Baseball's future after the World Series is uncertain as a lockout approaches. Baseball's present is wildly entertaining.
The Rays ensured that the World Series will go to a fifth game for a 14th consecutive season with a win on Tuesday night, but it wasn't an ordinary win. Tampa Bay was down to its final three outs in the bottom of the 12th inning, when an error sparked an offense that was dormant for most of the night.
A Brewers offense that got nothing but outs in the later innings suddenly couldn't get an out, and the chance to win a championship was denied for at least one night.
Here's a look at the anatomy of the Rays' 12th-inning comeback.
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Rays' 12th-inning rally vs. Brewers
The Rays struggled to put anyone on base in the later innings as the Brewers used the full force of their bullpen to try to close out a championship. Against all odds, Tampa Bay outlasted it. By the 12th inning, the Brewers had to turn to Shane Drohan, who just didn't have it.
A throwing error by Joey Ortiz allowed Junior Caminero to reach base against Antonio Senzatela, who was then lifted by Pat Murphy. That appeared to be the plan all along.
Joey Ortiz bounces a throw that Jake Bauers couldn't scoop to begin the bottom of the 12th inning https://t.co/jwjqSaBMw9
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 28, 2026Tasked with getting the final three outs of the World Series, Drohan got none. The Rays went single, single, single, single, starting with a hit by Liam Hicks that sent a hobbled Caminero to third base. Jonny DeLuca, who came up short in a game-ending at-bat earlier in this series, then chopped one up the middle to tie the game.
JONNY DELUCA TIES THE GAME IN THE 12TH! https://t.co/Urc9nwUt67
— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2026Chandler Simpson kept the line moving, as he does best, and loaded the bases for Ben Williamson with no outs. With the game extended and the pressure now significantly reduced, Williamson chopped one into right field for the win, without the Brewers ever recording an out.
BEN WILLIAMSON WALK-OFF RAYS SURVIVE! https://t.co/bjHolx3L4m
— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2026The roles were suddenly reversed in this series, with the Brewers experiencing a bullpen meltdown and the Rays small-balling their way into a rally.
Whether it goes down as the start of something special or a brief moment of relief for the Rays is still to be determined, but a win on Wednesday would already make Tampa Bay the first team in World Series history to force a Game 6 after falling behind 3-0. To do it, they will have to get by Jacob Misiorowski.
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