The Rays walkoff celebration that tied the World Series at two games a piece was Austin Meadows hugging a crying Brett Phillips, who had just walked it off for a come-from-behind Rays victory in the 9th inning off of the greatest closer of the last half decade. Known for his defense and baserunning, the light-hitting outfielder came up down one, with two on and two outs and had his first hit in exactly a month, as well as his first RBI since July 27th. It was a virtual re-enactment of Francisco Cabrera in 1992 when he drove in Dave Justice and it looked like Sid Bream would be down at the plate, until he wasn’t.

It was a wild World Series game. It started with Justin Turner hitting a big-time homerun against Rays starter Ryan Yarbrough, becoming the first player to hit a first inning homerun in back-to-back games in the Fall Classic. Corey Seager in the third made it 2-0, and they became the first teammates to ever have four hits and a homerun in a World Series game later on.

Randy Arozarena made history with one swing to get Tampa Bay on the board.

Hunter Renfroe put a dent in the score, showing exactly why the Rays dealt Tommy Pham and Jake Cronenworth for him.

The Dodgers scored all seven of their runs on two outs tonight, just like below. They now have 55 two out runs this postseason.

Yet, it was the slumping Brandon Lowe who busted out in a big way to put the Rays on top.

Until they weren’t on top.

Until the next half inning when the Rays knotted it up.

Then the Dodgers unknotted it once again in the eighth.

Three outs away from a 3-1 lead, Yoshitomo Tsutsugo struck out to start the ninth, following by a flare that shattered the bat of Kevin Kiermaier yet found outfield green. Joey Wendle lined out to Joc Pederson for the second out. Randy Arozarena, who already made history with his homerun earlier in the ballgame and took Jansen deep last night, earned a two out walk to put the winning run on base and tying run in scoring position. It brought up Brett Phillips, as the air was knocked out of every person in St. Pete, Florida. Brett Phillips had three RBIs as a Ray and zero hits this postseason. Then, let the clip speak for itself.

They Tampa Bays Rays franchise is known for their unsung heroes coming through. Willy Aybar in 2008, Dan Johnson in 2011, Michael Brosseau in the ALDS. Now? Brett Phillips adds his name to Rays lore forever. The Rays have evened up the World Series in the most unbelievable and wild of fashion heading into Game Five, where they will face Clayton Kershaw, a former NL MVP, for the second time in the Series.

Follow me on Twitter: @TheJameus.
Like me on Facebook here.

Shares: