MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — In a game defined by dominant pitching and a critical late-inning hit, the Tampa Bay Rays edged the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 on Monday night at American Family Field, overcoming preseason projections and a sixth-inning rally to even their early-season record.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a comfortable 4-1 Brewers victory, giving Milwaukee a 64.7 percent probability to win as a 1.5-run favorite. The Rays, however, scripted a different outcome, using a first-inning homer, a clutch ninth-inning double, and a string of scoreless relief appearances to secure the win before a crowd of 20,022 in a brisk 2-hour, 33-minute contest.

The game’s tone was set immediately by the starting pitchers. Tampa Bay’s Nick Martinez, named the top star for the Rays, delivered six strong innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three. He was matched for five innings by Milwaukee’s Kyle Harrison, who was electric in a no-decision, striking out eight Rays batters while surrendering just one run on four hits.

That lone run off Harrison came on the game’s fourth pitch. Tampa Bay designated hitter Yandy Díaz launched a line-drive home run to left field, staking the Rays to a 1-0 lead before many fans had settled into their seats. The Rays threatened again in the second, putting runners at the corners with one out, but Harrison struck out Ryan Vilade to end the inning and begin a run of retired batters.

Harrison’s outing kept the Brewers within striking distance, and they broke through against Martinez in the sixth. Brice Turang led off with a double that ticked off the glove of first baseman Jonathan Aranda. William Contreras then provided the game’s most significant swing for Milwaukee, crushing a two-run homer to center field to erase the deficit and give the Brewers a 2-1 lead, injecting life into the home crowd.

The Rays’ response was swift. Facing reliever Aaron Ashby in the top of the seventh, Jonny DeLuca led off the inning by launching a solo home run to left-center field, instantly tying the game 2-2. The bullpen gates then swung open, and both teams’ relievers took control.

Tampa Bay’s Griffin Jax worked a perfect seventh. Milwaukee’s Angel Zerpa answered with a perfect eighth, striking out two. The game then turned in the ninth against Brewers closer Trevor Megill. With two outs and DeLuca on first via a walk, catcher Nick Fortes lined a double into the gap in left-center field. DeLuca raced around from first to score, giving the Rays a 3-2 lead and handing Megill the loss.

The Brewers mounted a final threat in the bottom of the ninth against Rays reliever Kevin Kelly. Sal Frelick was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. After Garrett Mitchell struck out swinging, David Hamilton lifted a fly ball to left for the second out. Kelly then induced a game-ending forceout from pinch-hitter Blake Perkins, with shortstop Carson Williams handling the chance to seal the victory and earn Kelly his first save of the season.

The Tampa Bay bullpen quartet of Jax, Ian Seymour, winning pitcher Garrett Cleavinger, and Kelly combined for three perfect innings of relief, striking out four. Cleavinger earned the win after navigating a tense eighth inning that included an intentional walk to set up a key strikeout.

The victory improved the Rays to 2-2 on the young season, while the Brewers fell to 3-1. The teams will continue their three-game series on Tuesday night in Milwaukee.

UP NEXT

Rays: Continue their road trip with the second game of the series against the Brewers on Tuesday. Brewers: Host the Rays on Tuesday before an off-day and a road trip to Kansas City.