Rays lose 10-1 to Brewers in Game 3

The Tampa Bay Rays lost their third straight game in the World Series, falling 10-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers.

The defeat extends the Rays' deficit to 3-0 in the best-of-seven series. The game took place at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Rays manager Kevin Cash adjusted the starting lineup before the game began. Ryan Belate took over at first base, replacing Jonathan Aranda. Ben Williamson moved up to the fifth spot in the batting order, having hit eighth in Game 1 and sitting out Game 2. Yandy Diaz led off the lineup as usual.

Cash cited Diaz's recent development as a key factor in the team's approach. “The leader that he has become and evolved into, it’s taken, it seems like year by year, he makes more progress as being a leader,” Cash said. “And this year has basically been his best work. You know, he’s probably at the brunt of most jokes in that clubhouse. They like to fire at him because that’s how he takes it so well.”

Several players on the field have history with both franchises. Drew Rasmussen, who started Game 2 for the Rays, was part of the Brewers organization in 2018. Jake Bauers, a former Rays first baseman, now plays for Milwaukee. Bauers was named MVP of the NLCS earlier in the postseason. He faced Freddy Peralta, the current ALCS MVP and a longtime Brewer, in this game.

Bauers commented on his return to the stadium where he debuted. “I think the biggest challenge is the roof is the same color as a baseball,” Bauers said. “It never got easier for me when I was playing home games here. But I think, you know, it goes up as long as you don’t take your eye off it, you’re going to be all right. There’s going to be plenty of time for reminiscing. There’s going to be plenty of time for recapping everything that’s happened over the last, not only season, but eight seasons since I debuted for the Rays.”

A ceremonial first pitch was thrown before the game, featuring a guest connected to the Rays’ 2008 World Series run. Fans from Sarasota gathered outside the stadium prior to the game. Judge DeVilbiss, a graduate of New College and a season ticket holder since the stadium opened, predicted the Rays would win the series in six games. His daughter, a graduate of Cardinal Mooney in Sarasota, attended with him. Jim Brandel, also from Sarasota, predicted a seven-game series for the Rays.

The Rays previously appeared in the World Series in 2008 and 2020. The series continues with Game 4.