The Tampa Bay Rays came into Game 4 at Tropicana Field on Tuesday seeking their first win of the World Series, and while they fought hard in Game 2, a complete domination by the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday had the baseball world expecting a sweep.
While the Brewers topped the National League with 103 wins this season, the Rays topped the American League, showing that they're well equipped to handle adversity, and if they were to win their first World Series in 2026, they would need every bit of that experience across the next 4 games.
Game 4 started well for Tampa Bay, as the speedy Chandler Simpson got the scoring started for the home team in the bottom of the second inning, lacing a double into the right field corner to bring home Jonny Deluca from first base, giving the team a much needed 1-0 lead.
For the Rays to turn this series around, they need their starting pitching to bounce back from a few tough nights, and in this one, they turned to Griffin Jax, who got his rhythm early, giving up three base runners and keeping the Brewers off the scoreboard for three innings.
However, given the depth and balance of Milwaukee's lineup, it was a matter of when, not if they struck back, and that came in the top of the fourth, with shortstop Cooper Pratt proving the difference maker, doubling home Sal Frelick to tie this ballgame up at 1-1.
The Brewers defense, which has been stellar during their 10-1 start to the post-season let them down in the bottom of the inning however, and after a slow, low-scoring start to the game, the teams have started to trade runs as the game has moved on.
Here for the Rays, it was a fielders choice from Deluca that put the ball in play, with third baseman David Hamilton making the throwing error that gave the Rays the much needed 2-1 lead, with the team looking to put some breathing room between themselves and the red-hot Brewers.
The back-and-forth continued in the top of the 5th inning, as the Rays second lead of the night lasted less than half an inning, as Milwaukee showed their resilience once more, bouncing back immediately to continue piling pressure on Tampa Bay.
Making up for the error, it was Hamilton that blasted a solo shot to right field that tied the game at 2-2, once again showing that whether they do it by the long ball or the small ball, this Brewers team are as balanced, resilient and dangerous as any.
From here, it was a bullpen game, as Dustin May lasted just 3.0 innings for Milwaukee, allowing three hits and two runs, with Jax departing after four necessary innings, leaving the game with Tampa Bay firmly in a position to pick up their first win of the Fall Classic. In desperation, the Rays turned to Game 1 starter in Nick Martinez, with the team showing just how much this game means to them as they look to claw their way back from a 3-0 deficit game by game.
This clearly worked well for Tampa Bay, as they used Martinez and Bryan Baker in key situations, and with the Brewers throwing the best of their own bullpen, this game headed into the 9th inning tied at 2-2, with the World Series on the line down to the final frame of the game. In clutch fashion, the Rays threw out what could have been the winning run at second base, and with Aaron Ashby dominant on the mound once again, the game headed to extra innings.
In the process, Ashby made MLB history, as his 16.2 scoreless innings to start the post-season are a record, and with another scoreless inning in the bottom of the 9th, he added to this, now having 17.2 innings this post-season without allowing a run.
For two straight innings, neither team could find much offense, but after starting the night 3-4 at the plate, young shortstop Pratt stood up once more, this time launching a solo homerun in the top of the 12th inning, giving Milwaukee the clutch 3-2 lead in what is the biggest hit of Pratt's career to date.
This put the Rays down to their final three outs of the season, and after a 10-1 victory on Tuesday night, with all the momentum behind Milwaukee, it would take a monumental effort from Tampa Bay to come back in this series.
However, things started well for the Rays, as they capitalized on yet another error from the Brewers, with the team getting back-to-back hits from Liam Hicks and Deluca, with the score tied up at 3-3 and Tampa Bay having a clear opportunity to walk this game off.
A Chandler Simpson single was up next, loading the bases with nobody out, making the result almost inevitable for Tampa Bay, whose offense simply came to life in the biggest moment after surviving some of the Brewers top arms.
On the first pitch, Ben Williamson hit a high chopper into right field, and while the series is far from tied up, the walk off sent the Tampa Bay crowd into a frenzy as the Rays come back to take Game 4, ensuring that their season will live one more night.