World Series 2020: Tampa Bay Rays beat Los Angeles Dodgers in game four
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World Series Game 4: Extraordinary finale as Tampa Bay Rays beat LA Dodgers
The Tampa Bay Rays levelled the World Series at 2-2 as they clinched a dramatic 8-7 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four.
Trailing 7-6 and down to their last strike in the ninth inning, the Rays' Brett Phillips hit a single, driving in Kevin Kiermaier and Randy Arozarena.
Arozarena capitalised on a fumble by Chris Taylor and a mishandled throw by catcher Will Smith to slide home.
The best-of-seven series is perfectly poised going into game five on Sunday.
The World Series is being played on neutral ground in Arlington, Texas, after the regular season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Dodgers are bidding to end a 32-year MLB title drought after losing the Fall Classic in 2017 and 2018, while the Rays are aiming for their first crown in their second World Series appearance.
The Florida franchise, which began playing in the 1998 season, kept themselves in the hunt going into the final play after Brandon Lowe, Arozarena, Hunter Renfroe and Kiermaier had earlier hit home runs.
Back-up outfielder Phillips walked up to the plate with two men on and, two strikes down, singled to centre field for his first career post-season hit.
After Kiermaier raced across with the tying run, Arozarena rounded third base and stumbled to the turf turning for home. He looked ready to be tagged out - until a throwing error allowed him to dive onto the plate with the winning run.
"We have no quit," said Kiermaier. "We have been doing that all year.
"We have been the comeback kids. To do it on the big stage makes it that much sweeter."
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