Cooper Pratt produced a game-winning single in the seventh stanza, Sal Frelick matched the score with his first home run in three months, and the Milwaukee Brewers upset the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Saturday nite to take a 2-0 lead in the World Series by erasing a four-run deficit for the second time in the postseason.
One error, two additional misplays that may have been charged as errors, and a runner thrown out at the plate were all made by Tampa Bay, who won the AL pennant by making opponents make mistakes.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Milwaukee Brewers vs Tampa Bay Rays |
| Final Score | Milwaukee Brewers 5, Tampa Bay Rays 4 |
| Tournament | 2026 World Series |
| Game | Game 2 |
| Key Player | Sal Frelick |
| Winning Hit | Cooper Pratt's seventh inning single |
| Key Moment | Brewers recovered from a 4 to 0 deficit |
| Series Score | Brewers lead 2 to 0 |
| Next Game | Game 3 was scheduled for October 26, 2026 |
Brewers Complete Stunning Comeback Sweep
Milwaukee rallied for their fifth postseason comeback victory after falling behind 4-0 in the first inning. In Game 4 of the NL Championship Series, the Brewers overcame a 4-0 hole to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4, completing a four-game sweep.
The Rays jumped up against rookie Logan Henderson after losing Friday’s first game 3-2, but the Brewers began to rally with two runs in the bottom half against Tampa Bay ace Drew Rasmussen.
Brewers Rally to Win Second Game
During the seventh-inning stretch of the second game of Milwaukee’s first World Series since 1982, enthusiastic spectators danced to the “Beer Barrel Polka,” which was performed by Clinton, Wisconsin accordionist Mike Schneider.
On the second pitch of the bottom half, Brice Turang singled against losing pitcher Tyler Wells, advanced on a flyout to right by Garrett Mitchell, and scored when Pratt, a 22-year-old who made his debut in June, hooked a fastball from Kevin Kelly into short right field.
In the ninth inning, Jonny DeLuca doubled off Aaron Ashby, and Victor Mesa Jr. struck out after failing to check his swing. Ben is a pinch hitter.
Ashby hasn’t let up a run while making three saves in the postseason.
Milwaukee won seven straight games, making history as the only team since Philadelphia in 2022 to defeat four-run deficits twice in a single postseason.
Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, where the Brewers last played in 2023, will host Game 3 of the series between clubs vying for their first championship on Monday nite.
46 of the 57 teams who had previously taken 2-0 World Series leads went on to win the title.
In the highest-scoring first inning of the Series since Game 4 in 1993, Tampa Bay seized a 4-2 lead.
Rays Strike Early, Brewers Fight Back
Henderson labored as the Rays fouled off 13 of 35 pitches in the first inning after taking 11 days off. In three innings, he allowed four runs, three of which were earned.
In his shortest start since July 9, Rasmussen gave up three runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings after receiving an additional day off.
Pratt bounced his throw past first baseman Jake Bauers on a leadoff ground ball by Díaz, making his fourth mistake of the postseason at shortstop and the Brewers’ ninth in ten games. Liam Hicks blasted a two-run home run, followed by RBI singles from Junior Caminero and Chandler Simpson.
Hamilton’s RBI Helps Brewers Prepare for Game 3
In the fourth inning, Hamilton hit an RBI ground ball that bounced under Aranda’s knees and resulted in an error.
Game 3 will be started by Rays RHP Freddy Peralta, a two-time All-Star while pitching for the Brewers from 2018 to 2025. In three playoff starts and one relief appearance, he is 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA and was named MVP of the AL Championship Series. Brewers LHP Robert Gasser, who gave up one run over nine innings in his previous two postseason starts, will face him.
