Rays Stun Brewers in 12th Inning to Keep World Series Alive

The Tampa Bay Rays were an out-of-nowhere rally away from elimination Tuesday night, and they used it. Trailing in the bottom of the 12th inning, they beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, in Game 4 of the World Series, denying Milwaukee a championship and extending the Series for at least one more game.

For three games, the Rays had looked nothing like the club that powered through the American League during the regular season and playoffs. They played sloppy baseball, committed uncharacteristic errors and appeared overmatched by a Brewers team that had already swept the Los Angeles Dodgers and seemed ready to do the same to Tampa Bay.

Milwaukee appeared to take control in the top of the 12th. Rookie Cooper Pratt, 22, stepped in against Rays left-hander Ian Seymour with both bullpens depleted and drove the first pitch he saw into the left-field stands. It was his fourth hit of the night, and it left the Brewers three outs from a title that Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin have chased for 57 years. "I hit the thing and I was like, oh my gosh. That's gone," Pratt said. "I was just trying not to strike out. That was probably one of the coolest swings of my life."

The bottom of the inning turned on a mistake. With no outs, Junior Caminero, the Rays' most dangerous hitter, rolled a ground ball to third baseman Joey Ortiz, whose throw skipped past first baseman Jake Bauers. The tying run was aboard. Catcher Liam Hicks followed by bouncing a single to left, putting runners on first and third. "It's all kind of a blur at this point," Hicks said. "We've done this all year. We haven't this series, but it's always there."

With the Brewers' infield drawn in, Jonny DeLuca sent a Shane Drohan pitch back up the middle to tie the score. Chandler Simpson then poked a ball through the infield to load the bases, and Ben Williamson, another pinch hitter used by manager Kevin Cash, stepped in. He did not wait around. One pitch and one swing later, the Rays had won. "That's magic right there," utilityman Ryan Vilade said.

The game lasted 4 hours, 20 minutes. Designated hitter Yandy Diaz, 35, was still processing it afterward in the Rays' clubhouse. "It's life," he said. "We have tomorrow. We have a new day. We have life."

For Pratt and the Brewers, the night ended in a very different mood. "It was hard to sleep last night," Pratt said. "It's probably going to be a little harder tonight."

The result also carried weight beyond the two clubs. Tuesday marked one year since the Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays played an 18-inning World Series game, and a sweep would have sent baseball into a coming lockout on a flatter note. Instead, the sport got a dramatic finish, with Pratt's homer topped within minutes.

Game 5 is next. It could crown a champion, or it could send the World Series back to Milwaukee.