The Milwaukee Brewers continued their remarkable postseason run Saturday night, overcoming an early four-run deficit to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 in Game 2 of the World Series.
Sal Frelick delivered the tying home run in the sixth inning, and rookie Cooper Pratt drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh as Milwaukee extended its winning streak to seven games. The victory gave the Brewers a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series as they pursue the franchise's first World Series championship.
Milwaukee once again demonstrated its ability to recover from difficult starts, securing its seventh comeback victory of the postseason. The Brewers had previously erased a four-run deficit against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, completing a four-game sweep.
“As long as there's game left, we have a chance. I think we've all bought into that. We're never out of it,” Pratt said.
Rays Strike Early Before Brewers Fight Back
Tampa Bay appeared to have control of the game after scoring four runs in the opening inning against rookie Logan Henderson.
The Rays capitalized on defensive mistakes and timely hitting. After Cooper Pratt's errant throw at shortstop allowed Yandy Díaz to reach base, Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero delivered RBI singles. Liam Hicks then added a two-run homer to put Tampa Bay ahead 4-0.
Milwaukee responded immediately in the bottom half against Rays starter Drew Rasmussen.
Jackson Chourio and Jake Bauers opened the inning with singles. After a defensive misplay on a foul pop-up extended the opportunity, William Contreras delivered an RBI single. Garrett Mitchell followed with a two-out hit to bring the Brewers within two runs.
The Brewers continued to chip away in the fourth inning. David Hamilton hit a grounder that scored another run, with a defensive error by first baseman Jonathan Aranda allowing the ball to get through and cutting Tampa Bay's lead to 4-3.
Milwaukee's patience and ability to keep pressure on the Rays gradually transformed the contest into a tense battle.
Sal Frelick Ends Home Run Drought With Crucial Blast
Frelick provided the decisive momentum shift in the sixth inning, launching a game-tying solo home run against left-hander Ian Seymour.
The outfielder worked through a nine-pitch at-bat before driving a fastball over the center-field fence, tying the score at 4-4 and energizing the Milwaukee crowd.
It was Frelick's first home run in three months. He had gone 103 plate appearances without hitting one since his July 11 homer against Pittsburgh.
The long ball was particularly notable because Frelick had not homered against a left-handed pitcher since Opening Day.
“I was just pumped to try to get back to the dugout,” Frelick said. “I don't hit a lot of home runs, especially to center, so I was happy it went out.”
Frelick's quick trip around the bases reflected the urgency of the moment as Milwaukee continued its comeback effort.
The home run also gave the Brewers a psychological lift after spending much of the game chasing Tampa Bay's early advantage.
Cooper Pratt Delivers the Go-Ahead Hit
Milwaukee completed the comeback in the seventh inning against Tampa Bay's bullpen.
Brice Turang opened the frame with a double against Tyler Wells and advanced to third on Garrett Mitchell's flyout to right field. Pratt then stepped up and sent a sinker from Kevin Kelly into shallow right field for an RBI single.
Turang scored to put Milwaukee ahead 5-4, giving the Brewers their first lead of the night.
Pratt, a 22-year-old who made his major league debut in June, delivered the crucial hit despite having committed a costly throwing error earlier in the game.
The Brewers' approach remained consistent even when they fell behind early.
“I feel like we've been down a lot early throughout the playoffs so far,” Frelick said. “Nine innings to play, and it doesn't really change your offensive plan at all. We're trying to go up, take a chunk of the pitcher each at-bat, pass it to the next guy and hopefully that leads to a few runs doing that.”
That steady approach once again helped Milwaukee turn a difficult situation into a postseason victory.
Brewers Bullpen Closes Out the Win
Milwaukee's pitching staff held the narrow lead through the final innings.
Abner Uribe earned the victory after delivering 1⅓ hitless innings, helping prevent Tampa Bay from regaining momentum.
The Rays threatened in the ninth when Jonny DeLuca opened the inning with a double against Aaron Ashby. However, Victor Mesa Jr. struck out after failing to hold his swing, and pinch-hitter Ben Williamson grounded out to advance the runner.
Yandy Díaz then struck out on a full-count pitch, ending the game and securing Milwaukee's 5-4 victory.
Ashby continued his impressive postseason work, recording his third save without allowing a run during the playoffs.
Milwaukee also benefited from strong defensive work in the sixth inning. When Mesa singled, Chourio threw out Hicks at home plate after third-base coach Brady Williams sent the Rays catcher from second, preventing Tampa Bay from adding another run.
Defensive Mistakes Hurt Tampa Bay
The Rays had opportunities to build on their early lead but failed to capitalize consistently.
Tampa Bay committed an error, suffered additional defensive misplays and had a runner thrown out at home. Those mistakes helped Milwaukee remain within striking distance despite its difficult start.
Pratt's throwing error contributed to Tampa Bay's opening rally, but the Brewers recovered offensively and made the necessary plays late in the contest.
The result extended a remarkable trend for Milwaukee, which has now won seven consecutive games. The Brewers became the fifth team to overcome a four-run deficit twice for victories in a single postseason, and the first to accomplish the feat since the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022.
Milwaukee also improved to 13-0 in games started by Henderson, a streak dating back to the rookie's 2025 debut. Henderson surrendered four runs, three of them earned, over three innings after receiving 11 days of rest.
Rasmussen, meanwhile, allowed three runs and six hits in 3⅔ innings, his shortest outing since July 9.
“Just felt like he wasn't as sharp as he's been for quite some time,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Brewers Move Closer to First World Series Title
Milwaukee's victory puts the club in a commanding position as the series moves to Florida.
Game 3 is scheduled for Monday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, where Tampa Bay will attempt to get back into the championship race. Both franchises are still seeking their first World Series title.
History favors the Brewers after their strong start. Of the 57 teams that previously took a 2-0 lead in a World Series, 46 went on to win the championship.
The Rays will need to respond quickly, particularly after allowing Milwaukee to erase a four-run deficit for the second time this postseason.
For the Brewers, the formula has been clear: stay patient, keep producing quality at-bats and trust that opportunities will emerge. With Frelick providing the equalizer, Pratt delivering the decisive hit and the bullpen finishing the job, Milwaukee has moved two wins closer to a historic championship.
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