Advantage Rangers: Texas Turns 3-Run 3rd Into Game 3 Victory

Texas (2-1) won 3-1 at Arizona (1-2)

Winning Pitcher: RHP Jon Gray (1-0, 0.00)

Save: RHP Jose Leclerc (Save 1)

Losing Pitcher: RHP Brandon Pfaadt (0-1, 5.06)

Umpires: HP Alfonso Marquez. 1B Brian Knight. 2B Vic Carapazza. 3B Bill Miller. LF D.J. Reyburn. RF Quinn Wolcott.

Time of Game — 2:51

Attendance — 48,517

Weather — 78 degrees, Roof Closed

Wind: 1 MPH Varies

Game 3

Okay, the Rangers claimed a victory and took a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series. That’s despite scoring only three runs (two more than the Diamondbacks) but only five hits (one less than the Diamondbacks). Take note, however. The two teams still have two more games to play in Arizona, the home of the Diamondbacks, before they would have to pack their bags and returns to Texas for possible Games 6 and 7. One thing that won’t change? Which ever team wins the World Series will be a first-time World Champion.

QUICK HITS

— Rangers were 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position compared to Texas’ 1-for-5 success rate.

— Both teams used five pitchers, although=Brand Pfaadt of Arizona did work 5 1/3 innings.

— Both team stranded four baserunners.

TEXAS RANGERS NOTES

— Rangers are 9-0 in road games this post-season.

— Rangers scored all three of their game-winning runs at Arizona in the third inning.

— Rangers were 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position compared to Texas’ 1-for-5 success rate.

— LF Evan Carter (.417) went 2-for-3 (both singles), and drew a walk.

— 2B Marcus Semien (.214) went 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

— SS Corey Seager (.167) went 1-for-4 with a double, run scored and his second World Series home run.

— 1B Nathaniel Lowe (.100) went 1-for-3 with a double and run scored.

— Max Scherzer started and worked three scoreless innings, giving up two hits and walking two.

— Reliever John Gray (1-0, 0.00) worked three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two in being credited with the victory.

— Reliever Aroldis Chapman pitched one inning, and allowed the only run given up by Texas.

— Reliever Jose Leclerc earned his first save with a 1-2-3 ninth in which he struck out two.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES

— DH Tommy Pham (.538) went 2-for-4 with a single and a double.

— SS Geraldo Perdomo (.375) delivered the Diamondbacks only run with an eighth inning single.

— PH Emmanuel Rivera (1.000) scored the Diamondbacks only run, doubling and coming home on Perdomo’s double.

— 2B Ketel Marte (.231) went 1-for-3.

— 1B Christian Walker (.154) went 1-for-4.

— Arizona relievers Miguel Castro, Kyle Nelson, Luis Frias and Andrew Saalfrank combined to work the final 3 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two.

FYI

Umpire Alfonso Márquez (ranked 77th of 92) missed 13 calls in World Series Game 3. With a correct call rate of 89.9%, this was the 5th worst game of the playoffs.

FINAL WORD

Corey Seager on the Rangers having won nine post-season games in a row on the road:

“We’re just showing up to play every day,” the Rangers shortstop said, according to ESPN. “We’re trying to win that day. No matter where we are, we’re trying to play good baseball every day.

“I don’t know how to credit it to anything other than that, really. Sorry.”