bleacherreport
On Saturday night, the Milwaukee Brewers secured a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of the 2026 World Series, giving them a 2-0 advantage in the series.
The Rays threatened in the top of the ninth, placing a runner on third with two outs, but Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby struck out Tampa Bay's Yandy Díaz to end the game.
Key Performers
Milwaukee's offense was led by Sal Frelick, who went 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI, and a home run. Cooper Pratt added a hit and an RBI, while Jackson Chourio and William Contreras each contributed two hits. For Tampa Bay, Liam Hicks hit a two-run homer, and Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero each drove in a run.
Brewers starter Logan Henderson lasted only three innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out four. Aaron Ashby was stellar in relief, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Rays starter Drew Rasmussen went 3.2 innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
After managing just two runs in Game 1, the Rays' bats came alive early. RBI singles from Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero gave Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead in the first inning, and Liam Hicks followed with a two-run homer to right field.
The Brewers responded in the bottom of the first, cutting the deficit in half on RBI singles by William Contreras and Garrett Mitchell.
Milwaukee continued to chip away, pulling within 4-3 in the fourth when Cooper Pratt scored on a fielding error by Jonathan Aranda.
In the bottom of the sixth, Sal Frelick tied the game with a solo home run, Milwaukee's first of the World Series. The Brewers then took their first lead of the night in the next inning on Pratt's RBI single.
Tampa Bay mounted a rally in the top of the ninth when Jonny DeLuca led off with a double and moved to third on a groundout, but the Rays couldn't bring him home.
After Henderson's short outing, Milwaukee's bullpen was outstanding, with five relievers combining to keep the Rays scoreless following their four-run first inning.
Game 3 is scheduled for Monday at 8 p.m. ET.
Originally reported by bleacherreport.