Seager's early homer stands up as Rangers respond with win over Diamondbacks in World Series

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.

García cut down Christian Walker at the plate with a stellar throw from right field in the second, stifling some early Arizona momentum. García exited in the eighth after appearing to hurt his left side on a swing.

Never seen a first pitch he didn't like! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoAndTakelt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoAndTakelt</a> <a href="https://t.co/SH5Z1p4ytM">pic.twitter.com/SH5Z1p4ytM</a>

Scherzer threw three solid innings before leaving with back tightness, and Jon Gray, Josh Sborz, Aroldis Chapman and José Leclerc combined to keep Arizona's offence quiet most of the evening.

Game 4 in the best-of-seven Series is Tuesday at Chase Field.

After García threw out Walker, the Rangers used a three-run third to take the early advantage. Semien's two-out single into left center made it 1-0 and then Seager smashed his no-doubt homer deep into the