Adolis Garcia’s solo home run in the bottom of the 11th inning completed a come-from-behind victory for the Texas Rangers as they beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 in Game 1 of the 2023 World Series on Friday night in Arlington.
Despite another quick offensive start behind Garcia, shortstop Corey Seager, and rookie outfielder Evan Carter, the Rangers found themselves trailing late in the game after Arizona figured out starter Nathan Eovaldi and got to him for five runs.
Eovaldi retired the first six batters he faced, but the bottom of Arizona’s batting order got to him in the top of the third inning.
Outfielder Alek Thomas picked up Arizona’s first hit on a chopper just over Eovaldi’s head that died in the infield grass. Veteran third baseman Evan Longoria followed with a single, and both scored on a triple from Corbin Carroll after a sacrifice bunt. Ketel Marte followed with a ground ball to first, but Carroll slid past the tag as first baseman Nathaniel Lowe’s throw was slightly off target.
Seager and Carter came through for Texas in the bottom of the inning, starting a two-out rally that led to a bases-loaded walk from Mitch Garver to tie the game at three. The rally was short-lived as Tommy Pham led off the fourth inning with a home run to put Arizona back in front.
The D-Backs padded their lead on an RBI double from Marte, and the Rangers were unable to capitalize on many chances to come back as the Arizona bullpen worked out of jams with two runners on base twice in the late innings.
However, the Texas bullpen held its own, and Seager stepped up to the plate trailing by one with a runner on base in the bottom of the ninth, tying the game with a towering drive into the stands in right field.
Neither team scored in the 10th inning, but Garcia came through with another clutch hit to walk the Rangers off with a win.
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WHAT TO KNOW
— The Rangers take a 1-0 lead in the series and need three more wins to take home the championship. Arizona needs four more wins.
— The Rangers are in the World Series for the third time since 2010 and are attempting to win their first title. Meanwhile, Arizona is making its second appearance in the Fall Classic and first since winning it all in 2001.
— Texas has home-field advantage for the first time this postseason and will host Game 2 and Games 6 and 7 if necessary. Games 3-5 will be played in Phoenix.
— Former Rangers owner, 46th governor of Texas, and 43rd president of the United States George W. Bush, threw the ceremonial first pitch.
— According to the Fox broadcast, Arizona outfielder Carroll became the first rookie to lead off a World Series since 1924.
— Carter became the youngest player to bat third in his team’s batting order during the World Series since Mickey Mantle (1952). Mantle was 77 days younger than Carter when he accomplished the feat.
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BY THE NUMBERS
— Garcia now has 22 RBIs this postseason, breaking former St. Louis third baseman David Freese’s single-postseason MLB record.
— Seager, Carter, and Garcia were a combined 6-for-14 with two home runs, five runs scored, and five RBIs, while the rest of Texas’ lineup combined for just three hits and a run.
— Eovaldi had not allowed any team to score more than one run in an inning all postseason. The Diamondbacks had just one inning with multiple runs but threatened to add more several times. However, Eovaldi remains 4-0 this postseason after the comeback win.
— Texas’ bullpen finished the game with six shutout innings.
— The Rangers are now 5-8 in World Series games.
— Marte has a 17-game hitting streak to start his postseason career (combined between this postseason and 2017).
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NEXT UP
— Texas and Arizona play Game 2 of the World Series at 7:03 p.m. CT on Saturday in Arlington. Jordan Montgomery (3-0, 2.16 ERA in the playoffs) will start for the Rangers, and Merrill Kelly (2-1, 2.65) will start for the Diamondbacks.
