Chourio's four-hit game fuels Brewers to 3-0 World Series lead

Jackson Chourio hit four times in Game 3 of the World Series, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a 10-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. The win gives the Brewers a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, a position they hold with a record of 7-0 across both the National League Championship Series and the World Series.

Chourio, who is 22 years old, became the youngest player to record a four-hit World Series game since Joe Garagiola in 1946. His performance in St. Petersburg was part of a dominant offensive display by Milwaukee, which recorded 16 hits against just three for Tampa Bay. The Rays managed only one run, scoring in the ninth inning after the series was already effectively decided.

The 22-year-old third baseman opened the game with a line drive single and collected singles in his next two at-bats. His fourth hit came in the fifth inning, a double that helped ignite an eight-run rally for the Brewers. Chourio finished the game with two runs scored and one run batted in. Brewers manager Pat Murphy noted that Chourio's four hits were the weakest of his contact, with the fifth-inning double clocking in at 99 mph, a speed considered hard hit in baseball analytics.

Chourio’s consistency this postseason has defined the series for Milwaukee. He is batting .571 in the World Series, with eight hits in 14 at-bats. He has also shown range and arm strength, throwing out a baserunner at home plate in Game 2. In Game 3, he added a stolen base, bringing his total to three in the series. His ability to combine power, speed, and contact has made him the focal point of the Brewers' offense.

Chourio’s 2026 season was shortened by injury, limiting him to 127 games, yet he still recorded a 4.9 WAR. He has achieved the 20-home run, 20-steal mark in three of his professional seasons. The Brewers signed him to a team-friendly contract that runs through the 2031 season, with two club options extending the deal to 2033. This long-term commitment suggests the organization views him as its long-term face.

The Rays have struggled to find rhythm against Milwaukee. Their only offensive burst in the series came in the first inning of Game 2, where they scored four runs. They have not scored since that first inning of the second game. In Game 3, they were limited to one run on three hits over the entire contest. The Brewers' pitching staff, including starter Robert Gasser, has kept Tampa Bay in check while the offense has taken control.

If the Brewers win Game 4, they will go 8-0 in the postseason for the first time in Major League Baseball history. The only team to previously sweep both the NLCS and the World Series was the 1976 Cincinnati Reds, though that team played in a five-game NLCS. The current run has raised questions about the historical significance of such a dominant stretch, though the Brewers are focused on the immediate task of closing out the series.

Chourio’s performance has drawn comparisons to other disciplined athletes. Pat Murphy compared Chourio’s work ethic to that of Kobe Bryant, noting the young player's desire to improve annually. Chourio himself said he approached each at-bat as if it could be his last, aiming to get on base for the players behind him. His approach has produced results that have left the Rays with little to show in three games.