Overview
- The Milwaukee Brewers clinched their first World Series with a 4-1 Game 5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday to secure the franchise’s inaugural championship.
- Jacob Misiorowski started the clincher and threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings before leaving with a right calf cramp while JoJo Romero, Abner Uribe and closer Trevor Megill finished the final 3 1/3 innings.
- William Contreras was named World Series MVP after going 8-for-21 with four RBIs, rookie Cooper Pratt set a World Series rookie mark with six straight hits, and Jackson Chourio collected a Series-record 11 hits.
- Milwaukee’s title capped a 103-win regular season and an 11-2 postseason run that included an NLDS victory over San Diego and a sweep of the two-time defending champion Dodgers in the NLCS.
- The celebration swept Milwaukee and boosted merchandise and travel demand even as the win sharpens debate over competitive balance because owners are pushing for a salary cap and a likely Dec. 2 lockout could threaten the 2027 season.