Tampa Bay Rays: Brett Phillips delivers the biggest hit of his lifetime

Brett Phillips, in the first-ever World Series at-bat, delivered a wild walk-off winner.

The game of baseball delivers some of the most exciting and poetic moments in sports. Brett Phillips’ walk-off single in game four of the 2020 World Series is another shining example.

Phillips, a true role player for the Tampa Bay Rays, has never had an at-bat in the World Series. Acquired from the Kansas City Royals at the end of August, Phillips was brought to Tampa Bay for his defense and his depth.

In fact, Phillips hadn’t even made the Rays’ ALCS roster. But, with two on and two out, in the bottom of the 9th inning, down one run, and potentially falling to a massive 3-1 series deficit to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Phillips showed fans the magic of baseball.

The 26-year-old outfielder hasn’t had an at-bat since October 7th. He’s never recorded a hit in the postseason. He’s only had four hits during his time in Tampa Bay. He knocked in five RBIs throughout the season, and only seven last year.

A true role player, in every sense of the word, came through in the biggest at-bat of his life. The emotions following this dramatic victory can only be described as raw.

Game four as a whole was one of the most entertaining of the series. The game saw four different lead changes and will be etched in baseball history.

Throughout the last half of the game, both sides scored in eight straight half-innings, a World Series record. The Rays also became the first team in postseason history to homer in four consecutive innings.

Trailing 7-6 in the bottom of the 9th, the Rays put together a rally against Kenley Jansen, one of the premier closers in the game. And down to his final strike, Phillips delivered a single to right-center. Cue some defensive miscues, both runs scored, the Rays walked it off, and Phillips became the latest unlikely October hero.