The Tampa Bay Rays Game 4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers has given the team another chance to fight for the 2026 World Series title. Tampa Bay secured a dramatic 4-3 victory in 12 innings at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night, avoiding elimination and forcing Game 5.
Ben Williamson delivered the decisive single in the bottom of the 12th inning. His hit brought home Nick Fortes and completed a late rally that stunned Milwaukee.
The victory does not erase the Rays’ difficult position. The Brewers still lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 and need just one more win to claim the championship. However, Tampa Bay has earned another opportunity to extend its season.
How the Tampa Bay Rays Won Game 4
The Rays faced elimination after losing the first three games of the World Series. Their chances appeared even slimmer when Milwaukee moved ahead in the 12th inning.
Brewers rookie Cooper Pratt hit a solo home run off Ian Seymour to give Milwaukee a 3-2 lead. The homer put the visitors within three outs of completing a sweep.
Tampa Bay responded in the bottom half of the inning. A throwing error by Milwaukee third baseman Joey Ortiz allowed Junior Caminero to reach base and opened the door for a comeback.
Liam Hicks followed with a single. Jonny DeLuca then hit a run-scoring single that brought home pinch-runner Cedric Mullins and tied the game at 3-3.
Chandler Simpson added another single to load the bases. Williamson then stepped up as a pinch-hitter and hit the ball through the right side of the infield.
Fortes crossed home plate, giving Tampa Bay a 4-3 walk-off victory.
According to the Associated Press, the win forced a fifth game and ended Milwaukee’s eight-game winning streak.
Ben Williamson Delivers a Crucial Walk-Off Hit
Williamson became the central figure in one of the Rays’ most important games of the season.
The pinch-hitter entered with the bases loaded and the score tied. His single ended a contest that had stretched into the 12th inning and put Tampa Bay’s championship hopes back on the field.
The moment also highlighted the importance of Tampa Bay’s depth. Williamson did not need to hit a home run to decide the game. Instead, he put the ball in play and drove in the winning run.
For Milwaukee, the result was a painful missed opportunity. The Brewers had moved within three outs of a sweep before the Rays produced the decisive rally.
For Tampa Bay, the victory offered renewed confidence ahead of Game 5.
Rays Face a Rare World Series Comeback Challenge
Although the Game 4 win keeps Tampa Bay in contention, history shows how difficult it is to recover from a 3-0 deficit.
The Rays became the fifth team among 26 clubs that had fallen behind 3-0 in a World Series to win Game 4, according to Associated Press reporting. The previous four teams in that situation all lost Game 5.
The broader MLB postseason record also illustrates the challenge. The 2004 Boston Red Sox remain the only team to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven postseason series. They defeated the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series before going on to win the World Series.
No team has completed a comeback from a 3-0 deficit in the World Series itself.
Therefore, Tampa Bay still has a long way to go. The Rays must win Game 5 before they can move any closer to matching the Red Sox’s historic achievement.
What the Game 4 Result Means for the Brewers
Milwaukee remains in control of the championship series despite the defeat.
The Brewers won the first three games and need only one more victory to secure their first World Series title. Their Game 4 loss means they will have to wait at least one more game to pursue that goal.
The late collapse also gives Milwaukee several areas to review. The throwing error in the 12th inning helped Tampa Bay start its rally, while the Rays’ consecutive singles turned that opportunity into a loss.
Nevertheless, Milwaukee still holds the series advantage. The Brewers can end the contest with a win in Game 5, rather than allowing Tampa Bay to build further momentum.
World Series Game 5: Date, Time and Key Matchup
Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. Major League Baseball lists the start time as 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski is expected to start for Milwaukee. He previously helped the team win Game 1, making him an important part of its effort to close out the series.
Tampa Bay’s pitching plans will also be important after an extra-inning game that required extensive bullpen work. The Rays must balance the immediate need to win with the demands of another high-pressure matchup.
The stakes are straightforward. A Milwaukee victory would secure the championship. A Tampa Bay win would send the series back to Milwaukee for Game 6.
Can Tampa Bay Keep Its World Series Hopes Alive?
The Rays have shown that they can respond under pressure, but their path to the championship remains difficult.
Their Game 4 victory came through timely hitting, a key defensive mistake by Milwaukee and a decisive contribution from Williamson. Those factors combined to prevent elimination and extend the series.
However, the Rays cannot afford another defeat if they hope to make history. They must win Game 5 before they can seriously pursue a comeback from the 3-0 deficit.
For now, Tampa Bay has achieved its immediate objective: keeping its season alive for another game. The next challenge is turning that momentum into another victory.
