This year’s World Series is quite possibly the most unlikely matchup of all time. Two wildcard teams are all that is left. Both these teams barely made the playoffs and now both are looking to shock the world. The two teams are the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have been the Cinderella story of the 2023 playoffs. Many believed that the Diamondbacks wouldn’t even make the playoffs. They are led by rookie sensation Corbin Carrol and veteran Ketel Marte. In the first round the Diamondbacks played the Milwaukee Brewers. It was a best of three series in which the Diamondbacks won the first two advancing to the National League Division Series. In the NLDS the Diamondbacks played the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers were many people’s world series pick due to their star-studded roster. The Diamondbacks shocked the world in game one putting up 11 runs to beat the Dodgers. This gave the Diamondbacks massive momentum in the series. They were able to win the next two games to sweep the Dodgers and send them to the National League Championship Series.
In the National League Championship Series, the Diamondbacks were up against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies had just beaten what many believed was the best team in baseball. It looked as if the Phillies had all the momentum in the world. Many also have said the Phillies have the loudest stadium in all of baseball. The Diamondbacks were somehow able to get the series to go to game seven. The D-Backs were able to win game seven sending them to the World Series for the first time in years.
The other team in the World Series is the Texas Rangers. The Rangers have one of the best lineups in baseball led by MVP candidate Corey Seager and power threat Adolis Garica.
They played the Tampa Bay Rays in the wildcard round and won the first two games to sweep the series. In the American League Division Series, the Rangers played the Baltimore Orioles. Many around the world believed the Orioles would easily beat the Rangers. The Rangers came out and swept the Orioles. This led to the Rangers facing the defending champions in the American League Championship Series, the Houston Astros. The series went seven games. The Rangers were able to defeat the Astros sending them to the World Series.
The Rangers won the first game of the World Series due to a ninth inning homerun by shortstop Corey Seager to tie the game off Paul Sewald. Breakout superstar Garcia hit a game winning homerun in extra innings. The final score was 6-5.
The Diamondbacks won the second game of the series handedly 9-1. The third game of the series the Rangers were able to bounce back and win 3-1. The Rangers also won the fourth game of the series. They beat the Diamondbacks 11-7. In a must win game for the Diamondbacks they had their ace Zac Gallen on the mound. Gallen was dealing on the bump, throwing six no-hit innings. The Diamondbacks’ lack of offensive production ultimately came back to haunt them as the Rangers won the game 5-0.
“I am glad the Rangers won the World Series because they had never won it before,” said junior Drew Demarini.
The Rangers won their first World Series title in franchise history. The Rangers also were able to create history by being the only team ever to go 11-0 on the road. Another record broken by the Rangers this year was being the first team ever to have 3 players win a gold glove in the same year. Adolis Garcia, Jonah Heim and Nathaniel Lowe were the three winners.
