The Brewers beat the Rays 5-4 in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night at American Family Field, erasing a four-run first inning deficit to take a 2-0 series lead.

Tampa Bay scored four runs in the first inning, helped by an error from rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt. Milwaukee answered with two runs in the bottom of the first on singles from William Contreras and Garrett Mitchell, then pulled within 4-3 in the fourth by capitalizing on another Rays mistake.

Sal Frelick tied the game at 4-4 with a leadoff home run in the sixth inning, a 408-foot shot to center for his first career postseason homer. In the seventh, Brice Turang doubled to open the inning and Pratt greeted reliever Kevin Kelly with an RBI single to right field to put Milwaukee ahead 5-4.

The Brewers bullpen did the rest. Logan Henderson lasted only three innings, allowing four runs, and six Milwaukee relievers combined for six scoreless innings. Abner Uribe got four outs for the win and Aaron Ashby finished for his third save of the postseason, striking out Yandy Diaz on a check swing appeal with the tying run on third base in the ninth.

It was the second straight game Tampa Bay stranded the tying run at third in the ninth inning. The Rays have now been shut out over the final eight innings in both games after scoring early, and they have committed the kind of mistakes that lose World Series games: a ball through first base, a botched pop fly and a ninth inning that ended on an appeal.

Only 10 teams have ever come back from a 2-0 deficit to win the World Series, the last being the New York Yankees in 1996. Game 3 is Monday night in St. Petersburg, where former Brewer Freddy Peralta is expected to start for Tampa Bay against his old team.

Key Facts

  • Final: Brewers 5, Rays 4, Milwaukee leads the series 2-0
  • Winning run: Cooper Pratt RBI single in the seventh, scoring Brice Turang
  • Tying homer: Sal Frelick, solo shot in the sixth, 408 feet to center
  • Bullpen: Six scoreless innings after Logan Henderson exited after three
  • Game 3: Monday night in St. Petersburg, Peralta expected for Tampa Bay

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