Arizona Advances To The World Series For The First Time in 22 Years Since Kim Byung-hyun Was A Closing Pitcher
The Arizona Diamondbacks of the Major League Baseball (MLB) have taken to the World Series stage for the first time in 22 years.
Arizona beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 in Game 7 of the 2023 MLB National League Championship Series (NLCS) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the 25th (Korea Standard Time). He played the final game with three wins and three losses in the series, and won his fourth win to advance to the World Series, where he competes for the strongest team this season. It will face the American League (AL) champion Texas Rangers from the 28th.
It is the first time that Arizona has played in the World Series since 2001, when Kim Byung-hyun, one of the pioneers of the "Korean big leaguer," played as a closing pitcher. At that time, Arizona beat the New York Yankees to win the championship.
Arizona advanced to the postseason (PS) in the second place in the NL West with 84 wins and 78 losses in the regular season and the bottom of the wild card (6th seed). However, he won two games without losing to the Milwaukee Brewers, who rank first in the Central Division, and defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, who rank first in the same division, 3-0 in the series. He also beat Philadelphia, the fourth seed in CS. It completed its third consecutive "Upset Series" at Citizens Bank Park filled with polar Philadelphia fans who are released by "Philigan."
Corbin Carroll, who contributed to Arizona's advance to PS this season, led the team's victory in Game 7 of CS. He hit hard with three hits, two RBIs, and two runs in four at-bats. In the top of the first inning, he got on base with a hit against opposing starting pitcher Ranger Suarez with one out and no runners, and then stepped home with a hit by follow-up batter Gabriel Moreno and a groundout by Tristan Walker.
In the top of the fifth inning, when Arizona was losing 1-2, he also hit Suarez's sinker and hit a timely hit between shortstop and second baseman. Corbin stole second base and became a come-from-behind runner in the ensuing situation, and stepped home when the follow-up Moreno hit to the right was made.
In the top of the seventh inning with a 3-2 lead, Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte hit back-to-back hits to make the second and third bases. Even in this situation, Corbin scored an RBI with a sacrifice fly.
Corbin, who was the No. 1 Arizona prospect, made his big league debut last year. This season, he hit .285 with 25 home runs and 54 steals, exuding his potential as a "five-tool player" to his heart's content and becoming a team's main player. In this PS, he also hit .295 with two home runs, and four steals, including the game on the 25th.
In Arizona, bullpen pitchers blocked runs in both the seventh and ninth innings, and kept a 4-2 lead. Philadelphia scored only two runs, with two superstars, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who showed hot hitting, having only one hit and no hit, respectively. He sought to advance to the World Series for two consecutive years following last year, but failed to surpass Arizona, the "sixth seed." 토토
Arizona will play the first game of the World Series at Globe Life Field in Texas on the 28th.