ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Milwaukee Brewers sit just one victory away from the first World Series title in franchise history, holding a commanding 3-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays after a record-setting offensive explosion in Game 3.
Milwaukee enters Game 4 riding an eight-game postseason winning streak, including five victories on the road, Sports Illustrated reported. A victory to finish the series would make the Brewers the 20th team in Major League Baseball history to sweep the Fall Classic, according to The Sporting News.
Historic Two-Out Rally Breaks Game 3 Open
The Brewers seized control of Game 3 on Monday night at Tropicana Field during an unprecedented fifth inning. Holding a 2-0 lead with two outs and a runner on first base, Jackson Chourio stole second base, Baseball Now reported.
Tampa Bay pitcher Freddy Peralta then walked Christian Yelich and surrendered an infield single to catcher William Contreras to load the bases. Rays manager Kevin Cash called on reliever Cam Booser, who surrendered four consecutive hits without recording an out, allowing five runs to cross the plate, according to Baseball Now.
Reliever Cole Sulser took over but yielded two more hits before finally ending the frame. When the rally concluded, Milwaukee had racked up seven straight hits and eight runs with two outs, setting World Series records in both categories on the way to a 10-1 rout, Baseball Now reported.
Methodical Offense Overwhelms Tampa Bay
Rather than relying on power, Milwaukee has dismantled Tampa Bay through persistent baserunning and situational hitting. Across the past 17 1/2 innings, the Brewers have outscored the Rays 15-1 while hitting just a single home run, according to Sports Illustrated.
Since falling behind 4-0 in the opening inning of Game 2, the Brewers have produced 27 hits, five doubles, eight walks and 13 strikeouts, Sports Illustrated reported. Over that stretch, Milwaukee batted 12-for-33 with runners in scoring position, including a 9-for-18 showing in Game 3.
Contreras has served as a primary catalyst throughout the matchup, batting .538 with three RBIs across the first three contests to emerge as an early candidate for World Series Most Valuable Player honors, ClutchPoints reported.
Contreras Sparks Debate as Title Looms
The intensity surrounding Contreras also sparked online debate during Game 3. Hall of Fame pitcher and television analyst John Smoltz drew criticism from Brewers supporters after suggesting during the broadcast that Contreras should not challenge balls and strikes while Milwaukee held a 2-0 lead in the third inning, ClutchPoints reported.
Smoltz, who pitched in five World Series with the Atlanta Braves during the 1990s and entered the Hall of Fame in 2015, drew backlash from fans on social media who argued that every pitch carries weight in the Fall Classic, according to ClutchPoints.
A sweep would put Milwaukee in rare baseball company. The 1914 Boston Braves were the first club to sweep a World Series, while the 2012 San Francisco Giants were the most recent team to accomplish the feat, according to The Sporting News. ClutchPoints reported Game 4 is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Eastern time at Tropicana Field, while Sports Illustrated noted the Brewers could look to close out the title on Tuesday night.
