The Texas Rangers are just a win away from lifting their first World Series title after an 11-7 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks gave them a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The Rangers raced into what proved to be an unassailable lead with five runs in both the second and third innings.
The Diamondbacks fought back in front of their home crowd in Arizona but it was not enough to claw back the deficit and level the series.
The sides meet again in Arizona on Wednesday night with victory sufficient to give the Rangers, World Series runners-up in 2010 and 2011, a maiden title.
Spanish golfer Jon Rahm, a graduate of Arizona State University, was on hand to throw the first pitch in the Green Jacket he won for winning the Masters. Hopes it might help ignite a home victory were quickly eroded.
Following the win, Texas skipper Bruce Bochy said: “I couldn’t be more proud of these guys. How they bounce back, how resilient they are, how they’ve dealt with things, whether it’s losing streaks, whether it’s injuries.”
Arizona will be hoping to become only the seventh side in World Series history to bounce back from a 3-1 deficit to win the World Series.
And manager Torey Lovullo said: “It’s an all-in mentality. And the team has done it every time I can remember. They’ve never let one another down. And I expect that to be the same.”
