ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The World Series finally came home to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg on Monday night, and the Rays could not hold it. Milwaukee broke the game open with an eight-run fifth inning and won 10-1, taking a 3-0 series lead and leaving Tampa Bay one loss away from elimination.
Rookie left-hander Robert Gasser did most of the damage from the mound. He gave up only a single to Yandy Díaz to start the bottom of the first, then set down 14 Rays in a row before Victor Mesa Jr. drew a walk to begin the sixth. With a caught stealing and a double play wiping out the only runners, Gasser faced the minimum 18 hitters across six innings, something no Series starter had done since Curt Schilling in 2001.
The fifth inning turned a tight night into a rout. Brice Turang lined a two-run single with two outs to start the rally, and Jackson Chourio had two hits in the frame on his way to a 4-for-5 night. Turang and William Contreras each finished with three hits as Milwaukee piled up 16 against Freddy Peralta and five relievers.
Peralta, the ALCS MVP against Cleveland, could not get through the fifth. Facing the club that used to employ him, he lasted 4 2/3 innings and was tagged for five runs on seven hits. The win was the eighth in a row for the Brewers, tying a record for one postseason.
History is not on the Rays’ side. Of 43 big-league teams that trailed 3-0 in a best-of-seven playoff series, only the 2004 Red Sox came back. Manager Kevin Cash said the only thing his club can do now is win the next one.
That chance comes in Game 4 on Tuesday night, again at the Trop, where a Brewers win would finish a sweep.
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