Rays extend World Series with 12th-inning win over Brewers

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash deployed 21 different players in Game 4 of the World Series. That number reflects the sheer length of the contest, which stretched into the 12th inning before the Rays defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 at Tropicana Field. The victory keeps Tampa Bay alive in the series and sets up a decisive Game 5 for Wednesday night.

The game remained tied at 2-2 deep into the night. Ben Williamson, who had just one postseason hit on his record before this game, stepped in as a pinch hitter for Victor Mesa Jr. in the top of the 12th. The bases were loaded with no outs. Williamson faced left-hander Shane Drohan and lined the first pitch, a 96 mph sinker, into shallow right field. The ball kicked up off the infield dirt and scored Nick Fortes from third base to give the Rays the lead.

Williamson described the long wait for his at-bat. "Jokingly, in my head I was thinking, 'Yeah, I've been ready to hit since the fourth or fifth inning,'" he said. His RBI single ended a scoreless stretch that began after the fourth inning. Jonny DeLuca had provided the tying run earlier in the frame with a single.

The Brewers had taken the lead in the same inning. Cooper Pratt homered in the bottom of the 12th after Ian Seymour threw a changeup. The blast moved Milwaukee within three outs of a championship. The Brewers briefly celebrated the potential franchise milestone before the Rays answered.

Tampa Bay utilized seven pitchers in the loss. All-Star starter Nick Martinez came out of the bullpen in the sixth inning. He threw two scoreless frames. Closer Bryan Baker pitched two innings later in the game. It was the first time Baker recorded two innings in a single game this year. "It's pretty special just to be a part of it," Baker said.

The Rays relied on defensive errors to spark the final rally. Junior Caminero suffered a left foot injury while running out a ground ball. The play was ignited by an errant throw from Brewers third baseman Joey Ortiz. Caminero stayed in the game initially and sprinted from first to third on a single by Liam Hicks. Cedric Mullins later pinch-ran for him. Caminero said he felt "100%" for the next game. "If my foot is broken," Caminero said, "I'll play tomorrow."

Martinez praised the team's resilience. "Sometimes you just got to see one through," he said. "We can win four in a row. This team is capable of doing that." The Rays have now won their first World Series game at Tropicana Field since 2008.

Drew Rasmussen, who started Game 2, said he expects to be available to pitch in the upcoming game. The Rays face a complex pitching puzzle as they prepare for the next contest. Martinez noted the team's momentum. "You don't come down from this high," he said. "You keep going. You keep building off it and keep riding it every pitch."