Delivering a historic title with an unbeaten highway playoff run, the Texas Rangers captured the World Sequence of their 63-year historical past on Wednesday by defeating Arizona 5-0.
Marcus Semien’s two-run dwelling run, a run-scoring Mitch Garver single and a pivotal ninth-inning Diamondbacks error produced the runs that enabled Texas to win Main League Baseball’s best-of-seven championship last 4-1.
“It’s just emotional,” Semien stated. “Everything I have ever worked for is for this moment.”
The Rangers went undefeated in 11 post-season contests away from their suburban Dallas dwelling ballpark, capped by sweeping three video games in Phoenix over the Diamondbacks.
“It’s such a treat,” the Rangers’ Nathaniel Lowe stated. “We really did a great job of finishing here on the road. Maybe we struggled at home but we’ve got a special group.”
The Rangers, who started because the Washington Senators in 1961 earlier than relocating to Texas in 1972, had reached the World Sequence in 2010 and 2011, shedding first to San Francisco after which St. Louis.
“That’s one of the coolest feelings of my life,” Texas slugger Jonah Heim stated. “It’s what your work your whole life for. We accomplished our goals. I’m so proud of this team.”
The D-backs suffered their first World Sequence defeat, having received the 2001 crown of their solely prior look.
“This is painful. This is just plain painful. And I can’t quite move past that right now. But I will,” D-backs supervisor Torey Lovullo stated. “The reason why it hurts so bad is because we care so much.”
Arizona pitcher Zac Gallen saved Texas hitless by means of six innings, the 28-year-old US right-hander baffling the identical batters who blasted out 11 runs the night time earlier than.
“He had his good stuff working,” Lowe stated. “But we finally got to him.”
The Rangers pounced within the high of the seventh with three consecutive hits as Corey Seager singled to left discipline, reached third base on Evan Carter’s double and scored the primary run on Garver’s single up the center.
“It was kind of a crazy game. We got no-hit until the sixth,” Semien stated. “But we came through. Once Corey got the first hit everybody kind of woke up.”
Texas shortstop Seager homered 3 times and drove in six runs within the World Sequence to win the Most Invaluable Participant award, turning into solely the fourth participant to take it twice after his MVP position for the 2020 champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
“It truly is incredible. But it’s not just me,” Seager stated. “Just happy to be part of this team.”
Solely Corridor of Famers Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax and Reggie Jackson had received a number of Sequence MVP awards.
“I don’t think you can ever fathom that,” Seager stated. “It’s a pretty special group.”
Josh Jung and Lowe singled to open the ninth for the Rangers and each scored on an error by Arizona’s Alek Thomas on Heim’s single to make it 3-0.
Semien then blasted a two-run homer into the left-field seats to all-but settle issues.
When Josh Sborz struck out Ketel Marte for the ultimate out, ending the Arizona batter’s 20-game playoff hit streak, the Rangers started a wild celebration.
Bochy will get fourth title
Bruce Bochy, who got here out of retirement final yr to handle the Rangers, received his fourth World Sequence title at age 68 after three with San Francisco.
“To get this call, to be a part of this, I know how blessed I am,” Bochy stated. “I can’t thank these guys enough.”
The Rangers had missed the playoffs in six consecutive shedding seasons earlier than this yr’s title run.
Arizona superior runners into scoring place in every of the primary 5 innings however got here away empty-handed, going 0-for-10 on the plate because of Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi mystifying the D-backs when it mattered early.
“Evo was incredible to get out of jams like that,” Seager stated. “He kept it 0-0 when we couldn’t get anything going.”