MILWAUKEE, WI — Wow. 

From sweeping the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series last Thursday to securing a nail-biting 3-2 victory in Game 1 of the World Series Friday night at American Family Field, the Milwaukee Brewers picked up right where they left off. 

As Game 1 went right down to the wire with the Tampa Bay Rays challenging Brewers closer Trevor Megill while 43,250 fans in attendance stood anxiously on every single pitch, biting their fingernails—Milwaukee came out on top to go up 1-0 in this best of seven Fall Classic—marking the franchise’s first win in a World Series Classic game since Game 5 of the 1982 WS (October 17, 1982). 

GAME ONE BELONGS TO MILWAUKEE#WinOurWay pic.twitter.com/QzbNECRNFP

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 24, 2026

Winners of Game 1 of a World Series have gone on to win the Fall Classic 77 times (63.6%), the case in 18 of the last 23 and 23 of the last 28 World Series beginning in 1997. 

At the very beginning, starting it all off for Milwaukee against Rays Game 1 starter Nick Martinez was Venezuelan Jackson Chourio, ripping a lead-off opposite field line drive single which soon led to him then crossing home plate via Christian Yelich smacking a go-ahead triple. 

A 1-0 first inning lead and in the blink of an eye, 2-0 as fellow Venezuelan William Contreras connected for an RBI-single one pitch later to join in on the Brew Crew’s early hit parade.

The Brewers have come out swingin' 💥

William Contreras adds on in the 1st! #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/ZXhsLThhA1

— MLB (@MLB) October 24, 2026

On the visiting side, there would be little to no significant hit parades formulated by Tampa Bay, recording seven hits, two walks and nine strikeouts as a team in Game 1. Additionally, the Rays went 0-6 with runners in scoring position. 

Not the winning recipe they had pictured ahead of Friday’s first pitch, but for the Brewers, more than enough with Jacob Misiorowski, Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby, and Megill on the bump. And Contreras geared up behind home plate. 

A key ingredient for what the Brewers have cooking in the kitchen, the 28-year-old of Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, keeping Milwaukee’s pitchers at ease and locked in—Contreras had his hands all over this one—gunning down two base runners and going two-for-two on ABS challenges while also tacking on another single to kick off the home half of the eighth. 

A PERFECT THROW FROM CONTRERAS 🤯

William Contreras delivers a dart to third base! pic.twitter.com/EaFF1MyaiN

— MLB (@MLB) October 24, 2026

William Contreras is taking over with his cannon of an arm 💪

A strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play to end the inning! pic.twitter.com/4YzDjxHmHj

— MLB (@MLB) October 24, 2026

A player of the game type performance, one with an immeasurable impact as Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of his catcher during Game 1’s postgame: 

“If anybody doesn’t notice the contributions of Contreras, he was the player of the game. He was maybe MVP of the Dodgers series (NLCS). He was maybe MVP of the Padres series (NLDS). I don’t think they pick one for that, do they? But this guy has been incredible and he does both sides of the ball. We wouldn’t be in the position we’re in without Contreras.”

Becoming the fourth catcher in the last 50 Fall Classics with multiple hits and multiple caught stealings in a single World Series game was Contreras, joining Joe Girardi (1999 G3, Yankees), Terry Kennedy (1984 G1, Padres), and Thurman Munson (1976 G4, Yankees). 

Placing the Brewers in winning territory, too, as did Chourio, 22, of Maracaibo, Venezuela, recording a seventh inning RBI single to add to his first inning single and make the score 3-1. 

ACTION JACKSON 💥

Jackson Chourio shoots one down the line to plate another run for the Brewers! pic.twitter.com/c0ZeWqY4UF

— MLB (@MLB) October 24, 2026

So, Contreras and Chourio, championship winning teammates for Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic back in March, each recording two hits in Game 1 of the World Series Friday. Milwaukee’s Thunder and Lightning. 

“In comparison of the WBC to obviously the game tonight, both are tremendously important to me,” said Contreras (2-3, 1 RBI & 1 walk) through team interpreter Daniel de Mondesert. “I think the letters that I wear across my chest when I’m representing my country have a little bit more weight to them, but at the same time for me, I’m always going to go out there and give everything I have. I’m always going to go out there and compete and do whatever I can.”

On that same note, said Chourio (2-4, 1 RBI & 1 run scored): 

“For me obviously, the Classic was one of the best experiences of my life as well, what it meant to me. Echoing off of William, the weight that you wear across your chest. Honestly I think in these games today, there’s a little bit less pressure compared to the World Baseball Classic. Some of the pressure was removed maybe in some of the earlier rounds of the playoffs and I felt a little bit more free just to go out there and play my game.”

Jackson Chourio: 2/4, 1 RBI, 1 R
William Contreras: 2/3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 runners thrown out

The two Brewers stars discuss tonight's outing and taking pride in how aggressive they play on both ends. pic.twitter.com/c8EyIBtmI1

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 24, 2026

Looking Ahead to Game 2 of World Series 

With the Brewers leading the Rays 1-0 and Game 2 of the World Series scheduled for Saturday, October 24th at 8:08pm ET, Tampa Bay plans to start RHP Drew Rasmussen (2-0 this postseason, three earned runs over 21 innings with three walks) as Milwaukee rolls with RHP Logan Henderson (2-0, three earned runs across nine innings with five walks).

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