Corey Seager launched a two-run homer and made a slick defensive play in the eighth inning to start a crucial double play, Max Scherzer combined with four relievers for a gem on the mound and the Texas Rangers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the World Series on Monday night.
Texas overcame injuries to Scherzer and slugger Adolis García in improving to 9-0 on the road this postseason. The 29-year-old Seager — in the second year of a $325 million US contract — once again showed he was worth every penny on the game's biggest stage.
The shortstop smoked a two-run homer into the right-field seats as part of a three-run third after Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfaadt left a first-pitch changeup high in the zone.
The ball left Seager's bat at 114.5 mph, which was the hardest-hit Fall Classic homer in the Statcast era, dating back to 2015.