Getty Image / Christian Petersen
After incredibly close calls in the early 2010s, the Texas Rangers have finally won their first World Series in franchise history.
They clinched the 2023 World Series over the Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-1, with a 5-0 win in game 5.
For a while, it seemed like it may be not be their night, as the Rangers were held scoreless and hitless through six innings. Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen was absolutely dominant, early on, and the home standing Diamondbacks seemed like the team more likely to score a run.
But, the Rangers rallied in the top of 7th behind superstar Corey Seager. He led off the inning with a single, and an Evan Carter double moved him to 3rd base. Mitch Garver singled home what would be the World Series-winning run, but the Diamondbacks got out of the two-on, no-out jam to keep it at 1-0.
It remained 1-0 until the top of the ninth, when the Rangers added four runs, abetted by a terrible error in centerfield by excellent Diamondbacks youngster Alek Thomas. And, with a 4-run lead, the Rangers cruised home in the 9th inning to finally bring a championship back to the Dallas metro area.
It was an incredible run for the Rangers, who went 13-4 in the playoffs and were undefeated on the road.
Seager was named world series MVP. It’s his second World Series MVP, as he also won the World Series MVP in 2020 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.