Brewers Secure First Franchise Title in 58 Seasons
Milwaukee defeated Tampa Bay 4-1 in Game 5 to clinch the championship, capping a postseason run that included a sweep of the Dodgers.
By Haruka Ricci ·
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field to claim their first championship in franchise history. The victory ended a 58-year wait for the organization, which originated as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and relocated to Wisconsin in 1970. Captain Christian Yelich told reporters that the team was happy to bring the title back to the city after a long wait.
Young pitcher Jacob Misiorowski threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the decisive game. He allowed only two hits before leaving due to a right calf cramp. Misiorowski, who is 24, opened the game with 12 consecutive four-seam fastballs, reaching speeds up to 103 miles per hour. He finished with 86 pitches, 58 of which were strikes. The right-hander recorded two strikeouts, matching his career low, and allowed one run over the series.
Rookie Cooper Pratt, who made his major league debut in June, contributed two hits and two runs batted in during the final game. His performance included a record-setting six consecutive hits in the World Series. Jackson Chourio set a five-game series record with 11 total hits. World Series MVP William Contreras hit an RBI double in the sixth inning to extend Milwaukee's lead.
Manager Pat Murphy, 67, led a team that overcame a 3-1 deficit in the regular season standings to finish with 103 wins. The Brewers went 11-2 in the postseason, including seven comeback victories. They swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Murphy said the 2026 group would be remembered for prioritizing team cohesion over individual statistics.
The championship arrives at a moment of labor tension in baseball. A management lockout is scheduled to begin on Dec. 2, potentially threatening the 2027 season. Owners have argued that a salary cap is necessary for small-market teams to compete. The Brewers ranked 19th in payroll as of Aug. 31, while the Rays were 25th. This marked the first World Series since 1991 between two teams from the bottom half of payrolls.
The Rays, an expansion team that debuted in 1998, dropped to 0-3 in World Series appearances. They had previously lost in 2008 and 2020. Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash described his team as close-knit despite the loss. The Brewers' last major league championship prior to this was won by the Braves in 1957, a team that moved to Atlanta before the 1966 season.
Source: WCBE
