The Brewers are now three wins from the first World Series title in franchise history after a 3-2 win over the Rays on Friday night at American Family Field.
It was a big stage, a charged atmosphere and Milwaukee’s first World Series game in 44 years, but the Brewers handled it and beat the American League champs to open the series with a victory.
Jacob Misiorowski set the tone from the start. The young flamethrower entered Game 1 having not gone deeper than 4 1/3 innings in a playoff start this season, but he delivered five innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits and striking out three. His first pitch also became the World Series record for the fastest pitch thrown by a starter.
The bullpen kept the pressure on. Uribe, who has now appeared in eight playoff games this fall and missed only one Brewers postseason game, worked 1 1/3 innings and gave up just one hit while fanning two.
Ashby stayed flawless too, extending his run of scoreless postseason work to seven playoff appearances. In 1 2/3 innings on Friday, he didn’t allow a hit or a walk and struck out three.
Christian Yelich also played his part in the opening surge. He drove in Milwaukee’s first run with a first-inning triple, a timely swing from a player who has been with the Brewers through the franchise’s climb from the outside looking in to the brink of a championship.
Nick Martinez was solid for stretches, but Milwaukee got to him early. He allowed two runs over five innings, and the Brewers seized momentum and never gave it back.
Nick Matz entered in relief in the sixth and lasted 1 2/3 innings. He gave up a run and issued three walks, but that run was ultimately all Milwaukee needed to secure the win.
The Rays had one quiet night from a key bat as well. Diaz, who is to Tampa Bay what Yelich is to Milwaukee, went 0-for-4 atop the lineup.
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