The Texas Rangers edged the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 in Game 3 of the World Series. Texas’ nail-biting victory gives them the 2-1 lead in the World Series. However, the Rangers’ superstar slugger Adolis Garcia suffered an oblique injury during the game and his status for the rest of the World Series is currently unknown. This injury affects the Rangers’ offence in a substantial way, as Garcia was awarded with the ALCS MVP due to his record-setting performance in the Championship Series. Despite a disappointing loss by the Diamondbacks, they will look to bounce back in Game 4 through a bullpen day.
W: Jon Gray (1-0) L: Brandon Pfaadt (0-1) SV: Jose Leclerc (4)
Max Scherzer, Rangers:
Max Scherzer left the game after three innings due to back spasms and his status for the rest of the World Series is completely up in the air. Despite this, the veteran right-hander hurled 3 innings of shutout ball, striking out a batter and yielding 4 baserunners total. While Scherzer found himself in some tough situations, he was able to pitch his way out of it and got some assistance from his defence too.
One of these situations was in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Christian Walker led off the inning with a double to deep right field. The next batter, Tommy Pham, roped a single to right field. Adolis Garcia, the right fielder, fired a 94.6 MPH one-hopper to home plate to prevent Christian Walker from scoring.
Then, with a runner on second, Alek Thomas slapped a ground ball that deflected off Scherzer and rolled to third base. Josh Jung, the Rangers’ third baseman, made a bare-hand play and fired to first to get the speedster in Thomas. While Scherzer was in a difficult spot, Garcia and Jung were there to help him out.
If Scherzer is unable to pitch for the rest of the series, the SP3 position will likely be given to veteran righty Jon Gray.
Brandon Pfaadt, Diamondbacks
Brandon Pfaadt had an okay start on Monday night, going 5.1 IP and giving up 3 earned runs on 4 hits. The young righty registered 4 strikeouts and 2 walks. Pfaadt’s strikeout numbers decreased heavily in Game 3. In his last 2 postseason games, Pfaadt combined for 16 total punchouts and only 2 walks.
The first 2 frames were solid for Pfaadt, giving up only 1 hit in that stretch. However, in the top of the 3rd inning, problems began to arise. Nathaniel Lowe began the inning with a double, giving the potent Rangers’ offence a runner in scoring position immediately. However, Pfaadt was able to strike out young phenom Josh Jung and get Leody Taveras to ground out. The right-hander threw a fastball high and inside that Rangers’ second baseman Marcus Semien was able to get the barrel to. Semien slapped a single to centre field to score Nate Lowe, giving Texas the early 1-0 lead.
The next batter, Corey Seager, received a changeup on the inner half and crushed it 114 MPH to right field. The 421 FT 2-run shot extended the Rangers’ lead to 3-0. Other than this inning, Pfaadt cruised right along through 5.1 innings and continues to be an integral part of the Diamondbacks’ success in the postseason.
Offensive Breakdown, Rangers:
3 runs for an explosive offence like the Rangers may not seem great on the statsheet, but it was enough to get the job done. Texas’ offence was able to get to one of the hottest pitchers in the postseason. They were able to raise Pfaadt’s postseason ERA to 3.27 (2.70 coming into Game 3).
The Rangers only registered 5 total hits and 3 walks, leaving 13 runners on base during the contest. However, they continually put pressure on the Diamondbacks’ pitching staff because they only struck out 6 times.
All 3 of the Rangers’ runs came in the third inning, with Marcus Semien recording an RBI single and Corey Seager crushing a 2-run bomb. They had plenty of scoring opportunities, especially in the 6th inning. In that 6th frame, Texas had 2 runners on base with only one out, but Mitch Garver and Jonah Heim were retired to end the frame.
With Adolis Garcia being unavailable for at least Game 4, the Rangers’ lineup will demand more consistency from 1 to 9 to make up for his absence.
Offensive Breakdown, Diamondbacks:
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ offence couldn’t capitalize on scoring opportunities and made one specific and major error on the basepaths. While Arizona out-hit the Rangers, they struck out 9 times and couldn’t drive in those runners on base.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Arizona Diamondbacks committed their one major error on the bases. With Christian Walker on second base, Tommy Pham roped a single. Walker attempted to score, but it turned out the third base coach, Tony Perezchica, held up the stop sign. Walker headed home anyway and was thrown out at the plate.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, shortstop Geraldo Perdomo finally drove in the first (and only) run of the ballgame for Arizona. Perdomo slapped a single to score Emmanuel Rivera to make the score 3-1.
Arizona will have to rebound quickly in Game 4 and throughout the World Series, as they look to win their first World Championship since 2001.
Top Performers, Rangers:
Marcus Semien (2B) – 1-4, Run, RBI
Corey Seager (SS) – 1-4, Run, HR, 2 RBI
Evan Carter (LF) – 2-3, BB
Max Scherzer (SP) – 3.0 IP, 2 Hits, 0 ER, K, 2 BB
Jon Gray (SP) – 3.0 IP, Hit, 0 ER, 3 K’s
Top Performers, Diamondbacks:
Ketel Marte (2B) – 1-3, BB
Tommy Pham (DH) – 2-4
Geraldo Perdomo (SS) – 1-3, RBI
Brandon Pfaadt (SP) – 5.1 IP, 4 Hits, 3 ER, 4 K’s, 2 BB
Luis Frias (RP) – 1.2 IP, 2 K’s, BB
Game 4 of the World Series goes Halloween night at 8:03 PM EST. Joe Mantiply will receive the ball for Arizona to be the opener for a bullpen day. Veteran southpaw Andrew Heaney will take the mound for the Rangers on Tuesday night. Arizona looks to avoid facing elimination and even up the series at 2-2.
(Photo Via Godofredo A. Vasquez/Associated Press)