Brewers Rally Past Rays to Take 2-0 World Series Lead

Milwaukee overcame an early four-run deficit to defeat Tampa Bay 5-4 in Game 2 of the 2026 World Series on Saturday, putting the Brewers two wins away from their first championship in franchise history. The victory at American Family Field gave Milwaukee a 2-0 series lead before the matchup shifts to Tampa Bay for Game 3 on Monday.

The Rays scored four runs in the top of the first inning against Brewers rookie starter Logan Henderson, but Milwaukee responded with five unanswered runs. According to the game report published by Yahoo Sports, the comeback featured 11 hits, five walks and six scoreless innings from the Brewers' bullpen.

Tampa Bay opened the scoring when Yandy Díaz reached on an error, followed by RBI singles from Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero. Liam Hicks then hit a two-run home run to establish a 4-0 advantage, ending Henderson's streak of never allowing more than three runs in a game across his first 25 career starts.

Milwaukee answered with two runs in the bottom of the first on hits by William Contreras and Garrett Mitchell. The Brewers added another run in the fourth after an error by Jonathan Aranda, then loaded the bases and forced Rays starter Drew Rasmussen out of the game when Jake Bauers drew a walk.

Rasmussen lasted 3 2/3 innings and threw 89 pitches. The outing was his shortest since July 9 and tied for his second-shortest start of the 2026 season across the regular season and postseason.

The Rays missed an opportunity to add insurance in the sixth inning when third-base coach Brady Williams sent Hicks home on a single by Victor Mesa Jr. Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio retrieved the ball in time for the throw to beat Hicks to the plate. Tampa Bay challenged the play, arguing that Contreras had obstructed the plate, but the challenge was unsuccessful.

Milwaukee then completed the comeback with two runs in the final three innings. Sal Frelick tied the game with a solo home run off Rays left-hander Cam Booser in the sixth, and rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt delivered the go-ahead run in the seventh with a single that scored Brice Turang, who had opened the inning with a double.

The Brewers' bullpen protected the lead after Henderson departed following three innings. JoJo Romero, Dustin May, DL Hall, Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby combined for six scoreless innings, limiting Tampa Bay's opportunities to recover.

Ashby closed the game after the Rays threatened in the ninth. DeLuca doubled to open the inning, moving the tying run into scoring position, but Ashby recorded two outs and struck out Díaz to end the game with the tying run at third base.

According to the game report, Ashby has now recorded 15 2/3 scoreless innings this postseason, allowing five hits and striking out 17 batters.

Game 3 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET Monday in Tampa Bay. Freddy Peralta is scheduled to start for the Rays, while left-hander Robert Gasser is set to take the mound for Milwaukee.