When Junior Caminero grounded to third to start the bottom of the 12th inning, Milwaukee was three outs away from winning its first World Series. Thousands of Brewers supporters who had traveled to Tropicana Field to see the much anticipated event began to applaud.
The ball deflected off first baseman Jake Bauers’ mitt after third baseman Joey Ortiz bounced the throw, resulting in an error.
The Tampa Bay Rays defeated rookie Shane Drohan 4-3 on Tuesday nite thanks to successive singles from Liam Hicks, Jonny DeLuca, Chandler Simpson, and pinch hitter Ben Williamson over the course of 15 pitches.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Extra Innings Baseball Game |
| Teams | Tampa Bay Rays vs Milwaukee Brewers |
| Final Score | Rays 4, Brewers 3 |
| Key Player | Williamson |
| Winning Moment | Williamson's decisive hit allowed Fortes to score |
| Milwaukee Highlight | Cooper Pratt's home run in the 12th inning |
| Game Outcome | Tampa Bay completed a dramatic comeback |
Brewers’ Dramatic Extra Innings Heartbreak
The game will occasionally put you to the test. Christian Yelich, captain of the Brewers, remarked, “The game sometimes makes you want to dig deep.”
In the top of the 12th inning, Milwaukee rookie Cooper Pratt broke the tie with a home run off Ian Seymour, giving the Brewers a 3-2 lead. The Brewers ran out of the dugout in celebration, feeling as though they had completed the first Series sweep since 2012.
Before Caminero reached against Antonio Senzatela, Milwaukee’s bullpen, headed by seven outs from Aaron Ashby, had pitched seven consecutive scoreless innings.
He declared, “I have to make that play.” “Just don’t make an excuse.”
Despite seeming to have a left foot injury, Caminero continued to play. Drohan, a 27-year-old left-hander who hadn’t pitched since a one-inning start in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on October 15, was brought in by Brewers manager Pat Murphy.
Hicks blasted an opposite-field ground ball through the empty shortstop hole and into left field while Caminero slid headfirst into third as Pratt moved toward second for the left-handed hitter.
Rays Stage Dramatic Late Comeback
Regarding the defensive alignment, Drohan remarked, “For just regular D, that’s right at Coop.”
Before DeLuca, who had made brilliant catches to thwart Yelich in the third and William Contreras in the fourth, knocked a grounder past the mound as Drohan attempted in vain to make a behind-the-back snag, pinch runner Cedric Mullins replaced Caminero. Mullins knotted the score at three when the ball bounced into center.
For the slower Hicks, Nick Fortes ran at second. Simpson lined a single into center to load the bases after missing a bunt attempt and drawing back another while taking a called strike.
Rays Win on Williamson’s Walk Off Hit
Williamson batted for Victor Mesa Jr. after going 1 for 15 in the postseason.
Williamson remarked, “Being in that position is what you dream of as a player.”
He hit a chopper that kicked up chalk from the foul line seven feet from home plate on the 367th pitch of the game. In short right field, the ball bounced high over Bauers and onto the grass. After scoring the game-winning run, Fortes ran over the plate and went to first to join his teammates who were leaping in foul area.
