ARLINGTON, Texas — Of all the games for Nathan Eovaldi to have a less than optimal start in the postseason, Game 1 of the World Series was not one that the Texas Rangers were hoping for. Ultimately, Eovaldi’s hiccup just added to the drama in what would become one of the biggest victories in franchise history.
With Eovaldi’s splitter not having the same nasty bite that he had enjoyed throughout October, and with the Arizona Diamondbacks thriving while using their brand of swarming small ball, it appeared that Texas was doomed to a worrisome 0-1 start in the Fall Classic.
But Corey Seager and Adolis Garcia had other plans for Texas’ first World Series game at Globe Life Field.
Where we stand
Bullpen Lockdown – Even though Eovaldi didn’t have it for Game 1, the Rangers came out and showed an improbable strength – the bullpen. After Eovaldi was lifted after giving up five runs in 4 ⅔ innings, a combination of Dane Dunning, Cody Bradford, Jon Gray, and Will Smith combined to keep the Diamondbacks off the board and give the Rangers’ bats a chance to make up a 5-3 deficit heading into the 9th. Jose Leclerc also came up large, as he was able to throw two scoreless innings to keep the game tied in extras.
Savior Seager – Paul Sewald throws an Invisi-ball. It’s a fastball that appears to rise from the moment it leaves the pitcher’s hand. The Rangers have faced one other Invisi-ball thrower – Cristian Javier. In Game 7 of the Championship Series, Seager saw that Invisi-ball from Javier and drove it deep into the second deck in right field at Minute Maid Park.
In the bottom of the 9th, with the Rangers down by two and with No. 9 hitter Leody Taveras having drawn a clutch lead-off walk, Sewald threw a first-pitch Invisi-ball to Seager.
The All-Star shortstop deposited it just below the second deck in right field at Globe Life Field. It tied the game and sent Arlington, Texas into a frenzy.
The Legend of El Bombi – After tying a postseason RBI record with 21 by plating Evan Carter with a base hit in the 1st inning, Garcia decided he would bookend the evening by establishing a new MLB postseason RBI record.
Garcia accomplished the new mark by cranking a signature opposite field home run to the right field bleachers. The legend of the ALCS MVP continued to grow in Game 1 as he hit the first game-winning home run in the opener of a World Series since Kirk Gibson’s famed Game 1 winner in 1988.
Game 2 match-up
Arizona Diamondbacks (0-1) @ Texas Rangers (1-0), 7:03 PM CST. Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas – Broadcast on FOX
Starting Pitchers – RHP Merrill Kelly (2-1, 2.65 ERA) vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery (3-0, 2.16 ERA)
Where Zac Gallen hasn’t been pitching in the postseason like the ace he was during the regular season, Merrill Kelly has been rolling along, pitching even better in October than he did over the summer. The 35-year old, who’s only been in the major leagues and with the Diamondbacks for five years, was 12-8 with a 3.29 ERA in 2023. Down the stretch, he had one clunker of a start in the middle of the month, but otherwise gave up one run in four September starts and two in one other. He was excellent for the Snakes, helping them to get to the Wild Card spot.
Once the postseason kicked off, Kelly didn’t pitch until he got the nod for the Division Series opening game. In that game, against the feared Los Angeles Dodgers, Kelly held the NL West champions scoreless for 6 ⅓ innings. He next pitched against the defending National League champion Phillies in the NLCS and took a Game 2 loss, giving up four runs in 5 ⅔ innings.
When the series went back to Philadelphia, Kelly was able to hold the Phillies to just one run in five innings, to pick up the Game 6 victory that helped to propel Arizona to the World Series. Kelly has only faced the Rangers once, in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, holding that team to one run in 7 ⅔ innings. Obviously, the Texas lineup that Kelly will see in Game 2 is much, much different.
Jordan Montgomery has been neck and neck with Eovaldi for Texas’ best starter this postseason. Down the stretch for the Rangers, the 30-year old lefty was the most consistent pitcher since coming over from St. Louis at the trade deadline. In the regular season, Montgomery was 10-11 with a 3.20 ERA, often being a hard-luck loser and pitching when the offense wasn’t at its best. After two subpar starts in September, Montgomery settled in and gave up just two runs in his final four starts of the season.
In the postseason, Montgomery took the ball for Texas in the Wild Card Series opener. In that game, he held the Tampa Bay Rays, a team known for hitting lefties, to zero runs over seven innings, setting the tone for the Rangers to begin their October journey. Montgomery had a less ideal outing against the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS, giving up four runs in four innings, but he then rebounded to pitch well three times against the Houston Astros, another team that hit lefties well.
The lefty threw 6 ⅓ scoreless and 5 ⅓ innings of two-run ball in his two starts and then came on in relief of Max Scherzer in Game 7 to keep the Astros off the board for 2 ⅓ innings on the way to the Rangers clinching a trip to the World Series.
Montgomery faced the Diamondbacks twice, once with St. Louis, once with Texas. Earlier in the season, as a Cardinal, he gave up seven runs in four innings. However, as a Ranger in mid-August, Montgomery went eight innings and held the Snakes scoreless.
Avoid or Continue
Continue: Getting on base for Adolis – With his RBI in the 1st, Garcia drove in his 21st run this October. With that, he not only extended his hitting and RBI streak to seven games, but he also tied the Major League record for most RBIs in a single postseason. In the 11th, he would break the record with his walk-off solo home run.
The presence of the American League Championship Series MVP is strong, but with Garcia riding a hot streak in the middle of the lineup throughout the postseason, he just needs people on base in front of him. Just get in scoring position and El Bombi will do the rest.
Avoid: Letting the snakes run wild – In the regular season, All-Star Jonah Heim caught 24 runners trying to steal, good for a 29% rate. He solidified himself as one of the best defensive catchers in the game and is up for a Gold Glove award. But the Diamondbacks were one of the best baserunning teams in the game and they challenged Heim’s arm in Game 1, stealing four bases in the first six innings, a strategy that largely contributed to Arizona getting things going for five runs.
Continue: Making all the right moves – Bruce Bochy again seemed to be a master Fall Classic tactician as he navigated an ineffective starter and ultimately the need for 6 ⅓ innings from his much-maligned bullpen and came away victorious.
Bochy used five relievers to get those 6 ⅓ scoreless innings. Now comes the tricky part. Everyone had days of rest ahead of Game 1. In Game 2, Bochy might not be working with a full deck, especially as closer Jose Leclerc was asked to pitch the two extra inning frames, which took 26 pitches.
Montgomery going deep in the game could solve a lot of problems but Bochy will need to be prepared to continue working his bullpen magic. If he finds the right combination again, Texas could be looking at a 2-0 lead before the series relocates to Arizona.
Do you think the Rangers will secure a 2-0 lead in Game 2 of the World Series? Share your predictions with Matt on Twitter @FisherWritesMLB.
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