The Milwaukee Brewers have won the World Series for the first time in the franchise's 57-year history, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 on Wednesday in Florida to clinch the best-of-seven series 4-1.
The Brewers, who entered Major League Baseball in 1969 as the Seattle Pilots before moving to Milwaukee after one season, had previously reached the World Series only in 1982. Despite operating in MLB's smallest market and with the 19th-highest payroll among 30 teams, Milwaukee finished the regular season with the league's best record for the second consecutive year and dominated the postseason with 11 wins in 13 games.
After sweeping the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, the Brewers won the first two games at home in Wisconsin and the third in Florida before the Rays, the American League's top seed, forced a Game 5.
In the decisive game, Milwaukee took the lead in the second inning on a Cooper Pratt single that scored Brice Turang, added a run in the fifth on a David Hamilton hit, and extended the advantage with a William Contreras double and a Pratt sacrifice fly. Starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski exited in the sixth inning, and the Rays scored their lone run in the ninth when Chandler Simpson doubled home Liam Hicks.
Catcher William Contreras, 28, was named the World Series Most Valuable Player, becoming the eighth catcher to win the award and the third Venezuelan. Contreras, along with teammates Jackson Chourio and Antonio Senzatela, also helped Venezuela win the World Baseball Classic in March.
