MILWAUKEE — Jacob Misiorowski allowed one run over five gritty innings and closer Trevor Megill stranded the tying run at third base to preserve the Milwaukee Brewers’ 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night in the opening game of the World Series.
Milwaukee, whose only other World Series appearance was a seven-game loss in 1982, scored two runs in the first inning off Nick Martinez and added a run in the seventh on Jackson Chourio’s RBI single to go up 3-1.
The Rays scored one run in the ninth off Megill, who entered to start the inning and conceded consecutive one-out singles to Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson. Pinch runner Jorge Mateo and Simpson executed a double steal, and Junior Caminero walked to load the bases.
Liam Hicks appeared to bounce into a game-ending double play, but a video review showed that shortstop Cooper Pratt was pulled off the bag at second on the throw by second baseman Brice Turang.
Hicks was out on the fielder’s choice as Mateo scored to make it 3-2, leaving runners on second and third. Megill then struck out Jonny DeLuca for his fifth postseason save in five opportunities.
Misiorowski (1-0), whose 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts each led the majors during the regular season, allowed one run on four hits in five innings. He fanned three and walked one in a 78-pitch outing.
Misiorowski set the tone by throwing a 103.5 mph fastball to open the game, the fastest pitch in World Series history.
Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby then combined for three scoreless innings, striking out five.
The Brewers posted two quick runs against Martinez (1-1), who got the start when ace Drew Rasmussen was pushed back to Game 2 for an extra day’s rest.
Chourio singled on the first pitch and scored on Christian Yelich’s one-out triple off DeLuca’s glove on his diving catch attempt in right-center. William Contreras followed with an RBI single to left.
The Rays got a run back in the fourth. Aranda drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third when center fielder Garrett Mitchell misplayed Caminero’s 112.7 mph drive into a double. He scored on Hicks’ groundout.
The Brewers made it 3-1 in the seventh. Steven Matz walked Pratt, who advanced on a groundout and scored on Chourio’s two-out single down the right field line against Kevin Kelly.
Martinez allowed two runs on five hits in five innings, striking out five and walking none.
–Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media
