Brewers vs Rays Game 2: Blown Lead, Controversial Ending

Brewers vs Rays Game 2: Blown Lead, Controversial Ending

October 25, 2026 | World Series Game 2 Recap | MLB Playoffs

The Tampa Bay Rays had a 4 to 0 lead, their ace on the mound and a golden opportunity to tie the World Series.

They lost anyway.

And somehow, the ending was almost as controversial as the collapse itself.

Milwaukee Brewers 5, Tampa Bay Rays 4. The Brewers lead the World Series 2 to 0.

Sal Frelick hit a game tying home run. Cooper Pratt completed his redemption story with the winning RBI. And Yandy Díaz was furious after a disputed check swing call ended the game.

But the biggest question is even more uncomfortable.

Did the Brewers pull off another incredible comeback, or did the Rays just throw away their best chance to win the World Series?

Brewers vs Rays Game 2: Final Score and Box Score

Winning pitcher: Abner Uribe

Losing pitcher: Tyler Wells

Save: Aaron Ashby

Game winning hit: Cooper Pratt, RBI single in the seventh inning.

For the complete pitching and batting statistics, check the official MLB Game 2 box score.

1. Tampa Bay Blew a 4 to 0 Lead With Its Ace on the Mound

This is the part Rays fans should be furious about.

Tampa Bay scored four runs before Milwaukee even came to bat.

Liam Hicks delivered a two run home run in the first inning. The Rays looked aggressive, confident and ready to answer their Game 1 defeat.

Even better, Drew Rasmussen was starting.

The same pitcher Kevin Cash had deliberately saved for Game 2.

Surely this was Tampa Bay's night?

Not even close.

Rasmussen lasted just 3 2/3 innings, throwing 89 pitches before leaving the game.

Milwaukee made him work for almost every out.

The Brewers kept fouling off pitches, extending plate appearances and preventing the Rays ace from settling into a comfortable rhythm.

The entire strategy of saving Rasmussen for Game 2 suddenly looked questionable.

It is easy to defend Cash's decision when Rasmussen is dominating.

It becomes much harder when Tampa Bay loses both games and its ace fails to complete four innings.

Was the decision itself wrong? Not necessarily.

But the result was devastating.

Read MLB's analysis of how Tampa Bay blew its four run lead.

2. Sal Frelick and Cooper Pratt Humiliated the Rays

Milwaukee did not erase the deficit with one spectacular inning.

The Brewers chipped away.

Two runs in the first.

Another in the fourth.

Then came the moment that changed the game.

Sal Frelick launched a solo home run in the sixth inning to tie the score at 4 to 4.

It was his first home run in three months.

Then Cooper Pratt stepped up in the seventh.

Pratt had committed a throwing error in the first inning that helped Tampa Bay build its early lead.

Now he had a chance to make up for it.

With Brice Turang on third base, Pratt delivered an RBI single into shallow right field.

Milwaukee led 5 to 4.

American Family Field erupted.

A player who had helped create the early disaster had delivered the game's decisive hit.

That is what makes this comeback more interesting than the score alone. The Brewers survived mistakes that would have broken other teams.

Watch the official MLB highlights of Frelick's home run and Pratt's winning hit.

WATCH: Brewers vs Rays World Series Game 2 Highlights

Official MLB highlights | October 24, 2026 | 7 minutes 29 seconds

Watch all the Game 2 highlights on MLB.com

3. Did a Controversial Umpire Call End the Game?

Just when everyone thought Game 2 had delivered enough drama, the ninth inning provided one final argument.

Tampa Bay had the tying run in scoring position.

Aaron Ashby was trying to secure Milwaukee's victory.

Yandy Díaz faced a full count.

Then came the decisive pitch.

The umpire ruled that Díaz had gone too far on a checked swing.

Strike three.

Game over.

Díaz strongly disagreed.

And fans immediately had another reason to argue about the World Series.

Did Díaz actually swing, or did Tampa Bay lose its last chance because of a judgment call?

The ruling stood, and Milwaukee won.

But context matters.

Even if fans disagree with the final call, Tampa Bay had already wasted several opportunities to protect its early lead.

The Rays also made costly defensive mistakes during the comeback.

One controversial strikeout should not erase the previous eight innings.

Watch the controversial final strikeout and Díaz's reaction.

4. The Real Difference Between These Teams Is the Bullpen

The Rays scored four runs in the first inning.

Then Milwaukee's bullpen shut them down completely.

Six scoreless innings. Six strikeouts. Zero runs allowed.

JoJo Romero, Dustin May, DL Hall, Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby combined to give Milwaukee time to recover.

Ashby recorded the final five outs and secured his third save of the postseason.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay's pitching staff struggled to protect an early advantage.

This is the most important takeaway from Game 2.

Milwaukee has repeatedly shown that it can win without dominant performances from its starting pitchers.

Tampa Bay has now discovered how difficult it is to beat a team that continues creating scoring opportunities while its bullpen keeps the opponent off the scoreboard.

The difference is not just individual talent.

Milwaukee currently looks like the more complete team.

5. Can the Rays Still Win the World Series?

Yes.

But Game 3 has become enormously important.

Milwaukee leads the series 2 to 0 and needs only two more victories to win its first World Series championship.

Tampa Bay returns home to Tropicana Field on Monday, October 26.

And the pitching matchup adds another fascinating storyline.

World Series Game 3

Peralta, a former Brewers pitcher, now gets an opportunity to save Tampa Bay's season against his old team.

That is the kind of storyline that makes the World Series irresistible.

Read the official MLB Game 3 preview and confirmed pitchers.

World Series Game 2 Frequently Asked Questions

Who won Brewers vs Rays Game 2?

The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5 to 4 on October 24, 2026, taking a 2 to 0 World Series lead.

How did the Brewers come back from 4 to 0?

Milwaukee scored twice in the first inning, once in the fourth, tied the game on Sal Frelick's sixth inning home run and took the lead on Cooper Pratt's seventh inning RBI single.

Who hit home runs in World Series Game 2?

Liam Hicks hit a two run home run for Tampa Bay. Sal Frelick homered for Milwaukee.

Who was the winning pitcher?

Brewers reliever Abner Uribe earned the victory. Tyler Wells took the loss, and Aaron Ashby recorded the save.

What was controversial about the final out?

Yandy Díaz was called out on a checked swing for the final strikeout. Díaz disputed the ruling.

Who is pitching in World Series Game 3?

Robert Gasser starts for Milwaukee against Freddy Peralta of Tampa Bay.

When is World Series Game 3?

Monday, October 26, 2026, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time at Tropicana Field.

Final Verdict: Did Tampa Bay Just Throw Away the World Series?

Two games.

Two defeats.

Both decided by one run.

Tampa Bay has been close enough to win either game.

Yet Milwaukee leads the World Series 2 to 0.

That is what makes the situation so painful for Rays fans.

They had the lead.

They had their ace.

They had opportunities.

And they still lost.

The controversial final call will dominate some discussions.

But perhaps the bigger controversy is how Tampa Bay managed to lose control of a game that appeared to be firmly in its hands.

My verdict: The Brewers deserve enormous credit. But the Rays have made their path to a championship unnecessarily difficult.

Now the question everyone should be arguing about:

Did the umpire rob Tampa Bay of its last chance, or are Rays fans using the final call to distract from an embarrassing collapse?

And one more thing.

Can the Rays still win four of the next five games?

Or is this World Series already slipping away?