Brewers Rally Past Rays for 2-0 World Series Lead
Milwaukee overcomes an early four-run deficit with late-inning heroics to stun Tampa Bay.
The Milwaukee Brewers mounted a dramatic comeback Saturday night, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 in Game 2 of the World Series. Sal Frelick tied the game with a home run and Cooper Pratt delivered the go-ahead single in the seventh inning, giving the Brewers a commanding 2-0 series lead.
This marks Milwaukee's seventh comeback victory of the postseason. The team also overcame a 4-0 deficit in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rays, known for forcing opponents into mistakes, committed one error and made two other misplays that contributed to Milwaukee's rally, alongside a runner being thrown out at home.
Tampa Bay established a 4-0 lead in the first inning against Brewers rookie pitcher Logan Henderson. However, Milwaukee began chipping away at the deficit against Rays ace Drew Rasmussen. David Hamilton cut the lead to 4-3 with an RBI grounder in the fourth inning.
Frelick's game-tying home run came in the sixth inning, his first long ball in three months. He drove a fastball over the center-field fence after a nine-pitch at-bat. Pratt then drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh with a single to short right field, scoring Brice Turang, who had doubled to start the inning.
Abner Uribe pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings to earn the win, and Aaron Ashby closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning for his third save of the postseason.
The Rays' initial lead came in the top of the first. After a leadoff error by shortstop Cooper Pratt, Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero hit RBI singles. Liam Hicks followed with a two-run home run, giving Tampa Bay a 4-0 advantage. Henderson struggled in his outing, allowing three runs (two earned) in three innings.
Rasmussen lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs and six hits. His shortest start since July 9.
The Brewers improve to 13-0 in games started by Henderson. Game 3 is scheduled for Monday night in St. Petersburg, Florida, with Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta set to face Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser.