Brewers Crush Rays 10-1 in Game 3, Move One Win Away From World Series Title.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Milwaukee Brewers are one victory away from making franchise history after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 10-1 in Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night at Tropicana Field. Milwaukee delivered an impressive offensive performance, highlighted by an eight-run fifth inning that broke the game open. The victory gave the Brewers a commanding 3-0 series lead and brought them within reach of their first World Series championship. Jackson Chourio led Milwaukee's offense with four hits in five at-bats, while William Contreras added three hits. The Brewers finished with 16 hits and extended their postseason winning streak to eight games. Rookie pitcher Robert Gasser provided another outstanding performance for Milwaukee, limiting Tampa Bay to one hit through six innings. The left-hander faced the minimum number of batters during that stretch, becoming the first left-handed pitcher to accomplish the feat in a World Series game since Sandy Koufax in 1965. Gasser surrendered a leadoff single to Yandy Díaz in the first inning before retiring 14 consecutive hitters. Victor Mesa Jr. eventually reached base on a walk in the sixth.
The rookie has now allowed just one run across 15 innings in three postseason starts, all on the road. Milwaukee's offense took complete control during the fifth inning. With two outs, the Brewers put together seven consecutive hits, setting a postseason record. A replay review overturned what initially appeared to be an inning-ending forceout at second base, allowing Milwaukee to continue its rally. Brice Turang delivered a two-run hit that shortstop Taylor Walls was unable to secure. Garrett Mitchell followed with an RBI single before Cooper Pratt drove in two more runs with a double. Sal Frelick added a run-scoring double, while David Hamilton and Chourio contributed RBI hits to complete the eight-run inning.
The offensive explosion gave Milwaukee an 8-0 advantage and left Tampa Bay facing a difficult comeback.
Rays starting pitcher Freddy Peralta struggled against his former team, allowing five runs on seven hits over 4⅔ innings. Tampa Bay's bullpen was unable to contain Milwaukee's offense after his departure. Chourio's performance also earned him a place in World Series history. He became the second-youngest player to record four hits and a stolen base in a World Series game, joining a distinction previously achieved by Ty Cobb in 1908.
For Tampa Bay, the defeat continued a disappointing start to the championship series.
After losing two competitive games in Milwaukee, the Rays returned home hoping to regain momentum. Instead, defensive mistakes and Milwaukee's relentless offense turned Game 3 into a one-sided contest. A sold-out crowd of 40,388 attended the game at Tropicana Field, but Tampa Bay struggled to generate offense against Milwaukee's pitching.
The Rays entered the postseason after winning 98 regular-season games, finishing with the American League's best record. They advanced to the World Series by sweeping the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series and defeating the Cleveland Guardians in six games in the AL Championship Series. However, Tampa Bay now faces the challenge of overcoming a 3-0 deficit, something only one team has accomplished in a best-of-seven Major League Baseball postseason series. The 2004 Boston Red Sox remain the only team to overcome that deficit, winning four consecutive games against the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series. Milwaukee, meanwhile, continues to build on a remarkable season. The Brewers led Major League Baseball with 103 regular-season victories before defeating the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series and sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
Under manager Pat Murphy, Milwaukee is now approaching a championship that has eluded the organization throughout its history. The franchise began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 before relocating to Milwaukee in 1970. Its only previous World Series appearance came in 1982, when the Brewers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.
A victory in Game 4 would not only secure Milwaukee's first championship but also make the Brewers the first team since the 1976 Cincinnati Reds to sweep both the League Championship Series and World Series.
Historically, teams holding a 3-0 World Series lead have never lost the championship. Of the previous 25 teams to take that advantage, 21 completed a four-game sweep, while the remaining four secured the title in five games.
What's Next
The Brewers will look to complete the sweep Tuesday night in Game 4 at Tropicana Field.
For Milwaukee, the opportunity is clear: one more victory would deliver the franchise's first World Series championship. For Tampa Bay, the focus shifts to avoiding elimination and extending the series. With momentum firmly on their side, the Brewers are now just nine innings away from potentially celebrating a historic championship.
