Brewers Secure First World Series Title by Defeating Rays in Game 5

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Many characterized the team as inexperienced and overlooked, criticized for their lack of offensive power and frugality, their identity shaped more by their shortcomings than their strengths. Yet they clinched 103 wins during the regular season, leading Major League Baseball for the second consecutive year, and come playoff time, the Milwaukee Brewers were often labeled as underdogs, a title they had grown familiar with.

This time, however, they have earned a new designation: champions.

In a decisive Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night, the Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1, concluding a commanding postseason journey and securing the franchise’s first title in 57 years in front of thousands of fans who traveled 1,300 miles from Milwaukee.

As the clock approached midnight, Brewers owner Mark Attanasio stood on a makeshift platform in center field, gazing at a lower bowl filled with supporters dressed in navy blue and yellow, feeling as though he was lifting the championship trophy on behalf of Milwaukee.

“It was unbelievable,” Attanasio expressed.

“You talk about them waiting for this moment for so long, but it really reflects their unwavering devotion to this team,” said Brewers manager Pat Murphy. “This commitment has been building over time, throughout last year and this one, and it shows what this means to them. It’s not limited to just Milwaukee; it encompasses the entire state of Wisconsin. I hope they feel proud. I hope they acknowledge how special this team is.”

Despite having the 19th-highest payroll in baseball, ranking 28th in home runs, and being perceived as a team ill-suited for success at this time of year, the Brewers displayed resilience by going 11-2 in the playoffs. They battled through a tense National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres before overpowering the Los Angeles Dodgers, the two-time reigning champions, in the NL Championship Series, and triumphing over the similarly underrated Rays in the final series.

The victory was fittingly initiated by Jacob Misiorowski, who dominated the Rays lineup with triple-digit fastballs, tossing five scoreless innings while striking out two and allowing only four baserunners. Misiorowski exited the game in the sixth inning due to a cramp in his right calf, the first time he pitched beyond the fifth inning in these playoffs, although he had already made an impact.

Cooper Pratt, the rookie shortstop who nearly secured the championship with a home run in the 12th inning of Game 4, drove in the opening run in the second inning with a line-drive single against Rays ace Drew Rasmussen, who was pitching on three days’ rest. Pratt collected another single in the fifth inning, achieving six consecutive hits in as many at-bats, eventually scoring on another hit from David Hamilton. The Brewers added two more runs against the Rays’ bullpen in the sixth inning courtesy of William Contreras’ double and Pratt’s sacrifice fly, setting the stage for the bullpen to take control.

It was a sequence involving JoJo Romero, followed by Abner Uribe, and for the final two innings, Trevor Megill. The Rays managed to score a run on Chandler Simpson’s double with two outs, but Megill responded with a 99.1 mph fastball that jammed Richie Palacios, resulting in a slow roller to second baseman Brice Turang for the game-ending out, igniting a jubilant celebration.

Former Brewers great Ryan Braun donned a black T-shirt featuring famed broadcaster Bob Uecker. Robin Yount, the star of the last Brewers team to reach the World Series in 1982, embraced Christian Yelich. Sal Frelick, the compact right fielder who symbolizes what makes this team special, proudly displayed a copy of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that proclaimed, “WORLD CHAMPS!”

Following the pennant victory, the team celebrated by spraying champagne bottles with the names of former players who had participated in postseason games for the franchise. This time, those bottles bore the names of family and mentors. Pratt lifted a can of Fanta in each hand, continuing a celebratory tradition.

“Man, this is incredible,” he remarked. “How enjoyable is this?”

Pratt became the first player since David Ortiz in 2013 to achieve a hit in six consecutive World Series at-bats and just the second rookie to record seven RBIs in the final series.

He certainly wasn’t the only one who made an impact in the record books.

Aaron Ashby compiled 18 consecutive scoreless innings, setting a new record for a reliever in a single postseason. Jackson Chourio matched a mark set by Babe Ruth with 10 hits in the first four games. Contreras accomplished all this while earning the MVP trophy, posting an .863 OPS, throwing out four attempted base stealers, and achieving 10-for-13 in ABS challenges after struggling with pitch reviews during the regular season, while also guiding a pitching staff that limited the Rays to a .182 batting average.

“I’m not looking to offend any other catchers in the league; I have no intention of doing that,” Contreras noted. “But standing here today as the world champion, I feel like I am the best catcher in the league.”

Contreras serves as a key player, Chourio shines as the star, Turang stands as the reliable force, and Yelich leads as the captain, yet the Brewers’ entire lineup exhibited tenacity throughout this postseason, consistently working through counts, capitalizing on errors, and overcoming deficits. Misiorowski is the ace, a top contender for the NL Cy Young Award, while Logan Henderson has clearly emerged as a strong pitcher as well. Robert Gasser recorded an impressive 0.60 ERA in three postseason starts. The team’s relievers, particularly Megill, Uribe, and the standout Ashby, were untouchable when their performance was most critical.

This success was orchestrated by Murphy, the baseball nomad with the mindset of a football coach, who somehow maintained a relaxed atmosphere while demanding excellence. It was constructed by Matt Arnold, the front office leader recognized for their ability to acquire talent, develop players, and remain competitive despite budget constraints.

“Just the trust between each other and the determination to never give up on one another,” Turang expressed when explaining the uniqueness of this group. “It’s remarkable. You can discuss it endlessly, but it barely scratches the surface of its significance. We are so much more than that.”

The Brewers have reached the playoffs seven times in the last eight years but repeatedly fell short. They made it to the NLCS in 2018 and 2025 but were defeated by the Dodgers on both occasions, first in seven games and then in four. Throughout this journey, their baseball operations team was often criticized for trading away homegrown talent like Josh Hader, Willy Adames, and Freddy Peralta as they approached free agency, and later for missing the chance to acquire Tarik Skubal before this year’s trade deadline.

The Brewers remained steadfast in their strategy. They viewed it as their sole pathway to contend in a league dominated by higher spenders, keeping faith that their efforts would eventually lead to the ultimate reward. Murphy noted that encouraging signs began to surface in late September, as he observed a team functioning in harmony and realized they had ended the season with the best record in baseball by a substantial margin. He witnessed his players bonding and holding each other accountable as never before.

This culminated in an NLDS against a formidable Padres squad, where they triumphed in the most thrilling manner possible — a Ty France fly ball striking a roof cable, a stunning walk-off against Mason Miller, and a Manny Machado fly ball remaining in play – sparking belief that something extraordinary was unfolding. The Brewers faced deficits in every game of the NLCS against the Dodgers, yet it seemed to fuel their determination. They found themselves four runs down in the first inning of World Series Game 2, yet this only spurred them on.

Murphy remarked: “We were relentless.”

“They showed so much heart,” Arnold added. “In this era, we measure everything, but you cannot quantify the heart of this team.”