The Texas Rangers are back on top of the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

Texas defeated the Houston Astros 11-4 in Game 7 of the best-of-seven American League Championship Series (ALCS) of the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, on Thursday.

The Astros advanced to the World Series by sweeping last year’s World Series champions, the Houston Astros. It’s the third time in Texas franchise history. They made it to the World Series in 2010 and 2011. This is their first appearance in 12 years. They are looking to fulfill their dream of becoming World Series champions, something they haven’t done since their inception in 1960.

Heading into Game 5, Texas was on the ropes with a 2-0 series lead. They had won two straight, 2-0 in Game 1 and 5-4 in Game 2. They lost Game 3 5-8, Game 4 3-10, and Game 5 4-5. Three straight losses gave Houston the momentum.

They didn’t go down without a fight. On April 23, they bounced back with a 9-2 win in Game 6 at Houston’s home turf of Minute Maid Park. They followed that up with a 9-2 victory in Game 7 on the road. They punched their ticket to the World Series in dramatic fashion. In the series, Texas won four games at Houston’s home field and Houston won three games in Arlington, Texas’ home field.

Texas manager Bruce Bochy’s leadership also shone through. The three-time World Series champion with the San Francisco Giants returned to the managerial ranks after a four-year hiatus and immediately led Texas to the World Series.

Houston tried to reach the World Series for the third straight year, but ran into a Texas wall.

In Game 7, Adolis Garcia spearheaded the Texas offense. He went 4-for-5 with two home runs, five RBIs and three runs scored. Corey Seager was 5-for-3 with a home run, one RBI and two runs scored, Nathaniel Lowe was 4-for-1 with a home run, two RBI and one run scored, Evan Carter was 4-for-1 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored, and Mitch Garber was 3-for-1 with a home run, one RBI and one run scored. The offense was evenly matched.

Starter Max Scherzer went 2⅔ innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Jordan Montgomery earned the win with 2 1/3 innings of three-hit ball, striking out one and walking none.

Seager opened the scoring in the top of the first with a bases-loaded single to right center. After a Carter walk and a stolen base, Garcia singled to make it 2-0. Garcia also stole second. Garber followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0.

Houston got a run back in the bottom of the first on a Jose Abreu RBI single. Texas took a 3-1 lead. In the top of the third, leadoff hitter Garcia hit a solo home run to give his team a 4-1 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Houston’s Alex Bregman responded with a solo shot of his own. The score was 4-2.

Texas scored four runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead. With the bases loaded, Carter hit a two-run double. Garcia followed with an RBI double of his own. The score quickly grew to 8-2.

In the top of the sixth, Lowe blasted a two-run shot to make it 10-2. In the top of the eighth, Garcia made it 11-3 with a solo home run. Texas cruised to victory.

The team that will face Texas in the World Series will be determined on Friday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 5-1 in Game 6 of the best-of-seven National League Championship Series (NLCS) on Thursday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The series is now tied at three games apiece. On May 25, the teams will play Game 7 at the same location.

Arizona starter Meryl Kelly pitched five innings of three-hit ball, striking out eight and walking one. She earned the win. Kelly previously played for the SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) in the KBO.메이저놀이터

At the plate, Ketel Marte led the way, going 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.

In the second inning, Tommy Pham and Luerdes Gurriel Jr. hit back-to-back RBI singles. Alec Thomas followed with a straight bunt single. Evan Longoria followed with an RBI single to center field to make it 3-0.

Kelly gave up a run in the bottom of the second on singles to J.T. Realmuto and Brandon Marsh, but shut down the Phillies in the third.

Arizona added a run in the top of the fifth on back-to-back RBI singles by Corbin Carroll and Marte.