Rangers vs Diamondbacks summary online: stats, scores and highlights | MLB World Series Game 5 highlights
Texas Rangers win first title in franchise history
Dam breaks late as Rangers overwhelm D-backs
Arizona was spectacular tonight. Zac Gallen was unhittable and they threatened to score at every opportunity. It seemed that it was only a matter of time before the floodwall would break. And break it did, starting with a drip in the seventh before gushing in the ninth. But it was the Rangers, and not the D-backs, who broke through.
Texas played this game much as they have the entire series, and for that matter, the entire 2023 season. They bent, they gave, they wobbled, but in the end they rose up and steamrolled all opposition.
A pitching duel for much of the night, the Rangers scored a single run in the seventh inning to take a lead. The ninth inning saw them do what they have done to everyone in baseball this year: tack on runs in bunches. They added four on back to back to back singles and a home run. They were helped along with an uncharacteristic fielding error, but that is the thing. The Rangers will always make you pay for your mistakes.
Nathan Eovaldi was under pressure for nearly every inning, finding runners in scoring position in four of his six innings pitched. He gave up four hits and five walks, but crucially no runs. That is the essence of the Rangers. Let your opponent run around the bases, but when it really counts, shut them down.
While a fair amount of loud dissent has been heard from the disgruntled Dodger and Yankee nation, with a healthy dose of Astros and Phillies fans joining the chorus that this World Series has somehow been less than one with big-market teams in it might be, the reality is that after all has been said and done, the best team in baseball has won the World Series. The Rangers have been the team to beat since April. They have sat atop the AL West for nearly all of the season and have gotten their just reward with this victory.
In taking the title, the Rangers put to an end the longest title drought in the game. Created as the expansion Washington Senators in 1961, they moved to Arlington in 1972 and rebranded themselves as the Rangers.
Manager Bruce Bochy joins an exclusive club of truly great managers, and has made certain, if it wasn't before, of his inclusion in Cooperstown. He now joins Connie Mack, Joe Torre, Joe McCarthy, and Walter Alston as the only managers to have won at least four World Series titles. Bochy is the only one to have done it with three different teams.
In winning the MVP award, Corey Seager becomes only the fourth player to accomplish that feat more than once. The others are Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, and Reggie Jackson. Only Jackson and Seager have done it with more than one team and only Seager has done it in both leagues.
The 2023 World Series has been amazing, and if you love baseball then it has been a wild ride. Game 1 will go down in history as perhaps the best opening salvo ever. And in Texas, this finally puts a ghost to rest.
GOODBYE!
That is going to do it for our live coverage of the 2023 World Series as the Rangers pull off their historic win. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!
Keep abreast of all MLB and sports news with Diario AS USA as we bring you off season trade rumors and deals, and gear up for 2024 Spring training. Until next time!
Corey Seager's peers
Multiple World Series MVP winners:
Sandy Koufax
Bob Gibson
Reggie Jackson
Corey Seager
Corey and Reggie are the only two to do it with multiple teams. Corey is the only one to do it in both leagues.
Corey Seager is special
The fourth position player ever to win World Series MVP more than once.
Exclusive
The list of managers who have won over 2000 games and at least 4 World Series titles:
Connie Mack
Joe Torre
Joe McCarthy
Walter Alston
and now Bruce Bochy
RANGERS WIN! WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!
Ketel Marte the hitter and he falls behind in the count 1-2.
The fastball misses 2-2
A beautiful curve ball hits the top of the zone for strike three! The Rangers win the World Series!
Corbin Carroll the hitter and he pops a high foul ball behind the plate. Heim gets under it and puts it away. Two gone!
Bottom 9th
Geraldo Perdomo leads off and the D-backs are down to their last three outs. He watches two strikes fall in there before taking a curve for ball one. 1-2
Perdomo fouls a fastball back. Still 1-2
A curveball is called strike three. That was a bit low!
Evan Carter up now and he falls behind in the count 1-2.
He fights his way back into it and the count runs full. The payoff delivery from Sewald is foul tipped into the catcher's mitt to end the inning.
But the flood gates open and Texas tack on four more. Going into the bottom of the ninth, it is Texas 5, Arizona 0
Corey Seager the hitter and he check swings a soft one to third. There is no chance of a play and Seager is in with an infield hit.
MARCUS SEMIEN HOME RUN!
Marcus Semien the hitter and he smashes a huge shot to left center field! It is gone! A two run home run for Semien and the Rangers are off and running!
Travis Jankowski up now and he grounds one to short. Perdomo goes to first and it is two out.
Leody Taveras the hitter and he goes down swinging on three pitches.
RANGERS SCORE!
Jonah Heim the hitter now and he pokes a single to center field! Alek Thomas misses it and it rolls to the wall! Josh Jung scores. Nathaniel Lowe scores. Jonah Heim is in at third on a fielding error! The Rangers have broken it open!
Nathaniel Lowe up now and he rips a single to left. Back to back hits! Jung is at second.
Top 9th
Josh Jung leads off for the Rangers as Emmanuel Rivera takes over on third base. He jumps on the first pitch and rips a single to center.
Pitching change
Paul Sewald takes over on the mound for Arizona.
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Sborz delivers a curve that misses low. Smith watches a fastball that catches the corner and the count evens. 1-1
Smith fouls off the high heat. 1-2
A curve in the dirt and the count is 2-2
Smith stays alive, fouling off a fastball. The 2-2 again.
A gorgeous backdoor curve from Sborz catches the corner for a called strike three!
Pinch hitter
Pavin Smith will hit for Evan Longoria
Alek Thomas the hitter and he fouls one off before ripping a shot up the middle for a two out single.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr up now and he chops the first pitch to short for Corey Seager. The 6-3 play and it is two gone.
Bottom 8th
Tommy Pham leads off for the D-backs and he takes a ball in the dirt for ball one. A slider gets away from Sborz for ball two. A fastball floats on him and it is 3-0
Pham watches a fastball land in there for a strike. Another fastball is fouled back and the count is full.
Sborz's payoff delivery gets Pham swinging for strike three.
Mitch Garver the hitter and he takes a ball and a strike before fouling one off. He falls behind in the count 1-2.
Ginkel misses low and the count levels 2-2
Garver taps a soft, broken bat roller to short. Perdomo goes to first and the D-backs get out of a real tight spot!
Evan Carter up now and he watches a fastball low for ball one. Ginkel goes upstairs and misses. 2-0
Carter is taking all the way and a sinker lands in there for strike one. He takes another one for strike two!
A huge curve ball gets him swinging for strike three.
Corey Seager the batter and he fouls back the first one.
Another slider, another foul. 0-2
Seager takes a fastball high and Ginkel goes right back to it, same result. The count is evened up 2-2
A slider in the dirt and it is full. The payoff delivery misses low and the bases are loaded!
Marcus Semien up now and he takes a low slider for a ball. Ginkel's fastball is fouled back. 1-1
A sinker is slapped the other way into right field and Jankowski goes to second.
Travis Jankowski the hitter now and he watches a fastball and slider in the dirt for balls before a fastball catches the bottom rung.
The next two miss low and Jankowski draws the walk.
Top 8th
Leody Taveras leads off and he tries to lay a bunt down for a hit but Evan Longoria makes a huge play and they get him by half a step.
Christian Walker will face the new pitcher and he takes a slider away for ball one.
Sborz puts one in the dirt and it is 2-0
A fastball high is fouled back. 2-1
Walker lifts a slider into center field but Taveras is there to put it away.
After seven complete, it is Rangers 1, Diamondbacks 0
Pitching change
Chapman has faced his three batters and now John Sborz will take over.
Gabriel Moreno the hitter and Chapman misses outside. That is five straight balls.
Another one catches the strike zone. 1-1
He is throwing all heat, everything 100mph, but struggling with control.
Another one low and Moreno fouls it back. 1-2
Chapman goes up high and gets Moreno swinging for strike three. That one was 101mph!
Ketel Marte up now and he takes three 100mph fastballs outside and the count is 3-0
The fourth one misses inside and Marte draws the walk.
Bottom 7th
Corbin Carroll leads off and he lifts the second delivery to left field but right at Carter. One away.
Pitching change
A bruised and battered but not broken Nathan Eovaldi gives way to Aroldis Chapman
Jonah Heim the hitter now with Garver at second and Lowe at first and two outs. He skies a pop foul behind the plate and Moreno gets under it to end the inning.
Minimal damage for the Diamondbacks as they hold the Rangers to just one run.
Nathaniel Lowe will face the new pitcher with men on the corners and one out. Ginkel's delivery misses high for ball one.
He drops a slider in and it is 1-1.
The fastball misses in for a ball. 2-1
Lowe chops one to first and Walker goes to the plate with the throw. They get Lowe in a rundown. He tries to shake them but there is no way out of this. Garver goes to second.
Pitching change
That is going to be it for Zac Gallen and he has been outstanding today. Yes he is on the wrong side of the scoreline right now but he carried a no-hitter into the seventh and was absolutely lights out for most of that.
Torey Lovullo will bring on Kevin Ginkel to take over.
Josh Jung the hitter and he swings at a curve for strike one. He fouls the second delivery off and it is 0-2
Gallen goes up and in with the fastball and Jung swings through it to strike out.
RANGERS SCORE
Mitch Garver the hitter and he fouls the first pitch back. Strike one.
He rips a single up the middle! Seager scores from third! Carter moves to third! The Rangers draw first blood!
Double
Evan Carter up now and he watches a fastball outside. He rips the curve into the gap in right center field and Carter is in with a double. Seager advances to third on the play.
Top 7th
Corey Seager leads off for the Rangers and he watches a ball outside to start. A curve gets him swinging at strike one. That curve is fouled off and he is behind 1-2.
Gallen delivers another curve and Seager pokes it through to left for a single. That is the first hit for Texas today and he has broken up the no-hitter.
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Geraldo Perdomo the hitter and he fouls off the first one. The splitter misses low and it is 1-1.
Eovaldi lands a curve in there for a called strike two.
That fabulous cutter is called strike three!
Evan Longoria up now and he fouls back the first one. A great splitter gets him to chase and the count is 0-2
Another beautiful splitter gets Longoria to chase again and he goes down swinging. Two gone
Bottom 6th
Alek Thomas leads off for the D-backs and the splitter is in there for a strike. The second pitch is fouled down the left field side. 0-2
A curve is fouled down the other side and it is still 0-2
Evo goes back to the splitter and it is fouled back. Still 0-2
Thomas taps one back to the mound and Eovaldi flips it to first for the out.
Marcus Semien the hitter and he watches a cutter outside for ball one. Gallen goes after him with the fastball and he fouls it off. Another fastball, another foul. 1-2
Gallen tries it again and again Semien fouls it off.
Gallen tries the curve and misses low and it is 2-2.
A slider is fouled off Semien's leg and we do the 2-2 again.
The seventh pitch of the at bat is blown past Semien, who can't catch up to the fastball for strike three.
Gallen is on fire tonight!
Travis Jankowski up now and he works the count to 3-1 before lifting it to left for Gurriel. Two gone.
Top 6th
Leody Taveras leads off for Texas and he grounds the first delivery to second for the easy out at first by Marte.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr up now and the bases are loaded with two outs. This is the biggest threat that Arizona have made today, and they have threatened every inning.
Gurriel bounces the first pitch to short. Seager is there, makes the throw to first and somehow, the Rangers get out of another jam!
After five complete innings, the game is still scoreless! Texas 0, Arizona 0
Pham takes a fastball in the dirt and it is 2-1.
Eovaldi misses outside and the count is 3-1.
A splitter misses low and Pham walks to load the bases.
Stolen base
Tommy Pham the hitter now with two out and men on the corners. He fouls off the first pitch and it is 0-1.
The second delivery is outside and Walker takes second without a throw.
Christian Walker up now and he smacks the first pitch into right field for a single! Marte advances to third on the play.
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Gabriel Moreno the hitter and he takes a called strike one. Eovaldi's second delivery just misses outside and it is 1-1
The cutter catches the bottom edge and it is 1-2
Moreno is jelly legged by a beautiful fastball for strike three.
Ketel Marte up now and he holds off an outside splitter for ball one. Evo goes back there and Marte swings through it. 1-1
Eovaldi misses outside with a fastball for ball two before trying that splitter again and it just misses inside. 3-1
Another fastball is fouled back and the count is full. The payoff misses and Marte draws a walk.
Bottom 5th
Corbin Carroll leads off for the D-backs and he lifts the first pitch into right field, an easy play for Jankowski. One down.
Jonah Heim up now and he watches a fastball for a strike. Another fastball high is fouled off and it is 0-2.
Gallen climbs the ladder and Heim lays off it for ball one.
Another fastball is tapped foul. 1-2
Gallen goes back up with the fastball and it is fouled off again.
The 1-2 delivery is a curve in the dirt that Heim offers at to end the inning. He is having all kind of trouble at the plate!
Nathaniel Lowe the hitter and he watches a fastball down for ball one. The change up catches the bottom edge for. a strike. Another fastball misses low and Gallen tries the change up but it misses low as well. 3-1
Another fastball misses low and Lowe draws the walk.
Josh Jung up now and the fastball misses outside. Gallen goes inside with the change up and Jung swings through it. 1-1
Jung fouls the curve ball off and it is 1-2.
Gallen goes at him with a fastball up in the zone and Jung fouls that back too.
Jung pounds a deep blast to left center field! Gurriel covers a ton of ground and makes a spectacular catch the the warning track! That was special!
Top 5th
Mitch Garver leads thing off for the Rangers and he watches a fastball down the middle for strike one. The cutter misses outside and Gallen's curve gets Garver to chase for strike two.
Gallen tries it again but Garver holds off. 2-2
Garver fouls off a fastball to stay alive. Another fastball is fouled back and it is still 2-2.
Gallen goes back to the curve and Garver lifts it out to left field, pretty deep but Gurriel catches it just in front of the wall. One down.
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Geraldo Perdomo the batter and he watches a splitter for strike one. Another one misses outside and the count is 1-1.
Eovaldi tries to tempt him with a curve, but he doesn't bite. 2-1
Perdomo fouls off a high fastball and it is 2-2.
The curve misses high and the count is full.
Eovaldi's payoff pitch is an absolute gem! It catches the outside edge for a called strike three!
Double
Evan Longoria up now and Eovaldi's cutter misses outside. The fastball misses in the same area and it is 2-0.
Logoria pops a high fly ball down the right field line. It drops in and squirts to the foul area. Fair ball! He rounds first and is in with a two out double!
Alek Thomas the hitter and he watches a high fastball for strike one. Evo goes back there and Thomas fouls it back.
A curve ball misses low and the count is 1-2.
Eovaldi goes back up top with a cutter and Thomas fouls it back. We do the 1-2 again.
Thomas chops one to second for Semien, who makes the 4-3 throw. Two out.
Bottom 4th
Lourdes Gurriel Jr leads off for Arizona and he watches a cutter and curve miss outside. The 2-0 catches the bottom rung and it is 2-1.
Eovaldi delivers a fastball that Gurriel fouls off 2-2.
Gurriel lifts one into shallow left field, but Evan Carter charges and makes the catch. One away.
Evan Carter up now and he works the count full before chasing that beautiful curve for strike three.
Corey Seager the hitter and he taps the first pitch to second for Marte. The throw to first and it is two pitches, two outs.
Top 4th
Top of the Rangers order and Marcus Semien leads things off here in the fourth. He attacks the first pitch and rips it toward the gap at short. A diving catch from Perdomo! He makes a long throw and gets the out! What a play!
Tommy Pham up now and he rips the first pitch to short but right at Seager. The throw to first gets the Rangers out of a jam as the D-backs strand two more runners.
Christian Walker up now and the first delivery misses outside for ball one. The second pitch is in the dirt but well blocked by Heim.
A fastball is fouled off and it is 2-1.
Eovaldi goes high with a cutter and it is fouled off as well. 2-2
Walker fouls off a low splitter and we do the 2-2 again.
Eovaldi delivers a spectacular fastball that Walker can never catch up to. Two down.
Sacrifice bunt
Gabriel Moreno up now and he lays down a bunt on the first pitch. Eovaldi goes to first for the out but both runners advance 90 feet.
Ketel Marte the hitter now and he watches a splitter in the dirt for ball one. A fastball goes back down there and it is ball two. Heim tried a back pick but not in time to get Carroll.
Eovaldi misses low and the 3-0 delivery misses outside. Carroll was stealing on the play but the ball four negated it.
Bottom 3rd
Corbin Carroll leads off for the Diamondbacks and he attacks the first pitch putting it straight up the middle for a leadoff single.
Travis Jankowski the hitter and he chops the first delivery that he sees back up the middle but Perdomo is there. The 6-3 play ends the inning.
Leody Taveras up now and watches the first pitch low for a ball. The curveball catches that bottom rung and it is 1-1.
Another fastball misses outside and Gallen goes back to the curve. Fouled off and the count is even at 2-2.
Working that curve, Taveras lifts one out to center but right at Alek Thomas for out number two.
Top 3rd
Jonah Heim leads off for Texas and he jumps on the first delivery and grounds it to Marte. The throw to first and it is one out.
Geraldo Perdomo the hitter and he watches a curve fall in for a strike. A high fastball gets him swinging at strike two.
Eovaldi goes back up high but misses for ball one. Trying that low splitter, Evo misses again for ball two.
Perdomo fouls off the 2-2 delivery and we do it again.
The fastball is high and the count runs full.
Eovaldi's payoff delivery is lifted into right field but Travis Jankowski is there to end the inning.
After two innings, it is still scoreless here in Phoenix.
Evan Longoria up now and he raps the first pitch to left and Evan Carter makes a great diving catch! Two gone.
Alek Thomas the hitter now and he fouls back a low splitter for strike one. Another one is tipped for strike two. Same pitch, same spot.
Eovaldi misses high with a fastball. 1-2
Thomas reaches out for a low splitetr and chops it to second. It takes a high bounce and Seager's only play is to first for the out. Gurriel advances to second.
Bottom 2nd
Lourdes Gurriel Jr leads off for the D-backs in the second and he watches a fastball for a strike.
Gurriel fouls off a low cutter for strike two and he is in a hole 0-2.
Evo goes high with a heater and Gurriel smacks it back up the middle and into center for a leadoff single.
Nathaniel Lowe the hitter and he jumps on the first delivery, chopping it to second for Marte. The 4-3 play ends the inning and the Rangers go in order again.
Josh Jung now and he grounds a hard one up the middle but Perdomo gets to it and goes to first for the second out.
Top 2nd
Mitch Garver leads off for the Rangers in the second and takes a fastball low for ball one. Gallen goes back there with a curve and this time catches the edge. 1-1
Back to the same spot with a fastball and Gallen is ahead 1-2
Working that same outside corner, Gallen delivers a curve that falls off the table to get Garver swinging.
Tommy Pham up now and he has been hot this series.
Eovaldi delivers a middle-middle fastball and Pham fouls it off. 0-1
Pham rips a grounder to short. Seager fields it and goes the short way, getting the force at second to end the inning.
Christian Walker the hitter and he takes a curve outside for ball one. Evo goes at him with a high fastball and Walker fouls it off. Eovaldi goes back there again and Walker swings through it. 1-2
Another elevated fastball is fouled back and we do it again. Eovaldi tries the inside edge now and misses. 2-2
Walker fouls off a high heater and it is still 2-2
The cutter barely misses outside and the count is full.
Eovaldi's payoff delivery misses high and Walker draws the walk, working an eight pitch at bat.
Gabriel Moreno up now and he watches a strike go by before taking a ball low. 1-1
Moreno grounds a shot to short, but Seager is playing in and is there. The throw to first gets the out.
Marte squares around to bunt and it goes foul. 0-2 now.
Marte reaches for a curve and taps it softly to second. Semien goes to first for the out. Carroll advances to third on the play.
stolen base
Ketel Marte the hitter and the first pitch sees Carroll take off. Marte swings through it and Heim's throw is to the wrong side of the bag. Stolen base.
Eovaldi can't find the zone on the next three pitches and Carroll gets yet another undeserved free pass.
Carroll watches a curve low for a ball. That was a good pitch! Bad calls by the home plate umpires have been the ongoing theme of the World Series.
Bottom 1st
The Rangers now take the field for the first tiime tonight working behind Nathan Eovaldi. He will face Corbin Carroll leading off for the Diamondbacks.
Evan Carter up now and he watches a curve that catches the outside edge. 0-1
A fastball misses high and the count is even. 1-1
Carter fouls a breaking ball off and it is 1-2
Gallen delivers a peach of a curve ball that gets Carter swinging to end the inning. Three up, three down.
Corey Seager will stand in now and he takes one way outside for a ball. Gallen drops a curve in there for a strike.
Seager watches a fastball for strike two. The 1-2 is ripped foul and we do it again.
Gallen's change up is grounded hard to short for Perdomo. The throw to first gets the second out.
Gallen goes back to the fastball but misses low for ball two.
One more time, this one catching the outside edge for strike one. 2-1
Gallen elevates one and Semien lifts it out to center field for the first out.
Top 1st
Semien takes a fastball outside for ball one. We are off and running!
PLAY BALL!
The Diamondbacks are on the field, Zac Gallen is on the mound. The house is packed and the umpires are ready as Marcus Semien will lead off for the Texas Rangers.
Let's PLAY BALL!
STARTING LINEUPS
The Home Team
Diamondbacks Batting Order
1. Carroll (RF) *L
2. Marte (2B) *S
3. Moreno (C) *R
4. Walker (1B) *R
5. Pham (DH) *R
6. Gurriel (LF) *R
7. Thomas (CF) *L
8. Longoria (3B) *R
9. Perdomo (SS) *S
The Visitors
Rangers Batting Order
1. Semien (2B) *R
2. Seager (SS) *L
3. Carter (LF) *L
4. Garver (DH) *R
5. Jung (3B) *R
6. Lowe (1B) *L
7. Heim (C) *S
8. Taveras (CF) *S
9. Jankowski (RF) *L
STARTING PITCHERS REGULAR SEASON STATS
TEXAS RANGERS
Nathan Eovaldi (RHP)
12 - 5
3.63 ERA
132 K
144.0 IP
1.14 WHIP
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Zac Gallen (RHP)
17 - 9
3.47 ERA
220 K
210.0 IP
1.12 WHIP
PITCHING
Arizona will hand the ball to Zac Gallen, who had a turgid NLCS, losing both of his starts as the Phillies teed off on him for nine runs and 14 hits, including five dingers, in 11 innings. Through the regular season, however, he was an All-Star, and in Game 1 he was relatively steady, surrendering three runs in five innings.
Texas will go with Old Faithful, Nathan Eovaldi. Through the All-Star break, the easy runaway Cy Young candidate, Eovladi spent the back end of the season in a mix of IL and rehab outings that were middling at best. But since the playoffs have started, a switch has been flipped. In Game 1, he allowed five runs on six hits in 4.2 innings. The Rangers will be asking him to get back to his early season form, for just a few innings more.
WELCOME!!!
Welcome to the Diario AS USA live commentary of Game 5 of the 2023 World Series between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks from Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
Never has Arizona needed to live up to their reputation as the “Answerbacks” as they do tonight. Their back is firmly up against the wall.
Texas may have had a large spoonful of luck on their side in Game 1 when they walked off a tight win in Arlington. But they brought a more fearsome ingredient to the table in Game 4, when they simply overpowered Arizona from the first pitch.
The Diamondbacks conjured seven runs out of thin air in that loss, and that will give them a boost tonight, knowing as they do that they are capable of an equally dominant performance.
Game 5 is more likely to be a throwback to the tense, close pitching battle that we saw in Game 1, a war of attrition with runs eked out rather than coming in bunches. In short, the type of game that favors Arizona.
Zac Gallen and Nathan Eovaldi will be on the mound tonight. In the first meeting of these two pitchers, the Rangers were saved by a last-gasp blast by El Bombi. That is an element that will be missing tonight, with Adolis Garcia’s season finished after an oblique strain. For the Rangers to repeat that performance, they will need a few players to step up.
But on the flip side of that equation, nobody steps up on the road as well as the Texas Rangers do. They have now gone 10-0 in the postseason while on the road, the longest such streak in MLB history.