Rays Score 4 in 12th to Force Game 5 in World Series

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash pulled out a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 12th inning, and the move decided Game 4 of the World Series. Ben Williamson stepped in, took one pitch, and swatted it into the outfield to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The game lasted 4 hours and 20 minutes. It was the fourth game of the Series and the first time the Rays had looked competitive since the postseason began. Before Tuesday, Tampa Bay had committed uncharacteristic errors and played sloppy baseball, while Milwaukee had already swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.

Rookie Cooper Pratt, 22, had given Milwaukee a 3-0 lead in the top of the 12th. He hit his fourth home run of the night, driving the first pitch from left-hander Ian Seymour into the left-field stands. The homer put the Brewers three outs away from a title that Wisconsin has chased for 57 years.

The Rays erased the deficit in the bottom of the inning after a defensive miscue. With no outs, Junior Caminero rolled a ground ball to third baseman Joey Ortiz, whose throw skipped past first baseman Jake Bauers. Catcher Liam Hicks followed with a single to left, placing runners on first and third.

Jonny DeLuca tied the score by sending a Shane Drohan pitch up the middle. Chandler Simpson then loaded the bases with a base hit through the infield. Williamson, another pinch hitter, ended the game on his first pitch against the Brewers.

Yandy Diaz, 35, was still processing the victory in the Rays' clubhouse after the final out. Pratt, meanwhile, acknowledged the difficulty of the loss, noting that it was already hard to sleep the previous night and would be harder tonight.

The outcome kept the sport on the field for at least one more game. Game 5 is next and will be played in Milwaukee, where a win for either team will decide the World Series.