11 stats, facts from an incredible Game 1
Sarah Langs
@SlangsOnSportsARLINGTON -- Baseball is truly incredible, and it showed us why yet again in World Series Game 1. This game had all of the drama you could possibly want. And with that comes plenty of fascinating context.
Let¡¯s dig in. Here are 11 stats and facts about Game 1.
1) Let¡¯s start at the end -- we have to with a game like this. Adolis García delivered the 17th walk-off home run in World Series history and first since Max Muncy in 2018 (Game 3, 18th inning). It was the second walk-off homer in Rangers postseason history, joining Nelson Cruz¡¯s 2011 ALCS Game 2 grand slam.
2) Garc¨ªa became the fourth player with a walk-off home run in World Series Game 1, joining Kirk Gibson (1988), Dusty Rhodes (1954) and Tommy Henrich (1949). It was the first time that Game 1 of the Fall Classic ended on a walk-off of any kind since 2015, on the same date -- Oct. 27.
3) Garc¨ªa has now homered in five straight games, tied for the second-longest streak in postseason history, behind only Daniel Murphy, who did so in six straight in 2015. Garc¨ªa is tied with Giancarlo Stanton (2020), George Springer (2017-18) and Carlos Beltr¨¢n (2004).
4) Garc¨ªa has an RBI in seven straight games, tied for the second-longest streak in a single postseason, behind only Ryan Howard¡¯s eight-game streak in 2009. Garc¨ªa is tied with Murphy (2015) and Alex Rodriguez (2009). The overall record spanning postseasons is eight, by Howard, Rodriguez (2007-09) and Lou Gehrig (1928-32).
5) Garc¨ªa didn¡¯t just have one RBI -- he had two. He is the third player with multiple RBIs in four consecutive postseason games, joining Stanton (2020) and Reggie Sanders (2005). All of those RBIs add up, too. Garc¨ªa now has 22, passing David Freese (2011) at 21 for the most RBIs in a single postseason. Garc¨ªa has played 13 games, while Freese played 18.
6) Corey Seager knotted the game with the 11th game-tying homer in the ninth inning in World Series history. The Rangers became the second team with a game-tying homer in the ninth inning and a walk-off homer in extras in a World Series game, joining the Yankees in 2001 Game 4, also against the D-backs.
7) Texas became the first team to win a World Series game when trailing by multiple runs in the ninth or later since the Royals in their 2015 Series-clinching Game 5. It was the 11th such win in World Series history, and the D-backs have been on the losing end of three, the most of any team. The only other team with even two such losses is the A¡¯s -- in 1911 and 1914.
8) Rookie Evan Carter continued to make his mark, too. At 21 years and 59 days old, he became the third-youngest player with multiple extra-base hits in a World Series game, older than only 1996 Andruw Jones (19 y, 180 d) and 2019 Juan Soto (20 y, 362 d). They both also did this in their World Series debuts. Carter now has nine extra-base hits this postseason. That is the most all-time by a player at age 21 or younger, let alone in a single postseason.
9) On the other side, Arizona brought its running game ¡ again. The D-backs now have four games with at least four stolen bases, the most by a team in a single postseason. Three of those games have come in a row, making them the first team with three consecutive such games in the playoffs.
10) Evan Longoria, who is back in the Fall Classic for the first time since 2008, became the fourth player with a World Series hit at both age 23 or younger and 38-plus, joining Eddie Murray, Pee Wee Reese and Willie Mays. It was his first World Series hit in 5,748 days, with the prior being Oct. 27, 2008. That is the longest span of days between World Series hits, per STATS. Longoria became the first position player to appear in the World Series at least 15 years after his last trip.
11) Beyond Garc¨ªa¡¯s streaks, keep an eye on Ketel Marte¡¯s in Game 2 as well. He has a 17-game hitting streak, tied for the longest in postseason history, with Manny Ramirez (2003-04), Derek Jeter (1998-99) and Hank Bauer (1956-58). And Marte has done this to start his postseason career.