Brewers defeat Rays 4-1 in Game 5 to claim first World Series title
Jacob Misiorowski threw five and two-thirds scoreless innings, and rookie Cooper Pratt set a rookie record with six consecutive hits.
By Julia Novak ·
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, to win the World Series in five games. This marks the franchise's first championship since moving from Seattle in 1970. The victory concludes a postseason run in which Milwaukee finished with an 11-2 record, including a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
Jacob Misiorowski led the pitching effort for Milwaukee. The 24-year-old right-hander threw five and two-thirds scoreless innings, allowing only two hits before leaving the game with a right calf cramp. He recorded two strikeouts and 58 strikes on 86 pitches. His velocity reached 103 miles per hour twice during the outing. The Brewers bullpen provided the final three outs, with closer Trevor Megill retiring Richie Palacios to end the game.
Offense from young players drove the scoring. Cooper Pratt, who made his major league debut in June, set a World Series rookie record by hitting in six consecutive at-bats. He finished the game with two hits and two runs batted in. William Contreras, named the series most valuable player, contributed an RBI double. Jackson Chourio set a five-game World Series record with 11 total hits across the series.
Manager Pat Murphy, who survived a heart attack in 2020, praised the team's unity. He noted that the 2026 squad focused on collective winning rather than individual statistics. Christian Yelich, the team captain, greeted fans on the field after the final out. He described the moment as the best feeling ever and acknowledged the long wait for a title in Milwaukee.
The Brewers have played in the 58th season of their franchise history. Their only previous World Series appearance was in 1982, when they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals after blowing a three-run lead in the seventh inning. The 1957 Milwaukee Braves remain the city's other Major League Baseball champions, having moved to Atlanta in 1966.
For Tampa Bay, the loss drops their World Series record to 0-3. The Rays, an expansion team that began play in 1998, have never won a championship. Manager Kevin Cash described his group as close-knit and resilient, noting their ability to compete despite injuries and a small payroll.
The championship arrives amid labor disputes in Major League Baseball. Owners are pushing for a salary cap, arguing that small-market teams struggle to remain competitive. A management lockout is expected to begin on December 2, which could impact the 2027 season. This series featured the two lowest-ranked payrolls in the league among the World Series participants, with Milwaukee at 19th and Tampa Bay at 25th as of August 31.
