MLB WORLD SERIES: RAYS VS BREWERS

October 27, 2026

Ben Williamson

Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Postgame 4 Press Conference

Rays 4, Brewers 3 (12)

Q. Cash said you were ready to hit for about five innings at the end of that game. When did you realize that was going to be your at-bat, and what's going through your mind when you walk up to the plate?

BEN WILLIAMSON: Cash just kind of turned around and said get ready to hit. Jokingly in my head, I was thinking, yeah, I've been ready to hit since the fourth or fifth inning.

But, no, kind of the mindset of the team is to be ready when your name's called, and that's what's made us good the whole year. And to be able to come through in a spot like that felt good.

Q. A couple guys said the energy in the dugout when they came in for the bottom of the 12th was really high. Who was manufacturing that? What was that scene like?

BEN WILLIAMSON: Nick Martinez, like he's been leading us all year. He kind of instilled that mindset in us: Never give up, never give in. Just kind of having him lead us through that has been huge this year.

Q. What was the swing of emotions from Ian giving up the homer to then you guys rallying in the bottom of the inning?

BEN WILLIAMSON: Yeah, obviously like that's not ideal, but at the same point in time, we knew we were going to pick him up. Especially when Cammy got on in that first thing, we knew we were going to get him over and get him in. Jonny and Liam put together great at-bats. Based loaded, lucky I was able to come through in that situation.

Q. Northern Virginia kid, going to William and Mary, to have a moment like this, obviously in the moments after it's hard to encapsulate, but how surreal is it on your end to have this kind of big moment in the World Series?

BEN WILLIAMSON: It's what you dream of growing up. You play Wiffle ball in the backyard with your friends and you're dreaming of hitting a walkoff ball in the World Series. The way the team fought tonight to get me into that situation and to have runners on, and just to have that moment for me was huge for them.

Q. Tell me a little bit about Liam's at-bat because I think when you got Caminero on first base, it's a great start for the rally. But when Liam's hit comes in, runners on the corners, no outs, is that the moment where you guys think this is going to happen?

BEN WILLIAMSON: Yeah, I feel like when Cammy first got on, going left on left and staying out of a double play and getting a hit was huge. Then just to kind of set it up for Jonny to come through in that spot was big.

Q. What were you trying to do? Were you trying to bounce it to that side, or were you just trying to make contact? Cash said you did exactly what he told you of course.

BEN WILLIAMSON: Yeah, of course.

No, I was just trying to put the ball in play. I knew he was going to try to attack me because I've been pretty passive. I was just trying to move the ball and just see if a good thing happened, and luckily enough I was able to find the hole.

Q. This team has put the ball in play all season. It's been a strength of you guys. To see it come together in the biggest inning of your season, what does it say about your approach and how you guys stuck to it?

BEN WILLIAMSON: Just speaking to the team, knowing your role, knowing what's worked the whole year. Knowing just fight and fight our way and good things will happen. And tonight good things happened.

Q. As the series goes longer, and especially with an extra game here, how special is it for your team to see all these relievers and get some experience?

BEN WILLIAMSON: Yeah, they've got really good arms down there. So to see them over and over again and kind of adjust and make small adjustments day to day in our pregame rituals and pregame routines is big.