MLB playoffs 2023: Rangers knock out Astros, D-backs survive
The Arizona Diamondbacksfoiled what started out as a potential double elimination day by cominginto Citizens Bank Park for Game 6 and beating the Philadelphia Phillies5-1 to stay alive and force a Game 7 -- the two best words in sports -- in the National League Championship Series. Then, the Texas Rangerspunched their ticket to the 2023 World Series by eliminating theHouston Astros in an American League Championship Series Game 7 blowout.
We have the latest from both Philly and Houston, including our takeaways and updates from both LCS matchups.
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Takeaways
Texas Rangers 11, Houston Astros 4: The Rangers navigated through most of the summer with a prolific offense, a group that at times made up for a shorthanded rotation and a deficient bullpen. On Monday night, it sent them to the World Series. The Rangers cranked out four home runs -- two from Adolis Garcia, one each from Corey Seager and Nathaniel Lowe -- and hardly ever gave the defending champion Astros a chance. They scored three times off Cristian Javier in the first, then four times off J.P. France in the fourth. And down the stretch, they kept tacking on, quieting Minute Maid Park to finalize a series in which the road team won all seven games. The only other time that happened was in the 2019 World Series, which the Astros lost to the Washington Nationals. Max Scherzer started the decisive game for the Nats. He started this one, too, but by the end of it, his 2-inning outing was a mere footnote. This one was all about the Rangers' offense. Everyone kept wondering when their shorthanded bullpen might catch up to them, but their lineup wouldn't let it. Four more wins, and they'll have their first championship in franchise history. -- Alden Gonzalez
Diamondbacks 5, Phillies 1: The Diamondbacks, left for dead before the wild-card series, division series and league championship series, saved their season Monday night. They didn't just make the Phillies look mortal in their 5-1 victory in Game 6 of the NLCS. Arizona dominated them. Merrill Kelly was brilliant over five innings. The Diamondbacks hit home runs and finally got going on the basepaths, with four stolen bases. For the first time in seven games this month, the Phillies lost at Citizens Bank Park -- and they need to change that trend in a hurry.
Because Game 7 is coming. The last time in a full season that both championship series went to a Game 7 was 2004. Scheduled to start: Arizona's Brandon Pfaadt and Philadelphia's Ranger Suarez, both of whom were brilliant in their Game 3 duel. First pitch is at 8 p.m. And if this game is anything like the six that has preceded it, this series should have a fitting denouement. -- Jeff Passan
