Rays stun Brewers to force Game 5

‘JUST FIGHT’: The Rays became the fourth team in World Series history to avoid elimination with an extra-inning comeback. The other three all went on to win the title

• AP, ST PETERSBURG, Florida

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Milwaukee was three outs from its first World Series title in a game that stretched well past midnight yesterday when Junior Caminero started the bottom of the 12th inning with a grounder to third. Thousands of Brewers fans who trekked to Tropicana Field to witness the long-awaited moment started to cheer.

Not so fast.

Third baseman Joey Ortiz bounced the throw, and the ball glanced off first baseman Jake Bauers’ mitt for an error.

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Ben Williamson connects for a game-winning RBI single off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Shane Drohan during the 12th inning of Game 4 of the World Series in St Petersburg, Florida, yesterday.

Photo: AP

One of the most stunning rallies in World Series history started to unfold.

Liam Hicks, Jonny DeLuca, Chandler Simpson and pinch-hitter Ben Williamson followed with consecutive singles in a 15-pitch span against rookie Shane Drohan, and the Tampa Bay Rays staved off elimination with a 4-3 win that forced Game 5.

“Sometimes the game tests you. Sometimes the game makes you want to dig deep,” Brewers captain Christian Yelich said. “It’s all part of the journey, all part of the experience, and that’s part of our story.”

Milwaukee rookie Cooper Pratt hit a tiebreaking home run off Ian Seymour in the top of the 12th for a 3-2 lead, sending the Brewers sprinting out of the dugout in excitement as they sensed completing the first Series sweep since 2012.

Milwaukee’s bullpen, led by seven outs from Aaron Ashby, had combined for seven straight scoreless innings, before Caminero reached against Antonio Senzatela.

Ortiz grimaced.

“I’ve got to make that play,” he said. “Just no excuse about it.”

Caminero appeared to hurt his left foot, but stayed in the game.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy brought in Drohan, a 27-year-old left-hander who had not pitched since a one-inning start in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Oct. 15.

With Pratt shifted toward second for the left-handed batter, Hicks hit an opposite-field grounder through the vacated shortstop hole and into left field as Caminero slid headfirst into third.

“For just regular D, that’s right at Coop,” Drohan said of the defensive alignment.

Pinch-runner Cedric Mullins replaced Caminero before DeLuca, who had made sparkling catches to deny Yelich in the third and William Contreras in the fourth, hit a grounder past the mound as Drohan tried in vain to make a behind-the-back snag. The ball bounced into center as Mullins tied the score at three.

Nick Fortes ran at second for the slower Hicks. After missing a bunt attempt and pulling back another while taking a called strike, Simpson lined a single into center, loading the bases.

Sal Frelick moved in from left to form a five-man infield, with three defenders on the left side and everyone playing in.

Williamson, who had been 1 for 15 in the post-season, batted for Victor Mesa Jr.

“It’s what you dream of as a player to be in that spot,” Williamson said.

On the game’s 367th pitch, he hit a chopper that kicked up chalk from the foul line 2m from home plate. The ball bounded high over Bauers and onto the grass in short right field. Fortes sprinted across the plate with the winning run, then headed toward first to join his jumping teammates in foul territory.

“That was totally what I told him to do,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said, drawing laughs.

Drohan walked off, his head bowed.

“Definitely hard. I’m human,” he said softly. “I knew what I was walking into. I just didn’t do the job there.”

Tampa Bay became the fourth team in World Series history to avoid elimination with an extra-inning comeback, according to OptaSTATS, joining the 1912 Boston Red Sox, 1986 New York Mets and 2011 St Louis Cardinals — who all went on to win titles.

“We’ve got a lot of fight in us. We’re never going to shy away,” Simpson said. “We were going to keep fighting until the end — the last inning, the last out, the last play, the last pitch.”

Tampa Bay became just the fifth of 26 teams that fell behind 3-0 in the World Series to win Game 4. The previous four lost Game 5.

Of 43 teams to trail 3-0 in any best-of-seven postseason matchup, the only one that rebounded to win was the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series.

“It just shows the resiliency of this group,” Williamson said. “We continue to fight, and that’s been the motto this series and this full season, is just fight.”