Brewers claim first title in franchise history

The Milwaukee Brewers are World Series champions.

The team defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. The win capped a 5-4 series for a franchise that had not won a title in 44 years. The Brewers played the Rays in a series between the bottom half of major league payrolls. Milwaukee ranked 19th in payroll, while Tampa Bay ranked 25th.

Jacob Misiorowski pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings to secure the win. He threw 86 pitches, 58 for strikes, and topped out at 103 mph twice. He left the game due to a right calf cramp. Rookie Cooper Pratt contributed two hits and two runs batted in. William Contreras, the World Series MVP, hit an RBI double. The Brewers scored just 32.1% of their runs on home runs during the series. Tampa Bay scored 34.4% on home runs.

Christian Yelich, the team captain, said the fans waited a long time for this moment. He expressed happiness to bring the title home. Manager Pat Murphy praised the group for their teamwork. He noted that the 2026 team would be remembered forever. Murphy, who survived a heart attack in 2020, led the team to 103 regular season wins and an 11-2 postseason record. The team swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash described his team as close-knit despite their injuries. The Rays dropped to 0-3 in World Series history after losses in 2008 and 2020. They became the fifth team to lose Game 5 after falling behind 3-0. Trevor Megill recorded the final out against Richie Palacios. He was mobbed by teammates near the mound as fans celebrated in the stands. Owner Mark Attanasio announced the championship to the crowd from the postgame stage.

The Brewers began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and moved to Milwaukee the following year. Their only previous World Series appearance in 1982 ended in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. A potential lockout is set to begin on December 2, which could affect the 2027 season. Owners have pushed for a salary cap, arguing small-market teams struggle to succeed. The Brewers proved that model can work in this postseason.