Aaron Ashby's Scoreless Streak Powers Brewers' World Series Game 1 Win Over Rays

Brewers Open World Series With 3-2 Win

The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in Game 1 of the 2026 World Series on Friday, October 23, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, according to ESPN, which reported an announced attendance of 43,250. Milwaukee scored twice in the first inning, with Christian Yelich driving in Jackson Chourio with a triple and William Contreras then driving in Yelich, CBS Sports and ESPN both reported.

Tampa Bay cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth inning on a walk, a double by Junior Caminero and a groundout, ESPN reported. Milwaukee answered in the seventh when Chourio drove in a run to make it 3-1, before the Rays tied the ninth-inning drama.

Ninth-Inning Replay Overturns a Double Play

With the bases loaded in the ninth, Rays batter Liam Hicks grounded to second baseman Brice Turang, who started what appeared to be a game-ending double play through shortstop Cooper Pratt to first baseman Jake Bauers, ESPN reported. Tampa Bay challenged the call, and replay review showed Pratt's foot had come off second base before the catch, overturning the double play and allowing a run to score, cutting Milwaukee's lead to 3-2.

Brewers closer Trevor Megill then struck out Jonny DeLuca on a curveball to end the game. Megill said afterward that getting the series-opening win out of the way eased some of the nerves and anticipation surrounding Game 1, according to ESPN.

Aaron Ashby's Scoreless Streak

Between starter Jacob Misiorowski's exit and Megill's ninth-inning save situation, left-hander Aaron Ashby threw five outs — 1⅔ innings — without allowing a hit or a walk and struck out three batters, Yahoo Sports and ESPN reported. The outing extended a streak in which Ashby has not allowed a run all postseason.

Sources gave slightly different totals for that streak after Game 1: Yahoo Sports put it at 14⅓ scoreless innings, while ESPN reported 14 innings. Before the World Series opener, FanGraphs had tracked 12⅓ scoreless innings across six appearances in the Division Series and Championship Series, in which Ashby pitched in six of Milwaukee's eight playoff games and threw more innings than any other Brewers pitcher.

From Struggling Starter to Bullpen Weapon

Ashby, a left-hander born May 24, 1998, in Kansas City, Missouri, was drafted by the Brewers in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB Draft after not signing with the Texas Rangers, who had selected him in 2017, according to Wikipedia. He debuted in the majors on June 30, 2021, as a starter, had shoulder surgery in 2023 and spent time at Triple-A in 2024 before moving into a multi-inning relief role by the 2026 season, according to Wikipedia and FanGraphs.

In the 2026 regular season, Ashby went 13-3 with a 3.12 ERA and four saves across 75 appearances, Yahoo Sports reported. FanGraphs noted he ranked third in the National League in wild pitches during the regular season, reflecting a high-velocity arsenal that can be unpredictable even as it has produced scoreless outings in October. Brewers pitching coordinator Jim Henderson told FanGraphs that Ashby's willingness to pitch frequently, rather than conserve his workload, has made him available for repeated outings throughout the postseason.

What's Next

The win gives Milwaukee a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven World Series against Tampa Bay. ESPN reported the Game 1 victory was the Brewers' first World Series win in 44 years.