Brewers win first World Series title

Milwaukee Brewers fans at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, saw their team capture its first World Series championship on Wednesday night. The Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 to claim the title.

Jacob Misiorowski led the pitching staff with 5 2/3 scoreless innings. The 24-year-old right-hander threw 86 pitches, 58 of which were strikes. He allowed only two hits before leaving the game due to a right calf cramp. Misiorowski received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Offense was led by rookie Cooper Pratt, who recorded two hits and two runs batted in. Pratt set a Series rookie record with six consecutive hits before hitting a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. Jackson Chourio finished the Series with 11 hits, setting a five-game record.

William Contreras, named World Series MVP, contributed an RBI double in the sixth inning. The Brewers took a 4-0 lead in the sixth after Pratt’s sacrifice fly. The Rays scored one run in the ninth inning, but the Brewers held on for the victory.

Manager Pat Murphy called the 2026 team a group that prioritized winning over individual statistics. Murphy, who survived a heart attack in 2020, led the team to 103 wins in the regular season. The squad went 11-2 in the postseason, including a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

Captain Christian Yelich said the team was happy to bring the championship home to a city that had waited a long time. Yelich noted that the city’s fans were present at the stadium and eager for the celebration. The Brewers’ previous World Series appearance in 1982 ended in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash described his team as grateful for their effort despite the loss. The Rays had fallen behind 3-0 in the series, a feat few teams have attempted to overcome. They became the fifth team to lose in Game 5 after dropping the first three games.

The championship ends a 44-year wait for a Milwaukee baseball title. The only other Milwaukee MLB championship was won by the Braves in 1957. The Brewers, who began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969, now have their name in the record books for their first major league pennant.

The series ended with Trevor Megill retiring Richie Palacios on a grounder to second base. Megill threw his arms in the air before being mobbed by teammates. Owner Mark Attanasio told fans from the postgame stage that Milwaukee had its world championship. The team returned home to a city celebrating its small-market success.

The result occurs as MLB owners push for a salary cap. A management lockout is likely to begin on Dec. 2, potentially affecting the 2027 season. This was the first Series since 1991 to feature two teams from the bottom half of payrolls. The Brewers ranked 19th and the Rays ranked 25th in payroll as of Aug. 31.