Brewers Beat Rays 10-1 to Reach World Series Title Threshold

The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 10-1 on Monday night at Tropicana Field, moving within one win of their first World Series title.

The victory capped an eight-run fifth inning that set a postseason record for consecutive hits with two outs. Milwaukee collected 16 total hits against Tampa Bay pitcher Freddy Peralta and five relievers.

Robert Gasser, a rookie left-hander, pitched one-hit ball through six innings. He faced the minimum 18 batters, a feat last accomplished in a World Series game by Curt Schilling in 2001. Gasser allowed only one run on a leadoff single to Yandy Diaz in the first inning before retiring 14 straight batters.

Jackson Chourio finished 4 for 5 with a double and a stolen base. His performance made him the second-youngest player in World Series history to record four hits and a steal in a single game. Chourio has eight hits in three Series games.

Brice Turang opened the decisive fifth inning with a two-run single. The hit bounced off the glove of shortstop Taylor Walls and rolled into shallow center field. Walls described the play as a knife to the chest. The Brewers followed with hits from Garrett Mitchell, Cooper Pratt, and Sal Frelick to take an 8-0 lead.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy credited Chourio with providing a big lift for the team. Murphy noted that Chourio was locked in and tremendous at the plate. The 67-year-old manager led a team that had previously fallen behind 3-0 in the series.

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said the Rays had to win Game 4 to stay in the series. He noted that inconsistencies by Peralta led to good at-bats for Milwaukee. The Rays had led the American League with 98 wins in the regular season but unraveled during the World Series.

Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. Griffin Jax will start for the Rays, while the Brewers have not yet announced a starter. A win for Milwaukee would make them the first team to sweep a League Championship Series and a World Series since the 1976 Cincinnati Reds.