MLB playoffs 2023: Rangers knock out Astros, D-backs survive - ESPN

The Arizona Diamondbacks foiled what started out as a potential double elimination day by coming into Citizens Bank Park for Game 6 and beating the Philadelphia Phillies 5-1 to stay alive and force a Game 7 — the two best words in sports — in the National League Championship Series. Then, the Texas Rangers punched their ticket to the 2023 World Series by eliminating the Houston Astros in a 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 | Relive the day

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 a 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 2/3-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,