Rays Force Game 5 After 12-Inning Win Over Brewers

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in 12 innings on Tuesday to avoid elimination in the World Series. The win cut Milwaukee's lead to 3-1 and sets the stage for Game 5 on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay now joins the ranks of the 14 teams in history to win after trailing 3-1 in a best-of-seven series. Historically, teams down 3-0 have only succeeded once, in 2004 by Boston, giving the Rays a 14.6% chance of winning the series. Teams down 3-1 have also won Game 5 exactly half the time.

Manager Kevin Cash used seven pitchers in Tuesday's contest, preserving options for the next day. Nick Martinez, originally scheduled to start Game 5, threw two scoreless relief innings on 33 pitches. Starter Griffin Jax threw 74 pitches and is likely out. Cole Sulser, Steven Matz, and Garrett Cleavinger did not pitch and remain available, as are Bryan Baker and Kevin Kelly. Ian Seymour threw 32 pitches and may sit, while Tyler Wells and Cameron Booser have worked consecutive days. Drew Rasmussen, who started Game 2, has never made a short-rest start in his career.

Milwaukee has a clearer path with Jacob Misiorowski, the 24-year-old National League Cy Young favorite, scheduled to start. He pitched five innings in Game 1, allowing one run and earning the win. However, he will work on standard four days of rest, and his workload is already at career highs. The Brewers may need deep innings from him because their bullpen pitched heavily in Game 4.

Rays first baseman Junior Caminero left Game 4 in the 12th inning with a left foot injury. He was hit by a throwing error from Joey Ortiz after reaching base. Cash confirmed Caminero will play Wednesday, stating, "He'll play tomorrow on one leg. I'll make sure of it."

Caminero is 23 and has a .717 OPS in the postseason but has hit only one home run in 48 at-bats. That compares to 42 home runs in the regular season, a rate of one per 14.7 at-bats. The Rays will need his power to keep the series close.