D-backs' Christian Walker boots grounder, ends record fielding run for both teams at World Series

Nov 1, 2023

Arizona’s sterling defense stumbled at the worst time

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona's sterling defense stumbled at the worst time.

Gold Glove first baseman Christian Walker ended a record run of perfect fielding at the World Series in the third inning of Game 4, opening the door for a second straight five-run inning by the Texas Rangers.

Walker and the Diamondbacks went on to an 11-7 loss Tuesday night. They trail the Rangers 3-1 in the best-of-seven Series going into Game 5 on Wednesday in Arizona.

The Rangers and Diamondbacks combined for three errorless games to start this year’s

World Series

, the first time that’s happened. The teams also committed the

fewest errors in the big leagues

during the regular season — the D-backs with 56, the Rangers 57.

Arizona's Game 4 trouble started in the second inning, when Luis Frias uncorked a two-out, two-strike wild pitch that scored Josh Jung. Texas scored four more runs in the inning, capped by Corey Seager's third two-run homer of the World Series.

It got worse the next inning.

Walker, a first-time Gold Glove winner last season, ranged slightly to his backhand to field a grounder off the bat of Jonah Heim on a potential double play. Walker instead mishandled the transfer to his throwing hand as he wheeled toward second and was charged with an error.

The Rangers scored five runs in the inning, punctuated by Marcus Semien's three-run homer that put them up 10-0.

Texas is the first team in World Series history to score at least five runs in consecutive innings. The Rangers also became the first team to score at least five runs with two outs in consecutive innings since Milwaukee accomplished the feat against Montreal in a 1999 regular-season game, according to

STATS

.

___

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