The Tampa Bay Rays' aggressive baserunning strategy backfired in Game 1 of the World Series, resulting in a 3-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Two costly miscues on the basepaths proved decisive, though the team vowed not to abandon their identity. In the fifth inning, Victor Mesa Jr. was nailed stealing third on a 103 mph fastball. Later, Jonathan Aranda struck out, and catcher William Contreras threw him out attempting to steal second, ending the inning with Junior Caminero due up. The Rays entered the game 11-for-11 on steal attempts in the playoffs but were held to just two stolen bases in the ninth inning via a double steal by Jorge Mateo and Chandler Simpson. Manager Kevin Cash accepted responsibility for the second mistake, trusting Simpson to make contact. Despite the errors, the Rays' running game, which led the majors in steals during the regular season, remains a core part of their identity. "That's us," said Simpson. "We can't run away from that because that's who we are."
The Rays will look to regroup in Game 2 on Saturday, hoping to execute their aggressive style more effectively against Brewers catcher William Contreras.
Source: ESPN MLB · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing