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Rays Stun Brewers in 12th to Force World Series Game 5
Tampa Bay rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the bottom of the 12th inning to beat Milwaukee 4-3 in Game 4, avoiding a World Series sweep.
The Tampa Bay Rays are still alive. Down 3-0 in the World Series and one out away from watching Milwaukee celebrate, the Rays pulled off a 4-3 walk-off win in 12 innings on Tuesday night to force a Game 5 against the Brewers.
It was messy, chaotic, and exactly the kind of baseball that makes October worth watching.
How the 12th Inning Unravelled
Milwaukee looked like it had the series wrapped up. Cooper Pratt hit a go-ahead solo home run off Ian Seymour in the top of the 12th to put the Brewers up 3-2, putting them one half-inning from their first World Series title.
Then Joey Ortiz threw the ball away.
The Brewers third baseman's throwing error on Junior Caminero's leadoff grounder opened the door. Liam Hicks singled off reliever Shane Drohan — making his first appearance since October 15 — and Jonny DeLuca followed with a single to centre that scored pinch-runner Cedric Mullins to tie it at 3.
Chandler Simpson's single loaded the bases. Milwaukee responded by deploying a five-man infield with the infield drawn in. It didn't matter. Pinch-hitter Ben Williamson — who entered the at-bat just 1-for-15 in the postseason — chopped one over first baseman Jake Bauers and into right field to end it.
History They're Fighting Against
The win makes Tampa Bay just the fifth team in 26 tries to win Game 4 after falling behind 3-0 in the World Series. The previous four teams that managed that feat all lost Game 5.
The broader history is even bleaker. Of the 43 teams to ever trail 3-0 in any best-of-seven postseason series, only one has come back to win: the 2004 Boston Red Sox, who overcame that exact deficit against the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series. That comeback remains one of the most stunning runs in baseball history.
The Rays would need to replicate it — twice more — to claim their first World Series title.
What This Means for Canadians
Canadian baseball fans who've watched the Blue Jays struggle to get back to the postseason know better than anyone how rare these October moments are. Game 5 goes Wednesday night, with Milwaukee still holding a commanding series lead and history firmly on their side. But after Tuesday, the Rays have earned the right to make things interesting.