THE SPORTS DESK
The Brewers edge Tampa Bay 3-2 in Game 1 as Junior Caminero delivers a powerful double, Jonathan Aranda collects three hits, and a controversial replay review gives the Rays one final chance to steal the victory.
By Javier Santamaría
Sports Editor
The Sun Post News
Saturday, October 24, 2026 | Central Florida
Tampa Bay Comes Within One Hit of a Remarkable Comeback
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin — The 2026 World Series opened with the kind of drama that makes October baseball unforgettable.
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 Friday night at American Family Field, taking a 1-0 lead in a championship series that will produce a first-time World Series winner.
But the final score tells only part of the story.
Tampa Bay entered the ninth inning trailing by two runs and nearly completed a remarkable comeback. The Rays scored once, put runners in scoring position and benefited from a replay reversal that transformed what initially appeared to be the final out into another opportunity.
For a few tense moments, the Rays stood one base hit away from taking the lead.
Milwaukee closer Trevor Megill ultimately escaped the jam by striking out Jonny DeLuca, preserving the Brewers’ victory and sending the home crowd into celebration.
For Tampa Bay, the defeat was frustrating not because the Rays were overwhelmed, but because they created opportunities they could not finish.
The American League champions now face an important challenge: avoid falling behind 2-0 before the series shifts to Florida.
Milwaukee Attacks Early
The Brewers wasted little time demonstrating why they finished the regular season with 103 victories, the best record in Major League Baseball.
In the opening inning, veteran Christian Yelich delivered an RBI triple, immediately putting pressure on Tampa Bay starter Nick Martinez.
Venezuelan catcher William Contreras followed with a run-scoring single, giving Milwaukee a 2-0 advantage.
The early offense forced Martinez to adjust his approach and prevented the Rays from settling into their preferred game plan.
Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash had surprised observers by selecting Martinez to start Game 1 instead of Drew Rasmussen.
The decision was designed to distribute the team’s pitching resources throughout the series, with Rasmussen reserved for Saturday’s second game.
Although Martinez recovered after the opening inning and completed five innings, the early deficit proved costly.
Milwaukee’s pitching staff consistently prevented Tampa Bay from producing the timely hits needed to erase the advantage.
Junior Caminero Delivers a Statement With His Bat
One of Tampa Bay’s most encouraging offensive moments came in the fourth inning.
Dominican third baseman Junior Caminero connected for a double off Milwaukee starter Jacob Misiorowski, sending the baseball off his bat at an impressive 112.7 miles per hour.
The hit demonstrated the exceptional power that made Caminero one of the American League’s most dangerous young hitters during the regular season.
After finishing the year with 42 home runs, Caminero entered the World Series carrying enormous expectations.
Friday’s matchup presented a particularly demanding challenge.
Misiorowski possesses one of baseball’s most intimidating fastballs, regularly reaching triple-digit velocity.
Caminero’s double showed that he can handle elite velocity when he recognizes the pitch and makes solid contact.
However, Tampa Bay needs more than hard-hit baseballs.
The Rays must convert those opportunities into runs, particularly when facing a Milwaukee bullpen that has dominated throughout the postseason.
For Caminero, the challenge moving forward will be maintaining discipline while remaining aggressive against pitches he can drive.
His ability to make that adjustment could become one of the defining factors of the series.
Jonathan Aranda Leads Tampa Bay’s Offensive Effort
Mexican infielder Jonathan Aranda delivered one of Tampa Bay’s strongest individual performances.
Aranda collected three hits, repeatedly finding ways to reach base against Milwaukee’s pitching staff.
His performance was especially significant considering the difficulty of facing Misiorowski and a deep collection of Brewers relievers.
Aranda demonstrated excellent bat control, patience and the ability to make contact against high-quality pitching.
But his three hits were not enough.
The Rays finished the game hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position.
That statistic explains much of the outcome.
Tampa Bay generated offensive opportunities but struggled to produce when those opportunities mattered most.
Against a championship-caliber opponent, those missed chances can become decisive.
The Rays will need stronger situational hitting if they hope to reverse the series.
Misiorowski Makes World Series History
Milwaukee starter Jacob Misiorowski delivered an impressive performance in his first World Series appearance.
The 24-year-old right-hander allowed one run and four hits over five innings, earning the victory.
He also threw a pitch clocked at 103.5 miles per hour, reported as the fastest pitch recorded in World Series history.
His combination of velocity and movement created problems for Tampa Bay’s hitters throughout the early innings.
Even when the Rays made contact, they struggled to sustain rallies.
Misiorowski’s performance reinforced Milwaukee’s greatest pitching advantage: the ability to combine a dominant starter with a deep bullpen.
Once he departed, the Brewers turned to their relievers to protect the lead.
Although Tampa Bay made the ninth inning uncomfortable, Milwaukee’s pitching staff ultimately completed the job.
Jackson Chourio and William Contreras Make Their Presence Felt
Latin American talent played a major role in Milwaukee’s victory.
Venezuelan outfielder Jackson Chourio collected two hits and drove in an important insurance run during the seventh inning.
That run ultimately proved decisive after Tampa Bay scored in the ninth.
Chourio’s performance demonstrated the versatility that has made him one of Milwaukee’s most important young players.
He can contribute through contact, speed, defense and timely offensive production.
His fellow Venezuelan, William Contreras, also played an essential role.
Contreras recorded two hits and an RBI while delivering an outstanding defensive performance behind the plate.
The Brewers catcher threw out two Tampa Bay runners attempting to steal bases, eliminating potential scoring opportunities.
Those defensive plays were particularly significant in a one-run game.
For the Rays, the unsuccessful stolen-base attempts represented additional missed opportunities.
For Milwaukee, Contreras demonstrated why an elite catcher can influence a game far beyond his offensive statistics.
A Ninth-Inning Replay Reversal Changes Everything
The most dramatic sequence unfolded in the ninth inning.
Trailing by two runs, Tampa Bay mounted a rally against Milwaukee closer Trevor Megill.
The Rays scored once and continued applying pressure.
With runners aboard, Liam Hicks hit a ground ball that initially appeared to produce a game-ending double play.
Milwaukee’s players began celebrating.
But Tampa Bay challenged the play, and the umpires initiated a replay review.
The video showed that Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt had not properly maintained contact with second base while receiving the throw from second baseman Brice Turang.
The call was overturned.
Suddenly, the Rays had runners at second and third with another opportunity to tie or win the game.
The atmosphere inside American Family Field changed instantly.
A single could have put Tampa Bay ahead.
But Megill regained control and struck out Jonny DeLuca to end the contest.
Milwaukee survived.
Tampa Bay was left wondering what might have happened with one more timely hit.
Game 2: Drew Rasmussen Faces Logan Henderson
The World Series continues Saturday night in Milwaukee, with Game 2 scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
Tampa Bay will send Drew Rasmussen to the mound.
Rasmussen completed the regular season with a 16-5 record and a 2.67 ERA.
He has been even more effective during the postseason, posting a 2-0 record and a 1.29 ERA.
Milwaukee will counter with Logan Henderson, who finished the regular season 11-3 with a 2.47 ERA.
The matchup carries considerable significance.
A Brewers victory would give Milwaukee a commanding 2-0 series lead before traveling to Tampa Bay.
A Rays victory would even the series and allow the American League champions to return to Florida with renewed momentum.
For Tampa Bay, the immediate priority is clear: provide Rasmussen with sufficient offensive support.
The Rays cannot afford another night of missed opportunities with runners in scoring position.
World Series 2026: Updated Schedule
All times Eastern.
| Game | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | October 23 | Milwaukee — Brewers won 3-2 |
| Game 2 | October 24, 8 p.m. | Milwaukee |
| Game 3 | October 26 | Tampa Bay |
| Game 4 | October 27 | Tampa Bay |
| Game 5* | October 28 | Tampa Bay |
| Game 6* | October 30 | Milwaukee |
| Game 7* | October 31 | Milwaukee |
Games 5, 6 and 7 will be played only if necessary.
Series standing: Milwaukee leads 1-0.
THE SPORTS DESK | ANALYSIS
Tampa Bay Lost the Game, but Not Its Championship Opportunity
The Rays’ opening defeat deserves closer examination than the final score alone.
Tampa Bay was not completely overmatched.
The Rays collected seven hits, created scoring opportunities and pushed one of the postseason’s most reliable closers to the edge of surrendering the game.
Yet three problems ultimately determined the outcome.
The first was situational hitting.
Finishing 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position is especially costly against a team with Milwaukee’s pitching depth.
The second was baserunning execution.
William Contreras eliminated two Tampa Bay runners attempting to steal bases.
In a game decided by one run, those lost opportunities carried enormous consequences.
The third was Milwaukee’s early offensive pressure.
By scoring twice in the opening inning, the Brewers forced Tampa Bay to spend most of the night chasing the game.
Although Martinez settled down, the Rays never completely recovered.
Still, there were encouraging developments.
Jonathan Aranda demonstrated that he can produce against elite pitching.
Junior Caminero delivered one of the hardest-hit balls of the night.
And Tampa Bay showed resilience by mounting a ninth-inning rally against a formidable bullpen.
Those are reasons for optimism.
But optimism alone will not win a World Series.
The Rays must improve their execution.
They need more productive at-bats with runners in scoring position, better decisions on the bases and stronger offensive support for their starting pitchers.
Historically, winning Game 1 provides a meaningful advantage. Approximately 63% of teams that have captured the World Series opener have gone on to win the championship.
But history also offers countless examples of teams recovering from early postseason defeats.
Tampa Bay still has time.
The presence of Rasmussen on the mound Saturday provides an opportunity to reset the series.
For Caminero, Aranda and Yandy Díaz, Game 2 represents another chance to establish the offensive rhythm Tampa Bay needs.
For Kevin Cash, it will be a test of preparation, adjustments and bullpen management.
And for baseball fans throughout Central Florida, the dream of seeing the Rays capture their first World Series championship remains alive.
Milwaukee won the opening battle.
The championship, however, is far from decided.
The Rays were one timely hit away from changing Game 1. On Saturday night, they must make sure their opportunities count.
THE SPORTS DESK — The Sun Post News
Saturday, October 24, 2026 | Central Florida Edition
