Víctor Mesa Jr. guns down a runner but gets caught stealing third as the Rays drop World Series Game 1, 3-2

Foto: Wikimedia Commons / Minda Haas Kuhlmann (CC BY 2.0)

October 24, 2026

The Tampa Bay Rays lost 3-2 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, October 23, in Game 1 of the World Series at American Family Field, and it was a night of highs and lows for Cubans Víctor Mesa Jr. and Yandy Díaz. The finish was wild: an apparent game-ending double play was overturned on replay, and closer Trevor Megill had to strike out Jonny DeLuca to seal it, AP and MLB.com reported.

Mesa Jr., starting in right field and batting sixth, singled in the fifth inning and later tried to steal third with Díaz at the plate, but catcher William Contreras threw him out to end the frame. "I'm always trying to make something happen," the son of Cuban baseball legend Víctor Mesa told MLB.com. "Obviously easy to say now, but it was not the best move." His arm made up for it on defense, as he threw out a Brewers runner at third from right field in the same inning.

Díaz, the leadoff man and designated hitter, went 0-for-4. The Villa Clara native opened the game facing the fastest pitch ever thrown in a World Series, a 103.5 mph fastball from Jacob Misiorowski. Christian Yelich's first-inning RBI triple set the tone for Milwaukee.

Game 2 is Saturday, October 24, in Milwaukee, with Drew Rasmussen lined up to start for Tampa Bay. Neither franchise has ever won the World Series.

Fuente: AP (via CBS Sports); MLB.com; Baseball-Reference

Yandy Díaz Fernández

Sports, Outfielder, Baseball

Born in Sagua la Grande, Cuba is a Third base, Second base and outfielder Cuban professional baseball player who played for the Leones del Caracas of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVBP).2 He currently plays for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball MLB. He previously played for the Cleveland Indians.

Víctor Mesa

Baseball, Outfielder

Víctor Mesa Jr. is a Cuban outfielder in Major League Baseball, the son of legendary Cuban player and manager Víctor Mesa Martínez and brother of fellow professional baseball player Víctor Víctor Mesa. He left Cuba together with his brother in 2018 and signed as an international free agent with the Miami Marlins for a $1 million bonus.