Brewers win the World Series: Megill gets final six outs as Milwaukee beats Rays 4-1 for first title

Yes, the World Series is over, and the Milwaukee Brewers are champions for the first time. One night after the Tampa Bay Rays walked them off in 12 innings, the Brewers beat the Rays 4-1 in Game 5 on Wednesday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, to take the series 4-1 and end a 57-season wait for a title.

Closer Trevor Megill was on the mound at the finish. Brought in for a two-inning save, he recorded the last six outs, and the final out came on a soft ground ball that second baseman Brice Turang turned into a throw to first to retire Richie Palacios, according to NBC News and Yahoo Sports.

“This is just incredible,” Megill said after the game, per NBC News. “Ten-year-old me would be so proud.”

How did the Brewers win Game 5?

The way they won most of October: pitching, defense and runs from the bottom of the order. Milwaukee hit no home runs on Wednesday. NBC News noted the Brewers drove in their runs with two singles, a sacrifice fly and a double.

• Early lead: Rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt singled in the first run off Rays ace Drew Rasmussen, who was starting on short rest. Yahoo Sports reported Pratt set a World Series rookie record with six straight hits across Games 4 and 5.
• Fifth inning: After Rays manager Kevin Cash pulled Rasmussen following four innings and 48 pitches, reliever Kevin Kelly gave up three straight singles to the Brewers’ Nos. 7, 8 and 9 hitters. David Hamilton’s single through a drawn-in infield made it 2-0.
• Sixth inning: William Contreras doubled home Christian Yelich for a 3-0 lead, USA Today reported, and Milwaukee added another run.
• Ninth inning: Tampa Bay’s only run came on a two-out RBI double by Chandler Simpson that scored Liam Hicks. Four pitches later, the game was over.

Who pitched for Milwaukee?

Jacob Misiorowski threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, before leaving with a cramping calf, according to Yahoo Sports. He finished the postseason with a 1.89 ERA. JoJo Romero and Abner Uribe each got two outs before Megill took over. Aaron Ashby, one of the breakout arms of the postseason, warmed up late but was not needed.

Who was the World Series MVP?

Catcher William Contreras. He hit .381 (8-for-21) with four RBIs in the series, per USA Today, which also reported he set a franchise record with 19 postseason hits and threw out four would-be base stealers in the first four games. He is the first World Series MVP in Brewers history. “I don’t have words to say,” Contreras said through a translator, according to NBC News.

Have the Brewers ever won a World Series before?

No. This is the franchise’s first title. The team began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and moved to Milwaukee the next year, as WBAY noted. Its only previous World Series trip, in 1982, ended in a seven-game loss. Milwaukee’s last World Series title came from the 1957 Braves, who later moved to Atlanta.

With the Brewers off the list, four current franchises have never won the World Series: the Rays, Mariners, Padres and Rockies, Yahoo Sports said.

What about Pat Murphy?

Manager Pat Murphy, 67, guided a small-market club with a payroll NBC News said ranked 19th of 30 teams to an MLB-best 103 regular-season wins and the title. Yahoo Sports credited Murphy and president of baseball operations Matt Arnold with building a team that bunted, ran, played defense and leaned on multi-inning relievers. Murphy took over after Craig Counsell left for the Cubs.

When is the Brewers parade?

Owner Mark Attanasio announced the championship parade for Friday, Oct. 30, at 10 a.m. in Milwaukee, according to WBAY. The route is reported to start at N. 4th Street and W. Wisconsin Avenue, run through downtown and end at Henry Maier Festival Park with a fan rally. Admission to the grounds is free until they reach capacity.

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Earlier coverage: Who won the World Series? Not yet: Rays walk off Brewers 4-3 in 12 innings to force Game 5 (Oct 28)