MILWAUKEE - Liam Hicks ended the World Series’ home run drought in emphatic fashion Saturday evening, belting a 411-foot two-run blast to right-center field in the first inning as the Tampa Bay Rays jumped to a 4-0 lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 at American Family Field.
The four runs marked the most Tampa Bay has ever scored in a single World Series inning, and came one night after a Game 1 that featured 12 singles, three stolen bases and no home runs - the first Fall Classic opener without a homer since 2000.
Milwaukee starter Logan Henderson, who had never permitted more than three runs in any regular-season Major League start, unraveled within the first five batters. The inning opened on an error when shortstop Cooper Pratt bounced his throw to first base on Yandy Díaz’s leadoff grounder. Henderson struck out Jonathan Aranda before Chandler Simpson singled up the middle and Junior Caminero lined a run-scoring hit down the left-field line, giving Tampa Bay its first lead of the Series. Hicks then drove the two-run homer to cap the outburst.
Henderson had allowed four runs, two earned, in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series as well, making the first inning a recurring vulnerability in his postseason outings.
The Rays entered Game 2 riding a dominant regular season, finishing 75-17 when scoring at least four runs and going 4-0 in the postseason under the same condition. History also favors Tampa Bay: teams are 20-4 in World Series play when scoring four or more runs in the first inning.