For the first time in their history, the Texas Rangers are the World Series champions. They knocked off the upstart Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday night to break the hex that has seen them as MLB’s oldest franchise without a ring.
The Rangers turned Game 5 at Arizona’s Chase Field into an elimination game by crushing the D-backs in Game 4.
They are the only team to go 10-0 on the road in a postseason.
Veteran manager Bruce Bochy won his fourth World Series championship with the Rangers’ victory. Shortstop Corey Seager, an ex-Dodger who joined Texas as a free agent, is expected to be named the World Series MVP.
UPDATE: Seager was named the World Series MVP. He was also the MVP of the 2020 World Series when he was with the Dodgers. He becomes just the second player to win World Series MVP awards for two different teams, joining Reggie Jackson (Athletics and Yankees).
Rangers pitcher Nathan Evovaldi threw six shutout innings for Texas to get the clinching win. He was in trouble throughout the game, but always managed to escape.
His performance was almost topped by Arizona’s Zac Gallen. Through six innings, Gallen was throwing a no-hitter, with the Rangers having just one walk against him.
The Rangers finally broke through against Gallen in the 7th inning, with Mitch Garver singling home a run. The Rangers tacked on four more runs in the 9th to wrap things up, highlighted by a home run from Marcus Semien.
The Rangers are the third team in baseball history to win the World Series within two seasons of losing 100-plus games, joining the 1969 New York Mets and the 1914 Boston Braves.