Brewers One Win From Title After Rookie Gasser Shuts Down Rays

If the Milwaukee Brewers win their first championship this week, a rookie who started the season in Triple-A will have had a lot to do with it. Robert Gasser threw six scoreless innings against Tampa Bay on Monday night, and the Brewers won 10-1.

Gasser allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out three. He retired 12 batters in a row after a leadoff single by Yandy Diaz in the first, which ended when Chandler Simpson was thrown out trying to steal second. Tampa Bay's only run came after he left the game. Milwaukee now leads the series and can clinch its first title in its next game.

It was the first time a starter had faced the minimum over six innings in a World Series game since Curt Schilling did it for Arizona in Game 7 of 2001. The last left-handed starter to do it was Sandy Koufax in Game 5 of 1965.

Gasser, 27, was drafted by San Diego in 2021 and traded to Milwaukee in 2022 for Josh Hader. He debuted in the majors in 2024, then had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow after five starts. He finished the regular season with a 1.67 ERA over his last six appearances. "It's a special opportunity that we all have to be here," Gasser said. "To be nervous or scared would only be cheating myself and my teammates."

Milwaukee has won four straight road postseason games, three started by Gasser. Before this year, the Brewers had lost 12 straight postseason road games dating to 2018, tying a record set by Washington and Minnesota from 1925 to 1987. "He's been great for us all year, all postseason," Christian Yelich said. "And he's got that steady heartbeat. The moment's never too big for him."

Brice Turang had three hits and two RBIs for Milwaukee. Gasser left after the sixth with the game still scoreless.