Rays Force Game 5 After 12th-Inning Walk-Off Win

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field to force a decisive fifth game in the World Series. The victory, decided by a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 12th inning, prevented a Milwaukee sweep and kept the Rays in the championship race.

Milwaukee took control of the game in the top of the 12th inning. Cooper Pratt, a 22-year-old rookie, hit the first pitch he saw from Rays left-hander Ian Seymour into the left-field stands. The homer was Pratt's fourth hit of the game and gave the Brewers a 3-2 lead with three outs remaining.

"I hit the thing and I was like, oh my gosh. That's gone," Pratt said. "I was just trying not to strike out. That was probably one of the coolest swings of my life."

The momentum shifted in the bottom of the 12th due to a defensive error. With no outs, Junior Caminero hit a ground ball to third baseman Joey Ortiz. Ortiz's throw skipped past first baseman Jake Bauers, allowing the tying run to score. Catcher Liam Hicks followed with a single to left, placing runners on first and third.

"It's all kind of a blur at this point," Hicks said. "We've done this all year. We haven't this series, but it's always there."

Manager Kevin Cash sent in pinch hitter Ben Williamson with the bases loaded. Williamson hit the first pitch he saw up the middle to win the game. The final score was 4-3 in a contest that lasted four hours and 20 minutes.

The result extends the Series to a fifth game, which will be played in Tampa Bay. A win for either team will decide the World Series. The game comes one year after an 18-inning World Series game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays.