Rays Force World Series Game 5 with Dramatic 12th-Inning Victory

The Tampa Bay Rays secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night, forcing a decisive Game 5. The win staved off elimination for the Rays, who were previously trailing the series 3-0.

Milwaukee had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the 12th inning when Cooper Pratt hit a tiebreaking home run off Rays reliever Ian Seymour. However, the Rays responded in the bottom half of the inning with a rally fueled by a costly error and timely hitting.

After a leadoff grounder by Junior Caminero resulted in a throwing error by third baseman Joey Ortiz, Liam Hicks singled to put runners on the corners. Jonny DeLuca then drove in the tying run with a single to center, and Ben Williamson followed with a chopper over first baseman Jake Bauers into right field to score the winning run.

Williamson, who had struggled at the plate during the postseason with a 1-for-15 record entering the at-bat, delivered the biggest hit of the game. The dramatic comeback marks a historic turn for the Rays, who are seeking their first championship.

Tampa Bay became just the fifth team in World Series history to win a Game 4 after trailing 3-0, and the first to do so since the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees. Of the previous four World Series teams to win Game 4 after an 0-3 deficit, none went on to win Game 5.

Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.