The Rangers and the Diamondbacks are competing in the World Series starting October 27. Game 1 is in Arlington Texas, starting at the Rangers’ home field. Both of these teams were wildcard teams, meaning they had to go through 3 rounds of the playoffs before they even got to the World Series, proving they deserve to be there.
In game one, the Rangers got out to a hot start taking the lead in an absolute thriller of a game. The Rangers won 6-5 in the 11th inning off of a walk off home run from ALCS MVP Adolis Garcia to end the game. Nate Eovaldi was very shaky in his start for the Rangers, allowing 5 runs in 4.2 innings of work. He did strike out 8 batters though. The bullpen came in and dominated, not allowing a single run the rest of the game. After game one ,Rangers led 1-0.
I don’t know what happened to the Diamondbacks after that loss, but they came back and absolutely destroyed the Rangers by a score of 9-1 in game two. History was made in this game. Second baseman for the D-Backs Ketel Marte extended his postseason hitting streak to 18 straight games. He’s the first player ever to accomplish that feat to start their postseason career. Tommy Pham had a four hit game and was able to make an attempt to have the first ever World Series five hit game. Instead, he opted to give his at-bat to a bench player because it was a blowout win and he hadn’t gotten an at-bat the whole postseason. Class act from Tommy Pham. Gabriel Moreno hit a homerun in the top of the 4th inning. Mitch Garver also got a homerun in the bottom of the 5th to bring the game 2-1. The D-Backs then rallied on a bunch of singles and doubles for the rest of the game ending with 9 runs and 16 hits. The series was tied 1-1.
Game Three was the first in Phoenix and first home stand for the Dbacks this postseason. This was a very boring game with a final score of 3-1, with help from a two run home run from Corey Seager. The rest of the game had very little hitting and scoring; a very good day to be a pitcher. Rangers led the series 2-1.
Game Four was a high scoring affair with a score of 11-7. The Rangers tacked on ten runs in the first three innings with homeruns by Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Jonah Heim for the Rangers. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., tacked on the only bomb of the night for the DBacks. Andrew Heaney pitched five innings of one run ball for the Rangers and Ryne Nelson pitched a decent three runs over five innings with six K’s. Final score 11-7 Rangers. Rangers led series 3-1.
Game Five was very quiet until the 7th inning when Mitch Garver knocked in a RBI single to take the lead. That was all the Rangers needed as their pitching staff shut out the DBacks in the series clincher to win the World Series. Marcus Semien hit a two run shot in the top of the ninth to add some insurance runs to secure the Series Win. Series over 4-1, Rangers win the 2023 World Series for the first time in team history.
Overall, this World Series was not expected whatsoever and gave us a competitive series between a young team with a bright future and a current juggernaut.
