Rays Escape Elimination in 12th to Force Series Decider
A defensive error and four straight hits tied the World Series 3-3, ending Milwaukee's eight-game winning streak and setting up a Wednesday finale.
By Rosa Wojcik ·
Milwaukee was three outs away from its first World Series title when a dropped throw by third baseman Joey Ortiz sparked a 2-run rally in the 12th inning. The Tampa Bay Rays used the chaos to tie the score and then take a 4-3 victory Tuesday night, forcing a Game 5 decision at Tropicana Field.
The sequence began with rookie Shane Drohan entering the game after the Brewers had combined for seven straight scoreless innings. Junior Camerino reached on an error to start the inning, setting the stage for a historic comeback. Liam Hicks, Jonny DeLuca, Chandler Simpson, and pinch-hitter Ben Williamson followed with consecutive singles in a 15-pitch span against Drohan, driving in the tying and winning runs.
The Brewers had built their lead with a 3-2 cushion after rookie Cooper Pratt hit a tiebreaking home run in the top of the 12th. Pratt, 22, became the first rookie to hit a World Series extra-inning home run. His blast extended Milwaukee's winning streak to eight games before the Rays snapped it in the final minutes of a 4-hour, 20-minute contest.
This marks the fourth time in World Series history a team has avoided elimination with an extra-inning comeback. The previous three instances, involving the 1912 Boston Red Sox, 1986 New York Mets, and 2011 St. Louis Cardinals, all resulted in title wins. The Rays also became only the fifth team to win Game 4 after falling behind 3-0 in the Fall Classic.
Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Jacob Misiorowski, the NL Cy Young Award favorite, will start for Milwaukee. Rays manager Kevin Cash has not yet announced his starting pitcher. Camerino, who hobbled off the field with an injured left foot, said he will definitely play in the clincher.
The crowd of 40,514 included many Brewers fans who traveled to St. Petersburg, bringing a distinct atmosphere to the ballpark. Williamson, who went 1 for 15 in the postseason before his walk-off chopper, said the moment was what he dreamed of as a player. Cash noted that the team's resilience defined the series, with the Rays choosing to return to their white home jerseys for the final game.
