Brewers’ Buzzsaw Leaves Rays Fumbled Before Game 3 Began
Milwaukee Breaks Game Open
The Brewers collected 16 hits, including seven straight two-out hits against three Tampa Bay pitchers during an eight-run fifth inning. The Rays had only one hit before adding two more against Brandon Woodruff in the ninth.
Left-hander Robert Gasser started for Milwaukee, while right-hander Freddy Peralta took the loss for Tampa Bay. The Rays struggled defensively again, and Peralta did not have his best fastball.
Rays Make Lineup Changes
Manager Kevin Cash started Ryan Vilade at first base against left-handed starter Gasser, leaving Jonathan Aranda out of the lineup. Aranda led Tampa Bay with 13 hits this October; Vilade went hitless in two at-bats before Aranda replaced him as a pinch-hitter in the seventh. Cash also benched left-handed-hitting catcher Liam Hicks, who had hit a two-run homer in Game 2. Asked whether he regretted the choice to start Vilade, Cash replied, “We lost by 10.”
Defeat Tests Tampa Bay’s Belief
After the loss, third baseman Caminero spoke quietly and said, “Game 2 is in the past, and now Game 3 is also in the past.” He had tried to lift the team’s energy after Game 2, but appeared deflated following Monday’s defeat. Nick Martinez said the Brewers’ quality and Tampa Bay’s own performance both contributed. Cash said the team’s only option was to win the next day, while the Rays faced the task of winning four consecutive games to take the World Series.
Key points
- Milwaukee won Game 3 by nine runs after an eight-run fifth inning.
- The Brewers recorded 16 hits, while the Rays had one hit through eight innings.
- Jonathan Aranda, Tampa Bay’s October hits leader with 13, did not start.
- Cash said the Rays’ only option was to win the next day.