62 unravels...Texas beats Arizona to win WS

Game Five of the best-of-seven U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series 2023 between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 2, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. In the bottom of the ninth inning, with Texas leading the series 3-1, and two outs and runners on 2B-2S, Texas reliever Josh Svotz hit a curveball that was just outside the zone. Arizona slugger Ketel Marte couldn't even swing the bat. The umpire's hands were tied, and he called it a strike. It was Texas' first World Series title in 62 years, since its inception in 1961. All of the Texas players waiting in the dugout rushed onto the mound, hugged each other, and celebrated.

Just two years earlier, in 2021, Texas was an underdog with a 60-102 record in the regular season and a last-place finish in the American League West. In response, Texas invested heavily to rebuild the team. Signing two of the biggest names in free agency, shortstop Corey Seager (pictured) to a 10-year, $325 million deal and second baseman Marcus Semien to a seven-year, $175 million deal, bolstered the center field line and added significant firepower to the team's batting order.

Even heading into this season, Texas' offensive investments were unabashed. They hired Bruce Bochy, the "mastermind" who previously led San Francisco to three WS titles (2010, 2012, 2014), as their manager. Bochy's signing was a declaration of intent to win a WS title within the three years of his contract. The team also bolstered its pitching staff with the acquisition of Jacob deGrom, who, when healthy, throws one of the most powerful balls on the planet, for five years and $185 million, and Nathan Eovaldi, a reliable starter, for two years and $34 million.

With the prospect of fall ball on the horizon, Texas continued to make trades during the offseason to bolster the team, especially after the expected ace, DeGrom, underwent elbow surgery after just six games. They acquired Max Scherzer, arguably the best right-hander in the game, from the New York Mets, and also acquired Jordan Montgomery, a solid lefty starter, in exchange for prospects.

Texas' bold moves paid off in the form of the franchise's first WS title. Bochy's sometimes cautious, sometimes bold mercenary moves paid off in fall ball.

Seager, the most expensive acquisition, batted .286 with three home runs, six RBIs and a 1.137 OPS in five games of the WS and was named the World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP). In Game 1, he hit a game-tying two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth inning to set the stage for a come-from-behind victory, and in Game 3, he hit a game-winning two-run shot. Seager, who won the National League Championship Series and World Series MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020, became just the fourth player in history to win two World Series MVPs. Reggie Jackson (Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees) is the second player to win World Series MVP with two different teams, but Seager is the first to win World Series MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues.

Simeon was equally impressive. After suffering through an excruciating batting slump in the first 14 games of the postseason, from the Wild Card Game to Game 2 of the World Series, hitting just .194 with no home runs and two RBIs, Simeon hit the game-winning hit in Game 3 and went 2-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs in Game 4. With a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning, he hit a two-run shot that virtually sealed the WS title. On the mound, the 'recruiting wave' continued. Ibaldi and Montgomery were a one-two punch throughout the postseason.

What makes Texas' WS win even more remarkable is that they entered the postseason as the No. 5 seed in the American League, meaning they had no home field advantage outside of the WS. Of the 17 games Texas played this fall (13-4), 11 were on 스포츠토토 the road. Surprisingly, 11 of Texas' wins came on the road. All on the road. Not surprisingly, they dropped three games at home and won four on the road, especially in the championship series against the Houston Astros, which went to seven games. It was the ultimate Miracle Texas.

With Texas' victory, only five teams remain without a WS championship: the San Diego Padres, where Kim plays, the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, and Tampa Bay Rays.