The Diamondbacks pull off a comeback victory over the Phillies to claim the National League pennant and a World Series matchup against the Rangers.
In Philadelphia On August 11, 74 days before his team won the National League pennant in an unlikely, month-long ambush of their more-touted rivals with a 4-2 victory across the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 7 during the National League Championship Series, Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo peered toward the abyss.
When the Diamondbacks dropped their tenth game in a row two months ago, the prospect seemed remote.
The team was no longer in control of the NL West. Postseason prospects appeared to be dwindling. Lovullo added, “We’ve got to turn this thing around. “Somehow. In some way.
The Diamondbacks’ comeback wasn’t very impressive. The club’s winning streak was broken the next day. The next day, they triumphed once more. For the remainder of the month, they had more victories than losses.
They managed to win just enough games in September to earn the sixth and final playoff seed. They had a run differential than suggested they should have lost more games while having an 84-win team. However, they had a ticket for a dance.
All Lovullo’s team needed was that. A team with this much regular-season success hasn’t made it to the World Series since the 83-game winning St. Louis Cardinals in 2006.
You understand what I mean? There is nothing sweeter than listening to a wise man in New York chomp on his own words.
Russo’s statement, in Lovullo’s opinion, followed a pattern of this postseason: “There’s an overriding theme there that we, A, don’t deserve the opportunity to play here, B, that we’re going to have our butts kicked, and, C, there’s bullies throughout the National League who can manhandle us,” he said.
The Diamondbacks had +5000 (50-to-1) odds of prevailing in the World Series when the postseason began. Of all the playoff teams, the Miami Marlins’ odds were the longest.
The Rangers have the second-longest odds with any American League postseason club at +1800.
The early favorite to win the World Series MVP award was Corey Seager. Seager has a +500. Next in the odds are Adolis Garca (+600), Ketel Marte (+900), Corbin Carroll (+1100), and Marcus Semien (+1400).
World Series Schedule
- Game 1: Friday, 27 October – Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
- Game 2: Saturday, 28 October – Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
- Game 3: Monday, 30 October – Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
- Game 4: Tuesday, 31 October – Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
- Game 5: Wednesday, 1 November – Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona
- Game 6: Friday, 3 November – Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
- Game 7: Saturday 4, November – Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
Arizona emphasized the value of scoring quickly to calm the crowd. The opening inning of Tuesday’s game saw the team finish that goal. Corbin Carroll, a rookie outfielder, hit on infield single.
Gabriel Moreno, a rookie catcher, singled to right field. Christian Walker’s groundout allowed Carroll to score as he quickly advanced from the starting position to third and beat out a pair of errors by lunging through the bag.
The mob was re-gathered by Bohm. He struck a raised sinker from Pfaadt. The left-field seats were where the baseball landed.
Bohm had only registered two extra-base hits all season. The timing was flawless. To cheer for Bohm, Harper got out of the dugout. In order to encourage the fans, Schwarber jumped over the railing.
After outfielder Marsh singled to start the third inning and moved up on outfielder Johan Rojas’ bunt, Schwarber had an opportunity to keep the crowd happy. Pfaadt, however, kept his composure and fanned Schwarber once more.
Near the bottom of the playing zone, Pfaadt spotted a 2-2 sinker that was sufficiently near for umpire Adam Hamari to call Schwarber out.
Trea Turner, the shortstop, grounded the sweeper into the ground to strand Marsh, ending the inning.