Milwaukee wins first World Series title in franchise's 58th season

Brewers beat Tampa Bay 4-1 in Game 5

Churio sets 5-game WS hit record with 11

Milwaukee Brewers players celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 of the 2026 MLB World Series at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Thursday (Korean Standard Time), clinching the franchise's first World Series title in its 58th season. [EPA]

The Milwaukee Brewers claimed their first MLB World Series title in the franchise's 58th season.

Milwaukee defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 of the World Series at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Thursday (Korean Standard Time), finishing the series 4-1 to capture the first championship in franchise history since the club's founding in 1969.

The franchise began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 before relocating to Milwaukee the following year. The Brewers reached the World Series in 1982 but fell to the St. Louis Cardinals three games to four, settling for the runner-up spot. Forty-four years later, they returned to the Fall Classic and finally lifted the trophy.

Milwaukee struck first in the top of the second inning, when Cooper Pratt's run-scoring single cashed in a runner set up by Bryce Turang's left-center double and Sal Frelick being hit by a pitch. In the fifth, consecutive singles by Pratt and Garrett Mitchell set the table for David Hamilton's RBI single, pushing the lead to 2-0.

In the sixth, Christian Yelich was hit by a pitch and William Contreras followed with an RBI double. Turang then singled to load the bases with nobody out, and Pratt added a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.

Milwaukee Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski pitches in the first inning of Game 5 of the 2026 MLB World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Thursday (Korean Standard Time). Misiorowski threw 5⅔ scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, to lead Milwaukee to its first World Series championship. [AFP]

On the mound, starter Jacob Misiorowski dominated the Tampa Bay lineup. Misiorowski threw 5⅔ innings on 86 pitches, scattering two hits and a walk while striking out two and allowing no runs. Misiorowski was removed after a right calf cramp with two outs in the bottom of the sixth but earned the win.

Misiorowski also won Game 1, holding Tampa Bay to one run over five innings, giving him two victories in the series. On the very first pitch of that game, Misiorowski threw a 103.5-mph fastball — a new World Series record for pitch velocity.

At the plate, rookie Pratt went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, becoming the first rookie in World Series history to record hits in six consecutive plate appearances in a single series. Jackson Churio also made history, collecting 11 hits across the five games to set a new record for most hits in a five-game World Series.

Tampa Bay scored in the bottom of the ninth on consecutive doubles by Liam Hicks and Chandler Simpson, but could not complete the comeback.

The Rays, founded in 1998, were making their third World Series appearance — following trips in 2008 and 2020 — but had to settle for the runner-up finish once again.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Churio celebrates after the Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win the 2026 MLB World Series in Game 5 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Thursday (Korean Standard Time). Churio recorded 11 hits across the five-game series, setting a record for most hits in a five-game World Series. [AFP]

yjc@heraldcorp.com