Diamondbacks Dominate Rangers in Game 2 of World Series
What’s the best way to respond to a crushing Game 1 loss in the World Series? Comeback the next day and not just win, but dominate.
The Arizona Diamondbacks throttled the Texas Rangers 9-1 on Saturday night in a game that was never close to even up this 2023 World Series at a game a piece.
Leading the way was another former New York Met, Tommy Pham who went 4-for-4 with two runs scored for Arizona.
It was a huge follow-up performance for Pham, who corked a solo home run in Game 1 on Friday.
Overall ten batters got a hit in the contest, as Arizona pounded out 16 hits against the Rangers in Game 2. Zona was 6-of-14 with runners in scoring position, while Texas didn’t get a runner on second until the ninth inning.
Moreover four different D-Backs hitters had two-out RBI hits. Ketel Marte (2-for-5, 2 RBI) and Corbin Carroll (2-for-5, 2 RBI) each had multiple two-our RBI hits.
Gabriel Moreno’s solo homer in the top of the fourth inning got the party started for Arizona.
Soon the Diamondbacks used small ball to their favor. The next eight runs to score of Arizona all came in on singles.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. drove in Pham with a single to left to make it 2-0 in the fourth. Later Evan Longoria drove in a run on a single to left. Carroll would drive in Longoria on a single of his own a few batters later.
The conga line kept moving until Emmanuel Rivera drove in Jace Peterson and Gurriel in the the ninth inning to blow the game wide open.
Starting Pitchers
On the hill, Merrill Kelly was brilliant for Arizona. He held the Rangers to just a run on three hits over seven innings of work. He struck out nine. In a postseason where starters don’t go very far, D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo had to love what Kelly gave his club.
Taking the ‘L’ for Texas was ex-Yankee Jordan Montgomery. Monty allowed four runs on nine hits over six innings of work.
The World Series shifts to the Desert on Monday night. Ex-Met Max Scherzer gets the ball for Texas against Brandon Pfaadt.
