After a devastating loss Friday night, the Arizona Diamondbacks left nothing to chance in Game 2 of the World Series.
Playing on the road at Globe Life Field, the Diamondbacks thoroughly out-hit and out-pitched the Texas Rangers, leaving no possibility of late-game heroics from Corey Seager, Adolis Garcia or anyone else. With a 9-1 victory on Saturday, the Diamondbacks won a World Series game for the first time in 22 years and head home with the best-of-seven series tied 1-1.
Starter Merrill Kelly attacked the Rangers’ lineup with conviction while enjoying some defensive support from Christian Walker and others. But on a night the Diamondbacks combined for 16 hits, it was the offence that widened the gap for Arizona.
Ketel Marte extended his MLB post-season record hit streak to 18 with a single to centre in the eighth and No. 2 hitter Corbin Carroll collected two hits and two RBI. But they were far from the only offensive standouts in Game 2…
A NEW TOOL FOR MORENO
Last winter, when the Diamondbacks acquired Gabriel Moreno from the Blue Jays, it was clear the young catcher had the tools to hit for average and catch at the big-league level. That the 23-year-old would hit .284 and lead MLB in opponents’ caught stealing percentage as a rookie was impressive, but not exactly shocking.
This October, we’re seeing Moreno showcase another, more surprising, skill: the ability to hit for power. This tool isn’t completely new – he hit 12 homers in just 82 games at Class A in 2019 – but it certainly wasn’t on display in 2022, his final year in the Blue Jays’ organization.
Last year, Moreno combined for four total home runs, three at triple-A and one more in the majors. Even during the 2023 regular season, his power output was modest: a total of seven homers in 111 games with the Diamondbacks. But this October, he already has four homers, including the 413-foot shot that helped power Arizona to a Game 2 win.
Maybe this is the emergence of a new skill, one that will help raise Moreno’s long-term ceiling even higher. Or maybe it’s simply a well-timed hot streak that we’ll come to see as an uncharacteristic blip. But regardless of how you answer that question, Moreno’s value to the Diamondbacks has never been greater. From Arizona’s perspective, this deal could hardly be going better.
PHAM DELIVERS
Both World Series teams bought what the Mets were selling this summer, with Texas acquiring Max Scherzer and Arizona acquiring Tommy Pham.
When the series shifts to Phoenix on Monday, Scherzer will start Game 3 for the Rangers, but Pham’s made an impact on the series already. After homering in Game 1, he connected for four hits in Game 2 – as many as the entire Rangers lineup.
And look, as we saw in the top of the sixth inning when Pham was needlessly picked off second base, he isn’t a perfect player. But the acquisition price – infielder Jeremy Rodriguez, who just turned 17 – was reasonable and Pham does do a lot of things well. Like hitting left-handed pitching, for instance.
In Game 2, the Diamondbacks were rewarded for identifying that skillset at the deadline.
CAN’T SPELL KELLY WITHOUT K
While much of the attention will rightfully go to Arizona’s offence, Kelly’s performance shouldn’t be overlooked. Remember, this Texas offence led the American League in runs scored this season, and has been even better in the post-season, with an MLB-best .828 OPS and 77 runs entering play Saturday.
But, true to form, Kelly just kept throwing strikes. His stuff wasn’t overpowering, but the right-hander mixed in six different pitches and was consistently in the zone with them, throwing 63 of 89 pitches for strikes.
While Mitch Garver connected for a solo homer in the fifth inning, Kelly allowed just three hits on his way to nine strikeouts over seven innings of work – a dominant performance, especially considering the stakes and the opponent.
Meanwhile, the Texas pitching staff managed just two strikeouts against Arizona’s lineup on a night starter Jordan Montgomery allowed four runs. They’ll hope for better results Monday when Scherzer takes the mound for Game 3 opposite Brandon Pfaadt.
