The Arizona Diamondbacks made it back to the World Series for the first time since 2001. Their journey for the second-ever Commissioner's Trophy began on Friday night, and the team was two outs away from clinching their first win during the World Series since Luis Gonzalez's walk-off hit off New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera in Game 7.
Unfortunately for the Diamondbacks, they were unable to close the game out.
The Texas Rangers defeated the Diamondbacks 6-5 after Corey Seager hit a game-tying, two-run homer in the ninth to send it to extra innings, and Adolis Garcia's blast over the right field wall at Globe Life Field to take a 1-0 series lead.
It was a rough loss for Arizona, as they were looking good for the majority of the game. Here are three Diamondbacks who ultimately cost the team the Game 1 victory.
Paul Sewald fails to close out Game 1 for Diamondbacks
While the Diamondbacks have been able to make it to the World Series by playing small ball, one of their most under-appreciated contributors to their success has been the bullpen. One of their big pieces had been Paul Sewald, their closer whom they acquired at the trade deadline from the Seattle Mariners. Through eight games, Sewald hadn't given up a single earned run in eight innings. He allowed just three hits and picked up six saves in six opportunities in that span.
Sewald's scoreless streak in this postseason came to an end in Arlington, Texas.
The closer started things off with a five-pitch walk to Leody Taveras but seemingly calmed things down with a strikeout of Marcus Semien. Unfortunately for Sewald, his next batter to face was Seager. All the Rangers shortstop needed was one high pitch, which the veteran closer happily obliged to provide to him, and that baseball flew into the second deck of the right field stands to tie the game.
During this outing, Sewald also made a massive mistake -- hitting Garcia with a pitch. If the ALCS against the Houston Astros showed fans and viewers anything, it's he takes it personally and out on the baseball immediately afterwards. Sewald may have motivated Garcia to hit a walk-off homer in the 11th inning.
Sewald would get out of the inning with a strikeout of Austin Hedges after striking out Evan Carter and walking Mitch Garver. The closer finished the game by surrendering two earned runs on one hit, striking out three batters and issuing two walks in one full inning of work.
Miguel Castro surrenders walk-off homer to Adolis Garcia
We started off the blame game with Paul Sewald for his blown save in the bottom of the ninth inning. Next up on the list is the relief pitcher who surrendered Texas' game-winning homer, Miguel Castro.
The Diamondbacks signed Castro last season to be a part of their bullpen after spending the previous campaign with the New York Yankees. Through 34 starts in the 2023 campaign, Castro had recorded a 4.31 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, a 6-6 win-loss record, 60 strikeouts, 25 walks, and seven saves in 11 opportunities through 64.2 innings (75 games). In this playoffs, Castro carried a concerning 5.40 ERA and a 1:1 strikeout/walk ratio in five games (5.0 innings).
Castro was called upon in the bottom of the 11th inning by manager Torey Lovullo to throw to Adolis Garcia. This comes after Kyle Nelson had pitched the 10th inning and forced Evan Carter to fly out in the top of the 11th. Talk about a high-leverage situation for Castro, who had worked himself into a 3-1 hole against Garcia. Castro decided to throw a 96.7 mph sinker down the middle of the bottom of the strike zone, and the Rangers slugger mashed the baseball over the right field wall to clinch the loss for the Diamondbacks.
Garcia was the only batter Castros faced, and he was credited with the loss.
The Diamondbacks batters, for the most part, did their job on Friday. But there is one more person to blame for this loss.
Torey Lovullo should have considered walking Corey Seager, Adolis Garcia
It's easy to play "Monday morning quarterback" after a game has gone final. For the Arizona Diamondbacks, it's hard not to look past that Corey Seager at-bat in the ninth inning and Adolis Garcia homer in the 11th and not think, "maybe Torey Lovullo should have gone for intentional walks in those specific instances."
Seager is no stranger to hitting home runs in the postseason, dating back to his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Entering Game 1, he had hit 16 homers in 73 games between the Dodgers and Rangers. Sure enough, he showed up when the Rangers needed him the most with a game-tying two run homer.
As for Garcia, he had been on an unreal tear throughout the postseason, and especially since Game 5 of the ALCS after getting hit by a pitch by Houston Astros reliever Bryan Abreu.
So, what if Sewald had walked Seager in the ninth to face? Perhaps the most appropriate question would be why he chose to go after Garcia in the 11th. If Lovullo had gone for the intentional walk, Miguel Castro would have faced Mitch Garver, who had gone 0-for-3 on the night. If Castro had gotten through Garver, he'd have likely faced Austin Hedges, who hadn't played this entire postseason until pinch-hitting for Josh Smith in the top of the ninth.
Also, bringing in Castro for the 11th is a decision that can be questioned as well, considering his stats addressed in the previous drive.
Again, easier said than done. But considering the team was just two outs away from taking Game 1, it's hard not to look past these decisions.
