The 119th World Series
Yesterday marked the 119th renewal of the World Series featuring the American League Champion Texas Rangers and the National League Champion Arizona Diamondbacks. The Arizona Diamondbacks won Game 2 of the Fall Classic to even the series one game a piece. Gabriel Moreno opened the scoring with a solo home run to left-center field in the fourth inning. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. followed with a two-out RBI single to score Tommy Pham and make it 2-0. Evan Longoria made it 3-1 with an RBI single in the seventh inning, and came around to score on Corbin Carroll’s RBI single to make it 4-1. Arizona loaded the bases in the eighth inning, cashing in for three runs on a two-run single by Ketel Marte and an RBI single by Corbin Carroll. Emmanuel Rivera singled home two more runs in the ninth inning to make it 9-1.
Diamondbacks Take Game 2
The Arizona Diamondbacks won Game 2 by a final score of 9-1. With the win, it is the fourth straight World Series that has started out 1-1. The 2019 Houston Astros are the last team to take a 2-0 World Series lead after they took Games 1 and 2 of the 2019 World Series over the Washington Nationals.
- It is the 11th consecutive World Series that will not end in a sweep, with the last sweep coming by the San Francisco Giants in the 2012 World Series over the Detroit Tigers.
- 11 consecutive World Series without a sweep is the second-longest stretch in World Series history, behind a 12-year streak from 1977- 1988 which saw no teams record a World Series sweep.
Pop Time
Catcher Gabriel Moreno (1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB) opened the scoring with a solo home run in the fourth inning. With his fourth home run of this Postseason, Moreno became the seventh player in MLB history to hit four homers in a single Postseason as a catcher. Other players with four homers as a catcher include: Mike Zunino of the 2020 Tampa Bay Rays; Salvador Perez of the 2015 Kansas City Royals; Jason Varitek of the 2003 Boston Red Sox; HOF Mike Piazza of the 2000 New York Mets; and Gene Tenace of the 1972 Oakland Athletics. Sandy Alomar Jr. of the 1997 Cleveland Indians is the only player to record five home runs as a catcher in a single Postseason.
Big Pham
Designated hitter Tommy Pham (4-for-4, 2 2B, 2R) racked up four hits, including two doubles. It was his ninth career Postseason multi-hit game and third of this Postseason. Pham became the sixth player in Postseason history with at least two four-hit games in a single Postseason. He joins: Kiké Hernández of the 2021 Boston Red Sox; Eddie Rosario of the 2021 Atlanta Braves; Albert Pujols of the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals; George Brett of the 1985 Kansas City Royals; and Robin Yount of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers. Of the group, Pujols is the only player to record three four-hit games within a single Postseason. He became the third Diamondbacks’ player with multiple extra-base hits in a World Series game, joining: Luis Gonzalez (2001, Game 1) and Matt Williams (2001, Game 6). Pham is one of four Diamondbacks’ players to record at least three hits in two games of a single Postseason joining: Tony Womack, Steve Finley and Craig Counsell.
It’s Been a While
Center fielder Alek Thomas (2-for-5, 1 2B, 1 R) picked up two hits and a run scored for the second straight game. Thomas became the sixth player in MLB history to record multiple hits and score a run in each of his first two World Series games. He joins: Monte Irvin (1951 NYG); Billy Johnson (1943 NYY); Jimmie Foxx (1929 PHA); Bill Terry (1924 NYG); and Jesse Barnes (1921 NYG). No player has ever recorded multiple hits and a run scored in each of their first three career World Series games.
Marte Keeps Marching
Second baseman Ketel Marte (1-for-5, 2 RBI) drove home two runs with an RBI single in the eighth inning to exted his Postseason hitting streak to 18 games. His 18-game hitting streak which dates back to 2017 is the longest in Postseason history, surpassing 17-game streaks by Manny Ramirez, Derek Jeter and Hank Bauer. Marte’s streak is also the longest by a player to begin his Postseason career. Marte has hit safely in each of his first 14 games this Postseason, which is the second-longest hitting streak of his career behind a 16-game regular season streak from May 16-June 4, 2022.
The Starters
Tonight’s game marked the first time both starters completed 6.0 innings in a World Series game since Justin Verlander and Stephen Strasburg in Game 2 of the 2019 World Series. Right-hander Merrill Kelly allowed one earned run on three hits with no walks and nine strikeouts over 7.0 innings. He retired the first 11 batters he faced before allowing a single to Evan Carter with two outs in the fourth inning. Kelly finished his night retiring each of his last seven batters faced after allowing a single to Josh Jung in the fifth inning. Of the Diamondbacks nine World Series games, their starting pitcher has tossed at least 7.0 innings in seven of the games. Left-hander Jordan Montgomery allowed four earned runs on nine hits with one walk and zero strikeouts over 6.0 innings. Montgomery is just the fifth Rangers’ starting pitcher (sixth ocourrance) to throw at least 6.0 innings in a World Series start. He joins: Derek Holland (8.1 IP, 2011 Game 4); Colby Lewis (6.2 IP, 2011 Game 2 & 7.2 IP, 2010 Game 3); Cliff Lee (7.0 IP, 2010 Game 5); and C.J. Wilson (6.0 IP, 2010 Game 2).
Agent Carter
Left fielder Evan Carter (1-for-3) has reached safely in each of his 14 Postseason games this year, marking the second-longest on-base streak in Rangers’ Postseason history. Elvis Andrus holds the Rangers’ record with a 15-game on-base streak during the 2010 postseason. Carter’s 14-game on -base streak to begin his Postseason career is tied with Marquis Grissom and Daniel Murphy for the third-longest streak all-time within a player’s first Postseason.
Carroll Me Home Tonight
Right fielder Corbin Carroll (2-for-5, 2 RBI) recorded his fifth multihit game of this Postseason. He has hit safely in each of his last five Postseason games, batting .364 (8-for-22) with one triple, six RBI, one walk, four runs and two stolen bases.
Get on the Board
Teams who score first this Postseason are now 29-9 (.763) and Arizona is now 7-0 when scoring first this Postseason. Combined with their Regular season record, the Diamondbacks are now 59-28 this season when scoring first. The National League is 213-116 when scoring first in World Series Games. The NL has scored first in 47.8% of 689 World Series games all-time.
Offensive Attack
Arizona recorded 16 hits in tonight’s game, marking the most in a World Series game since San Francisco collected 16 hits in Game 4 of the 2014 World Series.
Steal a Base, Steal a Record?
Teams have combined for 55 stolen bases in this year’s Postseason, the third-most for a single Postseason in MLB history. MLB set the record with 59 steals during the 1995 Postseason, followed by 56 steals during the 1999 Postseason.
Streak Snapped
Right fielder Adolis GarcÃa (0-for-3, 1 BB) snapped his seven-game hitting streak, his streak of five consecutive games with a home run, and seven consecutive games with an RBI. Other players with home runs in five straight Postseason games include Carlos Beltrán and George Springer of the Houston Astros; and Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees. Daniel Murphy of the New York Mets holds the Postseason record after he homered in six straight Postseason games from October 13-21, 2015. GarcÃa’s seven-game RBI streak is tied for the second-longest single Postseason streak with Daniel Murphy of the 2015 New York Mets and Alex Rodriguez of the 2009 New York Yankees. Ryan Howard of the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies is the only player to have eight straight Postseason games with an RBI in a single Postseason.
Thanks for Joining Us
The Rangers drew a Globe Life Field record attendance of 42,500, surpassing the previous mark of 42,472 set during Game 1 of the World Series last night.
