(Arlington) Tommy Pham hit a long fly ball and the Arizona Diamondbacks led 5-3 after six innings at the expense of the Texas Rangers on Friday night in Game 1 of the World Series.
After watching the Rangers tie the game in the bottom of the third inning, Pham started the fourth by sending a Nathan Eovaldi offering over the left field fence.
In the fifth inning, Geraldo Perdomo scored and stole second base. He crossed home plate as Ketel Marte hit a double to give the Diamondbacks a 5-3 lead.
For the third time in history, there are two drafted teams crossing swords in the World Series, after 2002 and 2014. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was there in 2014 when his San Francisco Giants won major honors.
The second game of the series will take place Saturday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
After a good first inning from Eovaldi, the Rangers took the lead in the first inning at bat.
Corey Seager drew a walk from starter Zac Gallen and Evan Carter hit a double that pushed his teammate to the plate. Carter didn’t stay long at second base when Adolis Garcia hit a single to left.
The Diamondbacks responded in the third inning. After a single by Alek Thomas and Evan Longoria, Corbin Carroll hit a two-run triple that was misjudged by Rangers center fielder Leody Taveras. The rookie then used his speed to beat a relay at the plate and lead his team to a 3-2 lead.
Gallen got into trouble after two outs in the bottom of the third inning. He walked Seager, a double walk to Carter and a walk to Garcia to fill the bases. Mitch Garver only had to keep the stick on his shoulder to tie the score.
This is the first playoff meeting between the Rangers and Diamondbacks. Both missed more than 100 games in 2021.
The Rangers have won 90 games this season compared to 84 for the Diamondbacks. The total of 174 wins between two teams in the World Series is the lowest in history for a non-shortened season.
The Rangers are looking to win their first World Series after two consecutive losses in 2010 and 2011. The Diamondbacks won the Major League Baseball final in 2001 in their only appearance.
