Facing elimination at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers after just three games of the World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays were looking to live and see another day on Tuesday in Game 4 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
Rays manager Kevin Cash used an all-hands-on-deck mentality, which happens in every single postseason game, but even more so when you're facing elimination. Tied 2-2 in the top of the 12th inning, Cash summoned former Virginia Tech standout Ian Seymour to pitch the frame. He allowed a go-ahead solo home run to leadoff batter Cooper Pratt for a 3-2 Milwaukee lead.
Given Tampa Bay's offensive struggles, it felt like that was the game. However, Seymour ended up doing what he needed to do for the rest of the inning; he limited the damage and allowed his team a chance in the home half of the 12th.
After limiting the damage to just the Pratt home run, Tampa Bay rallied with two runs in the bottom of the inning for a 4-3 walk-off victory to force a Game 5 on Wednesday night.
Former Virginia Tech hurler helps Rays extend World Series to Game 5
Tuesday night was Seymour's eighth playoff appearance this postseason, and he improved to 2-0 after recording three outs in the 12th inning after Pratt's home run. He struck out Garrett Mitchell, got Joey Ortiz to ground out, and after a Jackson Chourio double, Seymour struck out National League Championship Series MVP Jake Bauers to limit the damage.
“We’ve got one more day,” said Seymour. “Now let’s make it two more days.”
In the bottom of the 12th inning, they lived to see another day when Jonny DeLuca tied the game with an RBI single, and two batters later, Ben Williamson won the game with an RBI single to right field. Offense has been tough to come by at times for Tampa Bay this season and in the playoffs, but Seymour, after allowing the go-ahead home run, limited the damage and gave his team a chance to fight for another day.
Facing a 3-0 deficit is not what Cash and the Rays were hoping for when the series began against the favored Brewers, but if there is one thing we have learned about the Rays, it's that they'll fight until the final out is recorded, or in the case of Tuesday night, until the game-winning run crosses the plate well after four hours after the first pitch is thrown.
Seymour only threw one inning on Tuesday night, and it'll be all hands on deck once again for Tampa Bay on Wednesday night, which means Seymour will be available if push comes to shove for Cash and the Rays.
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