Texas-sized win
Congratulations to Bruce Bochy and his Texas Rangers, who blew the AL West on the last day of the season, and then geared up for a long, wild ride to their maiden title. And that concludes our live World Series coverage. We’ll have more to from the Fall Classic, but for now, wherever you are, thanks for sticking with us, and good morning, good evening or good night!
Updated
In case you missed it…
Here’s a look at the moment Texas broke a 52-year title drought.
A moment 52 seasons in the making. #WentAndTookIt pic.twitter.com/UnBLCknUpw
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) November 2, 2023
Winning it all
Arizona won just 84 games before this stunning run to a Fall Classic, but they were no match for Texas. Jolted by Corey Seager, on his way to a second MVP, bolstered by a beleaguered bullpen that came together just in time, with a juggernaut offense and hurler Nathan Eovaldi, who once again delivered in a clincher. The Rangers were for real and tied together by Bruce Bochy, who will now be mentioned along with the greatest managers of all-time, if he wasn’t already.
Celebrations are always less fun on the road, but Texas come together and celebrate a moment in the making for more than five decades, six if you count the Rangers stint in Washington DC as the Senators. Now they await the trophy presentation.
Updated
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, Final
Marte strikes out! The Texas Rangers have won their first World Series in franchise history!
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 9th
Carroll pops up behind the plate – Heim has it, that’s out number two!
Texas is an out away!
Updated
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 9th
Sborz is STILL in there, facing Perdomo, who is caught lopoking at a breaking ball!
One down! Here’s Carroll.
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, top of 9th
Carter waves at a fastball and a four-run ninth inning is complete. They’re covering the Rangers lockers with plastic and wheeling in the hooch. It’s that time.
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, top of 9th
Seager hits a check swing single to the left side of the infield as Sewald continues to leak. “Let’s go Rangers” can now be heard at Chase Field, their fans three outs away from a historic World Series victory, capping a playoff run that features an 11-0 road record.
HOME RUN! Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, top of 9th
Semien whacks a deep fly ball to right field. It’s back, up and over the wall! A two-run home run for Texas as their dugout erupts, while the Arizona crowd is muted!
Rangers 3-0 Diamondbacks, top of 9th
And now we get into the Bruce Bochy is a genius talk. Two years after the team loses 100+ games, Bochy, who came out of retirement to manage this club, is three outs away from becoming the third manager to win a title in both leagues, and a fourth World Series ring.
Jankowski grounds out. Two down.
RUNS! Rangers 3-0 Diamondbacks, top of 9th
Heim swings and it’s a base hit to center – and it gets by Carroll! The ball is heading to the wall! Two runs are coming home for Texas who take a 3-0 lead! Stunning!
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 9th
Low is ahead 2-0.
Emanuel Rivera is in for Longoria at third base.
Now Lowe has an opposite field base hit to right field and Texas are in business. Two on, nobody out, and Arizona badly need a double play.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 9th
This may be the last inning of the 2023 baseball season. Texas comes to bat here looking for the proverbial insurance run, or even better, runs.
D-backs closer Paul Sewald is in to try and hold the fort, but Jung starts the ninth with a base hit to center field! So trouble already with Lowe coming to bat with the leadoff runner on.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 8th
Smith calls for time and takes a breath.
Here’s the 2-2: taken strike three! It’s a backdoor slider! Side retired!
Texas has three more outs to get!
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 8th
Foul ball, it’s still 2-2.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 8th
Smith barely lays off a ball in the dirt to even the count. That was close!
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 8th
Fastball up and away, swing and a foul ball. It’s 1-2.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 8th
It’s 1-1 to Smith in this vital at-bat.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 8th
Sborz blows it by Pham! Strike three!
Now Gurriel quickly grounds out to short, that’s two outs!
Time is running out for Arizona, and here’s Thomas, who has four playoff homers to his name. Yes, he’s been good, and here he lines a pitch that passes Sborz and heads to center field.
So Thomas has to try and steal second for sure. Pitching coach Mike Maddux is coming out to chat with Sborz, who is going to face Pavin Smith. he’s pinch hitting for Evan Longoria. This may be the last game of Longoria’s career…but that’s a conversation for a another time.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 8th
Sborz, a plus five ERA in the regular season, and dominant in the postseason, is still in the ballgame, facing Tommy Pham. He’s behind 3-0 to the extremely interesting Pham before dealing a strike. Now Pham swings, foul. Full count…
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th
Broken bat slow roller to shortstop – Perdomo has it, fires to first, side retired!
The Rangers leave the bases loaded, and the lead remains a single, lone run.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th
It’s a tense time for fans of these two teams. Jung is down 1-2 as the fans wave rusty red towels in support of their team, which is trying to hang on here. It’s 2-2 to Jung.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th
Breaking ball, swing and a miss! Carter is retired! Huge out right here.
Now it’s up to Jung with the bases loaded.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th
Carter looks at strike two. The count is even at two.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th
Bases loaded and Carter is ahead 2-0 before Ginkel fires a strike down the middle. It’s 2-1.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th
Seager looks at ball four, low and away, so now Arizona take their chances with Carter. The D-backs are sticking with Ginkel.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th
Now it’s 3-2 to Seager!
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th
He takes a ball and then watches a fastball high to even the count. Huge moment here.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th
Seager is behind 0-2! How will it end?
Updated
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th
Semien lines a base hit to right! So now it’s first and second with Corey Seager coming up! What do you do here? The guy has six home runs this postseason, three this World Series. You have to pitch to him, which seems crazy to do. There’s a chat on the mound to try and figure out a decent strategy here – there is none. Gulp.
Xing in…
If you want incontrovertible proof that pitching wins are garbage "stats," look that Gallen is in line for a loss now basically because Arizona's offense quiet-quit on him. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) November 2, 2023
I said it earlier and I’m sticking with it. Life is cruel.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th
Taveras lays down a bunt! Ginkel charges but leaves it for Longoria who has just enough time to get the runner – tough play, difficult out. Here is Jankowski.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 7th
Walker hits a soft liner to center field and yet another runner is stranded by Arizona.
If you’re a Texas fan, you’re counting outs and crossing your fingers. Could tonight finally be the night?
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 7th
Walker has a walk, single and a stolen base tonight, and now, his team needs him more than ever to connect and get this run home.
He’s ahead 2-0 before fouling off a high fastball. It’s 1-2.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 7th
Aroldis is an intimidating presence on the mound. He can still hit three digits and can still melt down as good as anyone. But not yet – Moreno waves at hot buttered popcorn. Two outs. Here’s Walker, who won’t face Chapman. Bruce Bochy is out to get the Cuban.
Josh Sborz, the right handed reliever is on his way in to face the D-backs slugger.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 7th
Here’s the big horse, Aroldis Chapman. He gets Carroll to fly out to right, but walks Marte. Now he faces Moreno with a one out runner on.
The Lines
Eovaldi
6IP 5H 0R 0ER 5K 5BB 0HR
Fabulous outing for Eovaldi who tempted fate but never got bitten.
Gallen
6.1IP 3H 1R 1ER 6K 1BB 0HR
He was fantastic, until getting hit in the seventh inning. Still, he should have left in the lead. Can’t say a thing bad about Gallen tonight. He gave Arizona six no-hit innings and more than they could have asked for.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 7th
Heim pops it up behind home plate, and the ball eventually falls harmlessly into the glove of catcher Moreno. Side retired! Ginkel does his job and limits the damage.
Now, can Arizona scratch out a run against this Rangers bullpen?
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 7th
Ginkel has been reliable for Arizona, pitching in nine games this postseason without allowing a single run.
Now he faces Lowe with runners at the corners and falls behind 2-1. Lowe grounds to first, Walker fires home, and they’ve got Carter hung up in a run down between third base and home!
After a series of throws, Carter is tagged out, and that will leave the inning for Heim with runners on first and second.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 7th
Gallen is ahead 0-2 on Jung. Then he throws high heat and Jung chases – that’s one down.
Here comes D-backs manager Torey Lovullo to come and get Gallen. He was fantastic for six innings, but has buckled here in the seventh and leaves behind a run.
Life is cruel.
Here comes Kevin Ginkel to try and hold Texas to a single run. He’ll face Lowe when we resume.
Updated
RUN! Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 7th
Bing, bang, boom! Garver, a base hit up the middle! Seager scores, Carter to third! The Rangers have three straight knocks and they’ve cut Arizona here in the seventh, taking the lead!
Updated
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 7th
Corey Seager directs an outside pitch to the unoccupied portion of the left side of the infield, and the no-hit bid is over!
And there’s more! Carter has a base hit to right field – Carroll cuts it off before it can get to the wall, but he’s in with a double, Seager moves to third, and suddenly the Rangers have runners on second and third with nobody out! Wow!
A meeting at the mound with Mitch Garver coming to the plate!
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 6th
Eovaldi is approaching 100 pitches, many of which have been quite eventful.
Here he gets Perdomo looking on his 97th offering! Strike three!
He’s through six scoreless innings, somehow, some way. I guess this is what they call a “gutsy” performance from a guy who didn’t have it all, but had just enough. Fantastic effort.
To the seventh inning!
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 6th
Longoria waves at a splitter away, that’s two down for Eovaldi, and this is much more straightforward from the Rangers hurler.
the shortstop Perdomo is stepping into the box.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 6th
Thomas comes to the plate and falls behind to Eovaldi, 1-2. Then he chops back to the pitcher, who tosses to first for the first out.
Longoria is next.
Xing in…
Rooting for the Diamondbacks because I want to liveblog Game 6. It's kind of like gambling except if you win the bet you have to go to work. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) November 2, 2023
I’m with Hunter for the same reason. He deserves one final live bash on the keys!
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 6th
Semien is down in the count, 1-2. The crowed stands in salute of Gallen, who winds up and fires – Semien lines the changeup foul.
Another pitch, this time a breaking ball in the dirt, evening the count.
One more pitch, this time grounded off the ankle of Semien – ouch!
Now Semien rears back, swings and misses, strike three! Gallen has another scoreless, hitless frame in the books.
What a performance – 72 pitches to get through six innings!
By the way, just putting this out there: a “Maddux” is a no-hitter with under 100 pitches thrown. And yes, I can write that.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 6th
No score heading into the sixth, somehow.
Taveras hits the first pitch to second base where Marte is waiting. He takes his time, tosses to first and that’s an easy out. Gallen is locked in, obviously. Here’s Jankowski, who is not Garcia. He pops out top left field for the second out. Top of the lineup now for Texas – that means Marcus Semien, who hits against Gallen for a third time. Can he figure him out?
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 5th
Gurriel hits the first pitch to short – it’s routine for Seager who snares it and fires to first for the out! Side retired!
How can this be happening? Nine Diamondbacks have been left, the team is 0-9 with runners in scoring position. Arizona should be cruising, but Eovaldi is through five unscathed!
Really, it’s outrageous.
Updated
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 5th
Ball four – the bases are loaded! Heim heads to the mound for a chat with pitching coach Mike Maddux and Eovaldi. Gurriel heads to the plate in an absolutely massive spot here.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 5th
On the 0-1 pitch Walker takes second. So a knock here could put two on the board for the home team.
The count is now 2-1, Pham is ahead. Now the next pitch is away, 3-1! How will it end?
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 5th
Eovaldi paints the corner of the zone, away. Moreno watches it. Strike three.
Walker to the plate and he lines a ball to right, that’s a base hit! Marte is on his way to third, and Arizona are threatening yet again! Runners at the corners, and two down for the hardest working man in baseball, Tommy Pham.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 5th
Full count to Marte. Eovaldi takes a breather and gets set. He deals, inside ball four!
So yet another baserunner for Arizona and here comes Moreno, who had a sac bunt last time up. He’ll be swinging for something more here, but he’s behind 1-2 to Eovaldi.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 5th
Carroll, leading off an inning for a third time tonight quickly skies to right for the first out. Marte is next and is ahead 3-1 on Eovaldi.
Xing in…
@LengelDavid - hi, hope you are well David. Whisper it but given the current pitch counts, could we see a starting pitcher work beyond 6th innings tonight? If Gallen is pulled next innings I might just switch off in disgust!
— carl taylor (@punkytype) November 2, 2023
I would switch off with you, but then who would do this?
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 5th
Heim goes for a ball in the dirt and that’s strike three! Side retired! One baserunner for Texas but no damage. Gallen has four strikeouts, has allowed no hits, and made just 59 pitches through five innings. What more could you ask for?
Maybe a hit with a runner in scoring position if you’re Arizona…
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 5th
Heim fouls off a 1-2 pitch before Gallen, pitching from the stretch, deals again. Foul ball back. So we’ll do it again.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 5th
Nathaniel Lowe becomes the first Rangers runner of the night after drawing a walk. So Heim will bat with a two-out runner on first. Quickly he’s behind 0-2 to Gallen.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 5th
Jung hits a 1-2 pitch to the gap in deep right-center: Thomas is racing back, he’s to the right of the 413 sign! Thomas, running, reaches up, and snatches the ball out of the air for a fabulous catch! Wow – he covered a lot of ground there!
Two loud outs, but no damage to Gallen who retires his 14th consecutive batter.
Lowe is next.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 5th
Mitch Garver is at the plate for Texas to start the Rangers 5th. He waves at a curve ball in the dirt and now the count is 1-2. Same pitch again and this time Garver lays off Gallen’s offering. Then Garver hangs in, lining a pitch to right, out of play, and then does it again.
It’s 2-2. Garver is fighting Gallen, fouling another ball off. It’s probably the best at-bat anyone has had tonight against Gallen. Now Garver swings and lifts a ball, deep to left, right in front of the 374 sign, Gurriel is under it and makes the catch! A little exhale from the home crowd as the Cuban gives it a ride.
One out for Jung, rhymes with tongue.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 4th
It’s a full count to Perdomo. The left-handed shortstop looks at a fastball, right on the edge of the strike zone – that’s a perfect pitch and Perdomo watches it go by. Strike three! That’s six left on by Arizona, and, you know, I’m sensing a trend here.
Updated
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 4th
Longoria hits a ball that’s a little bit more than a blooper to right field, right where they ain’t, and with that, Evan cruises into second with a two out double. So yet another scoring chance here for Arizona, and here’s Perdomo, who just made a great play in the field last half inning. Can he come through with that clutch hit Arizona needs so badly? He’s ahead 2-1…
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 4th
It’s 1-2 to Thomas who fouls his fourth pitch off of his foot. Eovaldi wipes his brow as Thomas calls for time before stepping in. Thomas hits a little chopper to second, which is easily handled easily by Semien. Two easy outs, here’s Longoria.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 4th
Arizona are 0-7 with runners in scoring position, says FOX TV in the US. Gurriel leads off for Eovaldi, who somehow has a zero on he board thus far. He pops to left field, where it’s easy for Carter. Finally, Eovaldi gets the leadoff man, making his life a little bit easier. Here’s Thomas, who has more than a little pop in his bat.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 4th
Carter whiffs at the curve ball and as disappointing as Arizona’s offensive innings have ended, Gallen is keeping spirits high with his mastery of the Texas lineup – 12 up and 12 down, and on just 35 pitches!
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 4th
Semien swings and hits a line drive to short – Perdomo dives to his right, full extension, he has it on a hop! He throws over to first to get the runner as Walker makes a tough grab! What a play! Tremendous defense there in a high-stakes at-bat against the Texas slugger.
Now Seager ground out to second on the first pitch, and just like that, two down for Gallen!
Carter is at the plate and works a 3-2 count…
Christian Walker
He’s got to at the very least, lift a fly ball to the outfield and get a runner home there. Walker is your biggest bat, and he’s been mediocre a best this series. Can’t have that in a big spot if you want to win World Series games. No good.
Updated
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 3rd
Walker fouls off a 2-2 pitch. The crowds gets loud and Walker waves at a fastball! Eaovaldi said, “here it is, hit it” and Walker comes up empty.
Now Pham grounds out to short, inning over! Lightning strikes thrice and Eovaldi is out of his biggest jam yet! This is catastrophic for Arizona who have left five runners on base through three innings. Gulp.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 3rd
Moreno lays down a bunt! It moves the runners to second and third base - it’s Moreno’s first sac bunt of the season and what timing. I’m a sucker for small ball, so I love this, even if the pencil-necked sabermatricians probably don’t.
Here’s the big man, Christian Walker, coming to bat with the old golden opportunity.
Updated
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 3rd
Will Carroll steal like he did back in the first inning? It’s 2-0 to Marte, and on ball three, Heim fires to first to try and nab Carroll who gets back in time.
Now Eovaldi misses on 3-0, and that’s a walk! Two on and nobody out for Moreno, and yet another opportunity for the D-backs. Big pitches coming up for Texas.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 3rd
Carroll leads off for the second time this game, drawing a walk in his first at-bat, and here, he hits a single up the middle. So now for the third straight inning, Arizona has the leadoff man on. Can they turn it into a run this time?
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 3rd
Leody Taveras, with just a .609 OPS this series, hits a 2-2 pitch out to center field: Thomas is there a few steps shy of the warming track and that’s out number two.
Now Jankowski hits the first pitch he sees to shortstop, routine for Perdomo, and that’s a seven-pitch inning for Gallen who is perfect through three.
Gallen is doing his job, but Arizona has squandered two innings of opportunities. If your a D-backs fan, it makes you squirm some.
Updated
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 3rd
Gallen deals a four-seam fastball to Heim, who grounds out to second. That was easy, just one pitch.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 2nd
It’s 2-2 to Perdomo and Eovaldi misses high and in, setting up a full count. Perdomo lifts a fly ball to right field, Jankowski takes a few steps in and makes the catch. So Eovaldi feels a few raindrops but there’s no flood in these first two innings. Arizona will remember these first frames if they go on to lose a tight game to Texas tonight.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 2nd
Longoria hits a screamer to left – Carter moves in and makes a sliding catch! That’s a huge defensive play that may have saved a run! So after that loud out, Eovaldi again is close to getting out of a mini jam once again. Perdomo is at the plate.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 2nd
Eovaldi is ahead 1-2 on Thomas, before making a move over to first: Gurriel slides back in safe. Then Thomas hits a grounder to second, Semien takes the out at first, and now Gurriel moves over to second. A productive out. Here’s Longoria with a runner in scoring position.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 2nd
Now the Cuban, Lourdes Gurriel Jr steps in against Eovaldi, who is quickly ahead 0-2. But Gurriel hits his third pitch right up the middle for a base hit! So for the second inning in a row, Arizona has the leadoff runner on.
Here’s Thomas, who has been a force for the young D-backs.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 2nd
Gallen is on it – he hurls a breaking ball in the dirt, and Mitch Garver waves. That’s two strikeouts so far, and now He’s got Josh Jung, rhymes with tongue.
And Gallen makes quick work of the third baseman, who grounds to short – routine for Perdomo who fires to first – two outs.
Then Lowe grounds out to second, and Gallen looks got in his first go around at the Adolis Garcia-less Rangers lineup. Six up, six down.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 1st
Pham hits a ground ball to short, Seager uses his backhand to make the grab, fires to second to get Walker, side retired. That’s a big chance gone by for Arizona to take an early lead. Instead, we’re scoreless after an inning of play.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 1st
Walker is hanging in there, fouling a 2-2 fastball out of play. Now he lays off a slider away. Great discipline. What can he do on 3-2? He takes high, ball four!
So runners at the corners with Tommy Pham, the hardest working man in baseball, at the plate, in a big spot for Arizona.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 1st
Walker waves at high heat, and it’s 1-2. Eovaldi is a strike away from getting out of this little jam.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 1st
A hard ground ball to shortstop – Seager is a few steps in, has it, checks the runner, holds=ing Carroll at third, and throws to first for the second out. So now Walker has to come through if the home team is going to jump out to an early lead.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 1st
Marte hits a slow roller to second – it’s easy for Semien who fires to first for the first out. Carroll moves over to third on the play, which is how good baseball is played. Can Arizona get this important lead run home? Here’s Moreno.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 1st
Carroll is off right away and he steals second, beating Heim’s throw by a step.
Marte is in a 0-2 hole with a runner on second.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 1st
Here’s Eovaldi, who as mentioned earlier, was hit quite hard in Game 1 by these D-backs. Carroll hasn’t hit much at all in this series, which is un-Carroll like.
He draws a four-pitch walk, a good start for the home team. Marte is next.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 1st
Gallen is ahead again, this time with Carter at the plate. The left fielder calls time before waving at a curve ball in the dirt – strike three! That’s a smooth 13-pitch inning for Gallen, and that makes a change for the D-backs who have given up a haul of first inning runs at Chase Field.
Corbin Carroll will lead off for Arizona as they come to bat.
Updated
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 1st
Gallen shows no fear and gets ahead in the count 1-2. The crowd amps up some before Seager lines a ball foul. Then Seager swings at the next pitch and grounds hard to shortstop Perdomo. He fires over to first and that’s two uneventful outs for Gallen. Carter is next.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 1st
On a two one fastball, Semien pops out to shallow center – it’s easy for Thomas who puts it away easily and that’s the first out.
Here comes Corey Seager, who should see zero strikes, if they’re smart.
First pitch
Will Bruce Bochy become the sixth manager to win four World Series titles tonight? We’re about tho find out.
It’s 5:07PM in Phoenix, Arizona and Zac Gallen deals to Marcus Semien, a ball outside, and we’re off!
Two minute warning
I swear this is gonna happen. Stand by for World Series baseball!
National Anthem
Unfortunately, Flavor Flav is not singing the national anthem. Instead it’s Dinah Jane of the award-winning pop powerhouse Fifth Harmony, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. It’s not her first rodeo, she’s done this before, and it went a little something like this.
Dinah is solid, not spectacular, with no extra-curricular flair, which is fine. She gets a 7.5 out of 10, which is more than respectable.
Updated
Diamondbacks Lineup
1. Corbin Carroll, RF
2. Ketel Marte, 2B
3. Gabriel Moreno, C
4. Christian Walker, 1B
5. Tommy Pham, DH
6. Lourdes Gurriel, LF
7. Alek Thomas, CF
8. Evan Longoria, DH
9. Geraldo Perdomo, SS
Carroll has struggled this World Series, with a .596 OPS. Now would be a good time to snap out of it.
Rangers Lineup
1. Marcus Semien, 2B
2. Corey Seager, SS
3. Evan Carter, LF
4. Mitch Garver, DH
5. Josh Jung, 3B
6. Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
7. Jonah Heim, C
8. Leody Taveras, CF
9. Travis Jankowski, RF
In his first two at-bats as the starting right fielder, the veteran part-timer had two hits, drove in two rund and also scored twice. So obviously, the D-backs game plan coming into Game 5 is to try to stop Travis Jankowski.
Xing in…
@LengelDavid Good morning, David. What do you reckon? Beforehand I had Rangers 4-1 but I'm hoping I'm wrong. Despite the one-sided nature of some of the games, it's been compelling viewing and frankly I want more of it.
— Richard #FBPE Woods (@gasheadforever) November 1, 2023
A couple of blowouts, a couple of good games, I think we really need tonight to come through and ratchet this series up a bit. I know the ratings in the US were pretty abysmal, FOX TV here will want another game to justify the investment, and I’m with you, I’d like one as well. Plus I’d like to see the Rangers sweat a little bit!
Must win?
Considering that Eovaldi has a 3.30 postseason ERA in 16 postseason appearances, it’s impressive that Arizona was able to chase the hurler, scoring five runs in his 4.2 innings pitched. It’s by far his worst playoff performance, and it took place in the friendly confines of Globe Life Field. Now Eovaldi is set to face the same team on the road. Should Rangers fans worry? His numbers in clinching games suggest maybe not so much.
Will Nathan Eovaldi get the job done tomorrow? pic.twitter.com/ud0lUV1vbs
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 1, 2023
I’ll tell you what though: should Arizona manage to squeak by Texas tonight, they have the late-blooming starter Merrill Kelly on the mound for a would-be Game 6, and he held the Rangers to just a single run over seven innings in Game 2. So all that said, if I am a Rangers fan, and even if they have three cracks to win this thing, with your playoff ace on the mound tonight, this is the one to get. All the pressure in the world will be on Texas if they have to go home for another game. For a team up 3-1, this is as close to a must in game as you’re going to get.
The roof, the roof, the roof is...
…not on fire, but it is open, because it’s 78 and sunny in Phoenix at game time. That’s 25/26 Celsius if you’re keeping score at home, and your home is outside the United States, select Caribbean nations, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Liberia.
Updated
Soler Power
In other news…
Braves fans will tell you that Jorge Soler’s biggest hit was his World Series Game 6 three-run blast in Houston against the Astros. But according to one fan, Soler had an even bigger hit prior to Game 3 in Atlanta’s Truist Park. That’s when Mayra Norris was hit by a ball that Soler threw into the stands as a souvenir. And now the fan is suing Soler for damages!
“Defendant Soler did not softly toss the ball into the stands to the crowd,” the lawsuit read. “He threw the ball overhand, with a great deal of speed and force. Defendant Soler threw the ball with such force and speed that it hit Ms. Norris directly in her right eye causing extensive and excruciating injury to her right eye.”More specifically, Norris suffered multiple fractures, right eye edema and an infra-orbital abrasion, all of which require long-term care.
Soler fled the scene of the “crime” after the World Series, signing a long term deal with Miami, making his first all-star team this season while finishing with 36 homers.
Updated
Corey Seager!
I mentioned the slugging Rangers shortstop earlier because he hit yet another home run last night, which was his sixth this postseason. Overall, he has 19 career playoff home runs, passing none other than Reggie Jackson, the Hall-of Fame outfielder who knows a little something about performing in October. Now you may be thinking, with the modern playoff format, I bet Seager played way more postseason games than Jackson. Well, think again! Seager hit 19 in 77 games, and Jackson hit 18 in, amazingly, 77 games. Seager, currently tied for sixth in all-time postseason homers, will fall into a three-way tie for fourth with Derek Jeter and Kyle Schwarber with his next blast.
Updated
Hola!
Hi folks, welcome to our coverage of Game 5 of the 2023 World Series! There are quite a few questions to be answered tonight, the most important being: will the Texas Rangers be flying home after the game for the very first title celebration in the history of the franchise? Or instead, gearing up for a Globe Life Field Game 6 v Arizona on Friday.
Fans of the Rangers, who have been waiting since 1972 for that elusive World Series championship, would presumably like to wrap it up tonight, since many of their loyals are still smarting from 2011 when they came within a single strike of winning it all v St Louis before their epic collapse. Overall, it’s been a 62-year title drought, going back to the franchises first season in 1961 when they were the Washington Senators. That dryspell ranks second only to Cleveland, who hasn’t popped a Fall Classic cork since way back in 1948. So there is history to be made, and the chances are Texas will make it, and if not tonight, soon enough. Teams with a 3-1 World Series lead have won 85.7% of the time. The last team to upend the trend was the 2016 Chicago Cubs, who broke their drought of over 100 years by famously turning the tables on Cleveland.
So we have ourselves an elimination game, something that seemed a little bit less improbable when the Rangers lost one of their offensive cogs to injury in Game 3. Adolis Garcia, the ALCS MVP and one of the most entertaining players in all of baseball, strained his left oblique and is down for the season. Also in that game, the frail Max Scherzer injured his back, and so the Rangers potential Game 7 starter is also on the shelf. None of this seemed to bother Texas who came out and thrashed Arizona in Game 4 11-7, thanks in part to Corey Seager’s third dinger in the four Fall Classic games - more on that later.
The Rangers are in the driver’s seat, especially with starter Nathan Eovaldi taking the ball for Texas, even if Arizona became the rare team to touch up this playoff ace in Game 1. That said, if you’re a fan of the Diamondbacks, Zach Gallen is the guy you want on the hill, though he will have to be better than he was in the series opener when he gave up three runs in five innings in a game Arizona absolutely should have won.
Game 5 is coming up shortly, so get your popcorn ready and if you fancy it, join the show! Tweet (X?) over your innermost thoughts to @LengelDavid. Or, if you prefer, hit me up on email. Stand by and stick with us!
David will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look back at the Rangers’ Game 4 win.
