World Series Game Two: Don't Call it a Comeback

The 122nd edition of the World Series began quietly, as Game One between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers didn't stand out so much. Jacob Misiorowski only pitched five innings, surrendered a single run and only struck out three, but it was still enough. The bullpen did the rest, and the Brewers won 3-2 to strike first. So that's one in the books. Game Two is always interesting in any best-of-seven series, especially a championship series. It's plain and simple. The Game One winner looks to gain control, while the team who lost Game One looks to strike back.

Logan Henderson started for the Brewers against the Rays' ace, Drew Rasmussen, who would receive quite a cushion. Chandler Simpson drove in Yandy Diaz, and after that, Simpson was driven in by Junior Caminero. Later in the inning, Liam Hicks hit a two-run shot. It was 4-0 already for the Rays, who scored more runs in that inning then they did in all of Game One. Now, it was only the first inning, but with Rasmussen about to take the mound--with his recent track record, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that this Series would be even.

The Brewers did get two of those runs back in their half of the first; RBI singles from William Contreras and Garrett Mitchell. Even so, the Rays still held the lead for the most part. Henderson was done after three innings, while Rasmussen gave up a run in the fourth following a throwing error. It was now 4-3 for the Rays, and the Brewers would have to depend on the bullpen to get things done. The pitching was going well, but the Brewers were still looking to get that great equalizer. It finally came in the sixth inning; a solo homer from Sal Frelick--his first homer of this postseason. Just like that, the game was all tied up, and an inning later, Cooper Pratt drove in Brice Turang to give Milwaukee their first lead in the game.

Nothing in the eighth, but in the ninth, a leadoff double put the tying run on base for the Rays. After a strikeout and a groundout that advanced the runner, Yandy Diaz came up, and made it to a full count. On the next pitch, Diaz check-swinged, but it was ruled that he went around. Despite replay showing that it wasn't a swing, the game ended right there.

The Brewers won Game Two, 5-4, after trailing 4-0. They did it again, folks. This was how they swept the Dodgers. They trailed in all four games in that NLCS, but won it. This was the second time in this postseason that the Brewers came back from being down 4-0 to win. The Brewers bullpen came through; six innings, four hits, one walk, six strike outs. As for the Rays, the big three of Aranda, Diaz, and Caminero went a combined 2-for-13 in this game. In fact, four of the team's six runs in this Series were driven in by Liam Hicks. That needs to be remedied fast.

This is the 56th time that a team went up 2-0 in the World Series, but it's the first time ever for the Brewers. Being up 2-0 in the Fall Classic is very advantageous; out of the previous 55 teams to do so, 45 of them went on to win the whole thing. That's 81.8%! In fact, the last team to come back from 2-0 to win the Series: the 1996 Yankees. So yeah, it's been a while.

Game Three is Monday in St. Petersburg, and it will be part of the annual Sports Equinox!

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