World Series 2026: Brewers on cusp of first title after dismantling Rays in historic rally to take 3-0 lead

It will take an unprecedented comeback to stop the Milwaukee Brewers from winning their first World Series title. After Monday, it's difficult to be confident the Tampa Bay Rays are up for the job.The Brewers defeated the Rays in a 10-1 demolition in Game 3 of the 2026 World Series, taking a 3-0 series lead. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in the Fall Classic, and it's happened only once in a seven-game series (the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS).Game 4 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET Tuesday at Tropicana Field, with Milwaukee one win from exiting MLB's group of title-less teams.If the Brewers complete the sweep, they will be the first team to sweep both a championship series and World Series in MLB history. They have already tied the record most consecutive wins in a single postseason with eight, which dates back to the NLDS.The Brewers will never forget that fifth inningThanks to a strong performance from starting pitcher Robert Gasser and the bullpen, the Brewers had enough runs to win the game by the third inning. It was in the fifth, however, that the game — and quite likely the series — was decided.The inning was theoretically over before a run had been scored. With two outs and runners on first and second, William Contreras grounded into a force-out at second base. However, the Brewers challenged the out call at second, and a quick replay review showed that Christian Yelich was clearly safe. As obvious as overturning the call was, it wound up being one of the most consequential challenges since MLB introduced the system.After further review, Christian Yelich was ruled safe at second base to load the bases with two outs in the 5th pic.twitter.com/OTsRHlPsZW— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 27, 2026 The safe call loaded the bases and knocked out Tampa Bay starting pitcher — and old friend of the Brewers — Freddy Peralta after 4 2/3 innings. Cam Booser, the top left-hander in the Rays' bullpen, entered to face Brice Turang and try to keep the game within reach.He did not keep the game within reach. Instead, the most patient offense in baseball ambushed Booser with RBI hits from four straight batters, two of them on the first pitch of the at-bat. Then Cole Sulser replaced Booser, and the Brewers delivered two more run-scoring hits. All with two outs.In the span of 12 pitches from Booser, a two-run game turned into an eight-run game. And it got even worse after he exited.Here's the full sequence in what will go down as the most famous inning in Brewers history:David Hamilton lineoutJackson Chourio singleJake Bauers flyoutChristian Yelich walkWilliam Contreras single*Brice Turang 2-RBI singleGarrett Mitchell RBI singleCooper Pratt 2-RBI doubleSal Frelick RBI doubleDavid Hamilton RBI singleJackson Chourio RBI doubleJake Bauers flyout* call overturned on replayOr, in video form:ALL 8 FIFTH-INNING RUNS IN ONE VIDEO pic.twitter.com/Umvvau3c5V— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 27, 2026 The Brewers are playing in the World Series despite tying for 28th in MLB in home runs during the regular season, and they showed in Game 3 why that didn't matter. They might not hit the long ball as much as MLB's other top teams, but they refuse to go away.With their fifth-inning rally, the Brewers became the first team to string together seven straight hits in a postseason game. Jake Bauers posted the second out of the inning, then finally flew out for the third. By the end of the inning, every starter in the Milwaukee lineup save for Bauers had a run and RBI in the game.In total, the Brewers out-hit the Rays 16-3 on Monday. That first Tampa Bay hit was a leadoff single by Yandy Díaz in the first inning; the second and third hits came in the ninth. Everything between that: absolute dominance from Milwaukee.Everything is coming up MilwaukeeIt's almost a footnote that Gasser posted a start of six shutout innings with one hit allowed. In another game, we're talking at length about him becoming the first pitcher to face the minimum in six or more innings in the World Series since Don Larsen in his 1956 perfect game.The Brewers didn't even need to dig into the bullpen that has become their calling card. Top arms Trevor Megill, Aaron Ashby and Abner Uribe all got the night off and will be rested when Milwaukee goes for the clinch in Game 4 on Tuesday.An added treat was the appearance of Brandon Woodruff to pitch the ninth, making his return after what was thought to be a season-ending shoulder injury in July. He allowed two hits and the Rays' only run on an RBI double by Díaz.Brandon Woodruff takes the mound for the first time since July 4th! #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/YZ47uOs0bj— MLB (@MLB) October 27, 2026 Milwaukee is now 10-1 this postseason, and what stands out is that no starting pitcher on either side has pitched into the seventh inning. Only two pitchers — Gasser on Monday and Blake Snell of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLCS — have recorded an out in the sixth inning.That reflects two things. One is the Brewers' bullpen has been that good, with a 1.34 ERA in 53 2/3 innings across the postseason. The other is this Brewers lineup, which walks more than any other team in baseball, aggressively runs the bases and strings together clutch hits, has absolutely tortured some of the best pitchers in baseball.Robbie Ray, Michael King, Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Drew Rasmussen, Freddy Peralta — none lasted more than five innings against the Brewers. None pitched in a win. This Brewers team has been a machine all postseason, and Monday was their masterpiece. They have now won 113 games between the regular season and postseason, and they need just one more to reduce the number of title-less MLB teams to four.Tampa Bay will, in all likelihood, remain one of those teams, along with the San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners, despite this being the Rays' third trip to the World Series.Follow along with Yahoo Sports as the Rays face the Brewers in the World Series.