The Brewers led with three outs left. Four singles kept the Rays alive

The game turned twice in the 12th

With Tampa Bay three outs from being swept, Milwaukee rookie Cooper Pratt’s solo homer put the Brewers ahead 3-2 in the top of the 12th. In the bottom half, Joey Ortiz’s throwing error opened the door; four straight Rays singles finished the comeback, with Ben Williamson’s walk-off hit sealing a 4-3 win. The Brewers still lead the series 3-1. mlb +1

Junior Caminero reached on Ortiz’s errant throw. Liam Hicks singled, then Jonny DeLuca tied the score with a single that brought home pinch-runner Cedric Mullins. Chandler Simpson loaded the bases, and Williamson, batting for Victor Mesa Jr., drove in Nick Fortes with a chopper to right. The game took 4 hours, 20 minutes. apnews +1

Milwaukee’s near-finish became a bullpen test

Pratt’s homer broke a 2-2 deadlock that had held since David Hamilton’s fifth-inning solo shot. After Brewers starter Dustin May left in the fourth, the game became a bullpen duel: Tampa Bay’s relievers held Milwaukee to one run over the final eight innings. apnews +1 The Athletic also reported that May departed after three-plus innings. nytimes

Williamson came to the plate against Milwaukee’s seventh reliever with a 1-for-15 postseason record. His single ended the Brewers’ eight-game postseason winning streak and denied them a chance to claim the franchise’s first championship with a sweep. mlb +1

A reprieve, with daunting history

The victory is a lifeline, not a reset: Milwaukee still needs one win to take the title. Tampa Bay became the fifth team in World Series history to win Game 4 after falling behind 3-0; the previous four all lost Game 5. No team has recovered from a 3-0 World Series deficit to win the championship. mlb +1

Wednesday’s stakes are stark. A Rays win would extend the series to Milwaukee; a Brewers win would close it. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night at Tropicana Field, where Tampa Bay has one more chance to turn survival into a longer series. reuters +1

Game 5 comes with a pitching cost

Tampa Bay used Nick Martinez, its expected Game 5 starter, for two scoreless relief innings, and closer Bryan Baker also worked two. The Rays had not announced a starter; Baker had gone more than one inning only twice during the regular season. The comeback bought another game but consumed arms for it. espn +1

Milwaukee is set to start Jacob Misiorowski, who has yet to pitch into the sixth inning in the postseason. The Brewers retain their 3-1 lead, but must convert another opportunity rather than celebrate a sweep. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Wednesday. apnews +1