367 Pitches: Rays Win Game 4, Force World Series Game 5

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash secured a second chance at a World Series title after Ben Williamson hit a walk-off single in the 12th inning against Milwaukee. The victory ended the Brewers' campaign to clinch the championship in four games and pushed the series to a fifth game.

The Rays overcame a two-run deficit late in Tuesday's contest. The win came after a grueling defensive effort that required 15 pitchers to cover 23 innings. The game lasted four hours and 20 minutes, with the combined staff throwing 367 pitches at 90 batters.

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy acknowledged the toll the marathon game took on his team. He stated that the club drained a lot of pitching, a cost he accepted as part of playing a tight ballgame. The Brewers will now travel to face Tampa Bay in a winner-take-all scenario.

The pitching matchup for Game 5 is heavily skewed in Milwaukee's favor. Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers ace, will start on four days' rest. He faces a Rays team that is likely to opt for a bullpen game due to limited starting options. Misiorowski posted a 1.64 ERA in four starts on short rest this season, striking out 34 batters in 22 innings.

Tampa Bay faces a more complex roster challenge. Manager Kevin Cash has not finalized his starting pitcher. Drew Rasmussen, who threw 89 pitches in three and two-thirds innings in Game 2, is a candidate for short rest. However, the Rays may use him in a bulk role to preserve other arms. Nick Martinez, who threw 33 pitches out of the bullpen in Game 4, is also a factor in the rotation planning.

The Brewers have a clear path to close out the series if they avoid defensive mistakes. Their infielders committed eight errors during the postseason, including two in Game 4 that led to runs. If Milwaukee plays clean baseball and Misiorowski provides several innings, they hold the advantage. The Rays must execute a high-effort bullpen game to extend the series and force a potential Game 6.