Brewers Move Within One Win of First Title After Game 3 Victory

MILWAUKEE BREWERS 10, TAMPA BAY RAYS 1: The Brewers took a 3-0 series lead Monday night, moving one win from the first championship in the franchise's 57-year history. Milwaukee's offense produced 16 hits in the Game 3 win at St. Petersburg.

Jackson Chourio, 22, accounted for four of those hits. He became the youngest player in 80 years to record four hits in a World Series game. Chourio opened Milwaukee's fifth-inning rally with a single up the middle and closed it with a double into the right-center gap. The Brewers scored eight runs with two outs in that inning.

Chourio has eight hits through the first three games of the series. He said he works to stay level at the plate. "It's about maintaining a calmness to myself and thinking only about a positive result," Chourio said in Spanish. "I know people expect a lot out of me. I expect a lot out of myself too. But I have to remain calm and always think positive."

Milwaukee signed Chourio out of Venezuela in 2021, when he was 16. Matt Arnold, the team's president of baseball operations, was general manager at the time under David Stearns. Arnold said of Chourio, "He's turning into a superstar right in front of our eyes." Hitting coach Daniel Vogelbach called him "a kid" and noted, "He could be playing college baseball right now."

Chourio's 23rd career postseason game Monday was his 23rd in three years. He posted a .389/.421/.667 slash line in his first National League Division Series in 2025. His regular-season OPS from 2024 to 2026 stands at .799; his postseason OPS in that span is .882. League-wide OPS has run 39 points higher in the regular season than in the postseason over those three years.

Field coordinator Néstor Corredor, who coached Chourio in the Venezuelan winter league and this year's World Baseball Classic, said Chourio worked counts and shortened his swing against the Rays. Corredor said, "He's understanding that this is a complete team and he doesn't have to be the hero."

Christian Yelich, the Brewers captain, said of Chourio, "He's got that slow heartbeat. He likes the moment." Backup catcher Gary Sánchez said in Spanish, "It's super impressive how he manages that scenario. To me, he likes these moments more than the regular season."

Sal Frelick said these performances are now expected of Chourio. Chourio said in Spanish, "I know how hard I've worked for this. But the fact it's all working out the best way possible is truly gratifying."

The Brewers can clinch the World Series in Game 4.