Brad Cesmat
Arlington. Texas
President Bush threw out the first pitch, and the Diamondbacks closer gave up a home run in the 9th inning. No, I’m not returning to the 2001 World Series, but Game One here in Texas had the same script, except Paul Sewald replaced B.K. Kim.
The Diamondbacks had pitched around Ranger star Corey Seager throughout the night, but Sewald didn’t. Seager deposited a 
two-run game-tying home run off the D-Back closer in the bottom of the 9th. In the bottom of the 11th Adolis Garcia, crushed a Miguel Castro fastball into the right field pavilion, ending the game on a walk-off, with Texas taking the opener of the Fall Classic 6-5. Everything that Torey Lovullo could’ve wanted was right there for the taking until the Sewald mistake. Instead, the bullpen was taxed(6 pitchers used), and the momentum of the Diamondbacks up 1-0 went poof. What should not be lost in the 9th was Seawald walking the first batter he faced, Leody Taveras, which proved to be the tying run. Can’t have that out of your closer…
Quick hits
Speed kills.
Corbin Carroll smoked a two-run triple off of Texas ace Nathan Eovaldi in the top of the 3rd. He would use his jets(and a terrific slide)
to score on a fielder’s choice for a 3-2 lead. From there, it was a matter of Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen settling down(which he did after a two-run first inning by the Rangers) Gallen would go five innings, walking four and allowing four hits…
10 walks and 10 strikeouts by Diamondback pitching. Weird game…
It’s pretty clear what the advance scouts put down on the “to do” side against Rangers catcher Jonah Heim(run on him)…
Dealing with the Philadelphia atmosphere in the NLCS certainly had to help the Diamondbacks. This ballpark wasn’t intimidating for most of tonight’s Game One. An hour before the first pitch, the parking lots still weren’t close to being full. It felt like going to a Tuesday afternoon game at Salt River Fields in March. I’m not taking a shot; it’s just that the crowd in this series isn’t near the factor that the Philadelphia fans were. Even when the game ended on the walk-off, while it was loud, it wasn’t PHILADELPHIA loud.
Why does Zac Gallen struggle early in his postseason starts? I don’t have an answer, but he’s been on the ropes early in the postseason and then settles down…
