MILWAUKEE -- Two games in, the World Series has tilted clearly in the Brewers’ favor.
Playing the first Fall Classic games in Milwaukee in 44 years, the Brewers pressed all their advantages to take a 2-0 series lead, beating the Rays, 5-4, on Saturday in Game 2. Here’s the instant reaction from American Family Field:
1. The comeback kids aren’t fazed by this stage
In the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers, the Brewers became the first team in 11 years to win four games that they trailed in a best-of-seven set. That included a four-run comeback in Game 4 to punch their World Series ticket.
Given such robust recent history, the Brewers had reason to be unfazed by Tampa Bay’s error-fueled four-run rally in the first. In the bottom of the inning, they cut that lead in half, remaining pesky until Sal Frelick finally tied things on a leadoff homer in the sixth.
From there, it seemed like only a matter of time before someone -- in this case, Cooper Pratt -- came through with the game-winning hit.
“Our offense is built to kind of chip away and wear on pitchers, which I think can be good when you're trying to come back,” Frelick said. “At the same time, if we’re up, it’s the same exact approach. I think just having an offense built like that is really good.”
With another night of magic, the Brewers joined the 1996 Yankees, the 2002 Angels of Rally Monkey fame, the 2005 White Sox and the 2022 Phillies as the only teams to overcome multiple four-run deficits in a single postseason. They’re also the second team to win six postseason games in which they didn’t score first.
Consider that a bona fide trend. Counting the regular season, the Brewers are 41-37 when allowing the first run in a game. Outside of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the last team to finish with a winning record in such games was the 2009 Yankees, who not so coincidentally won the World Series.
2. Tampa Bay’s sharpest advantages have vanished
The Rays’ primary hope heading into Game 2 rested with Drew Rasmussen, their ace who was pitching on an extra day of rest. But Rasmussen’s command betrayed him in his briefest and least effective start of an otherwise stellar postseason.
The Rays’ second-best hope heading into Game 2 hinged on the fact that while most of their best relievers had yet to pitch, they had taken first looks at Milwaukee’s top arms. That changed when the Rays unleashed Cam Booser, Kevin Kelly and Ian Seymour in a losing effort, with Kelly pitching on a second straight day. Though closer Bryan Baker has yet to throw, that’s a thin comfort for the Rays at this point.
“We’re going to have to dig deep, and we’re going to have to compete from here on out,” Kelly said. “I think we understand what’s in front of us and what it’s going to take. Obviously, we would like to be in a better situation.”
3. William Contreras and Aaron Ashby have early Series MVP cases
With apologies to Frelick, it’s hard to argue against what Contreras has done so far in the Fall Classic. In Game 1, he caught two runners stealing, reached base three times, drove home a run and guided his pitchers through nine effective innings. A night later, Contreras collected two more hits and made a crucial tag at home plate, making the Rays pay for an ill-advised send of Liam Hicks -- one of the league’s slowest players -- on a Victor Mesa Jr. single in the sixth.
Through two games, Contreras is tied with Jonathan Aranda and Jackson Chourio for the Series hits lead with four, while affecting all aspects of the game. The Brewers can’t say enough kind things about him.
“He has that certain ability to do that in bigger games, and in the postseason, every game’s a big game,” Ashby said. “It’s special to see what he does.”
The same could be said for Ashby, who recorded five outs in Game 1, then returned the next night to close out Game 2 with five more. Ashby’s string of 15 2/3 scoreless innings is one out shy of Andrew Miller’s mark (2016) to begin a postseason.
4. Can Freddy Peralta fend off his old team?
Tampa Bay’s Trade Deadline reclamation project has leveled up in September and October, becoming the Rays’ rightful co-ace alongside Rasmussen. Long removed from his issues in New York, Peralta is 7-0 with an 0.89 ERA over his last 10 outings, including three playoff starts and a relief appearance.
Now, Peralta must pitch well enough in Game 3 to save Tampa Bay’s season. The catch? That start will come against the team with which he spent eight seasons.
“It is a little weird,” Peralta said. “I’ve been trying to focus on what I have to focus on, because even when I came out [before Game 1] for practice, all the people, all the fans here were showing me some love, screaming my name. Also, when I went to the bullpen last night, they were telling me, ‘We still love you.’ It’s amazing. I just have to be professional and … know my goal.”
Working in Peralta’s favor will be the fact that Game 3 will take place in St. Petersburg, where emotions shouldn’t run quite so high. He’s also been extremely effective there, with a 1.10 ERA over his last six starts at Tropicana Field.