Brewers Score Eight in One Inning to Take 3-0 Series Lead

The Milwaukee Brewers scored a World Series record eight runs while two out in the fifth inning on Monday night. That surge allowed them to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 10-1 at Tropicana Field. The win gives the Brewers a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Manager Pat Murphy emphasized that the team is not finished. He noted that three wins do not equal four and that the Rays remain a capable opponent. Murphy said his players make every pitch count, a trait he compared to the effort Tampa Bay showed during the regular season.

The decisive inning began against former Brewer Freddy Peralta. He was replaced by left-hander Cam Booser with the bases loaded and two outs. Brice Turang hit a sharp grounder that evaded shortstop Taylor Walls for a two-run single. That hit started a streak of seven consecutive hits for Milwaukee.

The Brewers reached the eight-run mark without hitting a home run. This approach mirrors their regular season style, which led the league with 103 wins. They have outscored the Rays 18-7 in the series so far, with only one home run hit by Milwaukee in three games.

Hitting coach Dan Vogelbach described the team as fighters who never feel out of the game. He said this relentless attitude defines the current roster. Jackson Chourio led the offense with four hits. William Contreras added three hits, bringing his postseason total to 18, a franchise record.

Rookie left-hander Robert Gasser pitched six shutout innings. He allowed just one hit and faced the minimum number of batters. This performance lowered his postseason ERA to 0.60 over 15 innings. Gasser became the first left-hander to face the minimum in at least six innings of a World Series game since Sandy Koufax in 1965.

Brandon Woodruff closed the game in the ninth inning. The 33-year-old veteran made his first appearance since injuring his shoulder on July 4. Woodruff said he was happy to return to the playoffs in the World Series, a milestone he had waited for since 2021.

Rays third baseman Junior Caminero spoke through an interpreter after the loss. He stated that his team wants to give their best effort but acknowledged the Brewers are playing better. The Rays are playing their first home World Series game since 2008.

A large group of Brewers fans traveled to Tampa Bay for the game. Christian Yelich noted that the visitors were loud from batting practice through the final out. It was difficult to tell which team was playing at home during the fifth inning.

The Brewers will seek a sweep in Game 4 on Tuesday night. They aim to join the 1976 Cincinnati Reds as the only teams to sweep both the League Championship Series and the World Series. Outfielder Sal Frelick said the team will treat the next game like a Game 7, focusing on winning every pitch.