The first phase of the World Series is complete. It’s been a faceoff of similar ideals, similar team makeup, and, yes, similar team payrolls. In the late October Wisconsin air, with a gentle breeze blowing off Lake Michigan, the Brewers defended their home field, winning the first two games of the Fall Classic. On Saturday night, though, the Rays fought until the bitter end; Milwaukee had just enough of an edge for a 5-4 dub. The series is on to Tampa Bay; action resumes Monday evening. If the next matchups feature the same Brew Crew strengths and the same Floridian shortcomings, it may be a short series.
Milwaukee Pitching Weathers the Storm
Things got dicey quickly at American Family Field when Tampa Bay scored four runs in the first inning. Though starter Logan Henderson did not allow further damage, his night was done after the third inning. For other teams, trusting the bullpen to handle most of a postseason showdown could be too much of an ask, but this is no ordinary team and no ordinary collection of arms. Five relievers handled the rest of the game in shutout fashion. This came just 24 hours after they worked through four tense innings. Continued impressive stuff from what has been the best bullpen in baseball this year.
Unexpected Heroes
To win at the highest level, you need all your guys at their best, or, hopefully, even better than their best. Great stars are almost a given; the real difference-maker is often an unexpected bit of magic. This time, that came in the form of outfielder Sal Frelick. Frelick hadn't hit a home run in months when he stepped to the plate in the sixth inning, with the Brewers down a run. That drought ended with a game-tying solo shot to center field,
Rays Getting Beaten at Their Own Game
Reckoning with the idea that your formula for winning, wildly successful all season, might now be insufficient is brutal, but it’s likely necessary on Tampa’s trip home. All year, they have succeeded thanks to a disciplined, contact-centric offense and a mistake-minimizing defense. The only trouble is Milwaukee has been doing almost the same thing, and it’s worked better for them in head-to-head matchups. The Rays don't need to reinvent the wheel to save their ring aspirations, but they must raise their game.
