Arizona Diamondbacks Stun Philadelphia Phillies, Clinch First World Series Berth in 22 Years
In a remarkable turn of events, the Arizona Diamondbacks have secured their first World Series appearance in 22 years after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2. After facing disappointment in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series, the Diamondbacks made an impressive comeback, tying the series in Philadelphia on Monday before sealing the deal with another win on the road at Citizens Bank Park.
With a regular season record of 84-78, the Diamondbacks qualified for the playoffs by just one win, while the Texas Rangers, their World Series opponents, clinched a wildcard spot in the final days of the season with a record of 90-72. This year’s MLB playoffs have been filled with upsets, as powerhouse teams like Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, and Los Angeles failed to make it to the championship series round.
Reflecting on their victory, Diamondbacks rookie Corbin Carroll said, We just believed in each other, and believed in our guys. We know what we have in that clubhouse and it’s special. We’ve done it all year – to be at this point is unbelievable. Reliever Kevin Ginkel echoed Carroll’s sentiments, stating, This team battles. We find different ways to win games. We’ve slugged, we’ve pitched, we’ve played defense, we’ve run the bases really well… I’m going to the World Series. It’s insane.
Facing the Phillies, the Diamondbacks showcased their resilience and capitalized on scoring opportunities. Christian Walker‘s force out in the first inning sent Carroll across home plate for an early lead, but the Phillies quickly equalized in the second inning with Alec Bohm’s powerful home run. The Phillies then took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning, only for the Diamondbacks to rally back in the fifth inning with Gabriel Moreno‘s line drive, bringing Carroll home once again for a 3-2 lead. Arizona extended their lead to 4-2 with Carroll’s sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.
As the Phillies attempted a comeback in the seventh inning, Diamondbacks reliever Kevin Ginkel stepped up, swiftly dismissing crucial batters Trea Turner and Bryce Harper to strand both Phillies runners on base. Ginkel continued his dominance in the eighth inning, striking out Bohm, Stott, and J.T. Realmuto to maintain Arizona’s two-run cushion.
With the victory in sight, closer Paul Sewald efficiently claimed the final three outs in the ninth inning, leaving the home crowd in stunned silence.
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ journey to the World Series is a testament to their determination and ability to rise to the occasion. As they prepare to face the Texas Rangers in the ultimate showdown, baseball fans around the world eagerly anticipate an exciting clash between two deserving teams.
