Brewers hold off the Rays 3-2 in World Series Game 1 as Trevor Megill escapes a ninth-inning jam

Trevor Megill struck out Jonny DeLuca with runners on second and third to escape a ninth-inning jam as the Milwaukee Brewers held off the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night in Milwaukee.

Christian Yelich hit an RBI triple in a two-run first inning that put the Brewers ahead for good. The sellout crowd was celebrating Milwaukee's first World Series game since 1982.

Jacob Misiorowski allowed one run over five innings to earn the win. He opened the night with the fastest pitch ever thrown in a World Series game, a 103.5 mph fastball to Yandy Díaz.

Drama in the ninth

Tampa Bay had not put a runner on base since the sixth inning when it rallied against Megill. Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson hit back-to-back one-out singles. A double steal by pinch-runner Jorge Mateo and Simpson put the tying run in scoring position. Junior Caminero then walked on a full-count pitch in the dirt to load the bases.

Liam Hicks hit a grounder to the right side. Second baseman Brice Turang ranged to his left and threw to shortstop Cooper Pratt for what was first ruled a game-ending double play.

A replay review showed Pratt's right foot had come off the bag as he caught the throw. Hicks was still out at first, but a run scored to make it 3-2 with runners on second and third. Megill then got DeLuca swinging to end it.

A record first pitch

Misiorowski's first-pitch heater was taken for a ball above the zone. It broke the World Series record of 103.2 mph set by Aroldis Chapman in 2016. The 24-year-old right-hander reached 100 mph 38 times, another World Series record. He also became the youngest pitcher to win a World Series opener since 1997.

Yelich sets the tone

Jackson Chourio lined a single on the first pitch from Rays starter Nick Martinez. Yelich drove him home with a triple to center that DeLuca just missed with a diving try. Yelich was the first player to triple in his first World Series plate appearance since 1985. William Contreras followed with an RBI single.

Tampa Bay got a run back in the fourth. Aranda walked, moved to third on a Caminero double and scored on a Hicks groundout. Milwaukee added an insurance run in the seventh when Pratt walked and later scored on a two-out single by Chourio.

Contreras had two hits, drew a walk and threw out two would-be base stealers. Chourio also had two hits. Martinez struck out five and allowed two runs over five innings.

History on the line

It is the first World Series between two franchises still chasing their first title since 1980. Game 1 winners have gone on to win the Series about 63% of the time.

Up next

Game 2 is Saturday at 7 p.m. Central in Milwaukee. The Rays will start ace Drew Rasmussen, who has a 1.29 ERA this postseason. The Brewers will counter with Logan Henderson.