The 119th World Series
Today marked the 119th renewal of the World Series featuring the American League Champion Texas Rangers and the National League Champion Arizona Diamondbacks. The Fall Classic started off with a win by the Rangers. Texas jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, getting an RBI double from Evan Carter and a single by Adolis García in the first inning. Arizona answered back with three runs in the third inning, which included a two-run triple by Corbin Carroll, who later scored on a fielder’s choice to make it 3-2. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the third, Mitch Garver drew a walk to even the score, 3-3. In the fourth inning, Tommy Pham launched a solo home run out to left field to give Arizona a 4-3 lead. Ketel Marte extended the lead with an RBI double in the top of the fifth to make it 5-3. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Corey Seager launched a two-run home run to tie the game, 5-5. García launched the walk-off home run in the 11th inning to take a 6-5 win.
Free Baseball
Tonight marked the 62nd game in World Series history that went to extra-innings. Including last year’s 10-inning Game 1 between the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros, it is the first time in MLB history that Game 1 of the World Series went to extra-innings in back-to-back years. It was the first time a game went to the 11th inning since the 2018 World Series, when the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers competed in an 18-inning marathon. Overall, the American League leads in extra-inning games all time, winning 33 of the 62 extra-inning games (33-29).
Rangers Take Game 1
The Texas Rangers won Game 1 by a final score of 6-5. It is in the first time in Rangers history that Texas took Game 1 of a World Series, after losing 11-7 to San Francisco in 2010 and 3-2 in 2011 against St. Louis. It was the 17th World Series Game to end with a walk-off home run, and 62nd World Series game to end in a walk-off plate appearance.
- The winner of the first game of the World Series has gone on to win the Fall Classic 74 times (62.7%). That has been the case in 16 of the last 20 and 21 of the last 25 World Series beginning in 1997, with 2002 (San Francisco defeating Anaheim), 2009 (Philadelphia defeating New York), 2016 (Cleveland defeating Chicago), 2017 (Los Angeles defeating Houston) and 2022 (Philadelphia defeating Houston) the exceptions.
- The Rangers are 8-7 all-time in Game 1 of a Postseason Series, including 3-3 in Game 1 of a best-of-seven series overall. The Rangers are 4-0 this Postseason in Game 1 of a series.
- The Diamondbacks are 6-7 all-time in Game 1 of a Postseason Series, including 2-2 in Game 1 of a best-of-seven series overall, and 1-1 in Game 1 of the World Series (9-1 win vs. NYY in 2001). Arizona is 2-1 this Postseason in Game 1 of a series.
Walk It Off
Right fielder Adolis García ended the game with a walk-off home run to right field, marking the Rangers’ second walk-off home run in Postseason history, joining Nelson Cruz walk-off grand slam in Game 2 of the 2011 ALCS. Overall, it was the 17th World Series Game to end
with a walk-off home run, and 61st World Series game to end in a walkoff plate appearance.
It was García’s fifth consecutive game with a home run, tying the second-longest streak in Postseason history. Others 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.
RBI King
With an RBI single in the first inning, right fielder Adolis García (3- for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB) tallied his 21st RBI of this Postseason, tying David Freese of the 2011 Cardinals for the most RBI in a single Postseason. García set the record for most RBI in a single Postseason, adding his 22nd RBI on his walk-off home run in the 11th inning.
It was also García’s seventh consecutive game with an RBI. His 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. García has also hit safely in each of his last seven games, which is tied with Jonah Heim for the fourth-longest hitting streak in Rangers’ Postseason history.
Carroll Me Home Tonight
Outfielder Corbin Carroll (1-for-5, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 R) hit a two-RBI triple in the third inning and came around to score to give Arizona a 3-2 lead. He became the first player with a triple and two RBI in his first career World Series game since Curt Flood of the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals. Overall, Carroll is the eighth player in MLB history with a triple and two RBI in his first career World Series game joining: Flood; Vic Wertz (1954 with CLE); Bill Nicholson (1945 with CHI); Marty Marion (1942 with STL); Dutch Ruether (1919 with CIN); George Whitted (1914 with BSN); and Wally Schang (1913 with PHA).
Marte Keeps Marching
Second baseman Ketel Marte (1-for-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 SB) picked up an RBI double in the fifth inning to exted his Postseason hitting streak to 17 games. His 17-game hitting streak which dates back to 2017 is the longest to begin a Postseason career. Overall, it is tied with Manny Ramirez, Derek Jeter and Hank Bauer for the longest Postseason hitting streak.
Marte has hit safely in each of his first 13 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.
I Walk the Line
Shortstop Corey Seager (1-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 3 R) launched a two-run game-tying home run in the ninth inning. It was just the sixth time in World Series history that game-tying home run occurred in the bottom of the ninth inning, with the last coming from Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals in 2015. Three of the six home runs have been hit off of Arizona pitchers, with Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius going deep for the Yankees in the ninth inning in Games 4 and 5 respectively of the 2001 World Series.
Per Sarah Langs, Seager’s 17 career Postseason home runs are now third-most by a shortstop in MLB history behind Derek Jeter (20 HR) and Carlos Correa (18).
Seager drew walks in the first and third inning, marking his 13th and 14th walks of this Postseason. His 14 walks this Postseason are the tied for the most by any Rangers player in a single Postseason with Ian Kinsler, who drew 14 walks during the 2011 Postseason. Seager is one of 16 players with at least 40 career Postseason walks, and his 41 walks are tied for 14th-most all-time with Jayson Werth and Tino Martinez.
Nice to See You, Young Man
Left fielder Evan Carter (2-for-6, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R) drove home the Rangers’ first run of the game with an RBI double in the first inning. He became the third rookie in Rangers’ Postseason history with a hit in the World Series, joining Craig Gentry (2011) and Mitch Moreland (2010).
At 21 years and 59 days, Carter is the 2nd-youngest player to start batting third in World Series Game 1, only older than Mickey Mantle, who was 20 years, 347 days old when he started Game 1 in 1952. Carter has reached safely in each of his 13 Postseason games this year, tied with Ian Kinsler for 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 13-game on -base streak to begin his Postseason career is tied with Derek Jeter for the fourth-longest streak all-time.
Big Pham
Designated hitter Tommy Pham (1-for-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R) launched a solo home run in the fourth inning that put Arizona ahead 4-3. It was his third home run of this Postseason and sixth career Postseason home run.
He became became the seventh Diamondbacks player to hit a home run in a World Series contest, joining Luis Gonzalez (2001 G1); Craig Counsell (2001 G1); Matt Williams (2001 G2); Mark Grace (2001 G4); Steve Finley (2001 G5); and Rod Barajas (2001 G5).
The Starters
Right-hander Zac Gallen allowed three earned runs on four hits with four walks and five strikeouts over 5.0 innings. He has thrown at least 5.0 innings in each of his five starts this Postseason. Only three pitchers in MLB Postseason history have made more than five starts of at least 5.0 innings in a single Postseason, they include: Madison Bumgarner of the San Francisco Giants (7 starts, 2014); Curt Schilling of the Arizona Diamondbacks (6 starts, 2001); and Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies (6 starts, 2022).
Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi allowed five earned runs on six hits with one walk and eight strikeouts over 4.2 innings. His eigth strikeouts are the most ever by a Rangers’ starting pitcher in a World Series game, surpassing the previous record of seven strikeouts held by Derek Holland (10/23/2011)and Cliff Lee (10/27/2010).
Steal a Base, Steal a Record?
With four steals tonight, the Arizona Diamondbacks became the first team in Postseason history to record at least four stolen bases in four Postseason games in a single Postseason. In all, teams have combined for 54 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.
Thanks for Joining Us
The Rangers drew a Globe Life Field record attendance of 42,472, surpassing the previous mark of 42,368 set during ALCS Game 3 last week.
