuck a single into right field for RBI number eight this postseason on the first pitch he saw from reliever Kevin Kelly.
When asked if he’s ever been coached on patience, Chourio reiterated his long-stated belief that if the opportunity presents itself to swing at the first offering, he will do so.
“The way I’ve always looked at it is it’s important to start with a good foot ahead. So if I have the opportunity to do that, I’m going to take advantage,” he said.
The Miz gets the win
While still not achieving the level of dominance that will likely earn Jacob Misiorowski the NL Cy Young award for 2026, the 24-year-old will still get credit for Milwaukee’s first World Series win in 44 years. He finished a five-inning effort with a lone run allowed on four hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.
Following prior postseason outings of four and four-and-a-third innings, Misiorowski told reporters he’s itching for a longer outing even with a steadfast bullpen doing yeoman’s work this postseason.
“I wish I could go more…I’m going to want to throw 130,” he said before stating going to the pen in that situation was the right move to do.
To the surprise of likely no one, Misiorowski came out slinging in the first frame. His 103.5 mph four-seam fastball to begin Game 1 is now the fastest pitch ever thrown in a World Series beating out an Aroldis Chapman heater by .3 mph.
Misiorowski would throw 78 total pitches in the outing, 56 for strikes, and fought off several long at-bats from Rays batters who attempted to play patiently against the young hurler in much the same way as the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS and NLCS respectively. His three strikeouts were the fewest in any start this year.
Following their starter, the Brewers bullpen once again proved why they are a force to be reckoned with. Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby notched a combined five strikeouts and allowed just one hit, and while Megill was shaky in the ninth he locked in following the replay delay where others may have been rattled.
Game Two lookahead
The same two teams will face off again October 24 at American Family Field. The Brewers will turn to Logan Henderson as they look to take a 2-0 series lead, while Tampa Bay will counter with ace and former-Brewer Drew Rasmussen.
Fans hopeful for more nods to the 1982 AL champions will want to be in their seats for the first pitch; Paul Molitor will have the honors ahead of Game 2, following his teammate Robin Yount making the honorary toss after receiving the ball from Commissioner Emeritus of Baseball Bud Selig for Game 1.
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