With parallels to '04 Red Sox, here's the Rays' path to their own historic comeback

“We’ll see you later tonight!” exclaimed FOX play-by-play announcer Joe Davis as Ben Williamson chopped a walk-off single over the right side of the infield, giving the Rays a 4-3 win on Tuesday night in the 12th inning of Game 4 of the World Series. They staved off elimination for at least one more day after the Brewers had taken a 3-0 lead in the Fall Classic.

“We’ll see you later tonight!” exclaimed FOX play-by-play announcer Joe Buck as David Ortiz launched a walk-off home run to right field, giving the Red Sox a 6-4 win in the 12th inning of Game 4 of the 2004 American League Championship Series. They staved off elimination for at least one more day after the Yankees had taken a 3-0 lead in that best-of-seven series.

Of course, Buck’s call for an iconic moment predated Davis’ by 22 years. The 2004 Red Sox then famously overcame their 3-0 deficit, still the only team to do so in a best-of-seven series in MLB history.

The Rays will certainly hope the parallels between 2004 and 2026 don’t end with Tuesday’s win.

The Rays were the 44th team to fall behind 3-0 in any best-of-seven postseason series but just the 11th to avoid a sweep. Four of those occasions happened in the World Series, but none of those teams -- the 2024 Yankees, 1970 Reds, 1937 Giants and 1910 Cubs -- forced a Game 6.

Tampa Bay is going to need some magic to come all the way back for its first World Series title. Drawing on inspiration from the ‘04 Red Sox, after one eerily similar moment, here’s what it might look like if the Rays are to get it done.

Bullpen heroes

Facing a 3-0 deficit with your season at stake, you undeniably have to use an “all-hands-on-deck” mentality. That’s exactly what the Rays did in Game 4 on Tuesday, burning through seven pitchers in 12 innings, including two frames from closer Bryan Baker and Nick Martinez, who would have been the most realistic candidate to start Game 5.

Now, things are murky. But that’s just how it’s going to be as long as the Rays stay alive.

• Brewers-Rays World Series Game 5 FAQ

Back to the 2004 Red Sox … they needed a whopping 14 innings to win Game 5 the next night. Pedro Martínez started and gave six turbulent innings of four-run ball. The Boston bullpen then finished the next eight innings without allowing a run, headlined by Tim Wakefield securing the final nine outs.

The Rays would certainly prefer to win in regulation in Game 5 if they can. But the Red Sox set the example: multiple bullpen heroes need to emerge to make history.

The big bat

Ortiz had the big swing in Game 4, and he was far from done. He turned into one of October’s greatest players throughout his career, but Big Papi put on one of the best postseason performances we’ve seen in 2004, especially in the historic ALCS.

Ortiz, after already hitting two walk-off home runs that postseason, tacked on the walk-off single in Game 5. He went 4-for-14 in the final three games of the ALCS turnaround, including two home runs and five RBIs.

The 2026 Rays don’t have a hitter who is anywhere near as hot as Ortiz was back then. The closest comparison is Junior Caminero, who hit a team-high 42 home runs in the regular season and blasted a clutch two-run shot in the ALCS-clinching Game 6 against the Guardians.

If not Caminero, perhaps Yandy Díaz or Jonathan Aranda could become the hot hand. But Tampa Bay needs someone -- or multiple someones -- to heat up.

A staff-saving start

In 2004, Curt Schilling allowed six runs in just three innings in Game 1 of the ALCS. He came back to start Game 6 and stifled the Yankees, spinning seven innings of one-run ball.

The Rays’ top starters, Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta, have found themselves much in the same boat.

Neither one pitched to their lofty standards in their first World Series start. Rasmussen went just 3 2/3 innings in Game 2 while allowing three runs, his shortest start since July 9. Peralta, meanwhile, lasted 4 2/3 innings in Game 3 but gave up five runs. He was chased during the Brewers’ eight-run rally with two outs in the fifth.

But both have proven they’re capable of dominance. It may even have to come on short rest in this World Series, but if Rasmussen or Peralta can find their form -- and it’s a big if, like all these hypotheticals -- it will go a long way to shoring up the Rays’ bullpen for the home stretch.