Fortes’ 9th-Inning Double Gives Rays 3-2 Win Over Brewers

Fortes delivers a late, dramatic finish as the Rays rally past the Brewers

This one’s a recap of a tense, late-inning showdown between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers. It ended with a two-out, ninth-inning double from Nick Fortes that broke a 2-2 tie and handed Tampa Bay a 3-2 win.

The game had pivotal long balls early and in the middle innings. There were a pair of strong debuts on the mound for new clubs, and a finish that left Milwaukee with its first loss after an opening sweep of Chicago.

Fortes’s ninth-inning heroics seal the Rays’ win

In the top of the ninth, Nick Fortes smashed the decisive hit off Trevor Megill. It was a two-out double that scored Jonny DeLuca, who had reached on a walk after Megill got two quick outs.

The Rays built their offense on timely long balls earlier, but Fortes’s hit capped the comeback. The Rays’ dugout went wild.

The Milwaukee bullpen faced a fresh challenge in the bottom of the ninth. Ian Seymour plunked Sal Frelick to start, then retired two more.

Kevin Kelly picked up his first save by getting Blake Perkins to ground out and end it.

Key moments that defined the game

Several blasts set the tone. The scoreboard read 3-2 for Tampa Bay in the late innings.

Yandy Díaz opened things with a leadoff homer on a 1-2 pitch from Kyle Harrison. The Brewers answered later with a William Contreras tying shot, a 415-foot blast to center.

The Rays countered in the seventh when DeLuca homered to left-center from 438 feet out.

• Díaz’s leadoff homer put Tampa Bay on the board first, signaling the Rays’ offense wasn’t going down easy.
• Contreras’s tying blast kept Milwaukee in it and shifted the pressure onto Tampa’s bullpen and defense.
• DeLuca’s timely seventh-inning shot gave Tampa a real shot at winning in regulation.
• Cleavinger’s eighth-inning strikeout of Gary Sánchez with runners on kept Milwaukee from breaking the tie in the eighth.

Debuts and pitching duels worth noting

Both starters made their debuts for their new teams. Kyle Harrison went five innings for Milwaukee, struck out eight, and allowed one run on four hits with a walk.

That’s a strong Brewers debut—he kept the game close. For Tampa Bay, Nick Martinez threw six solid innings, fanned three, and allowed six hits and two runs. He didn’t walk anyone.

Harrison notched several punchouts, while Martinez worked steady and efficient. The Brewers came in hot after sweeping the White Sox to start the season.

Milwaukee’s loss here was a rare stumble. The Rays leaned on a mix of veteran leadership and some youthful spark as they try to claw back into contention.

What it means and what’s next

Milwaukee’s first loss of the year put their early-season momentum to the test. Still, the way they battled back showed their grit against a strong contender in a tense spot.

Shane McClanahan looms for the Rays, finally coming back from Tommy John surgery and a triceps injury. That should give Tampa Bay’s rotation a real jolt as they gear up for another challenge.

Milwaukee’s got their eyes on Brandon Woodruff for the next game. He’s trying to get his command and edge back after a rough 2023-24, with rehab delays and all that mess.

For fans and analysts, this game really highlighted a few things that keep popping up in 2026. Late-inning offense matters, those clutch two-out hits can break your heart, and a bullpen’s one big moment can flip everything.

The Rays’ Fortes double? That’s the kind of play people remember—a true team win. Defense, timely hitting, and a patient approach in the late innings all came together for Tampa Bay, sealing a big victory over a Brewers squad that’s still on the rise.

 
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