A Costly Strategy
The Tampa Bay Rays rely on an aggressive style of baseball to put constant pressure on opponents. That approach backfired in Game 1 of the World Series during a 3-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers when two baserunning miscues hurt their chances.
Despite the mistakes, the team stated they will not change the strategy that brought them to the World Series for the third time in franchise history. Left fielder Chandler Simpson noted that the team cannot run away from their identity.
What Happened on the Field
The first blunder happened in the fifth inning. Victor Mesa Jr reached base with a leadoff single and tried to steal third base with two outs. Brewers catcher William Contreras threw him out to end the inning. Mesa admitted it was not the smartest move and apologized to his teammates.
The second mistake happened in the next inning. Jonathan Aranda hit a single, and manager Kevin Cash instructed Aranda to steal second base while Simpson was at the plate. Simpson struck out on a slider, and Contreras threw out Aranda to complete a double play.
Looking Ahead to Game 2
Before Friday, the Rays were perfect in postseason steal attempts and finished second in the majors in steals during the regular season. Cash explained that Mesa and Aranda were simply competing and trying to make something happen for the offense.
The Brewers defense and catcher shut down most of the running game, but the Rays executed a double steal in the ninth inning. The team will try to bounce back when Game 2 takes place on Saturday.
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