Nick Fortes hits a home run in Game 4 of the World Series for the Tampa Bay Rays

Nick Fortes crossed home plate with his right arm held high.

In Game 4, the most dramatic World Series game ever, the Tampa Bay Rays catcher hit the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning against the Milwaukee Brewers. He scored on Ben Williamson’s soaring single to right field in a 4-3 win at Tropicana Field.

Advertising

Fortes stepped to the plate at 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 28, more than four hours after the first pitch.

The DeLand native did not start the contest. Instead, he came on in the most important moment, as a pinch runner for Liam Hicks with no outs, runners on first and second and the score tied 3-3 in the 12th.

The next batter, Chandler Simpson singled to send Forte to third and load the bases against Milwaukee left-hander Shane Drohan.

And on the first pitch he saw, Williamson hit a game-ending shot into right field.

Trailing 3-1 in the series, the Rays celebrated Williamson’s first-pitch sack as “Walking in the Sunlight” blared over the stadium’s speakers.

1 / 26

Nick Fortes: Tampa Bay Rays catcher against the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series

May 2, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Nick Fortes (40) hits a foul ball during the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Tropicana Field. Mandatory credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images

(IMAGN IMAGES via Pablo Robles, Reuters Connect)

Fortes hit .258 with six home runs in 109 games during the regular season, second with Tampa Bay. He served as Hicks’ backup quarterback in the playoffs.

Advertising

The DeLand High graduate and Ole Miss alum appeared in Games 2, 3 and 4.

On Sunday morning, hours after Game 2, Fortes flew to Jupiter, Fla., to prepare for the birth of his first child, Noah. The 29-year-old traveled across the state to St. Petersburg to rejoin the Rays for his Game 3 start.

He went 0-for-2 in his only World Series at bat so far, but showed his arm with a hard hit to nail Garrett Mitchell trying to steal second base.

Game 5 is set for Tuesday at The Trop at 8 p.m.

If the Brewers win, they secure the championship. If the Rays win, the series returns to Milwaukee for Game 6.

This article originally appeared in The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Nick Fortes hits a home run in Game 4 of the World Series for the Tampa Bay Rays

Leave a Comment