Rangers take back series lead with win over D-backs
The Texas Rangers continued their dominance on the road this October — and made history while doing so.
With Monday night’s 3-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 3 of the World Series, Texas took a 2-1 series lead and also became the first team in MLB history to win nine road games in a single postseason, doing so in consecutive fashion.
The win did not come without concern for the Rangers, though, as Max Scherzer left after three innings with back tightness and star slugger Adolis Garcia exited in the eighth inning with left side tightness.
We have all the action from Game 3, from in-game updates and analysis to takeaways and more from after the final pitch.
Key links: Full playoffs schedule and results
Takeaways
Texas: Perhaps the biggest question for the Rangers in this postseason centered on how they were going to bridge the gap to their high-leverage relievers. Jon Gray has played a big part in that. The starter turned temporary reliever recorded five critical outs out of the bullpen in a Game 1 win and took it a step further in the Game 3 victory — checking into emergency relief after Scherzer sustained a back injury and shutting the Diamondbacks down for three innings, handing the game directly to Josh Sborz, Aroldis Chapman and Jose Leclerc. Depending on the seriousness of Scherzer’s back injury, which was described by the team as tightness, it might be Gray who starts a potential Game 7. The Rangers would be just fine with that. — Alden Gonzalez
Arizona: Perhaps the baserunning gaffe by Christian Walker in the bottom of the second was a turning point, or maybe the Diamondbacks were just off their game at the plate for most of the night. Either way, their inability to string things together — especially after Scherzer left the game — is a hard one to figure. Somewhat surprisingly, Gray shut them down after being called into emergency duty. Usually, hitters smell blood in the water when a pitcher has to enter the game unexpectedly, but the Diamondbacks’ at-bats didn’t improve. They’ve had such good ones most of this postseason that when they fail to, it stands out. There is some advantage heading into Game 4 though, as the Rangers used up key relievers to get through nine innings. What was slated as just a bullpen game for the home team Tuesday is now one for both. — Jesse Rogers
One big question: Will Adolis Garcia play again in the World Series? The American League Championship Series MVP and Game 1 walk-off home run hero left Game 3 after the top of the eighth inning, when he grabbed at his left side following a swing. The Rangers later announced he was removed with left side tightness. Garcia has been the best player this postseason. Losing him from the middle of the lineup — he has hit cleanup most days but batted third Monday — would be a massive blow. And while Travis Jankowski, his replacement in right, had a career year with the bat and is more than competent at all three outfield positions, Garcia is a foundational piece of a Rangers team that it can ill afford to lose. — Jeff Passan
One big number: 1.000. That’s Corey Seager’s slugging percentage during the postseason on first pitches. That number leapt to 1.600 during the World Series after he went deep on a Brandon Pfaadt fastball in the third inning of Game 3 for a two-run jack. Three of Seager’s five playoff homers have come on first pitches, including two against Arizona, and he’s got six first-pitch RBIs this October. This suggests two things: The Rangers need to keep getting men on base for Seager and when they do, the Diamondbacks need to treat him with kid gloves. — Bradford Doolittle
