ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – As well as the Tampa Bay Rays played this season, how disciplined and how carefully structured their game, the impressive “house of cards,” meticulously constructed all season, tumbled and crashed in game two of the current World Series.
Now the task at hand is to identify those critical breakdowns and make sure the collective concentration and execution, from position players to pitchers, remain at a strategically high level.
Uncharacteristic of the way the Rays reached this 122nd edition of the Fall Classic, the breakdown in three critical spots in game three and the inefficiency of starter Drew Rasmassem combined to set the Rays down 0-2 in this series to the Milwaukee Brewers. Still, their overall execution during the season remains a textbook commentary on how to implement and execute a winning strategy.
The combination of power, at important times, combined with the ability to aggressively run the bases, “manufacture runs,” successfully bunt at opportune times, play nearly air-tight defense and employ a highly effective bullpen all worked in the Rays favor.
Those elements of success failed in game three. From manager Kevin Cash down to his players, all acknowledge “The Rays Way” was dramatically altered in Milwaukee.
“I think one of the factors working against us in Milwaukee was not making the big pitch when we had to make that big pitch,” said Cash during the off day between games two and three. “Going forward, we need to find a way to make that big pitch or get that big strikeout.”
Throughout the post-season, the significant mantra from the Rays, and their opponents, “do not give the opposition extra outs or take opportunities away.” Be clean, efficient, resourceful and competent.
On three critical plays during game two, that did not happen.
Number One
In the first inning of game two and the Rays out to 4-0 advantage, the Brewers had runners on first and third and one out. William Contrares lifted a foul ball near the netting which protects fans at field level and along the right field foul line. Rays’ first baseman Jonathan Aranda managed to get his glove on the ball but could not retain possession. With a second opportunity, Contrares singled in the Brewers first run and Milwaukee began to manufacture a comeback.
Number two
In the Brewers fourth and runners on first and third with one out. David Hamilton hit a grounder to first, and ball glanced off Aranda’s glove for an error. That enabled Cooper Pratt to score and draw the Brewers to within one at 4-3.
Number Three
In the Tampa Bay sixth, the Rays leading 4-3 and catcher Liam Hicks on second with two out, Victor Mesa Jr singled to left. Jackson Chourio was playing up and the ball was not hit hard. In a moment of curious judgment, Rays’ third base coach Brady Williams sent Hicks, and the catcher was thrown out easily at the plate. That running error was uncharacteristic of how and why the Rays run the bases.
Granted, light-hitting Taylor Walls followed Mesa, Jr. and the Rays could have taken chances with Walls, a .138 hitter in the current post-season.
Whether Hicks could have gone and the Rays play for Walls to make contact, remains unanswered, “I don’t live in hypotheticals,” said Tampa Bay second baseman Richie Palacious between games two and three.
Then, the obvious observation.
“We did not play our cleanest baseball game, by any stretch,” said Cash after game two. “We pride ourselves in doing everything we can to support the pitchers and making plays behind them. (Game two) was probably not our best day.”
For Game three … the Rays will send righthander Freddie Peralta (5-2, 3.25 in 10 starts for the Rays during the season; 2-0, 0.95 in 3 post-season appearances) to the hill and the Brewers counter with Robert Gasser, a left-hander from El Dorado, Calif. For the 2026 season, he went 5-5, and a 3.87 ERA over 20 starts. Gasser has made two appearances in the post-season with 0-0 mark and a 2.32 ERA.
A few numbers to consider … The winner of game three has gone on to win the Series 78 times, or 66.8 percent. That has been accomplished in six of the past nine Series … Overall, the winner of the third game of a post-season series captured that series 262 times or 67.2 percent. Of the 57 teams which have taken a 2-0 lead in the World Series best four-of-seven, 46 won the series, or 80.7 percent. That includes 45 of 55 in best of seven Series.
