ARLINGTON, Texas — RELAX… It’s just one game.
Sure, losing Game 1 of the World Series on a walk-off in extra innings is a shocker, the guys said it themselves in the clubhouse, but this team doesn’t flinch. The moment you start to count out this Diamondbacks team, you look foolish. Take it from someone with experience — who even tweeted the season is over early August — don’t make that mistake. The Answerbacks really live up to the name, showing us time and time again when their backs are against the wall, they come out swing and punch back hard.
A lot of firsts in Game 1. First time the D-backs played in World Series game since 2001. First time this postseason the D-backs lost a game when they jumped out to an early lead – they were 9-0 coming into Friday night. First blown save for Paul Sewald this postseason (first blown save since late August), and the first hit he ever allowed to Corey Seager was that game-tying 2-run homer in the 9th inning. First postseason game the ‘RunninBacks’ lost when they stole at least one base.
Also, history repeated itself. 22-years-ago, when President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch in the World Series between the D-backs and Yankees in New York, the D-backs also gave up a game-tying home run in the 9th inning and lost in extra innings. Does anybody want to tell how that 2001 series ends?
Merrill Kelly is in for Game 2 of the World Series against Rangers left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Kelly this postseason has a 2-1 record with a 2.65 ERA. Montgomery is a perfect 3-0 in 4-games this postseason with a 2.16 ERA. The last time he faced the D-backs, Montgomery tossed 8 shutout innings in late August.
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Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made the State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers also play at the Footprint. Phoenix has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Cactus Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the Waste Management Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall; and Cactus League Spring Training.