Rays’ World Series Game 4 win shows off baseball’s wonderful wackiness

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — To say the Brewers — the team with MLB’s best record, the team that had rattled off eight straight postseason wins, the team with seven come-from-behind wins in this year’s playoffs — had all kinds of momentum heading into Tuesday night’s game vs. the Rays would have been the understatement of the 2026 World Series.

And then, with Milwaukee looking to sweep Tampa Bay in Game 4 and clinch the championship … baseball happened.

Twelve innings of baseball to be exact, where the sport was at its unexpected, unpredictable best during the Rays’ 4-3 come-from-behind win, as Tampa Bay survived to play another game.

Consider:

• The Brewers had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the 12th inning on Cooper Pratt’s lead-off home run. Pratt had hit only three home runs in the regular season. Yet here he was, becoming the first rookie to homer in extra innings of a World Series game, sending the many Brewers fans at Tropicana Field into delirium, thinking they’d witnessed the game-winning hit.

COOPER PRATT PUTS THE BREWERS ON THE DOORSTEP! https://t.co/jZejkshf9G

• The Brewers, one of the top defensive teams in the majors, immediately gave the Rays life in the bottom of the 12th when Joey Ortiz short-hopped a throw to first base, allowing Junior Caminero to reach safely. That was the Brewers’ second error of the game — the first occurred in the fourth inning when David Hamilton missed a tag on Caminero running to third, then threw wildly to first, which allowed Caminero to score.

The Rays have the leadoff man aboard 👀 Junior Caminero reaches on a throwing error by Joey Ortiz! https://t.co/bYQCtxnFpi

• Two batters later, Jonny DeLuca, who was 0-for-4 entering the 12th inning, would get the game-tying hit. 

JONNY DELUCA TIES THE GAME IN THE 12TH! https://t.co/Urc9nwUt67

• Two batters later, with the bases loaded, up came Ben Williamson to pinch hit. Williamson had been sitting on the bench for nearly four and a half hours — four and a half hours! — but was ready for his moment, chopping a single to right and sending in Nick Fortes for the game-winning run.

BEN WILLIAMSON WALK-OFF RAYS SURVIVE! https://t.co/bjHolx3L4m

“It’s what you dream of growing up,” Williamson said. “You grow up playing Wiffle ball in the backyard with your friends, and you’re dreaming of hitting a walk-off in the World Series.”

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More ways that made for a thrilling World Series Game 4

The Brewers’ 2026 season has been defined by their smallball approach, but in addition to Pratt’s homer, they also got a home run from Hamilton, who had hit only four homers during the regular season. 

Cam Booser, who was part of the Rays’ disastrous fifth inning Monday night, when they gave up eight two-out runs, rebounded 24 hours later by coming into the 11th inning on Tuesday and recording the final out of the frame.

Nick Martinez, the Rays’ Game 1 starter, was called upon for relief duty in Game 4, and pitched two innings of scoreless relief.

Rays reliever Bryan Baker, who typically only pitches one inning, also pitched two scoreless innings for Tampa Bay, helping send the game to extra innings.

In a series that’s already had its fair share of replay reviews, we had a lengthy one in the ninth inning. Pratt was out attempting to steal second on a play that was originally called safe, ending the Brewers’ chances for the go-ahead run.

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And perhaps in a sign it was the Rays' turn to make a comeback, in the bottom of the 12th inning, Chandler Simpson, who walked up to the plate looking to bunt, ended up lining a single to center field, setting up Williamson's game-winning hit.

Add it all up, and we're heading for Game 5 on Wednesday night.

The Rays have an uphill battle. Not only are they down 3-1, they used one of their starters, Martinez, to stay alive on Tuesday. And on Wednesday, they'll face flamethrower and presumed Cy Young winner Jacob Misiorowski.

But it's baseball, and now the Rays are the ones talking about momentum.

"We love a challenge," DeLuca said. "We're ready for it, and we love the spot we're in. You get this win tonight, and have momentum on our side right now, and we're going to keep it going tomorrow."