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

In Game 4, the most dramatic of the World Series so far, the Tampa Bay Rays catcher scored the winning run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the bottom of the 12th inning. He trotted in on Ben Williamson’s high-bouncing single to right field, solidifying a 4-3 walk-off victory at Tropicana Field.

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

The DeLand native did not start the contest. Instead, he subbed in at the most crucial moment, entering 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 Fortes to third and load the bases against Milwaukee left-hander Shane Drohan.

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

The Rays, who trail 3-1 in the series, celebrated by mobbing Williamson beyond the first-base bag as “Walking on Sunshine” blared from the stadium speakers.

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

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

On Sunday morning, hours after Game 2, Fortes caught a flight home to Jupiter, Florida, to be present for the birth of his first child, Noa. The 29-year-old drove across the state to St. Petersburg to rejoin the Rays for Game 3, which he started. 

He went 0-for-2 during his only World Series at-bats so far but showed off his arm with a strong strike to nail Garrett Mitchell trying to steal second base.

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

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