PHOENIX — Chris Young had just finished a press conference in which he had to deliver difficult information prior to Tuesday’s Game 4 — Max Scherzer and the rampaging Adolis Garcia were too injured to continue in this World Series.
As he exited, by happenstance, we bumped into each other. As these things go, the Rangers general manager asked how I was doing, so — by rote — I did the same and then, before he could reply, interjected that it was a dumb question under the circumstances. Undeterred, Young said, “No pity for us. We’ll be fine.”
A few hours later his Rangers were so much better than fine. They were overpowering. And because of that they were one win away from a designation previously unknown to this organization — champion.
Even without Garcia, Texas smashed Arizona’s bullpen-game strategy and won 11-7. The Rangers lead the 119th World Series three-games-to-one. A franchise that began in 1961 as the Washington Senators has been tantalizingly close before. The Rangers were twice one strike away — in the ninth and 10th innings — from winning Game 6 of the 2011 World Series and, thus the title, but lost in 11 innings, then lost Game 7.
This Rangers team has three chances to finalize the title this time, beginning Wednesday with a Game 1 rematch of Nathan Eovaldi against Zac Gallen. That the game is at Chase Field seems irrelevant. The Rangers are 10-0 on the road this postseason (the 9-0 already was a record for one playoff). It exemplifies a tough-mindedness also on display to move on after losing Scherzer (back) and, especially, Garcia (oblique), who had eight homers this postseason.
“It’s been a theme of our team,” Young said at the pregame press conference. “It’s kind of the next-man-up mentality. Our guys don’t feel sorry for themselves, and I love that. That’s a true characteristic of the Texas Rangers, and I’m proud of that. And I’m sure the guys will respond in the same manner that they have all year.”
They did so, in part, because after the 2021 season, Young initiated a go-for-it plan most defined by a half-billion-dollar free-agent investment in a middle infield of Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. Seager has been the best player in these playoffs. Semien has struggled.
But in Game 4, their pedigree was overt against the Diamondbacks’ bullpen strategy.
Seager won the NLCS and World Series MVP for the 2020 champion Dodgers. He signed a $325 million contract. Thus, it is hard to portray him as an unappreciated player. Yet, this postseason has still felt like a full coming-out party to a nation. Seager has excelled at shortstop and on the bases and has made a claim for the best overall hitter in the sport.
He hit a two-run homer in the second inning to give him three in this World Series, six in this postseason and 19 for a career — only Derek Jeter (20) has more as a shortstop. Seager has a 1.136 OPS these playoffs with 14 walks against 12 strikeouts.
Semien had seemed to play tight this month. He came into Game 4 hitting .197 with a .491 OPS, no homers, three RBIs and two extra-base hits. Then between the second and third innings, Semien delivered a two-run triple and a three-run homer.
Those two innings decided this game. Well, actually, it was decided because Arizona does not have a trustworthy No. 4 or No. 5 starter. That contributed to its meh 84-win season. By having to play just 15 times in 28 days to open the postseason, the Diamondbacks masked the shortcoming, needing to go beyond three starters just once. But the second time was their 16th game in 29 days — and their undoing.
Joe Mantiply started with a shutout first, but without a clear long man even, manager Torey Lovullo pushed him to open the second against righty Josh Jung; and the lefty Mantiply this season had a .440 OPS against lefties and .876 versus righties. Jung crashed a double. And that began a four-pitcher caravan through the two innings — Mantiply, Miguel Castro, Kyle Nelson and Luis Frias — who surrendered 10 runs on eight hits that included two doubles, a triple and two homers. For some reason, with a base open, two outs and no Garcia behind Seager, Lovullo did not walk Seager, which seems the only sound play now. Seager’s two-run homer off the lefty Nelson made it 5-0 in the second and unleashed loud boos from the 48,388 at Chase Field. It was 10-0 after three innings.
Former Met Travis Jankowski, batting ninth and playing right in place of Garcia, had a single and two-run double in the barrage. Former Yankees punching bag Andrew Heaney distinguished himself as the Rangers’ desperation starter, allowing one run in five innings — his longest outing since 5 ¹/₃ innings at Citi Field on Aug. 28.
It turned out Young’s team did not need pity. The Diamondbacks did.