World Series 2023: Do the D-backs have another miracle left? - ESPN

PHOENIX — If the Arizona Diamondbacks can live up to the Answerbacks moniker that they've adopted throughout October as the calendar flips to November, what happened in the final innings of their Game 4 loss will be where the latest story in a postseason full of surprises begins.

Arizona was down 10-1 entering the eighth inning on Tuesday night, but instead of rolling over, Arizona made Texas work — and perhaps most importantly, use closer Jose Leclerc — by scoring six runs in the final two innings of what turned into an 11-7 loss. Down 3-1 in a best-of-seven series isn't an enviable position to be in, but after their late awakening, the D-backs actually feeling like there's a little momentum on their side.

«Got the fans engaged,» manager Torey Lovullo said after the game. «Got a ton of energy. Got their closer in the game. There was a lot of positives to draw upon, and I will.»

Is it wishful thinking or something real? Lovullo's upbeat attitude permeated the clubhouse after the Game 4 defeat, and it was a more upbeat feeling than the last time the Diamondbacks got down big — when they lost Game 2 of the National League Championship Series 10-0 and appeared overmatched by a Philadelphia Phillies team they would eventually oust in seven games.

Now Arizona will have to take this World Series the distance to end an improbable run with a championship celebration. First, it starts with Game 5 on Wednesday night, and it helps to have one of their aces on the mound again after struggling in a bullpen game. With his team's season on the line, Zac Gallen will get a second chance at a Rangers offense that tagged him for three runs on four hits and four walks over five innings in the World Series opener.

«I don't get a sense that