The Milwaukee Brewers were three outs away from winning the first World Series championship in franchise history Tuesday night. Instead, the Tampa Bay Rays produced a stunning 12th-inning rally to extend their season.
Tampa Bay scored twice in the bottom of the 12th to defeat Milwaukee 4–3 in Game 4 at Tropicana Field. Pinch-hitter Ben Williamson delivered the walk-off single as the Rays avoided a sweep and forced Game 5.
The Brewers still lead the best-of-seven series 3–1, but a championship celebration that appeared imminent will have to wait at least one more night.
Rays Strike First in Elimination Game
Tampa Bay entered Game 4 facing the possibility of a sweep after Milwaukee dominated the previous night’s game 10–1.
The Rays generated some early momentum when Chandler Simpson doubled home Jonny DeLuca in the second inning, giving Tampa Bay its first lead since Game 2.
Milwaukee answered in the fourth. Rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt, who would remain at the center of the action throughout the night, delivered an RBI double to tie the game.
The Rays regained the lead in the bottom of the inning after a Milwaukee throwing error allowed Junior Caminero to score. David Hamilton erased that advantage with a solo home run in the fifth, tying the game at 2–2.
Neither team scored again for six innings.
Bullpens Turn Game 4 Into a Marathon
The game became a battle of the bullpens after Tampa Bay starter Griffin Jax worked four innings and Milwaukee starter Dustin May completed three.
Tampa Bay used seven pitchers to keep the Brewers scoreless from the sixth through the 11th. Milwaukee’s bullpen was equally effective, holding the Rays without a hit for much of the game’s second half.
Aaron Ashby provided 2⅓ scoreless innings for Milwaukee, extending his postseason scoreless streak as a reliever to 18 innings. The Rays also received two scoreless innings apiece from Nick Martinez and Bryan Baker.
Several defensive plays helped preserve the tie. Simpson made a leaping catch near the left-field wall in the ninth, and a replay review overturned a stolen-base call against Pratt later in the inning.
The score remained 2–2 as the game moved into the 12th.
Pratt Puts Milwaukee on the Brink
Pratt led off the top of the 12th against Ian Seymour and drove a 2–2 pitch into the left-center-field seats.
The home run completed a four-hit night for the 22-year-old rookie and gave Milwaukee a 3–2 lead. It also placed the Brewers three outs away from their first World Series title.
Jackson Chourio added a two-out double, giving Milwaukee an opportunity to extend the lead, but Seymour retired Jake Bauers to end the inning.
That kept Tampa Bay within one run—and gave the Rays the opening they needed.
Tampa Bay Rallies in the Bottom of the 12th
Caminero opened the bottom half with a ground ball to third baseman Joey Ortiz. Ortiz’s throw bounced in front of Bauers at first and got away, allowing Caminero to reach on the error.
Milwaukee replaced Antonio Senzatela with rookie left-hander Shane Drohan, but the pitching change did not stop the rally.
Liam Hicks singled through the left side, sending Caminero to third. Cedric Mullins entered as a pinch-runner, and DeLuca followed with a single up the middle that brought Mullins home with the tying run.
Simpson then singled to center, loading the bases with no outs.
Rays manager Kevin Cash called on Williamson to bat for Victor Mesa Jr. Williamson attacked Drohan’s first pitch and bounced it through the right side of the infield. Pinch-runner Nick Fortes scored from third, completing the comeback and setting off a celebration at Tropicana Field.
Drohan faced four batters without recording an out.
Rays Make World Series History
Tampa Bay became only the fifth team to force a Game 5 after losing the first three games of a World Series.
The Rays also became just the second team to earn a walk-off victory while facing a World Series sweep. The 1910 Chicago Cubs were the only previous team to accomplish it.
The larger challenge remains. No team that has fallen behind 3–0 in the World Series has ever forced a Game 6. The four previous clubs that extended the series to a fifth game were eliminated in that game.
The Rays now have an opportunity to become the first to survive.
Brewers Get Another Chance in Game 5
Milwaukee remains one victory away from its first championship and will send ace Jacob Misiorowski to the mound tonight.
Misiorowski led the majors during the regular season with a 1.80 ERA, 252 strikeouts and a 0.80 WHIP. He did not pitch in relief Tuesday, allowing him to make the Game 5 start on regular rest.
Tampa Bay had not announced a starter as of Wednesday afternoon. The Rays used every member of their regular-season rotation during the previous four nights, making a bullpen game the most likely approach.
Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, at Tropicana Field, with Jacob Misiorowski expected to start for the Brewers. The Rays have not announced a starter.
