While Game 2 of the World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Texas Rangers didn’t quite match the late-inning intensity of Game 1, Saturday’s Diamondbacks vs Rangers game was still plenty of fun. With the final out recorded, let’s dive into the winners and losers from Game 2.
Arizona was essentially fighting for its life on Saturday night. A walk-off loss by Texas in Game 1 created an even more electric atmosphere at Globe Life Field and MLB’s hottest team of the postseason had even more momentum on their side. That’s the beauty of baseball in October, though, unlikely heroes emerge and they are the reason why the Diamondbacks are returning home with new life.
Let’s dive into the winners and losers from Game 2 of the World Series.
Winner: Gabriel Moreno provides the early spark for D-Backs
In a low-scoring game and coming off a heartbreaking loss, The Diamondbacks needed something to break their way. On a team loaded with players acquired via trade, it was the offseason acquisition of young catcher Gabriel Moreno that helped deliver the big hit Arizona needed.
Related: Texas Rangers take familiar approach to reach World Series
Moreno, who is only 23 years old, looked like the player we saw in the second half of the regular season (.313/.383/.511, .894 OPS). After working the count to 3-2 against Jordan Montgomery, Moreno came through on the eighth pitch of the at-bat with a solo shot to give Arizona an early 1-0 lead. One swing resulted in a 13.3% win probability boost for the Diamondbacks.
Not only was Moreno’s knock a boost in the arm for Arizona in Game 2, he also helped Kelly throw a seven-inning gem against the Rangers’ lineup. Arizona had already won the Moreno-Daulton Varsho trade and Game 2 made it even clearer.
Loser: Marcus Semien’s woeful October continues
Rangers’ All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien has earned his contract as one of the highest-paid MLB players for the most part, but he is letting Texas down in the World Series. Unfortunately, it’s not all that surprising for a player who went through wild hot-and-cold stretches in the regular season.
Semien posted a solid .802 OPS with a .347 OBP and 23 RBI in his first 28 games this season. Then, when Corey Seager went down, Semien slashed .322/.385/.513 with a .898 OPS and 21 RBI in May. He was playing at an MVP level. After that, however, he posted a .723 OPS from June to July, recovered late in the year (.913 OPS from August to September).
The postseason hasn’t been kind to Semien. He entered Saturday night with a .190/266/.225 slash line. While he might not strike out a lot (12.5%), Semien’s .266 OBP is crushing for the Rangers at the leadoff spot. He only made things worse in Game 2, striking out twice to open the frame.
Winner: Merrill Kelly comes up clutch in World Series
One of the best things about the World Series is the emergency of unlikely heroes. Game 2 won’t decide MLB’s champion and it’s possible Saturday night will be the Diamondbacks’ lone bright spot, but Merrill Kelly is one of the best stories of the MLB postseason.
Related: How the Arizona Diamondbacks reached the World Series
Consider where Kelly was just a few years ago. After his career seemingly flamed out with the Tampa Bay Rays, the veteran went to Korea to try and turn things around. Joining the SK Wyverns likely changed his life. He thrived in the KBO, pitching there from 2015-’18 before signing with the Diamondbacks as a free agent in December 2018.
Nearly five years later, the Texas native returned home to face the team he grew up seeing on television. Against a scorching-hot Rangers lineup, Kelly retired 11 consecutive batters to open Game 2 and recorded his best start of the postseason. What’s even more impressive is the fact that Kelly only had a one-run lead to protect, putting more pressure on his shoulders, until the 7th inning. Once Kelly had a three-run lead, he delivered a shutdown inning with strikeouts of Adolis Garcia and Jonah Heim.
Loser: Texas Rangers’ pitching lets them down
Before taking the mound tonight, Jordan Mongomery had allowed just 10 base runners to reach across his last two starts. the 6-foot-6 southpaw thrived against the Houston Astros, holding them to two runs across 14 innings pitched. Everything came undone on Saturday.
It goes beyond the four runs allowed by Montgomery. Arizona came into the game with a plan dedicated to figuring out what spot Montgomery would go to then teeing off on him. Sure enough, Montgomery faced 26 batters and allowed 10 of them to reach in six innings of work.
It was a bad start for Montgomery, but he left the mound with Texas only down two runs. With a runner on, the Rangers brought in Andrew Heaney to try and preserve the two-run deficit. Instead, on just his sixth pitch, Heaney surrendered an RBI single to Corbin Carroll that came off the bat at 102.1 mph. The Diamondbacks jumped out to a 4-1 lead and more importantly stole a game from Texas, returning to Arizona with the series tied at 1-1.
Winner: Diamondbacks’ general manager Mike Hazen
After losing 93 games in 2016, Arizona opened up a search for a new general manager. Seeing the success the Boston Red Sox had, the Diamondbacks chose Mike Hazen to take over baseball operations. While it took time to build a new foundation, Hazen has now left Boston wishing it promoted him.
Hazen’s role in the Diamondbacks’ success is about so much more than what Corbin Carroll has done for this team. Finishing 52-110 in 2021 helped Arizona be in a position to land some top players in the MLB Draft, but Hazen found gems everywhere.
Arizona’s trades this year for Moreno and Tommy Pham had already paid off in October and the moves look even better after Saturday night. We also can’t forget the offseason acquisitions of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Evan Longoria, who delivered clutch hits for the Diamondbacks in this victory. Hazen also signed Kelly, drafted Alek Thomas and was convinced Geraldo Perdomo could make an impact for Arizona. All of those moves are why the Diamondbacks reached the World Series and won Game 2.