The Arizona Diamondbacks headed back to Phoenix with the 119th World Series tied up at one game apiece after they beat the Texas Rangers 9-1 in Game 2 on Saturday. The Diamondbacks had the opportunity to get in the win column and at least give the team a chance to hoist the Commissioner's Trophy in front of their fans at Chase Field. Not only that but to celebrate in the outfield pool.
Instead, the Diamondbacks fell 3-1 to the Rangers on Monday night, thus falling into a 2-1 deficit in the series. Texas' damage arrived in the third inning after the struggling Marcus Semien hit an RBI single to right field, and Corey Seager followed up with a two-run homer deep to right field.
As is the case after every game, fans play the blame game as to who was most at fault for the loss. Here are three Diamondbacks who stand out.
Christian Walker for blunder at home plate
This was a bummer of a sequence for first baseman Christian Walker. The 32-year-old was in the midst of a slump, batting .184 heading into Game 3. So, Diamondbacks fans in attendance for Game 3 decided to give him a standing ovation to try and help him out, like the Philadelphia Phillies faithful did for Trea Turner earlier in the season.
The ovation paid off, as Walker crushed a double to center field to start the second inning. That was a great moment for him. But then, it was squandered.
Outfielder Tommy Pham hit a line drive to right field to reach first. The thing is, Walker ran to third and missed the stop sign from third base coach Tony Perezchica. So he ran home while outfielder Adolis Garcia's throw reached catcher Jonah Heim way before Walker even reached home plate. It was an easy out.
Walker finished the game going 1-for-4 with one strikeout in Game 3.
It was a tough moment for Walker and the Diamondbacks.
Corbin Carroll freezes up at the worst possible time
Corbin Caroll had been playing well not just in the Arizona Diamondbacks' playoff run, but also throughout the regular season. He is essentially the runaway favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Caroll played well in Game 2, knocking in two runs in the 9-1 victory.
But in a pivotal portion of the game, Carroll froze up.
The Rangers called upon Aroldis Chapman in relief in the eighth inning. Chapman notably had his struggles in the postseason, most notably with the New York Yankees. The Diamondbacks knocked around the veteran reliever quickly, with Emmanuel Rivera hitting a double and Geraldo Perdomo knocking him in on a single. Carroll stepped up to the plate with Perdomo on first, representing the tying run.
On a 2-2 count, Carroll stared down Chapman's sixth pitch at the at-bat. The thing is, it was an 89.4 mph slider...down the middle of the strike zone.
Carroll was 0-for-3 at the plate with two strikeouts and one walk.
It was a huge moment for Carroll to potentially cut into their deficit or reach base. Instead, he froze up.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Alek Thomas fail to knock in runners in scoring position...twice each
On Monday night, the Arizona Diamondbacks were limited to just one run, and left numerous runners on base to potentially increase the score. When it comes to the runners left in scoring position and the worst hitters in the game, it is a tie between outfielders Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Alek Thomas.
In the top of the second inning, Christian Walker wasted an opportunity to put a run on the board with his baserunning blunder. But with Tommy Pham on second base, Gurriel stepped up to the plate to potentially put a run on the board. Gurriel hit a pop up to second baseman Marcus Semien on just the second pitch of the at-bat thrown by Max Scherzer. Thomas followed up with a ground out into a double play on just the third pitch.
Both players received another chance to knock in some runs. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Pham reached second on a double to centerfield on a pitch thrown by Josh Sborz. Gurriel stepped up to the plate and struck out swinging on three pitches. Thomas would put up more of a fight, forcing a 3-2 count on the first eight pitches. But on the ninth pitch swung at a curveball outside of the strike zone to end the inning.
Both Gurriel and Thomas were 0-for-3 with one strikeout each. They were both 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position.