World Series Game 4: Rays walk off Brewers in 12th inning to avoid sweep and force Game 5

The Tampa Bay Rays are still alive in the 2026 World Series. Facing a sweep at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night, the Rays came back to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in 12 innings. Pinch-hitter Ben Williamson won it with a chopper that bounced over first base into right field. Milwaukee still leads the best-of-seven series 3-1, and Game 5 is on Wednesday night in St Petersburg, which is Thursday morning in Malaysia.

How the 12th inning turned

The Brewers looked set to finish the series in the top of the 12th. Rookie Cooper Pratt hit a solo home run off Rays reliever Ian Seymour to make it 3-2. According to MLB.com, it was the first extra-inning home run by a rookie in World Series history.

Tampa Bay's comeback started with a defensive mistake. Third baseman Joey Ortiz threw wide on Junior Caminero's leadoff grounder, and Caminero reached base against Antonio Senzatela. Milwaukee brought in Shane Drohan, who gave up a single to Liam Hicks. Jonny DeLuca then singled to centre, scoring pinch-runner Cedric Mullins to tie the game at 3-3.

Chandler Simpson singled to load the bases. The Brewers moved to a five-man infield with everyone drawn in, but Williamson's high chopper cleared first baseman Jake Bauers. Williamson had been 1-for-15 in the postseason before that swing.

Nine innings of trading blows

Simpson gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead in the second inning with an RBI double off Brewers starter Dustin May. In the fourth, Milwaukee tied it against Rays pitcher Griffin Jax: Sal Frelick singled with two out and scored on a Pratt double. Each side got one more run in regulation. After May left the game, Caminero scored when Brewers infielder David Hamilton bounced a throw past Bauers. Hamilton also hit a solo homer to right field off Jax, his second home run of these playoffs. The game was tied 2-2 going into extra innings.

Pratt finished with four hits. MLB.com says no rookie had done that before in a game where his team could clinch the World Series. Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby threw another 2 1/3 scoreless innings, which takes him to 18 straight scoreless innings this postseason. MLB.com says that is a record for a reliever in a single postseason. Jackson Chourio, 22, had two more hits and has 10 in the series. That ties Babe Ruth's 1928 mark for the most hits through the first four games of a World Series.

History is against the Rays

The Rays have a long way to go. MLB.com says they are only the fifth team to win Game 4 of a World Series after losing the first three, and none of the previous four forced a Game 6. In all best-of-seven postseason series, only the 2004 Boston Red Sox have come back from 3-0 down, in the ALCS.

Before Tuesday, Milwaukee had won eight games in a row and were trying to become only the second team to sweep both the League Championship Series and the World Series. They are still one win away from the franchise's first World Series title. The official attendance was 40,514.

Schedule in Malaysian time

• Game 5: Brewers at Rays, Wednesday 8pm ET, which is 8am MYT on Thursday 29 October
• Game 6 (if needed): Rays at Brewers, Friday 8pm ET, which is 8am MYT on Saturday 31 October
• Game 7 (if needed): Rays at Brewers, Saturday 8pm ET, which is 8am MYT on Sunday 1 November

Fox is showing the games in the United States.

Key takeaways

• The Rays beat the Brewers 4-3 in 12 innings to avoid a sweep. Milwaukee lead the series 3-1.
• Ben Williamson's pinch-hit single won the game after Cooper Pratt's 12th-inning homer had put Milwaukee ahead.
• Aaron Ashby has thrown 18 straight scoreless innings this postseason, a record for a reliever.
• Jackson Chourio's 10 hits through four games tie Babe Ruth's 1928 record.
• Game 5 starts at 8am MYT on Thursday.

FAQ

What is the score in the 2026 World Series? The Milwaukee Brewers lead the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1. Milwaukee won Games 1 to 3 (3-2, 5-4 and 10-1), and Tampa Bay won Game 4 4-3 in 12 innings.

When is World Series Game 5 in Malaysian time? Game 5 starts at 8pm Eastern Time on Wednesday 28 October, which is 8am on Thursday 29 October in Malaysia. It is at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida.

Has a team ever come back from 3-0 down in the World Series? No. The only team to win a best-of-seven MLB postseason series after losing the first three games is the 2004 Boston Red Sox, in the ALCS. The Rays are the fifth team to force a Game 5 after trailing 3-0 in a World Series.

Sources: MLB.com, NBC Sports Chicago, Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports