Rangers Beat Diamondbacks in Game One

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

October 28, 2023

Rangers 6, Diamondbacks 5

ARLINGTON, Tex. (Oct 27) — The Texas Rangers won in walk-off fashion, 6–5, on Friday, giving them a 1–0 lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series. A walk-off home run by Adolis Garcia helped seal the deal before a sellout crowd of 42,472. With the first game in the rearview mirror, each team has a specific task ahead of them. The Rangers’ task is to extend their lead in this World Series to 2–0. As for the Diamondbacks, they’ll be faced with trying to even this series against a very potent offense in Game Two. That game will be on Saturday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 7:03 pm Central at Globe Life Field. Right-hander Merrill Kelly (2–1, 2.65 ERA) will get the ball for the Diamondbacks, while Jordan Montgomery (3–0, 2.16 ERA) will take the hill for the Rangers.

Rangers Score First

The Rangers got off to a fast start in Game One. After Marcus Semien grounded out to Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, Corey Seager drew a walk from starter Zac Gallen. On deck was Evan Carter, who plated Seager with a double to center to give the Rangers a 1–0 lead. Carter was quickly driven in by Garcia, who singled to left.

The Diamondbacks knotted it up in the top of the third off Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi. Center fielder Alek Thomas led off the frame with an infield single. Third baseman Evan Longoria followed suit with a single to right. Two batters later, Corbin Carroll drove in both runners with a triple to center to tie the game 2–2. The next batter was Ketel Marte, who gave the Diamondbacks a 3–2 lead by grounding into a fielder’s choice that allowed Carroll to score.

Back and Forth

The back-and-forth affair continued in the bottom of the third. Seager drew a walk, his second in as many at-bats on the evening. Carter moved Seager to third with his second double in as many at-bats. Moments later, Garcia and Garver both drew walks, the latter of which came with the bases loaded, plating Seager. This tied the game at 3–3.

Tommy Pham put the Diamondbacks on top 4–3 with a leadoff homer to left in the top of the fourth. They added an insurance run in the top of the fifth. Perdomo led off the inning with a single to center. He didn’t stay there for long, however, as he stole second to get into scoring position. Soon after Carroll struck out swinging, Marte brought Perdomo home with a double to center. Their backs against the wall, the Rangers made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth.

Garcia’s Big Moment

With Paul Sewald on the mound for the Diamondbacks, the tension mounted. After a walk by Leody Taveras, Semien struck out swinging to bring Seager to the dish. In one of the biggest moments in the game for both teams, Seager unleashed on a first-pitch fastball from Sewald, sending it over the wall in right and tying it at five all. The score remained tied the rest of the frame, sending Game One to extra innings.

The bats stayed silent for both teams until the bottom of the eleventh. With no ghost runner rule in effect in extras for the postseason, each team had their work cut out for them. The Diamondbacks brought in Miguel Castro to relieve Nelson on the mound. With Garcia due up, the Rangers saw an opportunity and they cashed in. Garcia blasted one to the seats in right in walk-off fashion, giving the Rangers their 1–0 series lead. It was the first walk-off home run in a Game One since Kirk Gibson’s cinematic swat off Dennis Eckersley in 1988.

No-Decision for Eovaldi

Eovaldi struggled in his outing in Game One. He pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up five runs, all earned, on six hits. One of this hits was the homer by Pham in the fourth. Eovaldi also walked one and struck out eight. One positive note is that he kept his team in the game for the most part. He didn’t let the Diamondbacks run away with too big of a lead and made it manageable for the guys behind him to climb their way back. Right-hander Jose Leclerc got the win in this one. He pitched the last two innings of the game, striking out two. In the postseason, he holds a 1–1 record with an ERA of 3.52. No save was recorded.

On the other side, Gallen also took a no-decision for his effort. He tossed five innings in which he surrendered three runs, all earned, on four hits. Gallen walked four and struck out five. Castro took the loss after giving up the homer to Garcia in the 11th. That home run will add to his ERA which now stands at 7.20 to go along with his 0–1 record.

Postgame Comments

After the game, Garcia reflected on Seager’s home run. “That was one of the best moments of the game,” he said. “He tied the game. It fired me up, you know? It got us excited, too, and I knew we could get the win.” Garcia also described how he felt after his walk-off homer. “It was an exciting moment, you know?” he said. “I was just looking to the dugout, looking at all my teammates being happy.” Garcia was also asked how his hand felt after getting hit by a 92-mph fastball in the ninth by Sewald. “I got lucky that it’s nothing worse,” García said.

After the game, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was asked about Seager’s home run as well. “He might have turned it up a notch, to be honest. He saved us there,” Bochy said. “You can see it in him. He gets everybody fired up.”

Lovullo’s Postgame Comments

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was asked his thoughts on the game as well. “It’s frustrating. This is how the game goes sometimes. And we’ve got to find a way to be resilient and adaptable and come out with a clean mind and do our best,” Lovullo said. “I have every reason to believe we will. We’ve done it a lot this year.”