World Series: Rays force Game 5 with 12th-inning rally
A throwing error and a pinch-hitter chopper gave Tampa Bay a 4-3 victory over Milwaukee, snapping an eight-game winning streak.
By Leila Reynolds ·
The Tampa Bay Rays avoided elimination in the World Series after forcing a Game 5 with a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night. The game required twelve innings to conclude, ending an eight-game winning streak for Milwaukee.
Cooper Pratt hit a tiebreaking home run off Ian Seymour in the top of the 12th inning. The 22-year-old rookie recorded his fourth hit of the game, driving a slider into the left-field seats. The Brewers had been one out away from sweeping the series and winning their first championship.
Milwaukee third baseman Joey Ortiz committed a throwing error on Junior Caminero's leadoff grounder against reliever Antonio Senzatela. This mistake sparked the Tampa Bay rally in the bottom of the 12th. Liam Hicks subsequently singled off rookie left-hander Shane Drohan, who had not appeared since Oct. 15.
Jonny DeLuca hit a single to center field, driving in pinch-runner Cedric Mullins to tie the score at 3. Chandler Simpson loaded the bases with a single. Pinch-hitter Ben Williamson then batted for Victor Mesa Jr. and hit a chopper over first baseman Jake Bauers into right field for the winning run. Williamson had previously been 1 for 15 in the postseason.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said he told Williamson to do exactly what he did. "That was totally what I told him to do," Cash said. Simpson noted that the team planned to fight until the last pitch of the final inning. "We were going to keep fighting. That’s what we did tonight," Simpson said.
Junior Caminero was replaced by Mullins at third base and left the field with an ailing left foot. Cash confirmed Caminero will play in Game 5. "He’ll play tomorrow on one leg. I’ll make sure of it," Cash said. The game was played before a crowd of 40,514, including many Milwaukee fans waving yellow towels.
Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. Jacob Misiorowski is set to start for the Brewers. Cash has not yet decided on a starting pitcher for Tampa Bay. This marks the fourth time in World Series history a team has avoided elimination with an extra-inning comeback.
