Digital Sports Desk

Milwaukee’s Wait is Over

Digital Sports Desk — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:12:14 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG – The Milwaukee Brewers’ 57-season wait is over.

The team from Major League Baseball’s smallest market made its biggest statement on Wednesday by capturing its first World Series title.

Embed from Getty Images

Rookie Cooper Pratt drove in two runs and Jacob Misiorowski tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings, helping the Brewers to a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Brewers, who dispatched the Rays in five games, won 11 of their 13 postseason games for their first championship since the franchise relocated from Seattle in 1970.

“I know the city has waited a long, long time for this, and we’re so happy to bring it back to them,” Brewers captain Christian Yelich said. “I can’t wait to get back there and celebrate.”

Pratt followed up his four-hit performance in Game 4 on Tuesday with an RBI single in the second inning and a base hit in the fifth. His six consecutive hits set a World Series record for a rookie, eclipsing the mark set by the New York Yankees’ Brian Doyle in 1978.

Pratt’s run of consecutive hits ended with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.

“This is one of the greatest moments of my life,” Pratt, 22, told Fox Sports. “Oh my gosh. It doesn’t even feel real.”

William Contreras was selected the World Series MVP after going 8-for-21 (.381) with four RBIs against the Rays. He ripped an RBI double, and David Hamilton added a run-scoring single to mark his fourth straight game with an RBI.

The offense was more than enough for Misiorowski (2-0), who notched his second win in the World Series. The fireballer scattered two hits and a walk before exiting in the sixth inning due to a cramp in his right calf. He struck out two.

“I don’t even have words,” Misiorowski told Fox Sports with a tear in his eye. “You know, it’s amazing, just watching my guys celebrate. In the city, I know they’re going crazy in Milwaukee. It’s awesome.”

Two relievers bridged the gap to Trevor Megill, who handled the last two innings. Megill allowed an RBI double to Chandler Simpson with two outs in the ninth before inducing Richie Palacios to ground to second base for the final out.

“I’m crushed right now (and) disappointed,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “But it’s easier to handle because of what we all meant to each other throughout the course of this season and certainly this last month in October.”

Pitching on three days’ rest, Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen (2-1) ran into trouble in the second inning.

Brice Turang ripped a one-out double and scored two batters later after Pratt deposited a first-pitch cutter from Rasmussen into center field.

The Rays attempted to respond in the fourth inning after Simpson took advantage of a slight bobble by right fielder Sal Frelick to reach second after a single. That put runners on second and third base, but Misiorowski induced Ben Williamson to ground out to end the inning.

Pratt notched his sixth consecutive hit over a two-game stretch with a one-out single off Kevin Kelly in the fifth inning. Garrett Mitchell and Hamilton each added a single, with the latter’s hit to right field plating Pratt to give Milwaukee a 2-0 lead.

The Brewers tacked on two more runs in the sixth. Contreras’ double off the left field wall scored Yelich from first base. Pratt followed three batters later with a fly ball into foul territory, but it was deep enough for Contreras to score from third base.

Rasmussen permitted one run on two hits in four innings. He fanned four without issuing a walk.

The Brewers were appearing in their second World Series, having lost in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982. The Rays are still seeking their first championship, having also lost in the World Series in 2008 and 2020.

–Field Level Media

The post Milwaukee’s Wait is Over appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

Contreras is a World Champion and MVP

Digital Sports Desk — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:00:01 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – A year that began for William Contreras with a World Baseball Classic championship for his native Venezuela ended with a World Series Most Valuable Player honor.

The Brewers catcher was chosen out of a host of worthy Milwaukee contenders as the MVP of the franchise’s first championship, which the team clinched with a 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday in Game 5.

Embed from Getty Images

He is the eighth catcher to be selected the World Series MVP, and just the second since 1992, along with Kansas City’s Salvador Perez in 2015. He batted .381 (8-for-21) with four RBIs, two runs, two walks, a stolen base, a .435 on-base percentage and an .863 OPS.

“Very blessed year. I think a year that we have to give God a lot of thanks for everything he’s been able to do for us,” Contreras said. “… To be able to achieve it, it’s special.”

Some may argue that the World Series MVP honor should be handed to the Milwaukee pitching staff as a whole after it allowed 12 runs in the Fall Classic and 33 total runs in 13 postseason games (2.5 per game).

Contreras, in some ways, is a conduit of that. He was the starting catcher for every game of the postseason and was successful on 10 of 13 automated ball-strike challenges during the World Series.

“He posts every day,” Milwaukee reliever Aaron Ashby said. “This team’s not what it is without this guy. He’s unbelievable.”

Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski added of Contreras being named MVP, “It just makes sense.”

Contreras said, “I think it’s a big job. I think in the offseason last year, I think once we traded Freddy (Peralta), I knew that we were going to have a young staff. I took that upon myself and I knew the responsibility I was going to have that year to make sure that I built that relationship with those guys and make sure that they knew that they had that vote of confidence in me and knew I was going to do whatever I could for them so that we could build that relationship together.”

The World Series was redemptive for Contreras, who did get to enjoy the fruits of the WBC title back in March but wasn’t nearly as helpful in that run, going 0-for-13 in the WBC.

William Contreras, 28, earned his second World Series ring, having been a reserve for the Atlanta Braves in 2021. Now he joins his 34-year-old brother Willson Contreras as the starting catcher of a World Series champion.

Willson Contreras, the backstop for the Chicago Cubs in 2016, was in attendance at Tropicana Field on Wednesday to see his younger brother reach the pinnacle of baseball.

“My brother is my role model. I don’t have a lot of friends. He’s my friend. I love him. I love all the support that he gives me. If I have something to ask somebody, I ask Willson,” William Contreras said. “I follow after him. I always knew that he was going to be here (for this game). He wasn’t able to be here for the first couple games, but he was here for this one. I’m always going to follow in his footsteps.”

–Brant James, Field Level Media

The post Contreras is a World Champion and MVP appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

2026 World Series Notebook

Digital Sports Desk — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 07:00:55 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Jacob Misiorowski may not have started his trophy case with a World Series MVP award a few weeks before he is expected to be named the National League Cy Young Award winner, but it was still a Fall Classic to remember for the Milwaukee Brewers’ ace.

The 24-year-old started the first and last games of Milwaukee’s five-game World Series victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing one run on six hits over 10 2/3 innings to make the legend of the second-year big-leaguer grow even larger

Embed from Getty Images

ENOUGH SAID: On Wednesday in his Game 5 victory, Misiorowski was again the less-dominant version of himself that emerged in the 2026 playoffs, but that was good enough. He allowed no runs on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings before leaving with a right leg cramp.

Despite struggling with the footing at the landing spot of the pitcher’s mound at Tropicana Field, he induced 10 flyball outs, several of them deep.

The major league strikeout leader (252) worked around command problems high in the zone, but limited walks to mitigate the lack of strikeouts.

The mound ended his night, as he cramped after delivering a pitch and left after a long consultation with training staff.

“Obviously, I don’t want to go out that way, but I left everything on the table, so, so be it,” he said.

DREW IT UP: Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen was on his way home from Tropicana Field after the Rays’ season-preserving 4-3, 12-inning win in Game 4 early Wednesday morning when his phone rang.

With Tampa Bay needing six relievers to consume eight innings on Tuesday, he was needed to start Thursday, pitching on three days’ rest for the first time as a starter.

Rasmussen did well with it, allowing just one run on two hits with four strikeouts in four innings. He threw 36 of 48 pitches for strikes.

He took the loss in the series finale, ending the postseason with a 2-1 record and a 2.20 ERA in five starts.

“He’s a stud,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “His stuff was as sharp as it could have been. We had gone into the game saying it was 60 pitches or four innings. Stuck to that. That was the easiest call in the world to take him out of the ballgame. We’ve worked very hard with all of our pitchers and pride ourselves on doing right by them.

“We knew this was a big ask, but appreciate Drew Rasmussen so much for taking the ball, wanting the ball, and going out and doing what he did.”

ROOKIE RAKES: Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt collected hits in six consecutive at-bats, a record for a rookie in a World Series. He followed up a four-hit night in Game 4 with two hits and two RBIs in Game 5.

The 22-year-old rookie just over four months removed from his major league debut seemed overwhelmed with history as much as champagne afterward.

“I haven’t even had four hits in a game in a long time and I got that yesterday,” Pratt said between splashes of champagne from Brewers Hall of Fame shortstop Robin Yount. “Somebody said it’s some kind of record, so that’s cool.”

NO BAD STREAKS: The Brewers went 11-2 in the postseason and last lost consecutive games on Sept. 5-6 at Cincinnati.

Is that unbelievable?

“No. We’re that good. It’s expected,” second baseman Brice Turang said.

NOTES: Milwaukee became the fourth straight team to win the World Series on the road. … No team that has fallen behind 0-3 in the World Series has forced a Game 6.

–Field Level Media

The post 2026 World Series Notebook appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

Series: It’s Up to Rasmussen

Digital Sports Desk — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 22:00:17 +0000

ST. PETERSBURG – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – With their season on the line for a second consecutive night, the Tampa Bay Rays named right-hander Drew Rasmussen as their starter for Game 5 of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Embed from Getty Images

Rasmussen, 31, returns to the mound after throwing 89 pitches over 3 2/3 innings while allowing three runs in a 5-4 loss in Game 2 at Milwaukee.

Right-hander Nick Martinez had been in line to start Game 5 but he was needed to pitch two innings in Tuesday’s 4-3 must-win victory over the Brewers. Tampa Bay used seven pitchers to keep its season alive in Game 4 and earned the victory by scoring two runs in the 12th inning.

The Rays now trail 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, with Games 6 and 7 at Milwaukee, if necessary.

The Brewers are set to send hard-throwing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski to the mound in Game 5 with a chance to win the first World Series title in franchise history.

Rasmussen went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 30 starts during the regular season when he was named to his second career American League All-Star team. He is also 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA over 24 2/3 innings over four starts during the current postseason.

A sixth-round draft pick by the Brewers in 2018, Rasmussen was traded to the Rays in 2021 in the deal that sent infielder Willy Adames to Milwaukee.

–Field Level Media

The post Series: It’s Up to Rasmussen appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Oct 25

Digital Sports Desk — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 21:30:11 +0000

By TERRY LYONS, Executive Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – It’s the best time of year – the Sports Equinox – when the NFL is in full swing, baseball is enjoying its Fall Classic, and the NHL and NBA are just underway. Toss in the WNBA Finals and the MLS season and you have a six pack of sports offerings. Add College Football and (soon-to-be) College Basketball with exhibitions ongoing, NASCAR Cup, the Premiership from England, and next week’s Breeders’ Cup horse racing extravaganza, and you’ve got something for everyone. Now, add the PGA Tour which is puttering away in Bermuda or NASCAR rip-roaring away at Talladega, and you’ve got it all.

And, just think! In nine days, all of the political ads will be gone.

All of the action is enough to make a sports fan move to Las Vegas, just to see all the games at once in the incredible Circa Sports Book.

There’s a couple of the sports listed in our equinox that aren’t getting their proper due. The two being short-changed are Major League Baseball with the 2026 World Series and the WNBA Finals, featuring the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream.

First – Baseball:

Let’s remember. For the entire 2026 season, the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers were atop their respective league ladder and the best two teams come postseason time. Tampa went 98-64, good enough to be 4.5 games ahead of the second-ranked New York Yankees.

In the National League, the Brewers went 103-59, three full games better than the Los Angeles Dodgers (100-62). Both teams finished on an (8-2) run.

In the postseason, they proved their worth.

The Brewers’ pitching staff finished the regular season with a 3.51 ERA and a 1.18 whip. Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers’ ace pitched to a league leading 1.73 ERA with 227 strikeouts. He’s regularly throwing 103 mph four seam fastballs. His whip registered at 0.80 and he forced his opponents to bat a filthy .157 over 174 innings pitched.

The Brewers’ rotation of Misiorowski, Kyle Henderson, Aaron Ashby and Logan Henderson form a very respectable rotation of semi-no-names (outside of the great place on the Great Lake).

Tampa sports the best overall pitching crew in baseball.

Drew Rasmussen, Ian Seymour, and Nick Martinez have carried the load after Shane McClanahan (left forearm tightness) was shut down for the season. That brought Freddy Peralta into the mix after his midseason trade.

On the offensive side, the teams are mirror images of themselves and they’ve shown they can hold on and win games. They each manufacture runs, take advantage of miscues of their opponent and can win games in the 3-2 fashion of Game 1 of the World Series.

When you put all of those basics together, you have a model match-up and one of the very best World Series that very few fans outside of Milwaukee and Tampa-St. Pete will see. And, that’s a crying shame.

At the WNBA Finals, it’s much the same.

Golden State (32-12) finished one game behind Western Conference leader in the Minnesota Linx (33-11). The Dream topped the East at (30-14). The clubs were mirror images in terms of home-road records during the season.

After the Valkyries took Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, the Dream reversed the trends and went up 2-games-to-1. On Saturday (Oct. 24), the Valkyries evened it up, 2-2.

One major issue facing the WNBA and its Finals is the fact the series is being played in mid-to-late October, head to head with the NFL, College Football, the World Series and everything else. Saturday’s game was held at 1:00pm in Atlanta in the heart of the south and its love of college football. While the Georgia Bulldogs had a bye week, the vast number of SEC and ACC teams were in action, including Georgia Tech hosting Boston College in an ACC match-up at Tech.

Out West, only Cal at SMU might’ve caused a distraction now that the PAC-10 (12) was blown to bits and Stanford beat NC State in that Friday night ACC tilt alongside Palo Alto.

Regardless of the competition, the WNBA Finals is providing fans with a high brand of basketball. But, it’s been done in relative obscurity. With the series tied 2-2, there will be added awareness and interest in the outcome.

Maybe the original WNBA game plan of a Memorial Day to Labor Day schedule might be re-examined?

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Back to MLB, the battle of the small market cities (Milwaukee and Tampa, as compared to New York, Los Angeles or Chicago), makes it difficult for the Major League Baseball team owners to claim they need to change the mechanism of delivering team salaries. If the Milwaukee Bucks and Tampa Bay Rays can put together a team at bargain basement prices, why should the MLB Players’ Association worry about what the Dodgers or Yankees pay their players? … The NBA season is off to a good start and some momentum following a tremendous ‘26 NBA Playoffs and a busy and interesting offseason. Tuesday’s 76ers-Knicks and Thunder-Spurs doubleheader was the NBA’s most-watched opening night ever, averaging 6.41 million viewers on NBC/Peacock. The 76ers’ victory over the Knicks was the league’s most-watched primetime opening night game ever, averaging 7.71 million viewers and peaking at 9.1 million viewers at 9:45pm (ET).

ESPN’s NBA Opening Wednesday doubleheader averaged 2.5M viewers, up 7% from last year, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. The audience ranks as ESPN’s second most-viewed Opening Wednesday ever.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: Don’t look now but the Edmonton Oilers are 8-1-1 going into Saturday’s home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Oilers are 5-0-0 on the road. … Sunday’s matchup of St. John’s hosting Texas will be the Storm’s third exhibition game of the preseason. The Johnnies downed Drexel, 81-52, on Oct. 14 at Carnesecca Arena before outlasting Rutgers, 104-99, in a four-overtime marathon this past Sunday at Madison Square Garden. … The Texas Legends selected 2026 NBA champion Jeremy Sochan (6-8, 230, Baylor) with the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA G League Draft, which was held virtually on Saturday. During the 2025-26 season, Sochan played 28 games with the San Antonio Spurs and 16 games with the New York Knicks. In 228 career NBA games across four seasons, the 23-year-old averaged 9.9 points and 5.4 rebounds. The Motor City Cruise drafted Isaiah Carr (6-11, 235, Drake) with the second overall pick and the Osceola Magic selected Kasean Pryor (6-10, 228, Louisville) third overall. … Can’t say which is worse. MLB deciding regular season games by placing a ghost runner at 2B or the College Football overtime rules.

CUSP PODCAST with MIKE BREEN: Celebrating 20 years for Columbia University’s sports management program and 40 years of New York’s very own (via Fordham) Mike Breen, the voice of the NBA Finals and the NBA on ABC/ESPN.

THIS JEST IN: The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints will play their regular season game Sunday (today, October 25) in Paris. It’ll (hopefully) be the first NFL regular season game in France. While the people of Paris and Marseilles worry about their cities burning amidst protests, Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers seem to be more concerned with jet lag. … The Saints headed for Paris last Sunday, deciding to get a full week of practice and adjusting to the time zone/jet lag. Pittsburgh opted to travel from the USA and land in Paris on Friday, a “cutting-it-tight” tactic employed by the LA Rams earlier this season when they opened up in Melbourne, Australia. Of course, the Rams were smoked 27-7 by the San Francisco 49ers who flew much earlier in the week.

The thought process of Rams coach Sean McVay was to stay on Pacific time, rather than attempt to make a big, week-long adjustment. That strategy backfired.

A basic concept to go by, after years and years of experience traveling to time zones all over the world, is to not make a “big deal” about it. The bigger deal the front office, coaches and advisors make of the travel, the more it gets into the players’ heads.

That works in both directions.

When the NBA first began its international regular season efforts with the NBA Japan Games 1990, the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz made the trip, with the teams splitting the two games. Both clubs did quite well in their travels to the games.

The issue was the return, when Utah complained about returning jet lag all the way to Christmas. After winning their first game after returning, the Jazz dropped four straight. Truth be told, the Jazz ran off five consecutive victories from November 21 to 30, then after a lone loss at Portland, they won another six straight from December 3 to 13. They finished 54-18.

YOU CAN’T MAKE IT UP: Britt McHenry, the disgraced former ESPN sideline reporter, is in hot water again after being caught on video dousing a fan with her drink at the Milwaukee at Washington basketball game. The video went viral and she was soon-after asked to resign her post at the Trump-Rubio led State Department where she held a role as press advisor. The Mt Holly, NJ native and Stetson/Northwestern grad, did a stint with ESPN from 2014-17 but that ended abrubtly when she was, again, caught on a security video berating a parking lot attendant after McHenry had illegally parked her car and it ended up in the clink. In 2020, she battled a serious brain lesion and had it surgically removed at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. That escape sent her to the political realm and an ill-fated PR role that is no longer. With her credentials tainted, she might be the perfect fit for White House press spokesperson doing a daily brief now that Katie Zacharia has had her 14 minutes of fame.

The post TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Oct 25 appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

Brewers Make the Most of 2nd Chances

Digital Sports Desk — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 02:45:00 +0000

MILWAUKEE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Milwaukee’s rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt made the most of his second opportunity.

Pratt singled in the go-ahead run to atone for a costly error and the Milwaukee Brewers overcame a four-run deficit behind six scoreless innings from their lockdown bullpen for a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night and a 2-0 lead in the World Series.

Embed from Getty Images

The Brewers, who trailed 4-0 in the first inning, took their first lead of Game 2 in the seventh when Brice Turang doubled to open off Tyler Wells (0-2) and advanced on a flyout. Pratt greeted Kevin Kelly with an RBI single to right to put Milwaukee up 5-4.

“I need to be better defensively, but it’s always awesome when you have an opportunity to kind of redeem yourself and make up for it,” said the 22-year-old Pratt, inserted into the starting lineup after being called up from Triple-A Nashville in mid-June. “Probably wasn’t the best swing, but it did the job and gave us the opportunity to score a run. I’m not going to complain.”

The Rays stranded the tying run at third in the ninth for the second consecutive game. Jonny DeLuca doubled to open the ninth off Aaron Ashby, who got the final two outs in the eighth. Victor Mesa Jr. struck out and DeLuca advanced to third on a groundout, but Yandy Diaz struck out swinging on a 3-2 count.

“It’s tough for teams to come in here and play. Our fans are so incredible. It’s a tough environment to play in,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “Tampa Bay had us on the ropes every day. They had runners in scoring position when the game ended both days.”

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Monday in St. Petersburg, Fla. Only 10 teams have overcome a 2-0 deficit to win the World Series, the last being the New York Yankees in 1996.

“These Milwaukee fans have been really loud. I know our fans are going to be really loud and excited to see us come back and kind of reset ourselves a little bit,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We’ve got a really good pitcher going, as do they. A lot of confidence in this club to respond. They’ve done it all season long, and they’ll continue to do it.”

Brewers starter Logan Henderson allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits in three innings, but the bullpen picked up its eighth win in nine postseason victories. The eight wins match the 2015 Kansas City Royals for most wins by relievers in a single postseason.

JoJo Romero, Dustin May and DL Hall each followed Henderson with a scoreless inning. Abner Uribe (1-0) got four outs and Ashby finished for his third save. Ashby has not allowed a run in 15 2/3 innings over eight postseason appearances.

“Our bullpen doesn’t get enough credit,” Murphy said. “I guess it does get a lot of credit, but you can’t say enough great things about them. Six innings of shutout (work) again.”

Sal Frelick tied it at 4-all with a leadoff homer in the sixth off Ian Seymour. Frelick, who had four homers in 339 at-bats during the regular season, lined a 3-2 fastball 408 feet to center for his second career postseason homer.

Milwaukee cut its 4-0 deficit in half with two runs in the bottom of the first, then capitalized on an error to pull within 4-3 in the fourth.

Milwaukee threatened in the eighth, but Jackson Chourio was retired home trying to score from third on an infield bouncer on a close play that was upheld upon review.

The Brewers, whose only other World Series appearance was as the American League representative in a seven-game loss to St. Louis in 1982, also overcame a 4-0 deficit in the NLCS, rallying for a 6-4 victory over the Dodgers in Game 4 to complete the sweep.

Pratt’s game-opening error contributed to the Rays’ four-run first. Diaz continued to second on Pratt’s errant throw from short, then scored on Chandler Simpson’s one-out single. Simpson stole second and scored on Junior Caminero’s RBI single. Liam Hicks followed with his first postseason homer to put the Rays up 4-0.

The Brewers bunched four singles for two runs in the bottom half, including RBI singles by William Contreras and Garrett Mitchell.

Milwaukee pulled within 4-3 in the fourth. Pratt battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a one-out walk, advanced to third on Frelick’s single and scored on first baseman Jonathan Aranda’s fielding error.

Chourio prevented a run when his perfect throw home from left field nailed Hicks trying to score from second to end the sixth. That play was also upheld after a review.

Rays starter Drew Rasmussen, who was 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three previous starts this postseason, allowed three runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings.

– Field Level Media

The post Brewers Make the Most of 2nd Chances appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

Intense Game 1 Goes to the Brewers

Digital Sports Desk — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 05:00:40 +0000

MILWAUKEE – (Wire Service and Staff Report) – Brewers closer Trevor Megill wasn’t perfect, but he was good enough to give Milwaukee a one-game advantage in the World Series.

Hard-throwing ace Jacob Misiorowski allowed one run over five gritty innings and Megill stranded the tying run at third base to preserve the Brewers’ 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night in the opening game of the World Series.

Embed from Getty Images

Milwaukee, whose only other World Series appearance was a seven-game loss in 1982, scored two runs in the first inning off Nick Martinez and added a run in the seventh on Jackson Chourio’s RBI single to go up 3-1.

The Rays scored one run in the ninth off Megill, who entered to start the inning and conceded consecutive one-out singles to Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson. Pinch runner Jorge Mateo and Simpson executed a double steal, and Junior Caminero walked to load the bases.

Liam Hicks appeared to bounce into a game-ending double play, but a video review showed that shortstop Cooper Pratt was pulled off the bag at second on the throw by second baseman Brice Turang.

Hicks was out on the fielder’s choice as Mateo scored to make it 3-2, leaving runners on second and third. Megill then struck out Jonny DeLuca for his fifth postseason save in five opportunities.

“A lot of times those plays stand during the year, but I’m sure now they have every angle, and they took their time and got it right.” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of the review. “Megill kept his composure. We talk about it all the time. When there’s a challenge, do not walk off the mound. Kept his composure, and that was the biggest at-bat of the game.”

Misiorowski (1-0), whose 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts each led the majors during the regular season, allowed one run on four hits in five innings. He fanned three and walked one in a 78-pitch outing.

Misiorowski set the tone by throwing a 103.5 mph fastball to open the game, the fastest pitch in World Series history.

“I thought Miz was great tonight,” Murphy said. “What we’re used to seeing in the regular season was Miz just mow through people and have two strikeouts an inning. That’s unrealistic. This is the best team in the American League. They proved that during the regular season and proved that in the postseason so far. One of the ways they do that is to make contact better than anybody in baseball.”

Afterward, the 24-year-old Milwaukee ace was trying to process his first World Series appearance.

“I still don’t know how I felt. I feel like I’m still trying to take everything in and understand what happened,” Misiorowski said. “Obviously went out and did my best and did enough for the team to get a win. That’s all I can ask for.”

After Misiorowski’s exit, Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby combined for three scoreless innings, striking out five.

“We came up a little bit short, but there’s some benefit maybe from a loss,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We saw Ashby. We saw Uribe. We saw Megill. I’d like to think that’s going to help us moving forward a little bit.”

The Brewers posted two quick runs against Martinez (1-1), who got the start when ace Drew Rasmussen was pushed back to Game 2 for an extra day’s rest.

Chourio singled on the first pitch and scored on Christian Yelich’s one-out triple off DeLuca’s glove on a diving catch attempt in right-center. William Contreras followed with an RBI single to left.

The Rays got a run back in the fourth. Aranda drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third when center fielder Garrett Mitchell misplayed Caminero’s 112.7 mph drive into a double. He scored on Hicks’ groundout.

The Brewers made it 3-1 in the seventh. Steven Matz walked Pratt, who advanced on a groundout and scored on Chourio’s two-out single down the right field line against Kevin Kelly.

Martinez allowed two runs on five hits in five innings, striking out five and walking none.

–Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media

The post Intense Game 1 Goes to the Brewers appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

World Series: Game 1 Pits Milwaukee v Tampa Bay

Digital Sports Desk — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 23:00:27 +0000

MILWAUKEE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) -Drew Rasmussen has been the epitome of an ace for the Tampa Bay Rays this postseason. In three playoff starts, the right-hander is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA, allowing three runs over 21 innings, striking out 23 and walking three.

After he last pitched in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, a 3-1 Rays win on Oct. 18, he could have started Game 1 of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night on normal rest.

Tampa, though, is electing to get him an extra day of rest and throw off, instead giving the ball to veteran right-hander Nick Martinez for the opener of the best-of-seven series.

“We prioritized Drew getting an extra day. He’s had a pretty thick workload here,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said Thursday during media day in defense of the decision. “We’ve relied on him heavily. We know when he takes the ball, we’re trying to get the full pitch allotment out of him.

“When Nick pitches, we win. So excited to hand Nick the ball (for) Game 1, and we’ll go from there.”

There’s not much of a drop-off in terms of the quality Martinez provided this season relative to Rasmussen. He threw a team-high 180 innings this regular season with a 3.10 ERA, trailing only Rasmussen (2.67) among starters.

It’s quite a come-up for a pitcher who signed a one-year contract with the Rays back in February.

“I’m sure you guys can remember my Spring Training wasn’t a great one. Now we’re here,” Martinez said. “Again, I think that speaks a lot about the type of people I have around me to kind of navigate this season and help me out and help me be in this situation, and we’re having a lot of fun with it.”

Martinez is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts this postseason. Those starts, though, have lasted a combined nine innings, which may be another factor in starting him Friday when the bullpen is at its freshest.

The post World Series: Game 1 Pits Milwaukee v Tampa Bay appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

Knicks Bring their Title to Boston

Digital Sports Desk — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 21:00:59 +0000

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Winning the franchise’s first title in 53 years created a lasting bond among the members of the 2025-26 New York Knicks.

But those bonds will take a back seat Friday night when the Knicks face former teammate Mitchell Robinson and the Boston Celtics in a clash of Eastern Conference powers.

Embed from Getty Images

Both teams have been off since losing their season openers Tuesday. The Knicks began their championship defense with a 106-100 loss to LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and the visiting Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics squandered a 22-point third-quarter lead in a 121-113 loss to the host Detroit Pistons.

For the Knicks, the loss was a disappointing coda to a memorable night. Returning players and coaches received their championship rings before the banner commemorating the long-awaited title was raised to the rafters at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks led by 10 points three times in the second quarter but fell behind for good when the 76ers ended the third quarter on an 11-0 run. Jalen Brunson, whose finishing skills last spring turned him into an all-time Big Apple sporting icon, was 1 of 5 from the field in the fourth quarter, including a missed turnaround jumper with 3:46 left that would have given New York the lead.

“I think it’s good for us to, you know, kind of get knocked down off the mountain, humble ourselves, put our egos in check and see what’s going to happen,” Brunson said.

The Knicks weren’t haunted Tuesday by their decision to bring back everyone from last year’s rotation except Robinson, who signed a three-year deal with the Celtics on July 6 after New York owner James Dolan made it clear he wouldn’t go into the second apron to keep the entire title team together.

Andre Drummond, Robinson’s replacement as the backup to center Karl-Anthony Towns, posted a double-double (12 points, 14 rebounds) in 24 minutes while Towns battled foul trouble.

Robinson, meanwhile, finished with four points, three rebounds and two blocked shots in 18 minutes in his Celtics debut. On Thursday, he said he was more focused on having a better game than facing his ex-teammates.

“It doesn’t really matter that I’m playing my former team,” Robinson said. “It’s more so just trying to bounce back from what happened two nights ago.”

But Knicks head coach Mike Brown expects to see an energized Robinson on Friday.

“At the end of the day, we want to kick his (butt) like he probably wants to kick ours,” Brown said.

Robinson was part of an offseason overhaul by the Celtics, who traded Brown, their top scorer last season, to the 76ers in exchange for Paul George on July 6.

George, the NBA’s ninth-leading active scorer, collected a game-high 38 points Tuesday, including 11 of the Celtics’ first 14 points in the second half as they extended their lead to 72-50 with 8:32 left in the third quarter.

But George hoisted just eight more shots after that. The Celtics went 15-for-40 from the field while being outscored 71-41 the rest of the way. The Pistons’ game-ending surge included a 23-0 run in the fourth quarter.

“We’ve got to try to find a play — big stop, big shot whatever it is — to kind of end those (runs) as quick as possible,” Celtics guard Derrick White said. “And we just weren’t able to find it (Tuesday).”

–Field Level Media

The post Knicks Bring their Title to Boston appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.

A “Bear” to Deal With for Patriots

Digital Sports Desk — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:30:42 +0000

CHICAGO – Bears QB Caleb Williams threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns on Thursday night, leading the Chicago to a 30-24 victory over the visiting New England Patriots.

Chicago’s Luther Burden III caught four passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. Colston Loveland and D’Andre Swift scored the Bears’ other touchdowns, and Williams completed 22 of 33 passes.

Embed from Getty Images

The Bears (5-2) also received three field goals from Cairo Santos, who made a career-best 58-yarder to give Chicago a 30-21 lead with 1:34 to play.

New England cut its deficit to six points on Andy Borregales’ 47-yard field goal with 37 seconds left, but the Bears recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye produced 321 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-31 passing. Maye, who was intercepted once, also ran for a touchdown.

Rhamondre Stevenson and Eli Raridon had New England’s TD catches. Stevenson caught five passes for 93 yards.

The Patriots (4-3) entered the contest on a three-game winning streak.

The Bears jumped out to a 10-0 lead in ethe first quarter thanks to a Santos 43-yard field goal and Swift’s 4-yard touchdown run.

New England responded when Maye scored on a 7-yard run early in the second quarter, but Santos made a 31-yard field goal to give Chicago a 13-7 lead with 7:04 remaining in the period.

The teams traded touchdowns in the final 14 seconds of the half. After Williams connected with Burden for a 24-yard TD pass, New England scored on a 48-yard pass from Maye to Stevenson with no time remaining on the clock.

Stevenson caught the pass on the Chicago 47 and eluded several defenders on his way to the end zone. Borregales made the extra point, which pulled the Patriots within 20-14.

Chicago extended the margin to 27-14 when Loveland capped the second half’s opening drive with a 12-yard TD catch, but New England answered with a 30-yard scoring pass from Maye to Raridon on the ensuing drive.

–Field Level Media

The post A “Bear” to Deal With for Patriots appeared first on Digital Sports Desk.