Controversial 9th-inning replay decision ends Brewers threat, sets up Rays to extend World Series 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 World Series.

Should this call have been overturned?

With pinch hitter Andrew Vaughn at the plate, Cooper Pratt stole second as the go-ahead run in a 2-2 game with a chance for the Brewers to secure a 4-0 series sweep. Pratt appeared to slide just under the tag of Richie Palacios, andumpire 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 or not Paclacios 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. Since the call on the field was safe, the video had to provide conclusive evidence that Palacios applied the tag to determine that Pratt was out.

Safe or out? pic.twitter.com/BMVpb3RmPU

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 28, 2026

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,” Hoye said.

And that was that. The Brewers threat was extinguished, and top of the ninth was done.

The game remained tied at 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 as Ben Williamson’s walk-off single secured the 4-3 Tampa Bay win.

The Brewers may or may not have gone on to win the game 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.

<

p style=”text-align:left”>Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night in St. Petersburg, where the Rays will once again look to extend the series.