The Texas Rangers continued their sensational road performance, securing a 5-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game Five of the World Series, which marked a historic achievement for the franchise as they claimed their first Major League Baseball championship.
Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen delivered a remarkable performance, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning. However, the Rangers broke the scoreless affair with three consecutive hits, initiated by a single from Corey Seager and concluding with Mitch Garver’s RBI up the middle.
In the ninth inning, the Rangers added four more runs, all but dashing any hopes of a Diamondbacks comeback. The triumph was sealed by Josh Sborz, who struck out Ketel Marte looking, prompting jubilant players to celebrate on the field.
Shortstop Marcus Semien, who hit a two-run homer in the ninth, expressed the significance of the victory, saying, “Everything I’ve ever worked for was for this moment. Kind of a crazy game when you’re getting no-hit through six, Gallen was unbelievable tonight, but we came through. Once Corey got the first hit, everybody kind of woke up.”
The Rangers’ win marked their MLB record 11th consecutive road victory in the postseason. Sborz emphasized the team’s ability to stay focused amid the challenges, stating, “It was hostile territory everywhere we went, and we just stayed calm, did our job, and played the way we did all year.”
Nathan Eovaldi, the Rangers’ starter, faced challenges on the mound throughout the game but managed to navigate through difficult situations and hand the ball over to Aroldis Chapman, contributing to the team’s success.
This championship represents a remarkable turnaround for the franchise, which endured a challenging 2021 season with 102 losses. The Rangers responded by making aggressive moves in the offseason, including signing key players such as Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.
Their investment paid off, and under the leadership of manager Bruce Bochy, who was lured out of retirement, the Rangers became only the third club in MLB history to go from losing 100 games to winning the World Series within a two-year span, joining the 1914 Boston Braves and 1969 Mets.
Bruce Bochy, who secured his fourth World Series title, joined an elite group of managers with at least four championships, a testament to his remarkable career.
