Sloppy Rays have made
uncharacteristic mistakes to fall behind the Brewers 2-0 in the World
Series
[October 26, 2026]
By ROB MAADD
The Tampa Bay Rays face a 2-0 deficit in the World Series because
they haven’t played the smart, crisp, small-ball brand of baseball
that helped them win 105 games to this point.
They’ve made mistakes on the bases, committed errors in the field
and struck out more than usual at the plate.
The ball just hasn’t bounced Tampa Bay’s way in a pair of grueling
one-run losses to the Milwaukee Brewers. Game 3 is Monday night at
Tropicana Field.
“Yeah, it’s frustrating,” second baseman Richie Palacios said on a
video conference Sunday. “Those are baseball plays — that’s where
luck is involved in it.”
Palacios broke to cover second base on a hit-and-run in the first
inning of Game 2 with runners on first and third and one out.
William Contreras hit a bouncer that could’ve potentially been an
inning-ending double play but it rolled into center field because
Palacios was out of position going to the base, which is the right
decision in that spot.
The RBI single helped the Brewers cut a 4-0 deficit in half that
inning and they went on to win 5-4.
Contreras should’ve been retired earlier in the at-bat on a foul pop
but first baseman Jonathan Aranda dropped the ball.
Aranda later allowed David Hamilton’s grounder to slip between his
legs for an error that brought home Milwaukee’s third run in the
fourth inning.
In the sixth, left fielder Chandler Simpson misplayed a fly ball by
Christian Yelich and it caromed off his glove for a single. That
misplay didn't cost Tampa Bay any runs, however.
“We didn’t play our cleanest baseball game by any stretch,” Rays
manager Kevin Cash said. “We pride ourselves on doing everything we
can to support the pitchers and making plays behind them. (Saturday)
was probably not our best day.”
Situational hitting, a staple of Tampa Bay’s offense that led the
majors in bunting, hasn’t been effective.
Down 5-4 in the ninth, Jonny DeLuca led off with a double. Victor
Mesa Jr. failed to advance him, striking out swinging. DeLuca went
to third on a groundout but Yandy Diaz struck out on 3-2 pitch,
though it appeared on video replay that he checked his swing.
“We’ve lost two ballgames. Not in the position we want to be in,”
Cash said. “We’ve also been in two ballgames where we’re one swing
of the bat from tying it or taking the lead.
"It hasn’t happened. We’re waiting for that to happen. Hopefully it
happens (Monday).”
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Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson fails to catch a fly
ball hit by Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich during the sixth
inning of Game 2 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Oct. 24,
2026, in Milwaukee, between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay
Rays. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
The Rays are running into too many outs, too.
Up 4-3 in the sixth inning in Game 2, Tampa Bay’s Liam Hicks was
thrown out trying to score from second base on a single to left
field by Mesa. The not-so-fleet Hicks had just touched third when
Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio fielded the ball in shallow left but
third base coach Brady Williams was waving him home the entire way
and he was easily out at the plate.
Cash defended Williams for that one, saying the Rays have been
aggressive all season and want to put pressure on defenses to make
plays.
In the series opener Friday night, Mesa was thrown out trying to
steal third base to end the top of the third. The Rays were trailing
2-1 when Mesa broke for third on an 0-2 pitch to Díaz. Mesa
apologized for what he called “not the smartest move.”
An inning later, Aranda was caught trying to steal second for the
third out as Simpson struck out. Cash took the blame for that one,
saying he had confidence Simpson would put the ball in play. Simpson
only struck out 48 times in the regular season.
Overall, the Rays have fanned 19 times in two games. They averaged
7.1 strikeouts per game in the regular season.
Despite the team’s uncharacteristic performance in the first two
games, Cash gave the players off Sunday while the Brewers worked out
at the Trop.
“I think our guys are good,” he said. “Knowing that we have an off
day, let’s appreciate the off day for what it was. Come in and get
your treatment, do that, and keep it simple.”
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