World Series Game 2 takeaways: Strong pitching and timely hitting help D-backs even series with Rangers
A night after suffering a devastating extra-inning loss to the Texas Rangers, the Arizona Diamondbacks bounced back with a breezy 9-1 victory in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday. Here are three takeaways from the Dbacks series-evening win:
Merrill Kelly's masterpiece steadied the ship for Dbacks
Kelly was spectacular in Game 2 and acted as a calming influence for the Diamondbacks after their misfortune in Game 1. The 35-year-old vet powered through seven innings on Saturday, allowing an earned run off only three hits. He became only the 10th pitcher to post nine or more strikeouts with zero walks in a World Series game. According to Stathead, only Deacon Phillippe (10, 1903), Cliff Lee (10, 2009), Don Newcombe (11, 1949) and Clayton Kershaw (11, 2017) finished their outings with more K's than Kelly.
The right-hander also made D-backs history, joining Curt Schilling (twice in 2001) and Randy Johnson (2001) as the third pitcher in franchise history to strike out nine or more batters in the Fall Classic, per ESPN Stats and Info.
Rangers pitching couldn't solve Diamondbacks lineup
Of the five pitchers that took the hill for the Rangers in Game 2, only Andrew Heaney and Dane Dunning escaped without giving up a run, combining to pitch only an inning. The D-backs did most of their damage against starter Jordan Montgomery, who allowed four earned runs off nine hits through six innings. After that, Arizona tacked on four insurance runs late off Martin Perez.
Every starter in the Diamondbacks lineup registered at least a hit in the win and six batters recorded RBI. Carroll (2), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (2) and Alek Thomas all had two hits each. Meanwhile, Carroll, second baseman Ketel Marte and pinch-hitter Emmanuel Rivera knocked in two runs apiece.
The Rangers are the first team since the Kansas City Royals (2014) to give up nine-plus runs off 16 or more hits in a World Series game. The Royals allowed 11 earned runs off 16 hits against the San Francisco Giants in Game 4.
Youth is serving D-backs in a major way at the plate
D-backs catcher Gabriel Moreno hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning off Montgomery, giving Arizona 12 long balls during the playoffs from players 23 years old or younger. According to Sarah Langs of MLB.com, that's the most by a team in baseball history, passing the 2015 Chicago Cubs. Among the group, Moreno (4), Thomas (4) and Carroll (2) are all 23, while shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) turned 24 on Oct. 22.
The four batters played a role in the Diamondbacks' Game 2 offensive barrage, finishing a combined 6-of-16 with a homer, three RBI, two runs scored and a walk. They're inarguably a major reason why Arizona finds itself in the World Series. Over the course of the postseason, Moreno, Thomas, Carroll and Perdomo have recorded 52 hits, 12 long balls and 29 runs batted in.
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