The Milwaukee Brewers moved to within one win of their first World Series title after routing the Tampa Bay Rays 10-0 in Game Three at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg.
Milwaukee, already leading the best-of-seven series 2-0, seized control with an eight-run fifth inning and never looked back. The victory leaves the Brewers with a commanding 3-0 advantage and puts the Rays on the brink of elimination.
Jackson Chourio was central to the Brewers’ surge, collecting four hits as Milwaukee’s batting order repeatedly exposed the Rays’ pitching. The decisive fifth-inning rally came with two outs, turning a 2-0 contest into a 10-0 rout.
Robert Gasser provided the platform for the victory, holding Tampa Bay scoreless through six innings. The Brewers’ left-hander allowed only one hit after the Rays’ opening batter reached base, while striking out three and issuing one walk.
The game carried added significance for Freddy Peralta, the Rays starter who spent the first eight seasons of his career with Milwaukee. Peralta was removed with two outs in the fifth inning after failing to contain the Brewers’ attacking line-up.
Brewers take commanding World Series lead
Milwaukee had won the opening two games by narrow margins, beating Tampa Bay 3-2 and 5-4. Game Three was a markedly different contest, with the Brewers’ offence producing its biggest scoring burst of the series so far.
The result also extended Milwaukee’s outstanding run through the latter stages of the post-season. The Brewers had swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series before winning all three World Series games to date.
Tampa Bay must now win Game Four at home on Tuesday to keep the series alive. No team has overturned a 3-0 deficit in a World Series, leaving the Rays facing the most difficult task in baseball as Milwaukee closes in on a long-awaited championship.
