(Phoenix) A three-run, two-out spurt in the third inning led the Texas Rangers to a 3-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night in Phoenix.
With this victory, the Rangers regain the advantage two victories to one in this series four of seven. The fourth and fifth games will be presented Tuesday and Wednesday, in Arizona.
The Rangers improved to 9-0 on the road since the start of the playoffs even though they lost, along the way, Monday, their starter Max Scherzer and their star right fielder Adolis Garcia.
The latter left in the eighth inning due to stiffness in his left side after he appeared to be injured while swinging during an at-bat.
” It’s hard. We are a group with depth. We’ll see what happens with those two guys,” second baseman Marcus Semien said of the injuries to Scherzer and Garcia.
“Adolis has been the heart and soul of our team. Hopefully it’s nothing too bad. But we are a group with depth. We have guys who haven’t played who are really good players, too. »
The Rangers were held to just five hits, but three of them came in the third inning.
First baseman Nathaniel Lowe led off the inning with a double to Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfaadt.
Posted on third base two outs later, Lowe crossed the plate following a single from Semien to left-center field.
Corey Seager immediately followed up by rolling up Pfaadt’s first offering far into the right field stands for his fifth home run since the start of the playoffs.
“We show up ready to play every night, no matter where we are,” Seager said. That’s what we’re focused on doing. »
Half an inning before, the Diamondbacks had missed a great opportunity against Scherzer.
Christian Walker led off the inning with a double to right-center field. Tommy Pham followed with a base hit to right field and Walker headed to home plate despite instructions from his third base coach to stop his run.
Garcia recovered the ball and his relay at the plate allowed Walker to be retired.
“I feel like it was a big turning point,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.
“It was a crucial moment. We were flat for a few innings. »
The second inning ended when Alek Thomas hit a hard grounder that first hit Scherzer in the right elbow before bouncing to third baseman Josh Jung. The latter made a relay towards the first cushion which narrowly beat Thomas.
The Diamondbacks scored their only run in the eighth inning against reliever Aroldis Chapman.
Backup hitter Emmanuel Rivera led off the inning with a double and crossed the plate on a single by Geraldo Perdomo.
After Chapman struck out Corbin Carroll on three strikes, the veteran reliever got out of trouble with the help of Seager, who, from his position as shortstop, made a nice defensive play to lead off a double game that stifled the threat.
“I just tried to make the play,” Seager described. I think Marcus did a better job than me even with the pivot and the transfer. Kudos to him, kudos to Chapman for making a good throw, and we were able to get out of the inning. »
Five Rangers pitchers held the Diamondbacks hitters to six hits.
The victory went to Jon Gray who gave up only one hit in three innings in relief of Scherzer. Perfect in the ninth round, José Leclerc was credited with a saved match.
“I tried to stay ready […] and I was waiting for the call. I knew he was going to come, eventually,” said Gray, a veteran starter who recently returned from injury.
“To be able to show up now and do some really good work, it’s a really nice feeling.” »
Furthermore, Scherzer left the game before he could even throw a single pitch in the fourth inning. According to the Rangers, he resigned due to back stiffness.
In three complete innings, Scherzer allowed two hits and two walks, in addition to recording a strikeout.
In five and a third innings, Pfaadt gave up four hits, two walks and three earned runs. He recorded four strikeouts.
With David Brandt, Associated Press