Brewers beat Rays 5-4 in World Series Game 2, rally from four runs down for 2-0 lead

MILWAUKEE — The Brewers came back from a four-run deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 in World Series Game 2 on Saturday, October 24, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Sal Frelick tied the game with a sixth-inning home run, and rookie Cooper Pratt drove in the winning run with a single in the seventh.

The comeback changed the direction of a game Tampa Bay appeared to control almost immediately. The Rays scored four runs in the first inning against Milwaukee starter Logan Henderson, but the Brewers answered with two in the bottom half and kept cutting into the lead.

How Milwaukee erased Tampa Bay’s lead

Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero hit run-scoring singles for the Rays in the first inning before Liam Hicks added a two-run homer. Milwaukee responded against Drew Rasmussen with RBI singles from William Contreras and Garrett Mitchell, making it 4-2 after one inning.

The Brewers pulled within a run in the fourth when Pratt scored on a grounder by David Hamilton that got past Tampa Bay first baseman Jonathan Aranda for an error.

Frelick then led off the sixth against Ian Seymour and sent a home run to center field to make it 4-4. It was Frelick’s first homer since July 11.

In the seventh, Brice Turang doubled, moved to third on Mitchell’s flyout and scored when Pratt singled to right off Kevin Kelly. The hit put Milwaukee ahead for the first time in the game.

Tampa Bay still had a chance in the ninth. Jonny DeLuca led off with a double and reached third on a groundout, but Aaron Ashby struck out Yandy Díaz to preserve the one-run win.

Two close wins, but only one comeback

Milwaukee also won Friday’s opener 3-2, though Game 1 was not another Brewers comeback. Milwaukee took the lead in the first inning and held off a late Rays rally after a replay review overturned what initially appeared to be the final out.

Game 2 was Milwaukee’s second win this postseason after trailing 4-0. The Brewers also overcame that deficit to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the game that completed their sweep of the National League Championship Series.

The two World Series games have left Tampa Bay with a difficult task. The Rays have been within one run at the finish both nights, but they now need four wins before Milwaukee gets two more. For the Brewers, the next victory would put them one win from the franchise’s first World Series title.

Game 3 moves to the Rays’ home field

Game 3 is scheduled for Monday, October 26, at 8 p.m. Eastern at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The game is set to air on FOX, FOX One and FOX Deportes.

Tampa Bay plans to start right-hander Freddy Peralta, who pitched for Milwaukee through 2025. Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser is set to oppose him. Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday at the same time and venue.

A Rays win on Monday would bring them back within one game in the series. A Brewers win would give Milwaukee three chances to secure the championship before Tampa Bay could draw level.