Diamondbacks Level World Series in Game 2 with Stellar Performance by Merrill Kelly!

During their impressive run to the World Series, the Diamondbacks have coined themselves the “Answerbacks” on social media, a moniker that fittingly encapsulates their performance in Saturday night’s Game 2.

Despite a heart-wrenching extra-inning loss in Game 1, a defeat that could have crushed the spirits of many teams, the Diamondbacks showed remarkable resilience, storming to a commanding 9-1 victory over the Rangers and leveling the Fall Classic at one game apiece.

The linchpin of this triumph was undeniably Merrill Kelly, who maintained a flawless record on the basepaths until the fourth inning, crafting one of the most spectacular postseason starts in the annals of Diamondbacks history. Kelly conceded a mere solitary earned run over seven innings, striking out an impressive nine batters while issuing no walks.

Setting the tempo from the outset, Kelly’s dominance was complemented by a relentless display from Arizona’s offense. Two runs off the bat of Jordan Montgomery in the fourth inning set the stage, and from there, the Diamondbacks piled on an additional seven runs over the subsequent three innings.

Tommy Pham proved instrumental, going a perfect 4-for-4 in a game dominated by strategic plays and precision. While a home run by Gabriel Moreno initiated the scoring for Arizona, the remainder of the evening was characterized by an array of singles, well-executed sacrifice bunts, and tactical maneuvers that wielded significant influence.

While small-ball tactics played a pivotal role, it was not the sole factor. In the end, the Diamondbacks tallied an impressive 16 hits, a staggering fourfold increase compared to the Rangers’ total. A 16-4 advantage in hits is a blueprint for unequivocal success, and that’s precisely what Arizona achieved in Game 2.

With this victory, the Diamondbacks have guaranteed themselves a full three-game series at Chase Field, which is slated to host its inaugural World Series game in over two decades on Monday night. In this pivotal matchup, rookie Brandon Pfaadt will take the mound for Arizona, squaring off against the illustrious Max Scherzer in a clash of youthful vigor versus seasoned expertise. For the latest live scoring updates and highlights from Game 2 of the 2023 World Series between the Rangers and Diamondbacks, look no further than The Sporting News. Here, you can catch up on all the crucial moments that may have escaped your attention during Arizona’s momentous win.

 

Diamondbacks vs. Rangers final score