ARLINGTON, Texas – After a gripping Game 1 of the World Series at Globe Life Field, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ top brass, including manager Torey Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen, congregated deep into the night, attempting to decipher the Texas Rangers’ riddle. As the evening unfolded, it became evident that the Diamondbacks were grappling with two monumental moments – swings that might tilt the destiny of this series.
Arizona was on the cusp of seizing Game 1’s momentum, but the bullpen, which had been impervious for the entirety of the postseason, faltered at a critical juncture. While the golden rules of October baseball are clear – avoid walks and keep the stars silent – it’s an entirely different ballgame when the stakes are this elevated.
On this electrifying Friday night, the spotlight wasn’t kind to the Diamondbacks’ closer Paul Sewald. He found himself in the unenviable company of those who’ve let World Series games slip through their fingers. Corey Seager, with a swing as brutal as it was beautiful, sent a Sewald fastball soaring, leveling the score with a clutch two-run homer in the ninth. Then, Adolis García etched his name into Rangers’ folklore, hitting the game-winning homer in the 11th. If the Rangers clinch their maiden World Series title, these heroics will be replayed for generations. However, Sewald will likely replay his unintentional walk to No. 9 batter Leody Taveras in his mind, wondering what might have been.
Sewald lamented, “Facing Seager, one of the league’s elite, with a man on is far from ideal.” But this only underscores the harsh truth for Arizona: while they bulldozed past teams like the Brewers and Dodgers and eked out a win against Philadelphia, the Rangers, with Seager and García in scintillating form, are an entirely different beast.
Kyle Nelson, who managed to keep the game alive post-Sewald, remarked, “The challenge with teams like the Rangers is that even their secondary players can turn the tide.” Taveras’s World Series entry, boasting a .354 OBP, stands testament to that.
Contrast this with the Phillies’ No. 9, Johan Rojas, whose postseason has been underwhelming with a mere .114 OBP. This highlights the depth and prowess of the Texas lineup, bolstered by Seager’s staggering .438 OBP and García’s record-breaking 22 postseason RBIs.
As the Diamondbacks prepare for Game 2, Lovullo reflects, “We’re here in the World Series because we’re among the best. We need to trust our strategy and deliver.”
The Diamondbacks’ game plan, dominant for weeks, was momentarily derailed. Yet, as Sewald optimistically notes, tomorrow presents an opportunity for redemption: “I yearn for a similar situation in Game 2, hoping for a different outcome and a victory for us.”