The Tampa Bay Rays head into Game 3 in a bind after a Game 2 collapse, and Kevin Cash isn’t dressing up the fix. His message was plain: score first, and wake up the building.
“Early runs and get the crowd behind us,” Cash told members of the media on what the plan is.
That’s the heartbeat of Tampa Bay’s approach as the series shifts to Tropicana Field, where the Rays need to steady themselves quickly after watching a 4-0 first-inning lead disappear in Saturday’s defeat in Wisconsin. Liam Hicks jump-started that surge with a home run to right center field, a two-run blast that also brought Junior Caminero home.
The cushion didn’t last long. Milwaukee answered in the bottom of the first, with William Contreras and Garrett Mitchell each delivering RBI singles to fuel the rally. Then Cooper Pratt broke the 4-4 tie with a single to right that scored Brice Turang.
Cash also said the bullpen situation for the next night remains open-ended.
“All hands on deck,” Cash said, meaning he hasn't looked into the next game starter.
While Tampa Bay searches for a response, Freddy Peralta is set to take the mound for Milwaukee in an effort to push the Brewers closer to a comeback from a 2-0 deficit. Peralta has 12 strikeouts this postseason and has posted a 1.08 ERA.
Monday’s game carries another layer for the Rays, too: it will be the first World Series game at Tropicana Field since 2008. Tampa Bay lost the World Series in 2008 and 2020, and now it needs to find a way to avoid another quick slide.
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The comments quickly got attention because they put an unusual ballpark feature into the middle of a series Milwaukee already leads 2-0, with Megill continuing to be one of the bullpen arms that has mattered most this postseason. For the Rays, it is another reminder that home-field factors do not always play out as an advantage, especially when an opponent is already comfortable enough to say so out loud. [Read more 🡒]
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Brewers Face One Huge World Series Concern With Game 3 Here
The World Series shifts to Tropicana Field for Game 3 with Milwaukee up 2-0, and the Rays are trying to reset the tone at home after a difficult start to the matchup. Kevin Cash is leaning on Freddy Peralta in a spot that suddenly feels pivotal, especially with the right-hander having settled in as one of Tampa Bays most reliable arms this October.
From the other dugout, Pat Murphy sounded aware that the Brewers have already asked plenty of their high-leverage relievers early in the series. Aaron Ashby and Abner Uribe have been worked hard through the first two games, which only adds to the pressure on Milwaukee as the series moves into a park where Tampa Bay badly needs a clean, steady start. [Read more 🡒]