Miami (AFP) – The Tampa Bay Rays staged a dramatic extra-innings rally to keep their World Series dream alive on Tuesday, walking off a 4-3 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers to avoid a clean sweep. Tampa Bay’s Ben Williamson singled a ground ball to right field in the bottom of the 12th inning to complete a thrilling comeback at Tropicana Field that ensures a game five on Wednesday.
“Just shows the resiliency of this group,” Williamson said afterwards. “We continue to fight and that’s been the motto this series and this whole season.” Milwaukee had looked to be heading for a 4-0 series triumph after rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt launched a solo home run in the 12th inning to give the Brewers a 3-2 lead on the night.
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But with their season on the line, the Rays flipped the script, igniting a fightback when a throwing error by Brewers’ third baseman Joey Ortiz allowed Junior Caminero to reach first base. The Brewers brought in reliever Shane Drohan to replace Antonio Senzatela, but the Rays continued to prosper with catcher Liam Hicks singling to send Caminero to third base with no outs. Jonny DeLuca then singled to drive in a run to make it 3-3, and shortly after that leveler, Chandler Simpson singled to load the bases with no outs. Pinch hitter Williamson then came in and steered a ground ball to right field to score the winning run.
The Rays – aiming to become the first team in World Series history to overturn a 3-0 series deficit after losing the opening three games – had edged into an early lead in the second inning. Simpson’s line drive off Brewers starter Dustin May allowed DeLuca to sprint from first base to home to put the home side 1-0 up. Milwaukee got back on level terms in the top of the fourth inning though, with Pratt’s double off Tampa Bay starter Griffin Jax allowing Sal Frelick to score and make it 1-1.
Tampa Bay regained the lead in the fourth inning though, after an error by Brewers third baseman David Hamilton. Hamilton just failed to tag Caminero, and after an errant throw to first base, the Dominican slugger scrambled home to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead. Hamilton, however, was quick to make amends. In the top of the fifth inning, the 29-year-old smashed a 93 mph fastball from Jax into right center field for a solo run.
From there, it became a question of who would blink first, with both teams’ bullpens dominating the later innings to leave scoring chances at a premium. The breakthrough finally came though in the 12th inning after Pratt’s solo shot. Yet Tampa Bay’s subsequent rally ensured the series will extend into a game five in Florida on Wednesday.
“I’m glad we get to see another ball game tomorrow,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “The guys came through and swung the bat really well. We just want to do everything we can to get to play the next day. I’m really impressed with the way the guys hung in there. That was a grind.”
Brewers manager Pat Murphy backed his players to bounce back from the disappointment of coming within three outs of clinching victory. “I think the guys understand it’s going to be hard,” Murphy said. “You’re playing the best team in the American League. They proved it all year long, and they came up big today. It’s going to be hard. When you’re achieving something like this, it’s going to have its adversity. We had some things go our way yesterday. They had some things go their way today. That’s the way it is. You just live with it, and if you’re a competitor, you wake up tomorrow morning and come ready to play.”
© 2024 AFP
