Two runs in the 12th keep Tampa Bay alive as they force a World Series Game 5

The Tampa Bay Rays avoided elimination in the World Series on Tuesday night, forcing a Game 5 decision with a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. The win came after a two-run rally in the 12th inning, capping a game that extended into extra time at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Cooper Pratt gave Milwaukee a 3-2 lead in the top of the 12th inning. The 22-year-old rookie homered off reliever Ian Seymour, his fourth hit of the game. At that moment, the Brewers were one run away from their first World Series championship and a sweep of the series.

Tampa Bay responded in the bottom half of the 12th. Joey Ortiz, the Brewers third baseman, threw a wild pitch on Junior Caminero's leadoff grounder. This error allowed Caminero to reach base and set the stage for the rally against reliever Antonio Senzatela.

Liam Hicks singled to load the bases, driving in Cedric Mullins, who had entered the game as a pinch runner. The tie made the score 3-3. Chandler Simpson then singled, loading the bases again with runners on all three bases. Milwaukee shifted into a five-man infield defense.

Ben Williamson, a pinch hitter for Victor Mesa Jr., chipped a ball over first baseman Jake Bauers into right field. The hit scored Simpson and tied the game, though the score remained 3-3 until the final out. Rays manager Kevin Cash noted he had instructed Williamson to take the ball to the gap, a call that proved successful.

This marks the fourth time in World Series history that a team has come back from a two-run deficit in extra innings to avoid elimination. The previous three teams to achieve this feat, the 1912 Red Sox, 1986 Mets, and 2011 Cardinals, all went on to win the championship. According to OptaSTATS, the Rays are the fourth such team.

Tampa Bay is now the fifth team in history to win Game 4 after trailing a World Series 3-0. The previous four teams in this situation lost Game 5. In the broader context of best-of-seven postseason series, only the 2004 Boston Red Sox have ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win the entire series.

Junior Caminero left the game with an injury to his left foot after twisting while trying to avoid a tag. Despite the ailment, the All-Star slugger confirmed he will play in Game 5. Cash said he would make sure Caminero played, noting the team's determination to continue fighting.

The Brewers had won their previous eight games, including a sweep of the National League Championship Series. They were aiming to become the second team to sweep both the LCS and the World Series. The crowd at Tropicana Field numbered 40,514, with many Milwaukee fans waving yellow towels and wearing cheesehead hats.

Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. Jacob Misiorowski, the favorite for the National League Cy Young Award, is slated to start for Milwaukee. Kevin Cash has not yet announced a starting pitcher for the Rays. Jackson Chourio hit for two cycles in the loss, improving his series average to 10 for 20.