Rays survive 12th-inning scare to force Series clinch

The Tampa Bay Rays escaped a World Series elimination threat on Tuesday night by scoring twice in the 12th inning to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3. The victory kept the series alive and forced a decisive Game 5, preserving the Rays' chance at their first championship.

Cooper Pratt of the Brewers had put Milwaukee ahead 3-2 with a home run off reliever Ian Seymour in the top of the 12th. The hit marked his fourth of the game and brought the Brewers one out away from a sweep and their first title. However, a defensive miscue by third baseman Joey Ortiz on a grounder from Junior Caminero shifted the momentum back to the home team.

Liam Hicks singled to start the bottom half, and Jonny DeLuca followed with a single to center field. The hit drove in pinch-runner Cedric Mullins to tie the score at 3-3. Chandler Simpson then singled to load the bases, prompting the Brewers to shift their infield to the right side of the diamond.

Ben Williamson, a pinch-hitter for Victor Mesa Jr., delivered the winning hit with a chopper over first baseman Jake Bauers. Williamson had previously struggled in the postseason, going 1 for 15 before this at-bat. Rays manager Kevin Cash described the play as a direct instruction he gave to the hitter, noting the large swing required to make contact.

Tampa Bay became only the fourth team in World Series history to avoid elimination with an extra-inning comeback. According to OptaSTATS, the previous three teams to accomplish this feat, the 1912 Red Sox, 1986 Mets, and 2011 Cardinals, all went on to win the championship. The Rays also became the fifth team in history to win a World Series Game 4 after trailing the series 3-0.

Caminero left the game after twisting his left foot while attempting to evade a tag. He was replaced by Mullins at third base but stated he will play in Game 5. Cash confirmed the decision, saying he would ensure Caminero played on one leg if necessary. The All-Star slugger’s resilience was a key factor in the late-game rally.

The win snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Brewers, who had been bidding to become the second team to sweep both the League Championship Series and the World Series. Milwaukee’s David Hamilton also hit a home run, while Jackson Chourio contributed a single and a double to improve his postseason average to .500.

Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. Jacob Misiorowski, the favorite for the National League Cy Young Award, is expected to start for the Brewers. Cash indicated he has not yet decided on his opposing starter. The crowd of 40,514 fans included many Brewers supporters wearing yellow towels and cheesehead hats, creating a loud atmosphere for the final game of the series.