The Texas Rangers needed a small miracle late in the game and their best hitters came together to earn a 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night at Globe Life Field.
The sold-out arena crowd of 42,472, a record for the venue, exploded when Corey Seager lofted a ball into the right-field bleachers in the ninth inning, scoring two tying runs.
The crowd already lined up cheered again when Adolis Garcia hit the long ball in the 11th inning. It’s the eighth series for Cuban on Fire. See above.
The Rangers hadn’t scored since the third inning, with the Diamondbacks’ relief making the difference. These are details that beat Arizona, especially on the mound.
Pitchers allowed 10 walks. In the third half, one point was awarded due to a free pass from Mitch Garver. This is also how Leody Taveras came to the trails before returning to the bench at the Seager circuit.
For the Rangers, Garcia had already made his presence felt in the first inning with a single hit. Evan Carter also hit a double to give Texas a two-run lead.
Comfortable outdoors
As before in these playoffs, the D-Backs played spoilsport for their opponents, but this time it wasn’t enough. Torey Lovullo’s men weren’t intimidated by the Texas stadium after winning their last two games at the hostile home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
On the contrary, Arizona’s best hitters loved to put on a show. National League Championship Series MVP Ketel Marte scored in his 17th consecutive game, tying a Major League Baseball record. His double in the fifth inning even brought in a run.
Corbin Carroll was another who found a way to contribute in the third inning. His three-pointer allowed Alek Thomas and Evan Longoria to cross the plate, tying the game at 2-2.
Against the Phillies, Tommy Pham was more discreet and almost became one of the heroes of the “D-Backs” in this encounter. His third home run of the series, in the fourth, gave his team its fourth point.
The 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush, took charge of the ceremonial launch. This is his fourth time playing in the World Series, including the Rangers’ appearances in the 2010 and 2011 Finals. He was also at Yankee Stadium for the 2001 championship, won by the Diamondbacks.
Game 2 will also be played in Arlington on Saturday.