Rays force World Series decider after 12th-inning comeback

The Tampa Bay Rays avoided elimination in the World Series after scoring two runs in the 12th inning to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 on Tuesday night. The win at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, forces a decisive Game 5.

Milwaukee led the series 3-0 and entered the final innings of Game 4 with a chance to win its first championship. Cooper Pratt, a 22-year-old rookie, hit a tiebreaking home run off Ian Seymour in the top of the 12th inning. The blast was his fourth hit of the game and gave the Brewers a 3-2 lead.

The Rays tied the game after a throwing error by Milwaukee third baseman Joey Ortiz. Ortiz mishandled a grounder from Junior Caminero, allowing the runner to score. Liam Hicks followed with a single, and Jonny DeLuca drove in pinch-runner Cedric Mullins with a single to center field.

Ben Williamson, who had batted 1 for 15 in the postseason, delivered the winning hit. He batted for Victor Mesa Jr. and hit a chopper over first baseman Jake Bauers into right field. Rays manager Kevin Cash said he instructed Williamson to take a big swing.

Caminero was later replaced at third base by Mullins due to an injury to his left foot. The All-Star slugger hobbled off the field but said he will play in Game 5. Cash stated that Caminero will play "on one leg."

The Rays became 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 all went on to win the championship. Tampa Bay also ended an eight-game winning streak for Milwaukee.

Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. Milwaukee will start Jacob Misiorowski, the favorite for the National League Cy Young Award. Cash said he had not yet decided on a starting pitcher for the Rays. The Brewers had a crowd of 40,514, with many fans wearing cheeseheads and waving yellow towels.