Rays erase 12th-inning deficit in 4-3 Game 4 win

The Milwaukee Brewers were one out away from their first World Series title in 57 years on Tuesday night. They had a two-run lead in the bottom of the 12th inning. Then the Tampa Bay Rays scored three times to win 4-3 and force a Game 5.

The Rays had lost the first three games of the series. They had played sloppy baseball and committed errors that did not fit their regular season profile. The Brewers, who had swept the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier in October, appeared ready to finish the job at Tropicana Field. The mood in the Rays clubhouse had been grim until the final moments of the game.

The turning point came in the top of the 12th inning. Rays left-hander Ian Seymour faced Brewers rookie Cooper Pratt. Pratt is a 22-year-old outfielder from Mississippi who entered the big leagues in June. He hit Seymour's first pitch into the left-field stands. It was his fourth hit of the night. The home run gave Milwaukee a 4-2 lead with two outs remaining in the inning.

Pratt said he was simply trying not to strike out. He described the swing as one of the coolest of his life. The Brewers were one out from winning the championship. The state of Wisconsin had waited 57 years for this moment.

The Rays immediately threatened to answer. With no outs, Junior Caminero rolled a ground ball to third baseman Joey Ortiz. Ortiz skipped the throw. First baseman Jake Bauers could not field the ball. Caminero reached first base. The error gave the Rays their first opportunity of the inning. Rays catcher Liam Hicks followed with a single to left field. That put runners on first and third with no outs.

Brewers manager Aaron Ashburn pulled in his infield. Rays outfielder Jonny DeLuca batted next. He hit a pitch from Shane Drohan up the middle to tie the game at 4-4. The next batter, Chandler Simpson, hit a single to left field to load the bases. Rays manager Kevin Cash sent Ben Williamson to the plate. Williamson hit a single to end the game.

Rays utilityman Ryan Vilade called the sequence magic. Diaz, who played as a designated hitter, said the team has a new day. Pratt admitted he would have a harder time sleeping tonight. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday at Tropicana Field. The series is tied 3-1 in Milwaukee's favor.