Brewers blow out Rays 10-1 to get within one win of their first championship
Milwaukee is one win away from its first championship after a historic offensive surge against Tampa Bay.
By Leila Reynolds ·
The Milwaukee Brewers are one win away from their first World Series title after dismantling the Tampa Bay Rays 10-1 on Monday night. The decisive blow came in the fifth inning when Milwaukee scored eight runs, all with two outs, to put the game out of reach.
The offensive surge shattered a long-standing record. It is the first time in World Series history that a team has scored eight two-out runs in a single inning. The Brewers also collected seven straight hits during that stretch, a new postseason record for consecutive baserunners.
Brice Turang ignited the rally with a two-run single after a controversial call at second base was overturned by replay. The play brought on reliever Cam Booser, who immediately surrendered the scoring run. Garrett Mitchell, Cooper Pratt, and Sal Frelick followed with hits to extend the lead to 8-0.
Jackson Chourio finished the inning with a run-scoring double and a stolen base. The 22-year-old went 4-for-5 in the game. He became the second-youngest player in World Series history to record four hits and a stolen base in a single game, trailing only Ty Cobb in 1908.
Robert Gasser delivered a dominant performance on the mound for the Brewers. The rookie left-hander allowed just one hit and faced the minimum 18 batters through six innings. He became the first starter to achieve this feat since Curt Schilling in 2001 and the first left-hander to do so since Sandy Koufax in 1965.
Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash acknowledged the difficulty of the situation. The Rays led the American League with 98 wins in the regular season and swept the New York Yankees in the divisional round. However, they have lost three straight games in this series.
Cash noted that his team has a 'chip and a chair mentality' heading into the elimination game. He said the only path forward is to win tomorrow. The Rays have never won a World Series in their 29 seasons in the league.
The Brewers entered this game on an eight-game postseason winning streak, tying the all-time record. They lead the series 3-1. Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday night at Tropicana Field.
Brandon Woodruff closed the game for Milwaukee, allowing one run and two hits in his first appearance in three and a half months. He had been sidelined by a shoulder injury. Griffin Jax is scheduled to start for Tampa Bay in the final game.
