Final thoughts
Well, the 11-7 final score is exactly how I expected a bullpen game between two World Series-caliber teams to go, but the way we got here was a bit anticlimactic as the Rangers took a massive early lead and it was never really in doubt. Pitcher Andrew Heaney was the key for Texas as he put in five quality innings while the Rangers offense did its thing. Now, Texas can win its first championship as soon as tomorrow.
That Zombie error though. *shudder.*Thanks for the commentary. Same time tomorrow?
— Richard #FBPE Woods (@gasheadforever) November 1, 2023
The Guardian will indeed continue its live World Series coverage for tomorrow's Game 5. Right now, that’s scheduled to be a match between Texas’s Nathan Eovaldi and Arizona’s Zac Gallen. However, this will be the end of today’s liveblog, thanks to everybody who followed along with us today and, honestly, everybody who has followed along with all of us throughout the years. Ciao!
The Texas Rangers have a 3-1 lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 World Series!
The Rangers have somehow won 10 straight road games in the postseason and need just one more for a long-awaited World Series victory.
Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks have three straight games to win. They’ve been down, but not like this before.
Rangers 11-7 Diamondbacks, FINAL
Walker is up with Moreno on first base and just a single out left in the ballgame. He falls behind 0-2, takes two pitches out of the zone and then hits a pop up that Lowe catches in foul ground and the Rangers have beaten the Diamondbacks 11-7.
The Rangers are a game away from their first World Series win in franchise history!
Two-run single! (Moreno) Rangers 11-7 Diamondbacks
Rangers 11-7 Diamondbacks, bottom 9th
Leclerc’s first two pitches to Moreno are outside before he gets him to look at a low slider just in the strike zone. On the next pitch, Moreno swings and fouls it off. With the Diamondbacks down to their last strike, Moreno his a single to centerfield that scores both the runners on base.
Rangers 11-5 Diamondbacks, bottom 9th
Moreno represents Arizona’s last hope, hitting with runners on second and third and two out in the bottom of the 9th.
Weirdly, Bochy is going to use closer José Leclerc to get this final out. I guess that’s a bit of a pyrrhic victory for the Diamondbacks as Texas would have preferred not having to use their most important reliever in what should be a blowout win.
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Rangers 11-5 Diamondbacks, bottom 9th
Carroll is up next. He takes a ball. 0-1. Perdomo takes second on defensive indifference, because why not at this point? It takes out the inning-ending double play at least.
However, Carroll strikes out on five pitches. The Diamondbacks are down to their last out of Game 4.
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Rangers 11-5 Diamondbacks, bottom 9th
Marte strikes out on three pitches. The Rangers are two outs away from taking a 3-1 World Series lead.
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Rangers 11-5 Diamondbacks, bottom 9th
Once again, we have Geraldo Perdomo, who hits a single. Now, the Diamondbacks have runners on the corner and still nobody out. I’ll say this: no quit in this Arizona team.
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Rangers 11-5 Diamondbacks, bottom 9th
Jordan Lawlar falls behind 0-2 but shows patience, fouls a few pitches off, and works a full count. 3-2. Lawlar takes a well-earned walk to start the ninth.
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Rangers 11-5 Diamondbacks, bottom 9th
Oh no. Somebody tell FOX that “Zombie” by the Cranberries is not a Halloween song at all. Ouch.
In any case, the broadcast returns just in time for the Rangers to make a pitching change, bringing in Will Smith to pitch for new pinch-hitter Jordan Lawlar after a brief cameo from Pavin Smith, who is never actually going to get an at-bat in the World Series it seems.
Also, Josh Smith, fresh off of pinch-running duties, is in at shortstop.
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Rangers 11-5 Diamondbacks, top 9th
Jung hits into a double play to end the inning and, after all that, we’re finally in the bottom of the ninth. Do the D-backs have a six-run rally in them?
Rangers 11-5 Diamondbacks, top 9th
Saalfrank hits Carter on the hand with a pitch. It looks painful, but Carter stays in the game. There’s now runners on first and second with just one out.
Rangers 11-5 Diamondbacks, top 9th
Garver strikes out swinging on four pitches for the first out of the inning and that will do it for Ryne Nelson, who was given a thankless task and did it with aplomb. Andrew Saalfrank will be facing Evan Carter (assuming Carter isn’t replaced with a pinch-hitter).
Rangers 11-5 Diamondbacks, top 9th
On the top of the 9th, Seager hits a ground rule double off of Nelson. His night is also over, as he gets replaced with a pinch-runner (mostly to save his legs for tomorrow, I’d assume).
Rangers 11-5 Diamondbacks, bottom 8th
Thomas grounds out on the next pitch. So, Arizona have cut it to a six-run deficit, which means they will need a ninth inning of the ages just to see extras. Can they do it? Probably not! However, if you’ve made it this far, there’s no reason not to stick with us until the end. To the ninth inning!
Three-run home run! (Gurriel Jr.) Rangers 11-5 Diamondbacks
Rangers 11-5 Diamondbacks, bottom 8th
Now the Diamondbacks have runners on the corners, but just an out left in the half inning. Gurriel Jr. swings and misses on pitch one and then on the next pitch he hits a home run!
The Diamondbacks aren’t quite dead yet! Somehow there are plenty of Diamondbacks fans still in the park to cheer.
Sacrifice fly (Pham) Rangers 11-2 Diamondbacks
Rangers 11-2 Diamondbacks, bottom 8th
Stratton is facing Pham with the bases loaded and just one out. His first pitch is a ball. 1-0. Pham looks at a strike and then swings at a strike. Pham takes a ball on 1-2. 2-2. Pham stays alive by fouling off the next three pitches, keeping the count frozen until he takes the eighth pitch of the at-bat for a ball. 3-2. Pham fouls the next pitch off. Still 3-2. On the tenth pitch at the bat, Pham hits a sacrifice fly and the Rangers will gladly trade that run for an out.
Rangers 11-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 8th
Walker hits a single to load the bases. It turns out that the mission was not so doable for Burke, who could get just one out before Rangers manager Bruce Bochy felt the need to replace him, this time with Chris Stratton.
Rangers 11-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 8th
One on, one out for Moreno. Moreno hits a single. So it’s now two on, one out for Walker.
Rangers 11-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 8th
Carroll hits a single. Good for him.
Rangers 11-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 8th
Lefthander Brock Burke is the next Rangers pitcher. His goal will be to get three outs without surrendering ten or more runs. It feels pretty doable honestly! Marte is leading off the inning. Meanwhile, disappointed Diamondbacks fans are making their own fun and launching paper airplanes in the stadium.
Marte flies out to center for the half-inning’s first out.
Rangers 11-1 Diamondbacks, top 8th
Marcus Semien strikes out looking. The good news for the Diamondbacks is that the Rangers only have three more outs remaining to pummel their pitchers. The bad news is pretty much everything else.
Rangers 11-1 Diamondbacks, top 8th
Jankowski is up with nobody on and one out and he grounds out to the pitcher.
Rangers 11-1 Diamondbacks, top 8th
Nelson shrugs the home run off, it’s not like the final score matters much here, and he gets Taveras to ground out to shortstop in the next at-bat.
Home run (Heim) Rangers 11-1 Diamondbacks
Rangers 11-1 Diamondbacks, top 8th
Well, there goes Ryne Nelson’s scoreless streak, Heim greets him with a home run to give the Rangers a double-digit lead at the start of the eighth.
A lot will read when they wake up, be sure of that. Meanwhile, as this game is not exactly tense, highlights of the season? The Orioles being good? Elly de la Cruz hitting for the cycle? Gunnar Henderson NOT hitting for the cycle? Acuna Jr's 30 / 70? Strider's moustache?
— Richard #FBPE Woods (@gasheadforever) November 1, 2023
I’m going to give you the most boring answer possible: before he got hurt, this season was all about Shohei Ohtani. He really helped me rediscover my love for the game and I’m grateful for that.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 7th
Domo arigato, Geraldo Perdomo. He hits a foul ball that the Rangers outfielders almost collide before Jankowski makes the catch to end the inning. He’s going all out in a game that’s practically decided, you have to respect that. To the eighth inning!
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 7th
Rivera flies to right on a single pitch. Two down.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 7th
Cody Bradford is the new Rangers pitcher. He’ll be facing Thomas, who puts him to work, staying alive after falling behind 1-2. He fouls pitch after pitch, taking just a single slider outside. On pitch nine, Thomas finally strikes out for the first out of the inning.
Seventh inning stretch
In honor of a very ridiculous game, here’s a very ridiculous rendition of Take Me Out to the Ball Game for the seventh inning stretch.
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Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, top 7th
Jung hits a two-out single, because that’s when the Rangers love to hit. Lowe lines out on the first pitch he sees, however, and that will take us to the seventh inning stretch.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, top 7th
What Nelson is doing right now reminds me of how the late Tim Wakefield saved the Boston Red Sox bullpen in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, soaking up innings in what was a almost certainly a guaranteed loss. If the Diamondbacks can pull off something similar in the next few games, he will be remembered for this.
He gets Garver to strike out swinging and then Carter to bounce one right back to him for two quick outs.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 6th
Or Gurriel can ground into a double play to end the inning. Yeah, we’ve got just three innings left and it’s looking grim in Phoenix.
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Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 6th
There’s some Diamondbacks baseball. Pham outruns a groundball for an infield single and now Arizona has runners on first and second with one out. It’s really vital that the Diamondbacks take advantage of this now if they want to have a snowball’s chance in you-know.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 6th
I keep having to remind myself that Walker is an Arizona Diamondback and not a Texas Ranger. It is all Chuck Norris’s fault. In any case, he’s up to face Dunning at the bottom of the six with one out and nobody on. Walker works a full count and, instead of taking ball four and living up to his last name, hits a flyball that falls quickly. That’s a one-out single for Walker who at least keeps the line moving.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 6th
Heaney, who is very much in line for a win here, has exited the game. The new Rangers pitcher is Dane Dunning who will face Moreno as his first batter. Dunning gets ahead 0-2 and eventually induces a groundout to third.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, top 6th
This time around, Seager strikes out swinging on just four pitches. Nelson puts together a 1-2-3 inning, an impressive performance that might be coming to late to save his team.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, top 6th
Semien is up and he immediately fouls out to the catcher. Two down in the top of the sixth.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, top 6th
We come back from the break to Run-DMC’s “It’s Tricky.” Nothing at all seems tricky to this Rangers offense, which has made baseball seem like a deceptive easy game.
Nelson is back out pitching for Arizona, facing Jankowski. Nelson falls behind 3-1 before he grounds out to second.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr drives Gabriel Moreno in. Blue Jays fans all over the world sighed along with me. We do appreciate Daulton Varsho, but still....
— Richard #FBPE Woods (@gasheadforever) November 1, 2023
I’m just glad someone else is still following along with me.
On the FOX broadcast we get a poignant moment as MLB pauses the game in a moment so that those in the stands can take part in the Stand Up To Cancer initiative.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 5th
Carroll grounds out to Heaney, who has given the Rangers five strong innings. Never mind this being a bullpen game, Heaney has now given Texas a longer outing than postseason ace Nathan Eovaldi did in Game 1.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 5th
Marte grounds out, which pushes Marte to second. In a close game, this might be significant, an example of Arizona’s smallball approach. In this game it’s barely worth noting.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 5th
It feels like Geraldo Perdomo is always at the plate despite hitting in the nine-hole! He works a one-out walk. At this point, it’s about getting on however you can for the Diamondback offense.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 5th
Heaney has now made it through four innings, possibly benefitting from the Rangers’ eye-popping lead. He gets Rivera to ground out to third on three pitches.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, top 5th
Taveras pops up to third on one pitch and finally, finally, we are halfway through regulation here in Arizona. To the bottom of the fifth!
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, top 5th
Nelson gets Heim down looking on just four pitches, so it’s two down in the top of the fifth. That’s five straight out from him, quite impressive in this particular game.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, top 5th
Ryne Nelson is back out for the top of the fifth, facing Nathaniel Lowe. Nelson gets Lowe to fly out on a 2-2 pitch. Maybe he should have started this game.
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 4th
It’s two down with just a runner on third now. Heaney gets Thomas to ground on to second on a 2-0 count and that’s the end of the inning. Well, the Diamondbacks are on the board but they are still nine runs down, running out of outs and desperately need their bullpen to start putting up goose eggs to even have a chance.
Sacrifice fly! (Gurriel Jr) Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks
Rangers 10-1 Diamondbacks, bottom 4th
One down, two on. Heaney is facing Gurriel Jr, who he greets with a fastball too high. 1-0. Gurriel fouls the next one off. 1-1. The next pitch is way upstairs. 2-1. On the next pitch, Gurriel hits a long flyball to score Moreno for Arizona’s first run of the game. Heaney will gladly take the out, however.
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Rangers 10-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 4th
At this point, obviously, Heaney can’t worry about the runner on third. He just needs to give his team outs however he can manage them. Tommy Pham is up for Arizona in order to mess with that plan and he gets ahead of the count 3-1. Heaney’s command isn’t as sharp here as it was in the first three innings. Pham fouls off the next offering. 3-2.
The one thing Pham couldn’t do here was strike out and that’s what he does, looking at a fastball clearly in the zone for the first out of the inning.
Rangers 10-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 4th
Walker hits a double! The Diamondbacks have a tad bit of life with runners on second and third with nobody out. The Arizona crowd, desperate to cheer for anything, explodes like it was a game-tying home run.
Rangers 10-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 4th
Heaney returns for the fourth inning. Already, the Rangers have probably gotten what they could hope for from their nominal starter, especially given the cushion their offense has built. Moreno shows patience and walks on just five pitches. Arizona has a lead off baserunner.
Rangers 10-0 Diamondbacks, top 4th
Josh “Neil” Jung is up next. He hits a mammoth flyball on three pitches and that’s a 1-2-3 inning for Arizona! Finally some good news for our National League representatives in this game.
Rangers 10-0 Diamondbacks, top 4th
Nelson gets Carter to ground out to first on two pitches. That’s out number two, which means the Rangers have the D-backs right where they want them.
Rangers 10-0 Diamondbacks, top 4th
The Diamondbacks are now going with a different Nelson, in this instance righthander Ryne to face Garver in the top of the fourth. He’s usually a starter, which might mean he’s here to absorb innings. Garver works a full count against him, but he eventually strikes out swinging on pitch number six.
Rangers 10-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 3rd
Carroll comes up with two out and a runner on second base and he grounds out on two pitches on a close play at first. Nothing doing for the Diamondbacks there. To the fourth inning!
Rangers 10-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 3rd
Marte is up next and on a 0-2 count he hits a double to keep the inning alive. He’s 2-for-2 and doing his part.
Rangers 10-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 3rd
Geraldo Perdomo grounds out to short for the second out of the inning.
Rangers 10-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 3rd
Okay, now is time for the Diamondbacks to try to get Heaney out of the game so they can have some kind of chance against the Texas bullpen. Emmanuel Rivera is up to hit and he works a full count, getting him to throw some extra pitches, but he eventually lines out to left to start the bottom of the third inning.
FOX goes to break to Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves Of London” and all I can think of is “you better stay away from him/ He’ll rip your lungs out, Jim.” That’s what the Rangers have done to the Diamondbacks pitching in these first three innings.
Rangers 10-0 Diamondbacks, top 3rd
Seager strikes out swinging to finally end the top of the third but it’s going to take a historic effort from the Diamondbacks here to avoid going down 3-1 in this series.
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Three-run home run! (Semien) Rangers 10-0 Diamondbacks
Rangers 10-0 Diamondbacks, top 3rd
The two-out magic continues! Semien hits a bases clearing home run! This is just ridiculous!
Two-run double! (Jankowski) Rangers 7-0 Diamonbacks
Rangers 7-0 Diamondbacks, top 3rd
Jankowski is up next and… he hits a booming double! Two runs score! This is just disaster for Arizona.
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Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, top 3rd
Taveras is up with one out and the bases loaded. He can add to the Rangers lead while still making an out.
Unless he strikes out, which he does on a full count here. Two away and Frías has a chance to pitch around Walker’s error by getting an out here.
Updated
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, top 3rd
The luck is not with the Diamondbacks. Heim grounds out into what could be an inning-ending double play but the usually surehanded Walker bobbles it and now the bases are loaded with still just one out.
Nelson’s coming out here, Luis Frías. The Diamondbacks still aren’t out of this, Rangers pitching gave up nine runs in Game 2, but limiting the damage early is key here. Diamondbacks manager Tony Lovullo is going to have to mix-and-match perfectly from here on out and maybe rely on a little luck.
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, top 3rd
One on, one out. Lowe is up and he works a full count before knocking in a single. The Rangers have runners on first and second with still just one out.
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, top 3rd
Jung singles on a 1-0 count and this feels like one of those “baserunners in every inning” game.
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, top 3rd
Kyle Nelson is back out there to start the third and despite falling behind Carter 3-1, he gets Carter to ground out to Walker at first.
Can we have a special "MVP every year" award for Shohei Ohtani so Corey Seager can get his due reward for this season?
— Richard #FBPE Woods (@gasheadforever) November 1, 2023
Well, Ohtani won’t be pitching next year so that might open up the MVP talk a little bit in 2024.
Emphasis on “might.”
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 2nd
Two out a runner on first, Alek Thomas makes his Game 4 debut. Thomas almost hits an extra-base hit on 1-2, but it’s just a foul ball. 2-2. Heaney throws a pitch way outside. 3-2. On the next pitch, Thomas lines out and we’re finally done with the second inning.
See what I’m saying about this one being a marathon more than a sprint? Meanwhile, FOX cuts to commercial with a little “Shakedown Street.” The Deadhead music supervisor is once again on duty today.
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 2nd
That’s two quick outs for Heaney before Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hits a single to leftfield. That’s two out and one on. Can Arizona show off a little two-out magic here like Texas did?
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 2nd
Tommy Pham is up and he flies to center on three pitches.
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 2nd
In the bottom of the second, Heaney actually gets to face Christian Walker, who he gets to ground out to short to start the bottom of the second.
Also Seager looked a bit pained when rounding the bases, which is absolutely not what the Rangers need here.
Only three players of ever won World Series MVP multiple times: Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson and Reggie Jackson. Corey Seager is definitely trying to join that list.
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) November 1, 2023
Seager, of course, won the award back with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, top 2nd
Garver grounds out to finally end the inning, but the Rangers just did a lot of damage and all of it with two outs.
Updated
Two-run home run! (Seager) Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks
Rangers 5-0 Diamondbacks, top 2nd
Well, that bullpen move didn’t work. Seager hits a mammoth home run to center. That’s a two-run blast and this one might be getting out of hand early for Arizona. That’s his third home run of the World Series and every single one has been a backbreaker for the Diamondbacks!
Lefthander Kyle Nelson is the next reliever out of the pen. He’ll be facing Seagar with Semien now on third.
2 RBI triple! (Semien) Rangers 3-0 Diamondbacks
Rangers 3-0 Diamondbacks, top 2nd
Castro’s getting roughed up here. He hangs a slider to Semien who hits a mammoth triple to score both of the runs on base! The Rangers take a three-run lead and the Diamondbacks dig back into their bullpen.
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top 2nd
Travis Jankowski singles to center, so there’s runners on first and second now with two out.
Run-scoring wild pitch! (Heim) Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks
Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top 2nd
Leody Taveras is up to try to salvage the leadoff double. He works a full count off of Castro and, in the meantime, Castro throws a wild pitch that Heim scores on. Taveras walks at the end of the at-bat, meaning there’s a run in, a runner on first and still two outs in the inning.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top 2nd
Castro’s first two pitches to Heim are out of the zone. 2-0. Heim takes the next pitch, but this one’s a called strike. 2-1. Heim fouls the next pitch off. 2-2. One high changeup later, it’s a full count. 3-2. Heim grounds out. Jung takes second on the play, but there are two outs in the inning.
With Jonah Heim up, the Diamondbacks make their first of many pitching changes. It looks as though they want righthander Miguel Castro.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top 2nd
Nathaniel Lowe is up and then he’s down, striking out on three pitches. That is, uh, not a productive out with a runner on second and nobody out.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top 2nd
Mantiply is back out for the second inning, facing Josh Jung. We’ll see how many outs Arizona will attempt to get out of their opener here. On a 2-2 count, Jung hits a ball into the outfield that makes it all the way to the wall. Jung is in with a double and the Rangers have their first hit of the game.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 1st
Christian Walker is up with two out and a runner on third. I wonder if the Diamondbacks are going to attempt a steal here and Marte takes off! And Jonah Heim throws him out! That’s a caught stealing to end the inning! To the second!
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Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 1st
Gabriel Moreno falls behind early against Heaney and eventually strikes out swinging. That’s two straight k’s for Heaney.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 1st
Heaney faces Corbin Carroll next and gets him to strike out swinging on three pitches for the first out of the bottom of the inning.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom 1st
Andrew Heaney faces Ketel Marte to start the bottom of the first. Heaney’s first pitch is a ball. 1-0. Heaney falls behind 2-1, a hitter’s count, and he rifles the next pitch into centerfield for a leadoff hit.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top 1st
Evan Carter is up with two out and one on. Carter’s reached base in every postseason game so far but he’ll need work to keep up this street as he flies out to the center on an 0-2 count. That’s the end of the top of the first, the Diamondbacks will have their first turn to bat next.
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top 1st
Mitch Garver is up next. He swings and misses at a changeup, takes a ball and then swings and misses at a curve that just touches the corner. He’s promptly down 1-2 and forced to revert into “staying alive” mode. He fouls off the next offering. The next pitch is far too high and Garver lays off. 2-2. The next pitch is a curve off the corner, so he’s worked a full count. The next pitch is a ball and the Rangers have their first baserunner thanks to a base on balls.
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Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top 1st
Corey Seager is up and immediately flies out after being booed lustily by the Arizona crowd.
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Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top 1st
Mantiply falls behind 3-1 before Semien swings and misses to make it a full count. He fouls off the next two pitches before grounding out to shortstop for the first out of the game.
First pitch
Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top 1st
Marcus Semien swings and misses at Joe Mantiply’s first pitch to start Game 4 of the World Series. Mantiply ahead of the count 0-1.
1-0 D-Backs, walk off HBP incoming :D
— Richard #FBPE Woods (@gasheadforever) October 31, 2023
The funniest possible outcome here, which means it’s on the table.
Alright, we’re getting close to the official start time! Real baseball coming soon.
National anthem
I will always love Mickey Guyton. 8/10
Performing tonight's national anthem, country music star @MickeyGuyton
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 31, 2023
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/EcEG9qsWsp
Updated
@HunterFelt Welcome back! Neither Mantiply nor Heaney inspire total confidence so potentially a huge drain on both bullpens and a high scoring game, at least in the earlier innings, is my prediction. What do you think?
— Richard #FBPE Woods (@gasheadforever) October 31, 2023
100%. I recommend putting on some coffee to stay up for this one, because this probably will be the longest nine-inning game of the series. I suppose it could go to extra innings, but it definitely feels like one of those game that won’t be close. I know, famous last words.
Predictions
This was a harder prediction before today’s injury news. The Rangers have the ability to do major damage to any bullpen but that’s also their key weakness, as the Diamondbacks proved in their lopsided victory in Game 2.
It feels like it might come down to the fact that Scherzer had to leave yesterday’s game in the third inning with a back injury. With the exception of the utterly unreliable Chapman, who allowed the only Arizona run and nearly blew the game, Texas’s bullpen did a remarkable job of keeping the Diamondbacks’ batters at bay. The Rangers have now rattled off nine straight road wins in the postseason, a MLB record.
I’m guessing that streak ends today, especially with Texas missing García. While this should be a back-and-forth affair, with the Rangers having a shot until the final innings when the Diamondbacks pull away. I’m guessing something like a 10-7 Arizona win. The only thing I guarantee is that it won’t be a pitching duel.
Your predictions? Send them to us either by email (to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com) or by using Twitter/X/The Bird Site/Whatever You Call It These Days (to @HunterFelt). We’ll incorporate them throughout today’s liveblog.
Diamondbacks lineup
1. Ketel Marte, 2B
2. Corbin Carroll, RF
3. Gabriel Moreno, C
4. Christian Walker, 1B
5. Tommy Pham, DH
6. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., LF
7. Alek Thomas, CF
8. Emmanuel Rivera, 3B
9. Geraldo Perdomo, SS
Starting pitcher: Joe Mantiply
For the first time this postseason, Evan Longoria is out, replaced by Emmanuel Rivera at third.
Rangers starting lineup
1. Marcus Semien, 2B
2. Corey Seager, SS
3. Mitch Garver, DH
4. Evan Carter, LF
5. Josh Jung, 3B
6. Nathaniel Lowe, 1b
7. Jonah Heim, C
8. Leody Taveras, CF
8. Josh Jung, 3B
9. Travis Jankowski, RF
Starting pitcher: Andrew Heaney
Obviously, Jankowski is in for García
Adolis García out
As one probably would have guessed after witnessing his injury late in Game 3, Adolis García will be out for today’s game and for the remainder of the World Series.
Both Adolis Garcia and Max Scherzer have been removed from the Texas Rangers’ roster due to injuries. They are out for the remainder of the World Series. Utilityman Ezequiel Duran and left-handed reliever Brock Burke will replace them.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 31, 2023
Not to state the obvious, but this is a huge loss for the Rangers, given that García already set the postseason RBI record earlier this series. Meanwhile losing Scherzer, although a lesser concern, seriously hurts Texas’s already-thin pitching depth.
Preamble
Welcome to Game 4 of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Our first major news update: It’s Halloween! It’s Halloween!
It’s time for scares. For instance, the Rangers losing both clutch outfielder Adolis García and starting pitcher Max Scherzer to injuries on their way to a 3-1 victory in yesterday’s Game 3.
It’s time for screams! For instance, the screams of Diamondbacks fans should they go on to lose two straight home games to fall into a 3-1 deficit.
The big reason the Rangers have taken a 2-1 World Series lead has been Corey Seager. Seager hit a two-run homer to give Texas a lead in Game 3 and he helped preserve it by helping turn a dazzling double play to help Aroldis Chapman out of late-inning trouble. Combined with his series changing game-tying blast in Game 1, he’s showing early signs of being World Series MVP should the Rangers manage to win. Certainly, they’ll need him to keep this up given that García is now a question mark for the rest of the series.
Also this Halloween we will have one of the scariest things imaginable for baseball purist: a bullpen game! In theory, the Rangers are starting little used Andrew Heaney (a 6.00 ERA in 6.0 innings pitched) while the Diamondbacks are sticking with key reliever Joe Mantiply (a 4.26 ERA in 6.1 innings pitched).
As you can tell by those innings pitched numbers, these are less “starters” than “openers.” Heaney and Mantiply will only be the first pitchers to emerge from what will most likely be an endless revolving door of relievers. Game 4 will come down to which team can best take advantage of the other team’s bullpen. If the Diamondbacks pull through, they will even the series out at 2-2 ensuring that the World Series lasts at least six games. If the Rangers win, they will put Arizona on the verge of elimination with a chance to clinch a championship in tomorrow’s Game 5.
Who will emerge victorious? We’ll find out in a few hours here. Until then, feel free to send us your thoughts, commentary, jokes and questions and we’ll use them throughout today’s liveblog. You can email them to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or Tweet them to @HunterFelt.
It’s the Texas Rangers vs the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field for Game 4 of the 2023 World Series. First pitch is scheduled at 8:03 PM EST but we’ll be back well before then with further updates.
Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s the report from Game 3 on Monday night.
