We do not have a World Series champion yet. The Tampa Bay Rays have forced a Game 5 with a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers . It was a 12-inning marathon that included the Rays scoring two runs in the bottom of the 12th to walk it off.
Unlike Game 3, Game 4 was close from the first pitch.
The Rays drew first blood in the second inning. Chandler Simpson drove a ball into the right-field corner, scoring Jonny DeLuca . It was the Rays' first lead in the series since their four-run first inning in Game 2.
DeLuca helped the Rays with his glove as well. He made a diving catch to rob William Contreras of a lead-off single. That kept traffic off the bases, but the momentum did not last long. A two-out single by Sal Frelick kept the inning alive. Cooper Pratt doubled him in to tie the game. It was the ninth straight two-out run in the World Series by the Crew. Rays' starter Griffin Jax limited the damage by striking out Garrett Mitchell with a runner on third to end the inning.
Despite a 3-0 series led, Brewers' manager Pat Murphy was not changing his approach regarding his bullpen. After a lead-off single, Murphy replaced starter Dustin May with JoJo Romero . The hit came from Jackson Chourio , who became the first player with nine hits through four games of a World Series since Paul O'Neill in 2000.
The leadoff single turned into a run for the Rays. A hard-hit ball by DeLuca nearly resulted in baserunner Junior Caminero running into a tag play at third. However, third baseman David Hamilton 's throw to first was wild, allowing Caminero to score. Murphy challenged the play, believing Hamilton did tag Caminero, but the call was confirmed.
The deficit did not last long for the Brewers. Hamilton atoned for his error with a home run to right field to tie the game. That also ended the night for Jax.
With their season on the line, Rays' manager Kevin Cash could not afford to hold anything in the tank. Nick Martinez , the Game 1 starter and possible Game 5 starter, entered the game in the sixth, pitching a scoreless inning.
Oct 27, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Brewers third baseman David Hamilton (6) rounds the bases after hitting a one run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning in game four of the 2026 World Series at Tropica… | Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Andrew Willis, Editor
In the bottom of the sixth, the Rays got their leadoff hitter on base when Yandy Diaz singled to right. However, he was doubled off following a line drive to second by Jonathan Aranda . It was the Rays' ninth out on the bases in this World Series.
For the first time in the World Series, Bryan Baker entered the game for the Rays. He retired the Brewers on seven pitches.
After D.J. Hall retired the first two hitters in the bottom of the eighth, Murphy brought in his own closer, Trevor Megill . Like Baker, Megill did his job, sending Game 4 tied into the ninth inning.
With one man on and one out, Mitchell sent one the other way, but Simpson jumped up and caught the ball before it could bounce of the wall. Catcher Liam Hicks further helped the Rays defensively, throwing out Pratt trying to steal to end the inning.
Aaron Ashby pitched a perfect ninth to send Game 4 into extra innings. Furthermore, Ashby set a MLB record by pitching 16.2 scoreless innings in a single postseason.
Tyler Walls set the Brewers down in the order in the top of the inning. A missed pop-up in foul territory by the Rays left many to wonder if the door was open for the Brewers to grab the lead, but Walls truck out Jake Bauers on the next pitch to erase any fears of the error coming back to haunt them.
Ashby pitched a perfect inning of his own, sending Game 4 to an 11th inning.
Walls and Cam Booser kept the Brewers off the scoreboard in the top of the 11th.
Ashby and Antonio Senzatela kept the game alive in the bottom of the 11th.
Ian Seymour came in to pitch for the Rays. Pratt delivered the biggest hit of his career- a go-ahead home run that send the Brewers' dugout into a frenzy. With one swing of the bat, the Brewers were three outs way from the World Series.
Chourio's two-out double made him the second player since Babe Ruth to record 10 hits in the first four games of a World Series.
Caminero reached on an error to start the bottom of the 12th, giving the Rays three chances to tie the game. Murphy would back to the bullpen and bring in Shane Drohan . Hicks singled to left-center field, advancing Caminero to third base with no one out.
DeLuca, whose defense helped the Rays in the early innings, delivered a single up the middle to tie the game. After failing to bunt the winning run to third, Simpson singled to center to lead the bases. Ben Williamson then delivered the game-winning hit, ending the marathon game. More importantly, it kept the Rays season alive. It kept the World Series alive.
The Rays are not done yet. They still have a tall order ahead of them, but they have one win under their belt. They have forced a Game 5. What happens next?
We knew this would be a close series. Even with the Brewers winning the first two , and even despite their blowout win in Game 3, it still seemed the Rays had something left in the tank. They certainly did in Game 4.
Main Photo: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
