ARLINGTON, Texas — Much of the conversation around the 11-inning Game 1 win for the Texas Rangers over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 World Series focused around big home runs from Corey Seager and Adolis Garcia. However, there were other factors that played into the Rangers' win that weren't nearly as flashy or noticeable.
But before we dive into the moments that might have gone under the radar, let's talk about the moment in the ninth inning that changed everything. With one out and a man on base, and Texas trailing by a pair of runs, Seager came to the plate and delivered.
Nathaniel Lowe watched from the dugout as Seager launched the momentum-swinging two-run bomb and made a simple but powerful statement after the win about having the All-Star shortstop as a teammate.
What may be the Texas Rangers quote of the night after World Series Game 1
"That's why you bring a guy like that in," Lowe said of Seager. "That's why you pay top dollar for a top tier player and get a top tier performance with it."
There is no question that Texas has spent the money needed to get to where they are, and that includes the 10-year, $325 million deal inked by Seager ahead of the 2022 campaign. The top dollar paid off for Texas on Friday night as Seager hit his 10th career postseason home run inside Globe Life Field. Granted, most of those came as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2020 postseason that was hosted inside the COVID-induced bubble in Arlington, but none were perhaps as big as his ninth-inning shot against the Diamondbacks.
By the way, Seager is now just the seventh player in MLB history with 10 or more playoff home runs at a single venue. There are only two others who are active ... Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman at Minute Maid Park.
The Texas Rangers bullpen made a difference in Game 1 of the World Series
After Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi surrendered five runs and six hits in 4.2 innings of work, the Rangers bullpen took over and completely shut down the Diamondbacks, limiting Arizona to two hits and no walks over the next 6.1 innings of scoreless work.
Among those making a big difference was Jon Gray, who started all 29 of his appearances during the regular season but has been deployed out of the bullpen in the ALCS and World Series. The right-hander, another free agent signing that Texas spent money to acquire before the 2022 season, allowed one hit in his 1.2 innings of work but also struck out four, the second-highest amount for the Rangers behind Eovaldi's eight.
The moment was a full circle experience for Gray, who faced the Diamondbacks as a starter for the Colorado Rockies in the 2017 NL Wild Card game, but lasted just 1.1 innings and gave up seven hits and four runs as Arizona knocked the Rockies out of the postseason. Friday night showed how Gray has matured since that fateful night in Phoenix.
"I just remember being too much with everything," Gray recalled of his 2017 outing. "I tried to slow down and let my hand work, but I couldn't. Tonight, that was really my main focus, just to slow down, execute and get the pitches where I wanted them."
The plan worked as Gray threw 26 pitches, with 19 going for strikes.
"It feels great," Gray said. "That is what I've been waiting on, just getting a chance to show and really executing and doing the job. That means everything to me, to know I can still help this team out."
Evan Carter had some rookie nerves before World Series Game 1
The 21-year-old Carter had just 75 plate appearances during the regular season for Texas, but he has been showing out in the postseason and cemented himself as a big piece of Bruce Bochy's lineup.
Still, what Carter has faced in the regular season and the previous playoff rounds felt different than what he experienced in the hours leading up to Friday's Game 1, he said.
"This is probably the most nervous I've ever been for a game, and for a good reason," Carter said. "Before the game, it feels like three days passed by the time I was sitting in the locker room today. But once the game starts, everything calms down and that's what you're used to doing. You're used to playing and ball is ball at the end of the day."
Carter certainly didn't show any nerves once the game began, launching a first-inning RBI double to give Texas a 1-0 lead and following that with another double in his next at-bat. He finished the night 2-for-6, keeping his batting average at .311 throughout this postseason and once again showing that any rookie nerves before the game haven't translated to his play on the field.