How the Arizona Diamondbacks dominated the Texas Rangers 9-1 to win World Series Game 2
What a difference a day makes.
One day after Texas pulled off one of the most dramatic games in World Series history in a 6-5 win in Game 1, Arizona dominated Game 2 with a 16-hit attack in a lopsided 9-1 win at Globe Life Field.
The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1 and headed to Arizona for Games 3-5, starting on Monday.
The key plays, highlights and much more:
First inning
ARIZONA: Jordan Montgomery is starting for Texas. First pitch at 7:05 p.m. CT is hit by D-back leadoff hitter Ketel Marte for a ground out to shortstop Corey Seager. Corbin Carroll grounds out to second. And Gabriel Moreno pops out to second in shallow right-center field.
#WorldSeries debut for Monty. pic.twitter.com/jHXvCtyK7p
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) October 29, 2023
TEXAS: With Merrill Kelly on the mound for Arizona, Marcus Semien strikes out to lead off for the Rangers. Corey Seager pops out to short and Evan Carter strikes out. Scoreless first inning.
Second inning
ARIZONA: After Christian Walker grounds out to short, Tommy Phan reaches on an infield roller toward. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. then grounds into an inning-ending double play.
TEXAS: Adolis Garcia grounds out to third, Mitch Garver pops out to third and Jonah Heim flies out to center. Three quick outs and we’re through two innings.
Third inning
ARIZONA: Alek Thomas singles to right. Evan Longoria’s sacrifice bunt moves Thomas to second. Geraldo Perdomo grounds out to short, moving Thomas to third base. Ketel Marte flies out to center for the final out.
TEXAS: Nathaniel Lowe strikes out, Josh Jung grounds out to short. Leody Taveras strikes out. Nine up, nine down for Rangers. No hits so far.
Fourth inning
ARIZONA: Corbin Carroll pops out to short, Gabriel Moreno homers to left field. Diamondbacks take 1-0 lead.
Snakes bite first on Gabriel Moreno's 4th #postseason HR. pic.twitter.com/tyvKPVOpJT
— MLB (@MLB) October 29, 2023
Christian Walker grounds out to third base where Josh Jung makes a diving play across the foul line. Tommy Pham doubles to right. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singles to left, scoring Pham. 2-0 Arizona. Alek Thomas grounds out to end the innings. ARIZONA 2, TEXAS 0
Ah, to be Jung again. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/PH1dCFDPuC
— MLB (@MLB) October 29, 2023
TEXAS: Marcus Semien and Corey Seager fly out to the outfield for two quick outs. Evan Carter gets the Rangers’ first hit, a single to center. Adolis Garcia ends the inning with a fly out to right. ARIZONA 2, TEXAS 0
Fifth inning
ARIZONA: Evan Longoria grounds out to short, Geraldo Perdomo singles to center and Ketel Marte pops out to second. Corbin Carroll pops out to end the inning. DIAMONDBACKS REMAIN AHEAD 2-0
TEXAS: Mitch Garver leads off the inning with a home run to left, pulling the Rangers within 2-1. Jonah Heim grounds out to first (pitcher covering). Nathaniel Lowe hits a long fly out to the left field warning track. Josh Jung has an infield hit to deep short. Leody Taveras ends the inning with a grounder back to the pitcher. DIAMONDBACKS 2, RANGERS 1
Mitch Garver's 3rd postseason HR gets the @Rangers on the board. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/YJdV8ZXAN4
— MLB (@MLB) October 29, 2023
Sixth inning
ARIZONA: Gabriel Moreno hits a dribbler in front of home plate for a ground out, Christian Walker pops out to first. Tommy Pham then collects his third hit of the game, a double to right field. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is intentionally walked. WIthtwo outs and runners on first and second, Alek Thomas at the plate, Jordan Montgomery picks off Pham at second base. DIAMONDBACKS remain ahead 2-1.
TEXAS: Merrill Kelly strikes out the side: Marcus Semien, Corey Seager and Evan Carter. We are headed to the late innings. 2-1 D-BACKS.
Seventh inning
ARIZONA: Alek Thomas doubles off the right-center field wall. Evan Longoria follows with run-scoring single to left to push Arizona lead to 3-1. That hit chases starter Jordan Montgomery. Andrew Heaney comes in from the bullpen. Geraldo Perdomo sacrifice bunts Marte to second. With one out, Ketel Marte grounds out to third (good scoop by first baseman Lowe). Corbin Carroll smacks an RBI single, scoring Marte for a 4-1 Arizona lead. Exit Heaney, enter Dane Dunning for the Rangers. Gabriel Moreno walks,moving Carroll to second base. Christian Walker ends the inning with a grounder back to the pitcher. DIAMONDBACKS 4, RANGERS 1
TEXAS: Adolis Garcia strikes out (No. 8 for Kelly). Mitch Garver grounds out. Jonah Heim strikes out. Kelly appears to be getting stronger as game progresses.
Eighth inning
ARIZONA: Chris Stratton comes in for relief. Tommy Pham singles up the middle for his fourth hit (he’s got 4 hits, Rangers have 3). Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s sacrifice bunt moves him to second base. After Alek Thomas strikes out, Stratton is removed for Martin Perez. Perez walks Emanuel Rivera and Geraldo Perdomo to load the bases. Ketel Marte then extends his postseason hitting streak to 18 games with a two-run single, pushing the Diamondbacks lead to 6-1; Corbin Carroll’s single scores Perdormo and it’s 7-1. Although Gabriel Moreno strikes out to end the inning, the DIAMONDBACKS LEAD 7-1.
ATTENDANCE: Another Globe Life Field record of 42,500.
TEXAS: Andrew Saalfrank replaces Kelly on the mound. Nathaniel Lowe grounds out to second. Josh Jung grounds and Leody Taveras ground out. 1-2-3. Headed to the ninth. DIAMONDBACKS 7-1.
Ninth inning
ARIZONA: Christian Walker opens the inning with a single. Pinch-hitter Jace Peterson grounds into a fielder’s choice with Walker out at second. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singles to centerfor the Diamondbacks’ 15th hit (Rangers still have just three). Alek Thomas grounds out, moving both runners up. Emanuel Rivera hits a two-run single for a Diamondbacks 9-1 lead. RIvera is then caught in a rundown for the final out of the inning.
TEXAS: Marcus Semien singles to lead off the ninth. Corey Seager flies out to center for the first out. Robbie Grossman pinch hits for Evan Carter and Luis Frias comes in to pitch. Grossman strikes out, Adolis Garcia walks. Mitch Garver lines out to end the game.
Game 1 highlight
Corey Seager’s two-run home run in the ninth tied the game and Adolis Garcia’s home run in the 11th won Game 1 for the Rangers, 6-5.
The #Postseason of Adolis García continues!!! #Walkoff pic.twitter.com/v8rdVWU6WK
— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2023
Return here on Saturday, beginning around 6 p.m., for regular scoring updates, key plays, video highlights and much more.
The lineups
Rangers lineup looks quite familiar.
Your starting lineups for #WorldSeries Game 2. pic.twitter.com/5RGKdKihJv
— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2023
Today’s schedule
3 p.m.: Parking lots open
3:50 p.m.: Rangers’ batting practice
4 p.m.: Gates open
4:55 p.m.: Diamondbacks’ batting practice
6:49 p.m.: National anthem by Pearl Peterson
6:52 p.m.: Ceremonial first pitch—Adrian Beltre to Ferguson Jenkins
7:03 p.m.: First pitch, Diamondbacks vs. Rangers
Montgomery starts Game 2
Jordan Montgomery, obtained at the trade deadline in July, will be on the mound on Saturday for Game 2 for the Rangers
Adolis Garcia has been so hot
The Rangers outfielder has been on a historic postseason tear. Watch all of his postseason home runs here:
Adolis García in his last 5 #Postseason games:
6 home runs
A grand slam to help force #ALCS Game 7
A 2-HR game to advance to the #WorldSeries
A walk-off homer pic.twitter.com/WXSnU23IS1— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2023
Pregame reads
Mac Engel column: Two big blasts key dramatic win
Travis Kelce was at Game 1. Was Taylor Swift?
Corey Seager is Mr. Dramatic with ninth-inning tying home run
Decibel: How loud was it at Globe Life Field for Game 1?
Did President George Bush throw a strike with his ceremonial pitch?
Rangers bullpen shines at right time
General manager Chris Young built this team, but doesn’t want credit
Celebrity sightings at Game 1.
Where were the current Rangers when the team last played in the World Series
Everything is louder in Texas. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/O0VRf23api
— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2023