World Series Game 5: Texas Rangers v Arizona Diamondbacks – live | World Series

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 8th

Smith calls for time and takes a breath.

Here’s the 2-2: taken strike three! It’s a backdoor slider! Side retired!

Texas has three more outs to get!

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 8th

Foul ball, it’s still 2-2.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 8th

Smith barely lays off a ball in the dirt to even the count. That was close!

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 8th

Fastball up and away, swing and a foul ball. It’s 1-2.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 8th

It’s 1-1 to Smith in this vital at-bat.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 8th

Sborz blows it by Pham! Strike three!

Now Gurriel quickly grounds out to short, that’s two outs!

Time is running out for Arizona, and here’s Thomas, who has four playoff homers to his name. Yes, he’s been good, and here he lines a pitch that passes Sborz and heads to center field.

So Thomas has to try and steal second for sure. Pitching coach Mike Maddux is coming out to chat with Sborz, who is going to face Pavin Smith. he’s pinch hitting for Evan Longoria. This may be the last game of Longoria’s career…but that’s a conversation for a another time.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 8th

Sborz, a plus five ERA in the regular season, and dominant in the postseason, is still in the ballgame, facing Tommy Pham. He’s behind 3-0 to the extremely interesting Pham before dealing a strike. Now Pham swings, foul. Full count…

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th

Broken bat slow roller to shortstop – Perdomo has it, fires to first, side retired!

The Rangers leave the bases loaded, and the lead remains a single, lone run.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th

It’s a tense time for fans of these two teams. Jung is down 1-2 as the fans wave rusty red towels in support of their team, which is trying to hang on here. It’s 2-2 to Jung.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th

Breaking ball, swing and a miss! Carter is retired! Huge out right here.

Now it’s up to Jung with the bases loaded.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th

Carter looks at strike two. The count is even at two.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th

Bases loaded and Carter is ahead 2-0 before Ginkel fires a strike down the middle. It’s 2-1.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th

Seager looks at ball four, low and away, so now Arizona take their chances with Carter. The D-backs are sticking with Ginkel.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th

Now it’s 3-2 to Seager!

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th

He takes a ball and then watches a fastball high to even the count. Huge moment here.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th

Seager is behind 0-2! How will it end?

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th

Semien lines a base hit to right! So now it’s first and second with Corey Seager coming up! What do you do here? The guy has six home runs this postseason, three this World Series. You have to pitch to him, which seems crazy to do. There’s a chat on the mound to try and figure out a decent strategy here – there is none. Gulp.

Xing in…

I said it earlier and I’m sticking with it. Life is cruel.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 8th

Taveras lays down a bunt! Ginkel charges but leaves it for Longoria who has just enough time to get the runner – tough play, difficult out. Here is Jankowski.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 7th

Walker hits a soft liner to center field and yet another runner is stranded by Arizona.

If you’re a Texas fan, you’re counting outs and crossing your fingers. Could tonight finally be the night?

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 7th

Walker has a walk, single and a stolen base tonight, and now, his team needs him more than ever to connect and get this run home.

He’s ahead 2-0 before fouling off a high fastball. It’s 1-2.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 7th

Aroldis is an intimidating presence on the mound. He can still hit three digits and can still melt down as good as anyone. But not yet – Moreno waves at hot buttered popcorn. Two outs. Here’s Walker, who won’t face Chapman. Bruce Bochy is out to get the Cuban.

Josh Sborz, the right handed reliever is on his way in to face the D-backs slugger.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 7th

Here’s the big horse, Aroldis Chapman. He gets Carroll to fly out to right, but walks Marte. Now he faces Moreno with a one out runner on.

The Lines

Eovaldi

6IP 5H 0R 0ER 5K 5BB 0HR

Fabulous outing for Eovaldi who tempted fate but never got bitten.

Gallen

6.1IP 3H 1R 1ER 6K 1BB 0HR

He was fantastic, until getting hit in the seventh inning. Still, he should have left in the lead. Can’t say a thing bad about Gallen tonight. He gave Arizona six no-hit innings and more than they could have asked for.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 7th

Heim pops it up behind home plate, and the ball eventually falls harmlessly into the glove of catcher Moreno. Side retired! Ginkel does his job and limits the damage.

Now, can Arizona scratch out a run against this Rangers bullpen?

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 7th

Ginkel has been reliable for Arizona, pitching in nine games this postseason without allowing a single run.

Now he faces Lowe with runners at the corners and falls behind 2-1. Lowe grounds to first, Walker fires home, and they’ve got Carter hung up in a run down between third base and home!

After a series of throws, Carter is tagged out, and that will leave the inning for Heim with runners on first and second.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 7th

Gallen is ahead 0-2 on Jung. Then he throws high heat and Jung chases – that’s one down.

Here comes D-backs manager Troy Lovullo to come and get Gallen. He was fantastic for six innings, but has buckled here in the seventh and leaves behind a run.

Life is cruel.

Here comes Kevin Ginkel to try and hold Texas to a single run. He’ll face Lowe when we resume.

Rangers 1-0 Diamondbacks, top of 7th

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 7th

Corey Seager directs an outside pitch to the unoccupied portion of the left side of the infield, and the no-hit bid is over!

And there’s more! Carter has a base hit to right field – Carroll cuts it off before it can get to the wall, but he’s in with a double, Seager moves to third, and suddenly the Rangers have runners on second and third with nobody out! Wow!

A meeting at the mound with Mitch Garver coming to the plate!

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 6th

Eovaldi is approaching 100 pitches, many of which have been quite eventful.

Here he gets Perdomo looking on his 97th offering! Strike three!

He’s through six scoreless innings, somehow, some way. I guess this is what they call a “gutsy” performance from a guy who didn’t have it all, but had just enough. Fantastic effort.

To the seventh inning!

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 6th

Longoria waves at a splitter away, that’s two down for Eovaldi, and this is much more straightforward from the Rangers hurler.

the shortstop Perdomo is stepping into the box.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 6th

Thomas comes to the plate and falls behind to Eovaldi, 1-2. Then he chops back to the pitcher, who tosses to first for the first out.

Longoria is next.

Xing in…

I’m with Hunter for the same reason. He deserves one final live bash on the keys!

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 6th

Semien is down in the count, 1-2. The crowed stands in salute of Gallen, who winds up and fires – Semien lines the changeup foul.

Another pitch, this time a breaking ball in the dirt, evening the count.

One more pitch, this time grounded off the ankle of Semien – ouch!

Now Semien rears back, swings and misses, strike three! Gallen has another scoreless, hitless frame in the books.

What a performance – 72 pitches to get through six innings!

By the way, just putting this out there: a “Maddux” is a no-hitter with under 100 pitches thrown. And yes, I can write that.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 6th

No score heading into the sixth, somehow.

Taveras hits the first pitch to second base where Marte is waiting. He takes his time, tosses to first and that’s an easy out. Gallen is locked in, obviously. Here’s Jankowski, who is not Garcia. He pops out top left field for the second out. Top of the lineup now for Texas – that means Marcus Semien, who hits against Gallen for a third time. Can he figure him out?

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 5th

Gurriel hits the first pitch to short – it’s routine for Seager who snares it and fires to first for the out! Side retired!

How can this be happening? Nine Diamondbacks have been left, the team is 0-9 with runners in scoring position. Arizona should be cruising, but Eovaldi is through five unscathed!

Really, it’s outrageous.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 5th

Ball four – the bases are loaded! Heim heads to the mound for a chat with pitching coach Mike Maddux and Eovaldi. Gurriel heads to the plate in an absolutely massive spot here.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 5th

On the 0-1 pitch Walker takes second. So a knock here could put two on the board for the home team.

The count is now 2-1, Pham is ahead. Now the next pitch is away, 3-1! How will it end?

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 5th

Eovaldi paints the corner of the zone, away. Moreno watches it. Strike three.

Walker to the plate and he lines a ball to right, that’s a base hit! Marte is on his way to third, and Arizona are threatening yet again! Runners at the corners, and two down for the hardest working man in baseball, Tommy Pham.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 5th

Full count to Marte. Eovaldi takes a breather and gets set. He deals, inside ball four!

So yet another baserunner for Arizona and here comes Moreno, who had a sac bunt last time up. He’ll be swinging for something more here, but he’s behind 1-2 to Eovaldi.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 5th

Carroll, leading off an inning for a third time tonight quickly skies to right for the first out. Marte is next and is ahead 3-1 on Eovaldi.

Xing in…

I would switch off with you, but then who would do this?

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 5th

Heim goes for a ball in the dirt and that’s strike three! Side retired! One baserunner for Texas but no damage. Gallen has four strikeouts, has allowed no hits, and made just 59 pitches through five innings. What more could you ask for?

Maybe a hit with a runner in scoring position if you’re Arizona…

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 5th

Heim fouls off a 1-2 pitch before Gallen, pitching from the stretch, deals again. Foul ball back. So we’ll do it again.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 5th

Nathaniel Lowe becomes the first Rangers runner of the night after drawing a walk. So Heim will bat with a two-out runner on first. Quickly he’s behind 0-2 to Gallen.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 5th

Jung hits a 1-2 pitch to the gap in deep right-center: Thomas is racing back, he’s to the right of the 413 sign! Thomas, running, reaches up, and snatches the ball out of the air for a fabulous catch! Wow – he covered a lot of ground there!

Two loud outs, but no damage to Gallen who retires his 14th consecutive batter.

Lowe is next.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 5th

Mitch Garver is at the plate for Texas to start the Rangers 5th. He waves at a curve ball in the dirt and now the count is 1-2. Same pitch again and this time Garver lays off Gallen’s offering. Then Garver hangs in, lining a pitch to right, out of play, and then does it again.

It’s 2-2. Garver is fighting Gallen, fouling another ball off. It’s probably the best at-bat anyone has had tonight against Gallen. Now Garver swings and lifts a ball, deep to left, right in front of the 374 sign, Gurriel is under it and makes the catch! A little exhale from the home crowd as the Cuban gives it a ride.

One out for Jung, rhymes with tongue.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 4th

It’s a full count to Perdomo. The left-handed shortstop looks at a fastball, right on the edge of the strike zone – that’s a perfect pitch and Perdomo watches it go by. Strike three! That’s six left on by Arizona, and, you know, I’m sensing a trend here.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 4th

Longoria hits a ball that’s a little bit more than a blooper to right field, right where they ain’t, and with that, Evan cruises into second with a two out double. So yet another scoring chance here for Arizona, and here’s Perdomo, who just made a great play in the field last half inning. Can he come through with that clutch hit Arizona needs so badly? He’s ahead 2-1…

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 4th

It’s 1-2 to Thomas who fouls his fourth pitch off of his foot. Eovaldi wipes his brow as Thomas calls for time before stepping in. Thomas hits a little chopper to second, which is easily handled easily by Semien. Two easy outs, here’s Longoria.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 4th

Arizona are 0-7 with runners in scoring position, says FOX TV in the US. Gurriel leads off for Eovaldi, who somehow has a zero on he board thus far. He pops to left field, where it’s easy for Carter. Finally, Eovaldi gets the leadoff man, making his life a little bit easier. Here’s Thomas, who has more than a little pop in his bat.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 4th

Carter whiffs at the curve ball and as disappointing as Arizona’s offensive innings have ended, Gallen is keeping spirits high with his mastery of the Texas lineup – 12 up and 12 down, and on just 35 pitches!

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, top of 4th

Semien swings and hits a line drive to short – Perdomo dives to his right, full extension, he has it on a hop! He throws over to first to get the runner as Walker makes a tough grab! What a play! Tremendous defense there in a high-stakes at-bat against the Texas slugger.

Now Seager ground out to second on the first pitch, and just like that, two down for Gallen!

Carter is at the plate and works a 3-2 count…

Christian Walker

He’s got to at the very least, lift a fly ball to the outfield and get a runner home there. Walker is your biggest bat, and he’s been mediocre a best this series. Can’t have that in a big spot if you want to win World Series games. No good.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 3rd

Walker fouls off a 2-2 pitch. The crowds gets loud and Walker waves at a fastball! Eaovaldi said, “here it is, hit it” and Walker comes up empty.

Now Pham grounds out to short, inning over! Lightning strikes thrice and Eovaldi is out of his biggest jam yet! This is catastrophic for Arizona who have left five runners on base through three innings. Gulp.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 3rd

Moreno lays down a bunt! It moves the runners to second and third base – it’s Moreno’s first sac bunt of the season and what timing. I’m a sucker for small ball, so I love this, even if the pencil-necked sabermatricians probably don’t.

Here’s the big man, Christian Walker, coming to bat with the old golden opportunity.

Rangers 0-0 Diamondbacks, bottom of 3rd

Will Carroll steal like he did back in the first inning? It’s 2-0 to Marte, and on ball three, Heim fires to first to try and nab Carroll who gets back in time.

Now Eovaldi misses on 3-0, and that’s a walk! Two on and nobody out for Moreno, and yet another opportunity for the D-backs. Big pitches coming up for Texas.