ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays aren't done yet.
Down three games to none and three outs from losing the World Series, the Rays rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 12th inning Tuesday night and beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 at Tropicana Field. That sets up Game 5 at the Trop tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 8 p.m. Milwaukee still leads the series 3-1, so tonight is another must-win.
How the Rays pulled it off
Brewers rookie Cooper Pratt homered to lead off the top of the 12th and put Milwaukee up 3-2. In the bottom half, Junior Caminero reached on a throwing error by third baseman Joey Ortiz, Liam Hicks singled, and Jonny DeLuca tied it with a single to center. Chandler Simpson singled to load the bases, and pinch-hitter Ben Williamson bounced a single into right field to win it, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The game drew a sellout crowd of 40,514.
“Cash just kind of turned around and said, ‘Get ready to hit,’” Williamson said, according to the Times. “Jokingly, in my head, I was thinking, yeah, I've been ready to hit since the fourth or fifth inning.”
Williamson is the ninth player to deliver a game-winning pinch hit in the World Series, and the first since Minnesota's Gene Larkin in 1991.
“Innings like that can create a lot of momentum for a team,” manager Kevin Cash said.
The odds, and tonight's matchup
History isn't on the Rays' side. None of the first 25 teams to fall behind 3-0 in a best-of-seven World Series came back to win, and only four forced a Game 5. None of those four got any further. The only team in baseball to come back from 3-0 in any best-of-seven playoff series is the 2004 Boston Red Sox.
The Brewers are starting their ace, Jacob Misiorowski, who led the majors this season in ERA (1.80) and strikeouts (252), MLB.com reported. He gave up one run in five innings in Game 1.
The Rays' plan is less clear. They used seven pitchers Tuesday, including two possible Game 5 starters, Nick Martinez and Ian Seymour, and closer Bryan Baker threw two innings. Team officials expected to go with some kind of bullpen game, the Times reported. Caminero limped off the field Tuesday with a left foot issue but said he was sure he'd play tonight, and Cash said he was fine.
How to watch
- First pitch: 8 p.m. tonight at Tropicana Field.
- TV: FOX (WTVT FOX 13 in Tampa Bay) and FOX Deportes.
- Streaming: FOX One, and MLB.TV if you sign in with a participating pay-TV provider.
Going to the game
- Tickets: Mobile only, through the MLB Ballpark app. Resale listings for Game 5 started at around $700 on Wednesday morning, and prices move fast.
- Parking: All on-site parking at the Trop is prepaid. If you don't have a pass, the city says to stay off the roads right around the stadium and head straight to downtown garages or other off-site lots, ABC Action News reported.
- Free shuttle: St. Pete's Baseball Shuttle starts at 5 p.m., runs every 10 to 15 minutes and keeps going after the game. Stops are on Second Street South between Central Avenue and First Avenue South, under the pedestrian bridge, and on 16th Street south of Third Avenue South.
- SunRunner: PSTA's SunRunner stops near the Trop at First Avenue South and 13th Street (eastbound) and First Avenue North and 13th Street (westbound), and runs until midnight.
- Rideshare: Drop-off and pickup are on Fourth Avenue South near Lot 7 and on 17th Street South near Lot 3.
- Bags: One clear bag no bigger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, plus a small clutch or wallet up to 5 by 7 inches. No backpacks, and no outside food or drinks except one sealed bottle of water, 20 ounces or less.
Our Game 3 guide has the rest of the stadium rules, and they still apply tonight.
If the Rays win tonight
The series goes back to Milwaukee for Game 6 on Friday, Oct. 30, and, if needed, Game 7 on Saturday, Oct. 31. Both start at 8 p.m. on FOX.
The Rays plan official watch parties at Tropicana Field for both road games, with doors at 7 p.m., according to the team's postseason page. General admission is $10, a buffet ticket is $35, and a $60 all-inclusive ticket adds beer, wine and soft drinks.
If the Brewers win tonight, the series is over, and Milwaukee wins its first World Series.