Frelick's Homer Lifts Brewers to Series Tie

Sal Frelick became the unlikely hero of Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday, hitting a game-tying home run that propelled the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. The win sends the series to Florida tied at one game apiece and gives the Brewers a chance to capture their first World Series title in franchise history.

Frelick, who had only hit four home runs in 407 plate appearances during the regular season, connected for his first longball in three months to erase an early deficit. Cooper Pratt followed with the go-ahead single in the seventh inning as Milwaukee overcame a 4-0 hole. This marked the Brewers' seventh comeback win of the postseason.

"To be honest, I feel like we've been down a lot early throughout the whole playoffs so far," Frelick told Fox Sports after the game. "Nine innings to play, and it doesn't really change your offensive plan at all. We're trying to go up, take a chunk of the pitcher each at-bat, pass it to the next guy and hopefully that leads to a few runs doing that."

Tampa Bay, a team known for forcing opponents into mistakes, committed one error, made two other defensive misplays, and had a runner thrown out at the plate. The Rays had burst ahead against Brewers rookie Logan Henderson, but Milwaukee began to claw back with two runs against Tampa Bay ace Drew Rasmussen.

David Hamilton cut the deficit to 4-3 with a run-scoring grounder in the fourth. Frelick then tied the game in the sixth with a nine-pitch at-bat, driving a fastball over the center-field fence. Pratt's single in the seventh ultimately provided the winning run.

Abner Uribe pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings for the win in relief. Brice Turang doubled and advanced on a flyout before Pratt's looping single found the gap.

The Brewers improved to 13-0 in games started by Henderson, dating to his 2025 debut. Henderson, who started on 11 days' rest, struggled through three innings, giving up four runs, three earned. Rasmussen, despite extra rest, allowed three runs and six hits over 3 2/3 innings, his shortest start since July 9.

"Just felt like he wasn't as sharp as he's been for quite some time," Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Rasmussen.

World Series fever appears to have gripped Milwaukee. Saturday's game was played before an over-capacity crowd of 43,245 spectators. According to MLB officials, the club has sold more merchandise than any team in postseason history.

Frelick's home run trot was notably swift, as he rounded the bases in 18.72 seconds. "I was just pumped to try to get back to the dugout," Frelick said. "I don't hit a lot of home runs, especially to center, so I was happy it went out."

Fans at the game, the second of Milwaukee's first World Series appearance since 1982, were enthusiastic. An accordionist played "Beer Barrel Polka" during the seventh-inning stretch.

MCConding to the notes, the Milwaukee Brewers are now headed to Florida with a chance to capture their first Fall Classic title in franchise history. Game 3 is scheduled for Monday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.