Rays cut World Series deficit with 12th-inning walk-off
Tampa Bay beat Milwaukee 4-3 on Tuesday to become the fifth team in history to win Game 4 after falling behind 3-0.
By Aiko Brooks ·
The Tampa Bay Rays avoided elimination in the World Series on Tuesday night, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in 12 innings. The victory cuts the series deficit to 3-1 and keeps the Rays alive for Game 5 at Tropicana Field on Wednesday.
Ben Williamson hit a chopper over first baseman Jake Bauers in the bottom of the 12th to end the game. The hit scored Nick Fortes, who was pinch-running for Liam Hicks. Prior to the walk-off, Jonny DeLuca singled to center field to drive in Cedric Mullins and tie the score at 3. The rally began after third baseman Joey Ortiz threw a grounder from Junior Caminero past first base.
The Rays entered the final inning trailing 3-2 after rookie Cooper Pratt hit a home run off Ian Seymour in the top of the 12th. It was Pratt’s fourth hit of the game and his first extra-inning home run in a World Series. Miller had previously allowed a tying home run to Frelick in Game 2.
Manager Kevin Cash said the team had to compete with everything it had. "We're going to need everybody. We're going to need to be all hands on deck," Cash said. He noted that the team did not hang their heads after falling behind in the final frame. Cash also credited pitcher Nick Martinez for keeping energy high in the dugout after the go-ahead home run.
This marks the fifth time in World Series history that a team trailing 3-0 has won Game 4. The previous four teams to achieve this milestone lost the next game. Tampa Bay is trying to become the first team to force a Game 6 from a 3-0 hole. The Rays also ended an eight-game winning streak for the Brewers.
Junior Caminero left the game with a left foot injury but said he will play Wednesday. He was replaced by Mullins at third base in the 12th. The Brewers, who advanced by eliminating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the league championship series, have lost their chance to become the second team to sweep both the LCS and the World Series.
Aaron Ashby of Milwaukee broke Andrew Miller's record for scoreless innings by a reliever in one postseason. Ashby struck out the side in the ninth and pitched a perfect 10th. He left the game after retiring the first batter in the 11th, extending his scoreless streak to 18 innings.
