On Monday night, the Arizona Diamondbacks seemingly forgot how to hit. On Tuesday, it was the pitching staff that lost the plot.
The Texas Rangers hammered the D-Backs in Game 4 of the World Series, 11-7, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.
The Diamondbacks came into the game with the intention of letting their bullpen handle the entire night, much as they did in a 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the NLCS.
But the Rangers took a jackhammer to that plan. Four different Arizona relievers gave up a run or more, while Marcus Semien, Corey Seager and Jonah Heim each homered on the night and Semien finished with five RBI:
FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOX
2-run triple for Marcus Semien!
The @Rangers came out swinging!
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/Je43lpXXMi
FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOX
COREY SEAGER STRIKES AGAIN 💥
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/oKytcm45H6
FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOX
A 3-RUN HOMER FROM SEMIEN MAKES IT 10-0 @Rangers! 😱
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/83qi1EGjO2
FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOX
The Heim Hammer 💥
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/G4pO4pz9jv
And more than a few MLB fans and pundits alike were happy to see the Diamondbacks get punished for utilizing a bullpen game in the World Series, alongside questioning some other pitching decisions along the way:
Brian Murphy @knbrmurph
There is something deeply satisfying about seeing a bullpen start in the World Series completely and totally implode
Ann Killion @annkillion
Good. Throw a bullpen game in the World Series you deserve to get your ass kicked.
Stirrups Now! @uniformcritic
Game 4 being treated like it’s a spring training game. Hoping 6-7 pitchers all have “it” is a big ask. Jack Morris weeps… pic.twitter.com/pUFVlV9GqZ
Not Gaetti @notgaetti
It’s unbelievable that we’ve reached the point where teams plan for bullpen days in the World Series.
Just look at this game. It’s the top of the 4th inning, Arizona is on their 5th pitcher, and they’re losing 10-0.
What’s next, are we gonna see a position player pitch today?
Ben Maller @benmaller
Diamondbacks deserve to get obliterated for going with bullpen game in freaking World Series, this is cosmic justice, save these for the Cactus League. Rangers laugher! pic.twitter.com/dhDiG5FOXc
Cameron Cox @CamCox12
Not even through 3 innings…
4 pitchers and 10 runs.
Fans should get their money back.
Also — new rule… you MUST HAVE 4 starters to make the playoffs.
Embarrassing.
John Stolnis @JohnStolnis
The Rangers are destroying the Arizona bullpen game. The Phillies lost because their hitters were stupid and got themselves out. That much is becoming obvious.
Brice Paterik @BricePaterik
We’re an hour in and just starting the 3rd inning.
Bullpen games are an abomination
🥇 @SteeloCity3
can this game please be the game we look back on as the death of the bullpen game? pretty please?
FanDuel @FanDuel
Diamondbacks in the World Series: pic.twitter.com/VHdx4OCPbH
Pedro Martinez @45PedroMartinez
How many times have I said it: @Rangers Corey Seager, is the kind of player that you circle before the game and say to yourself: if needed, let’s give him the Barry Bonds treatment (walk) and not let him beat me #Worldseries #walkhim #coreyseager
It should be noted that the Rangers also have been incredible on the road in October, winning 10 straight games away from home this postseason. And they continue to absolutely rake, with their sixth postseason game scoring seven or more runs.
But from Arizona’s perspective, losing two straight games at home—one in which their offense only mustered one run, and the other in which the planned bullpen game backfired immensely—is nothing short of disastrous.
Yes, the Diamondbacks will now have their three starters the’ve utilized throughout the postseason—Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Brandon Pfaadt—available for the next three games, depending on how long this series goes.
The Rangers will be without starting pitcher Max Scherzer and Adolis García for the rest of the World Series, a huge blow for them.
And the D-Backs deserve some credit for not folding, putting up seven runs in total after facing an early 10-0 deficit, which forced the Rangers to utilize a fair amount of relievers. Momentum’s validity is murky at best, but if there’s any truth to its power, Arizona’s offensive revival may have at least swung some back in their favor.
Still, this was a chance for the Diamondbacks to even the series and press the pitching advantage they would have had going forward.
Instead, the Rangers—needing just one more win in this series—may never have to solve the Game 7 pitching conundrum that Scherzer’s injury left them. The Diamondbacks, left with zero margin for error, are now just hoping to get this series back to Texas.
So no, it wasn’t a good night in the desert. Make that two in a row.
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