DeLuca and Williamson Sink Brewers to Keep Rays Alive

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field to force a World Series Game 5. The victory came after a two-run rally in the bottom of the 12th inning that erased a 3-0 deficit entering the final frame of the contest.

Jonny DeLuca singled to center field to drive in pinch-runner Cedric Mullins, tying the game at three. Ben Williamson, a pinch-hitter who had recorded just one hit in 15 at-bats during the postseason, followed with a chopper over first baseman Jake Bauers that fell into right field for the winning run. The error that began the rally was committed by third baseman Joey Ortiz, who bobbled a groundout ball from Junior Caminero.

Cooper Pratt gave Milwaukee the lead with a home run in the top of the 12th. The 22-year-old rookie hit an 0-2 slider off reliever Ian Seymour into the left-field seats. It was his fourth hit of the game and the first extra-inning home run by a rookie in World Series history. Pratt had also tied the score earlier in the second inning with an RBI double.

The Rays ended an eight-game winning streak for the Brewers. Milwaukee was aiming to become only the second team in history to sweep both the National League Championship Series and the World Series. Tampa Bay is now the fifth team in World Series history to win Game 4 after trailing 3-0. The previous four teams in that position lost Game 5.

David Hamilton contributed a home run for the Brewers in the fifth inning. He drove an 0-2 fastball from starter Griffin Jax into the right-field seats. Jackson Chourio recorded a single and a double, bringing his Series batting average to 10 for 20. The crowd at Tropicana Field numbered 40,514, with many Milwaukee fans wearing cheesehead hats and waving yellow towels.

Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night in St. Petersburg. The Rays will wear their white home uniforms, a change from the Devil Rays throwback jerseys they donned in Game 4.