The Tampa Bay Rays preserved their World Series aspirations with a thrilling 4-3 win against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 at Tropicana Field. Ben Williamson produced the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 12th inning, finishing an impressive rally and guaranteeing the series would go on.
Milwaukee had taken the lead on Cooper Pratt’s home run in the top of the 12th, bringing the Brewers close to ending the series. But Tampa Bay answered with three straight hits and Williamson’s walk-off single to stave off elimination and force a fifth game.
Rays walk-off victory forces World Series Game 5
Williamson, who came into the game as a pinch-hitter for Victor Mesa Jr., sent the first pitch he saw into right field with the bases loaded to clinch the win. The play concluded a dramatic comeback in which Tampa Bay refused to fold despite trailing late.
“It’s what you dream of growing up. You play Wiffle ball in the backyard with your friends, and you’re dreaming of hitting a walk-off ball in the World Series,” Williamson said. He also credited his teammates for battling to create the chance.
Rays manager Kevin Cash was happy with the team’s response following a tough stretch in which they had squandered several opportunities. He observed that the players stayed calm even after Pratt’s homer gave Milwaukee the lead in the 12th.
Williamson’s decisive hit was the first walk-off winner by a team facing elimination in the World Series since David Freese’s memorable Game 6 performance for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs. The last club to record a walk-off World Series victory while facing a possible sweep was the Chicago Cubs in 1910.
Junior Caminero and DeLuca ignite Rays comeback
Tampa Bay’s rally started when Junior Caminero reached first base following an error by Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz. Caminero seemed to be limping but stayed in the game, later advancing to third on Liam Hicks’ single before being replaced by a pinch runner. He said afterward that he was fine.
Jonny DeLuca tied the game with an RBI single, keeping the Rays alive after Pratt’s homer had appeared to clinch the series. Chandler Simpson then added another hit to load the bases, bouncing back from a failed attempt to lay down a sacrifice bunt.
That paved the way for Williamson, whose first-pitch drive into right field ended the game. Cash joked afterward that the pinch-hitter had executed his instructions to perfection.
Brewers confront elimination risk despite Chourio’s record
Milwaukee absorbed only its second loss of the 2026 playoffs, despite solid contributions from Jackson Chourio and Pratt. Chourio went 2-for-6 and now has 10 hits through the first four games of the World Series, equaling Babe Ruth’s record from 1928 for that stage of the series, according to Langs.
Pratt finished 4-for-5 with two RBIs, including the home run that briefly seemed to have secured the championship for Milwaukee. Instead, the Brewers must regroup before their next chance to finish the series.
Manager Pat Murphy recognized the difficulty of facing a Tampa Bay side that had shown its quality all season. He accepted that momentum can change during a World Series and encouraged his players to come back ready to compete.
Rays World Series comeback faces historic hurdle
The Rays still trail 3-1 and need to win Game 5 on Wednesday to send the series back to Milwaukee. They confront a substantial historical obstacle: the 2004 Boston Red Sox remain the only team in MLB history to win a playoff series after trailing 3-0, and no team has accomplished that feat in the World Series.
Nick Martinez, who had been slated to start Game 5 but instead threw two scoreless innings in relief, maintained that Tampa Bay was still capable of extending its run.
“We’re dangerous,” Martinez said, according to Rays reporter Ryan Bass. “We have our backs against the wall … we know what we have to do. We can win four in a row. This team is capable of doing that.”
Milwaukee will give the ball to ace Jacob Misiorowski as it tries to close out the series, while Tampa Bay has not yet named its starting pitcher.