Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Ben Williamson slammed a sinker into the dirt and over the infield for a dramatic walk-off single, completing a Game 4 rally past the Milwaukee Brewers and extending the 2026 World Series on Wednesday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Williamson's game-winning hit came in the bottom of the 12th inning of the 4-3 triumph, which started Tuesday and ended after midnight at Tropicana Field. With the win, the Rays forced a Game 5 and denied the Brewers of becoming the first team to sweep their final two best-of-seven-game series en route to a title.
"It just shows the resiliency of this group," said Williamson, who was 1 for 15 this postseason before his pinch-hit, game-winning single. "We continue to fight."
Game 5 will be held Wednesday in St. Petersburg.
The Brewers, who remain one win away from their first title, rallied from two deficits in Game 4. Rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt hit a go-ahead homer in the top of the 12th, but the Rays responded by reaching base safely five consecutive times to start the bottom of the inning.
Tampa Bay Rays pinch hitter Ben Williamson hits an RBI single in the bottom of the 12th inning of a win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the 2026 World Series on Wednesday at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Fla. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
Center fielder Jonny DeLuca tied the score with an RBI single. Williamson ended the game two at-bats later, plating pinch runner Nick Fortes when he hit the first pitch he saw from relief pitcher Shane Drohan to right field.
"We are going to keep fighting until the end," said Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson, who went 3 for 5 in the win.
Tampa Bay Rays pinch runner Nick Fortes scores the winning run after Ben Williamson hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 12th inning of a win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the 2026 World Series on Wednesday at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Fla. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
Simpson plated Game 4's first run with an RBI double in the second. Pratt tied the score with an RBI double in the fourth, but the Rays regained the lead off a throwing error in the bottom of the frame.
Brewers third baseman David Hamilton led off the fifth with his second homer of the postseason. That 391-foot solo shot tied the score at 2-2.
Tampa Bay Rays players hug Ben Williamson after he hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 12th inning of a win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the 2026 World Series on Wednesday at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Fla. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
Both teams continued to threaten, but did not score over the next four frames, forcing extra innings. Neither team recorded a hit in the first two extra frames. Pratt then settled in against relief pitcher Ian Seymour to start the 12th. He proceeded to smack a 2-2 Seymour sweeper over the left field fence for his first playoff home run.
Rays third baseman Junior Caminero reached on a fielding error to lead off the bottom of the final inning. Catcher Liam Hicks, DeLuca, Simpson and Williamson connected for singles over the game's final four at-bats to extend the Rays' season.
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax throws against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning of a win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the 2026 World Series on Tuesday at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Fla. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
Rays starter Griffin Jax allowed four hits and two runs over four innings. The Rays bullpen surrendered just four hits and one run over the final eight.
Brewers starter Dustin May allowed three hits and two runs over three innings. Brewers relief pitcher Aaron Ashby, who did not allow a hit over 2 1/3 innings, set a record for the most consecutive scoreless innings in a single postseason, with 18.
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Jonny DeLuca celebrates after hitting a game-tying RBI single against the Milwaukee Brewers in the 12th inning of Game 4 of the 2026 World Series on Tuesday at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Fla. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
Hicks went 2 for 5 in the win. Designated hitter Yandy Diaz, who went 1 for 4 with a walk, joined Simpson and Hicks as the only Rays players to reach base more than once in Game 4.
Pratt went 4 for 5 with two RBIs and a run scored. His Brewers teammates went a combined 4 for 38 in the loss. Left fielder Jackson Chourio, who went 2 for 6, tied Babe Ruth's 1928 record for the the most hits through four games of a World Series, with 10.
The Rays (1-3) will host the Brewers (3-1) in Game 5 at 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday in St. Petersburg.
