World Series 2026: Controversial ninth-inning replay decision ends Brewers' threat, sets up Rays to win Game 4 in extras

For a moment Tuesday, the Milwaukee Brewers thought they had the go-ahead run in scoring position in the top of the ninth inning of Game 4 of the World Series.

But an overturned call ended the Brewers' threat, and three innings later, the Tampa Bay Rays secured a walk-off, 4-3 victory in 12 innings to extend the series to Game 5 with Milwaukee holding a 3-1 lead.

With pinch hitter Andrew Vaughn at the plate, Cooper Pratt stole second as the go-ahead run in a 2-2 game with the Brewers trying to secure a 4-0 series sweep. Pratt appeared to slide just under the tag of Richie Palacios, and umpire Tripp Gibson called Pratt safe on a close play.

But Kevin Cash wasn't satisfied with the call. The Rays' manager challenged, setting off nearly four painstaking minutes at Tropicana Field.

As MLB's replay center looked at the play, the Fox broadcast parsed multiple did-he-or-didn't-he angles, debating whether Palacios tagged the tip of his glove on Pratt's left hand as Pratt slid.

One angle looked like he might have. Multiple others did not. Given that the call on the field was safe, the replay had to provide conclusive evidence that Palacios applied the tag in order to determine that Pratt was out.

At the conclusion of the lengthy replay review, home plate umpire James Hoye took the field to deliver a succinct verdict: "After review, the call is overturned. The runner on the field is out."

With that, the Brewers' threat was extinguished, and top of the ninth was over.

Rays walk it off in 12th to force Game 5

The game remained tied 2-2 until the top of the 12th inning, when Pratt hit a solo home run to give the Brewers a 3-2 lead. But the Rays responded with two runs in the bottom of the 12th, and Ben Williamson's walk-off single secured a 4-3 Tampa Bay victory .

The Brewers might or might not have gone on to win Game 4 and the World Series had Pratt been called safe on his ninth-inning steal attempt. But thanks to a savvy challenge by Cash, the Rays didn't have to find out.

Game 5 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET Wednesday in St. Petersburg, where the Rays will once again look to extend the series and their season.