PHOENIX — Considering that both the D-backs and Rangers were undefeated this postseason when scoring first, preventing runs is just as important as plating them. Texas showed how lockdown defense can bolster a quick offensive turnaround early in Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night at Chase Field.
Rangers starter Max Scherzer allowed a leadoff double in the second inning to D-backs first baseman Christian Walker, followed by a single to designated hitter Tommy Pham. As Pham’s hit dropped into right field, Walker tested the arm of Adolis García by charging around third base. García delivered on defense as fervently as he has on offense — he fired the ball to catcher Jonah Heim at 94.6 mph, the second-fastest World Series outfield assist since Statcast started tracking in 2015. The only harder one was by Hunter Renfroe in ’20 with the Rays against the Dodgers.
Scherzer got left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to pop out to second baseman Marcus Semien for the second out, setting up a unique conclusion to the inning. Center fielder Alek Thomas hit a chopper to the mound that bounced off Scherzer’s back and ricocheted toward third baseman Josh Jung, who nabbed Thomas on the throw to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe.
Having halted the D-backs from gaining early momentum, the Rangers capitalized. Lowe opened the third inning with a double off righty Brandon Pfaadt, and Semien drove in Lowe with a two-out line-drive single.
Shortstop Corey Seager kept his foot on the gas by pummeling the hardest-hit home run in the World Series since Statcast started recording — a 114.5-mph, 421-foot blast to right field off a first-pitch changeup. Seager tied Carlos Correa for the second-most home runs by a shortstop in postseason history (18), trailing only Derek Jeter (20).
The Rangers have homered in 14 straight postseason games, a record for a single postseason.
