Tampa Bay Rays beat Brewers 4-3 in Game 4, keeping World Series dreams alive
Ben Williamson #15 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off single during Game Four of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday,
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Rays have kept their World Series dreams alive for at least one more night after beating the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 at Tropicana Field.
While this win keeps the Rays vying for their first World Series title, they are still one loss away from seeing their season end to the Brewers, who still hold a 3-1 lead after Game 4. So far, Tampa Bay has lost three games to Milwaukee — with a devastating Game 3 for the Rays after Brewers had an explosive fifth inning.
Rays avoid a World Series sweep
The backstory:
The Rays entered the series looking to win the first World Series title in franchise history. Instead, Milwaukee has won the first three games, putting Tampa Bay in a difficult position.
The Brewers opened the series with a 3-2 victory in Game 1 before rallying from a four-run deficit to win Game 2, 5-4. Monday's 10-1 loss left the Rays with little margin for error.
Only one team has overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven postseason series: the 2004 Boston Red Sox, who rallied to defeat the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series before going on to win the World Series and break the "Curse of the Bambino."
No team has advanced to Game 6 of a World Series after falling behind 3-0, so far.
The Rays, meanwhile, avoided a complete sweep by the Brewers by securing a win tonight.
World Series Game 4 recap
What we know:
The Rays were the first to score during Game 4. It happened in the second inning after Chandler Simpson scored, bringing Jonny DeLuca home. However, the Brewers responded with a fourth inning score by Cooper Pratt, who roped an RBI double down to the left field line, scoring Sal Frelick from first. This left the score tied.
The Rays took the lead once again, though, in the bottom of the fourth, 2-1. Junior Caminero scored on a Jonny DeLuca infield grounder. But, the Brewers tied the game up once again with a solo home run by David Hamilton at the top of the fifth.
The game eventually went into extra innings after both teams remained tied 2-2 by the end of the ninth.
The Brewers took the lead in the top of the 12th inning, but the Rays ultimately scored two runs in the bottom of the 12th, clinching the Game 4 win to keep the World Series going.
Rays legend Evan Longoria throws first pitch
Why you should care:
Former Rays third baseman Evan Longoria threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Tuesday's game, giving fans a chance to celebrate one of the most important players in franchise history.
PREVIOUS: Rays legend Evan Longoria to throw first pitch before World Series Game 4
Longoria played for Tampa Bay from 2008 through 2017 and helped lead the team's turnaround in 2008, when the Rays won the American League East and reached the first World Series in franchise history.
Nicknamed "Longo," he is perhaps best remembered by Rays fans for his walk-off home run against the New York Yankees on the final day of the 2011 regular season. The home run completed a dramatic comeback that helped Tampa Bay clinch an American League wild-card spot over the Boston Red Sox in an iconic moment known as Game 162.
Longoria officially retired as a Ray in 2025 after signing a ceremonial one-day contract. The team later inducted him into the Rays Hall of Fame and retired his No. 3 jersey.
Longo’s appearance follows former Rays manager Joe Maddon and pitcher James Shields sharing the ceremonial first-pitch duties before Game 3.
Extending the World Series schedule
What's next:
Now that Tampa Bay has won, Game 5 will happen Wednesday at Tropicana Field. If necessary, the series would return to Milwaukee for Game 6 on Friday and Game 7 on Saturday.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from official pregame notes, starting pitching announcements and postseason schedules released by Major League Baseball and the Tampa Bay Rays. It also includes details from Game 4 of the World Series.