Well folks, it took forty-four years, but the World Series came back to Milwaukee — and the first thing Jacob Misiorowski did with it was throw the fastest pitch anybody has ever thrown in one. First pitch of the night, to Yandy Díaz: 103.5 miles per hour. Per AP, that's the fastest pitch ever delivered in a World Series game — Statcast had it at 103.5 (the stadium boards said 103.4), a ball up above the zone, and it broke Aroldis Chapman's World Series record of 103.2 from Game 2 in 2016. Some guys need a batter or two to get loose. This one set a record on pitch number one.
The Brewers didn't make him wait long for help, either. Jackson Chourio singled on Nick Martinez's very first pitch. Then Christian Yelich — batting third for the first time since Aug. 3, and freshly named the franchise's first team captain — hit one that DeLuca just missed with a diving try, and it went for an RBI triple. 1-0. Per Elias, Yelich is the seventh player to triple in his first World Series plate appearance, and the first since Lynn Jones in 1985. William Contreras followed with a single that deflected off shortstop Taylor Walls, and just like that it was 2-0.
Misiorowski took it from there. The Rays got their one run off him in the fourth: Aranda walked, Caminero doubled over Mitchell's head — 112.7 mph off the bat — and Hicks' groundout brought Aranda home. 2-1. That was all they'd get from him. Five innings, four hits, one run, one walk, three strikeouts, 78 pitches, 56 for strikes. Not the strikeout show this town is used to, but in a World Series opener you'll take efficient over flashy every day of the week.
Milwaukee got the insurance run in the seventh. Cooper Pratt drew a walk off Matz, and with two outs Chourio singled off Kevin Kelly to bring him around. 3-1. Then the bullpen went to work — Abner Uribe for an inning and a third, Aaron Ashby for an inning and two-thirds, and Trevor Megill for the ninth. Contreras threw out two would-be base stealers along the way, and he and Chourio finished with two hits apiece.
And the ninth, folks. Oh, the ninth. Aranda singled. Simpson singled. A double steal put the tying run on second, and Caminero walked on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt to load the bases. Hicks hit a grounder to Brice Turang, who threw to Pratt, and it was ruled a game-ending double play. Then replay showed Pratt's right foot slightly off the bag. So the Rays got a run, runners on second and third, and everybody had to do it all over again. Megill struck out DeLuca swinging. Then it was over. Brewers 3, Rays 2. Megill's fifth postseason save.
Per AP, this is the first World Series since 1980 with two potential first-time champions, and Game 1 winners have gone on to win the Series 62.8% of the time. For Misiorowski, it's his first win of this postseason, in his first World Series start. Brewers lead the Series 1-0. Game 2 is next.