Deadspin World Series Notebook: Rays’ Williamson Finally Makes His Mark in Game 4

Williamson delivers in extra innings

Williamson entered Tuesday’s game as a pinch hitter in the 12th, with Tampa Bay trailing 3-2. He had waited for about five innings, manager Kevin Cash joked, before getting a chance with the bases loaded and no outs.

Williamson chopped a pitch through Milwaukee’s drawn-in infield to score the winning run. Cash praised his contact ability, saying, “Give Ben credit.” The victory extended the Rays’ season after their Game 3 blowout defeat.

An error by third baseman Joey Ortiz opened the inning. Earlier, Williamson had been hit in the helmet by a foul ball in Game 3 and lost a likely extra-base hit to a catch by right fielder Sal Frelick.

Seymour avoids costly ending

Ian Seymour gave up a go-ahead solo home run to Cooper Pratt in the top of the 12th. Tampa Bay’s late rally spared the reliever an offseason of remorse, the report said.

Calls and a Hamilton homer

Milwaukee starter Dustin May allowed two runs and three hits while striking out three in three-plus innings. He departed after Junior Caminero led off the fourth with a single; Caminero later scored on a play involving David Hamilton, who missed a tag and threw wildly to first.

The Brewers unsuccessfully challenged the play at third. Replay later overturned Pratt’s ninth-inning stolen base, ruling that Richie Palacios tagged his hand protector. Manager Pat Murphy said, “We had a couple of things,” while adding he was not saying the calls were wrong.

Hamilton tied the game with a leadoff home run in the fifth, prompting Tampa Bay to remove starter Griffin Jax. The Brewers’ No. 9 hitter is batting .348 with two postseason homers, after hitting .245 with four home runs in the regular season.

Ashby and Rays defense stand out

Aaron Ashby pitched a scoreless ninth and 10th, then recorded an out in the 11th. He reached 18 consecutive scoreless innings to open a postseason, becoming the all-time leader, and has not allowed a run in 23 straight innings dating to the regular season.

Tampa Bay’s defense had fallen short of its usual standard earlier in the series, with misplays by Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson in Game 2 and a costly decision by Caminero in Game 3. In Game 4, center fielder Jonny DeLuca and Simpson made sliding catches.

Murphy became Milwaukee’s manager in 2024. During an offseason trip last year, he came to understand how much the Brewers meant to Wisconsin.