Rays Force World Series Game 5 With 13th-Inning Walk-Off

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in the 13th inning on Tuesday night, surviving a solo home run by Cooper Pratt to force a Game 5 in the World Series. The victory marks the first win for Tampa Bay in this contest and prevents the Brewers from securing their franchise’s first championship.

The game remained tied at 2-2 after nine innings. Pratt, who finished with four hits in five at-bats, broke the deadlock in the top of the 13th with a solo home run to left field. The Brewers needed three outs in the bottom half of the 13th to win their first World Series title. They had not appeared in the Fall Classic since 1982, when they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Rays’ rally began on an error that placed Junior Caminero on base. Liam Hicks hit a single that moved Caminero to third base. Jonny DeLuca then hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Caminero and tying the score. Chandler Simpson, who had earlier driven in a run with a double, reached on a hit to load the bases with no outs.

Ben Williamson, a player who had not seen regular action, entered as a pinch hitter. He delivered a single that scored the winning run. This marked the first time a player from the Rays’ deep bench hit the decisive blow in a World Series game.

The Brewers entered the series with the best regular-season record in baseball at 103-59. They swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Before Tuesday’s loss, Milwaukee had lost only one postseason game, dropping Game 3 of the Division Series to the San Diego Padres. The Brewers had hoped to complete a perfect postseason run after their dominant regular-season performance.

The game featured defensive errors that shifted momentum. Brewers third baseman David Hamilton threw away a ball in the fourth inning, allowing Caminero to score and give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead. Hamilton responded in the fifth inning with a solo home run off Griffin Jax to tie the game at 2-2. Both bullpens managed the remaining frames of regulation without allowing further runs.

The Rays took an early 1-0 lead when Simpson doubled down the right field line to score DeLuca. Pratt tied the game with a two-out double. Shane Drohan, who had not pitched in a month due to injury, struggled in the 13th inning, allowing the Rays to capitalize on their opportunities.