Brewers capture first World Series title

MIAMI — The Milwaukee Brewers won the first World Series title in franchise history on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), beating the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-1, to clinch victory in Major League Baseball’s championship showcase. Rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt drove in one run, plated another with a sacrifice fly and scored as the Brewers — denied a sweep by the Rays’ thrilling extra-innings comeback win on Tuesday — celebrated a four games to one victory in the best-of-seven series at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Milwaukee’s first World Series title comes 44 years after their only other trip to the Fall Classic, when they lost to St. Louis in seven games in 1982. The Brewers, who swept the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, gained an early 1-0 edge on Pratt’s single to center field that scored Brice Turang in the top of the second inning. Pratt was cut down trying to reach second base and the Rays escaped the inning without further damage. Pratt singled again — his sixth hit in six straight at-bats — and scored on David Hamilton’s single up the middle as the Brewers doubled their lead in the top of the fifth. Milwaukee added two more...