Megill Escapes Ninth-Inning Chaos as Brewers Edge Rays 3-2 in World Series Opener

The Milwaukee Brewers survived a harrowing ninth inning to take Game 1 of the World Series 3-2 over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night, in front of 43,250 fans at American Family Field witnessing the franchise's first World Series game since 1982.

Rookie ace Jacob Misiorowski set the tone by firing a 103.5 mph fastball to open the game — the fastest pitch ever recorded in World Series history — and allowed one run on four hits over five gritty innings, striking out three on 78 pitches. Milwaukee jumped on Rays starter Nick Martinez, who got the ball with ace Drew Rasmussen pushed to Game 2, as Jackson Chourio led off with a single, Christian Yelich tripled him home, and William Contreras added an RBI single for a 2-0 first-inning lead. Chourio's seventh-inning RBI single made it 3-1.

The ninth was pure theater. Megill allowed back-to-back one-out singles to Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson, watched pinch runner Jorge Mateo and Simpson pull off a double steal, and walked Junior Caminero to load the bases. Liam Hicks appeared to bounce into a game-ending double play, but replay showed shortstop Cooper Pratt was pulled off the bag at second. Mateo scored on the fielder's choice to make it 3-2, but Megill struck out Jonny DeLuca with runners on second and third for his fifth postseason save. Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby had combined for three scoreless innings before the drama. Game 1 winners have taken the Series 62.8 percent of the time — and this is the first World Series between two potential first-time champions since 1980.