Brewers take 3-1 lead over Rays after 10-1 rout
Milwaukee's eight-run fifth inning, fueled by a replay overturn and a rookie's perfect pitch count, puts the team one win from a franchise first.
By Leah Thompson ·
The Milwaukee Brewers scored eight runs with two outs in the fifth inning on Monday night, a first in World Series history, to rout the Tampa Bay Rays 10-1 and take a 3-1 series lead. The offensive surge erased a 1-0 deficit and capped a performance that leaves the Brewers one victory away from their first championship.
The franchise, which began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and moved to Milwaukee in 1970, has not won a title since its 1982 loss to St. Louis. In this 2026 series, the Brewers entered Game 3 with a 2-0 lead after winning the first two contests in Milwaukee by one run each. They extended their winning streak to eight games in the postseason, tying the all-time record for a single fall season.
Rookie left-hander Robert Gasser set the stage by pitching one-hit ball through six innings. He retired 14 consecutive batters, becoming the first starter to face the minimum 18 batters through six innings of a World Series game since Curt Schilling in 2001. Gasser allowed only one run in 15 innings over three postseason starts, all of which occurred on the road.
The decisive inning began when Jackson Chourio stole second base with two outs. Christian Yelich walked, and the Brewers loaded the bases against reliever Freddy Peralta. A forceout at second base was overturned on replay, allowing the rally to continue. Brice Turang hit a two-run single that bounced off shortstop Taylor Walls' glove, followed by RBI singles from Garrett Mitchell and Cooper Pratt. Sal Frelick added a run-scoring double to make the score 8-0.
Chourio finished 4 for 5 with a double and a stolen base. He became the second-youngest player in World Series history to record four hits and a stolen base in a single game, behind Ty Cobb in 1908. Manager Pat Murphy compared Chourio's discipline to that of Kobe Bryant. Turang and William Contreras also went 3 for 5, contributing to a total of 16 hits for Milwaukee.
The Rays, who led the American League with 98 wins in the regular season, have never won a World Series in their 29-year history. They swept the Yankees in the Division Series and defeated the Guardians in six games in the ALCS. Manager Kevin Cash noted that his team has a seat at the table but must win the next game to stay alive.
Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. Griffin Jax is set to start for Tampa Bay, while the Brewers have not announced their starter. A win in Game 4 would make Milwaukee the first team to sweep both the League Championship Series and the World Series since the 1976 Cincinnati Reds.
Source: NPR
