World Series Game 3 takeaways: Corey Seager continues to rake but Adolis Garcia's health is questionable
The Texas Rangers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 3-1, in Game 3 of the 2023 MLB World Series. Here are three takeaways from the potentially series-tilting game:
The Rangers are a gritty team, especially on the road
There is something to be said about a team's ability to bounce back on the big stage, and the Rangers did that and more on Monday night. After taking the series opener with a 6-5 win from Arlington, Texas suffered a massive loss at the hands of the D-backs in Game 2.
It was a 9-1 loss in front of the home crowd that would have demoralized many teams, especially with the prospect of going on the road to Phoenix looming.
Rather than let the moment get too big, though, Texas came out swinging, literally and figuratively and put themselves in a position where they could technically win the whole thing on the road with two more wins.
The good news for Texas? The Rangers are the first team in MLB history to win nine postseason road games. They've done so consecutively.
Corey Seager is looking like the potential World Series MVP
Rangers shortstop Corey Seager has had his fingerprints all over this World Series so far. Seager hit a two-run bomb in the bottom of the ninth in game one that tied the game for Texas and forced extra innings, where Adolis García sealed the deal in the 11th.
Seager got back into the bleachers again in Game 3 with a 421-foot two-run blast to deep right field that put the Rangers up 3-0. The Diamondbacks were able to score a run in the eighth to cut the score to 3-1, but José Leclerc shut the door with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the ninth, meaning Seager's homer was the difference in the game for the Rangers.
Seager's hit was the 18th postseason home run of his career, which tied him with Carlos Correa for second most amongst shortstops.
He's hit five home runs this postseason.
What's the status of Garcia moving forward?
Sure, the loss stings, especially at home, but the Diamondbacks did some nice things in this contest. Second baseman Ketel Marte extended his postseason hit streak to 19 games, which broke a record he set in the last contest. Designated hitter Tommy Pham went 2-for-4 from the plate and reliever Luis Frias pitched 1.2 innings of no-hit ball starting in the eighth.
Perhaps the biggest glimmer of hope moving forward for Arizona is the status of Rangers star Adolis Garcia, though, who left the game with "left side tightness" after flying out in the eighth.
If the injury is enough to cause him to miss Game 4 or Game 5, that could completely swing this thing in favor of the Diamondbacks. The Texas right fielder hit 39 home runs and had 75 RBI this season. He was the ACLS MVP.
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