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The Tampa Bay Rays kept their season alive with a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in 12 innings during Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. Pinch-hitter Ben Williamson delivered a game-winning single past a drawn-in infield at 12:28 a.m. local time, preventing a Milwaukee sweep after four hours and 20 minutes of play.
A High-Stakes Extra-Inning Rally
The Brewers entered the bottom of the 12th inning just three outs away from securing the first championship in franchise history after rookie Cooper Pratt launched a go-ahead solo home run in the top half of the frame. However, Tampa Bay immediately answered when Milwaukee third baseman Joey Ortiz made a throwing error that allowed Junior Caminero to reach base leading off.
The Rays then mounted a continuous rally against left-handed reliever Shane Drohan. Liam Hicks punched a 2-2 fastball into left field, advancing Caminero to third base. Cedric Mullins entered as a pinch runner for Caminero, who appeared to pull something while rounding second base, though team management expects him to play in Game 5. Jonny DeLuca then lined a 1-2 cutter into center field to tie the score at 3-3.
Chandler Simpson loaded the bases with his third hit of the contest, smacking a high fastball up the middle after failing on two bunt attempts. As reported by Yahoo Sports, Hicks noted after the game that the dugout remained confident in Simpson’s contact skills despite the two-strike count.
Williamson Capitalizes on the First Pitch
With bases loaded and nobody out, Rays manager Kevin Cash made his final bench substitution, sending Williamson to pinch-hit for Victor Mesa Jr. The move aligned with Tampa Bay’s strategy of prioritizing contact, as Mesa holds a higher strikeout rate while Williamson excels at putting the ball in play.
Williamson, a 25-year-old infielder who was hitless in the series prior to the at-bat, took an aggressive approach. He swung at Drohan’s first pitch, driving a high chopper that bounced over first baseman Jake Bauers and landed in right field to plate the winning run. The play marked the 64th walk-off victory in World Series history.
“Cash just kind of turned around and said, ‘Get ready to hit,'” Williamson recalled afterward. “Jokingly, in my head, I was thinking, ‘Yeah, I’ve been ready to hit since the fourth or fifth inning.'”
Shortstop Taylor Walls praised Williamson’s readiness, noting how challenging it is for reserve players to remain focused in the tunnel for 11 innings before entering such a high-pressure moment. Reliever Bryan Baker also provided crucial support for Tampa Bay, pitching scoreless eighth and ninth innings to keep the contest within reach.
Looking Ahead to Game 5
Despite the loss, Milwaukee maintains a 3-1 series lead as the teams prepare to meet again on Wednesday night. The Brewers plan to send ace Jacob Misiorowski to the mound, while Cash stated that Tampa Bay’s pitching plans for the elimination game remain unsettled.
Only one team in Major League Baseball history has successfully overcome a 3-0 deficit in a postseason series. However, Rays players expressed firm confidence in their ability to continue the comeback effort. DeLuca mentioned postgame that the team holds the momentum heading into Wednesday, while Walls stated that the clubhouse fully believes it is capable of winning four straight games to capture the title.
