The Texas Rangers paid a special tribute to their injured player, Adolis García, by dominating the Diamondbacks in Game 4, bringing them one step closer to securing their first-ever World Series championship.
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Game Summary:
In Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, the Diamondbacks showcased the effectiveness of their bullpen by successfully limiting the Philadelphia Phillies to a 6-5 victory. Hoping for a similar outcome, they opted for a bullpen game against the Rangers, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way.
Joe Mantiply, who also started the previous bullpen game for the Diamondbacks, took the mound. After securing four outs, he was replaced by Miguel Castro when there was a man on first with one out in the second inning. Castro allowed the first run of the game on a wild pitch.
Things only got worse from there. Castro gave up three baserunners and three runs, resulting in his removal from the game. Kyle Nelson entered as the next pitcher for the Diamondbacks, but his decision to throw a hanging slider against Corey Seager proved costly. Seager capitalized on the opportunity, hitting a two-run home run and increasing the Rangers’ lead to 5-0.
This historic homer by Seager made him the first shortstop in MLB history to hit three home runs in a World Series, and it marked his fourth home run in the last five games.
Subsequently, the Diamondbacks repeated the same defensive struggles in the next inning, allowing the Rangers to score another five runs, despite having two outs. Luis Frias replaced Nelson but failed to prevent further damage. Baseloaded, he conceded an RBI double to Travis Jankowski, who replaced Garcia in the lineup. Following that, Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer, solidifying the Rangers’ dominant lead.
By the top of the third inning, the score was an astonishing 10-0 in favor of the Rangers. Despite the overwhelming lead, fans at Chase Field remained mostly engaged, with the exception of one fan who interrupted the game. Other spectators entertained themselves by throwing paper airplanes onto the field, drawing a reprimand from the Chase Field announcer.
Surprisingly, Ryne Nelson entered in the fourth inning and delivered an impressive 5 1/3 innings, only allowing three hits and one earned run. In the eighth inning, the Diamondbacks managed to salvage some pride by scoring four runs, including a three-run homer from Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and added two more runs in the ninth.
While bullpen games can be effective, it proved difficult to fool the Rangers’ lineup multiple times within a single week, especially since the Rangers had already faced all the Diamondbacks’ relievers in the first three games of the series.
Now with their backs against the wall, the Diamondbacks can only hope for some surprises or stellar performances from Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly.
Key Moment:
The significance of a big hit can often be overshadowed in a high-scoring game, but the Rangers’ first runs were milestone-worthy on their own.
In the second inning, with two runners on base and two outs, Marcus Semien stepped up to the plate. Semien had struggled to perform at his usual level throughout the postseason, but he appeared to have found his form in Game 3 with an RBI single. In Game 4, he went even further, hitting an RBI triple and driving in two runs. The following inning, Semien added his first homer of the playoffs.
Despite his subpar postseason statistics of .214/.276/.314, Semien proved to be a crucial contributor for the Rangers when they needed a boost.
Impact Player:
While the Rangers’ offense relentlessly attacked the Diamondbacks’ bullpen, Andrew Heaney highlighted the value of a starting pitcher.
Heaney, previously utilized as a reliever in his last two appearances, stepped up as the starting pitcher for Game 4. He delivered an impressive performance, pitching five strong innings before exiting the game after throwing 80 pitches.
The Rangers’ significant investment in Heaney, with a two-year, $25 million contract, is paying off handsomely based on his current performance.
What’s Next?
Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday at 8:03 p.m. ET. The Rangers will entrust Nathan Eovaldi (4-0, 3.52 ERA this postseason) with the hope of claiming their first World Series title in franchise history. The Diamondbacks will rely on Zac Gallen (2-2, 5.27 ERA) in an attempt to extend the series and force a return to Texas.
