- Oct 16, 2026
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William Contreras delivered a pivotal performance behind the plate and at the dish, guiding Milwaukee to a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the 2026 World Series on Friday.
The Brewers catcher, 28, drove in Milwaukee's second run with an RBI single in the first inning and added another single later. His defensive work proved equally decisive. Contreras threw out Victor Mesa Jr. attempting to steal third in the fifth inning with two outs, ending a streak in which Tampa Bay had successfully converted all 11 stolen-base attempts this postseason. He later completed an inning-ending double play in the sixth, catching Jonathan Aranda stealing second during a strikeout by Abner Uribe with Chandler Simpson batting.
Contreras has issued 13 challenges this postseason, the most among all catchers. He has emphasized growing as a vocal leader with Milwaukee's pitching staff this year. Aaron Ashby, who worked a scoreless eighth inning, credited a mound visit from Contreras during the game. "I was doing the listening. I needed to hear what he was saying," Ashby said.
The Brewers, who won 103 regular-season games and last lost on Oct. 6 versus the Padres in the NLDS, will send Logan Henderson to the mound Saturday against Tampa Bay's Drew Rasmussen in Game 2.
Source: CBS Sports - Sat Oct 24, 11:57 AM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).