Texas Rangers Win World Series for First Time in Franchise History: ‘Unbelievable Feeling’

The Texas Rangers can’t do “any more” – they’re World Series Champions!

The resilient team, whose improbable anthem this season is Creed’s 1999 hit “Higher,” capped off a record-setting postseason run Wednesday, defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games to win the title for the first time in franchise history.

In an interview after the match with Fox SportsMarcus Semien called the win an “unforgettable feeling” for him, after waiting a decade for his first World Championship ring.

“This is the biggest moment,” he said when asked about the extra emotion he showed after hitting a two-run home run to seal a 5-0 victory. “It was so good,” he said later.

En route to the championship, the Rangers set the MLB record for most consecutive road wins — recording 11 straight — against playoff opponents including the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros and Diamondbacks.

Led by stars including former Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (who was on the team when they won the 2020 Series) and Semien, the Rangers outlasted the D’Backs despite losing two key players for the season to injuries suffered in Game 3 — ALCS MVP Adolis García and pitcher Max Scherzer.

Jonah Heim (left).

Photos by Mary DeCicco/MLB via Getty

Marcus Semien of the Texas Rangers welcomes baby no. 4, daughter Amelie, in the midst of the team’s postseason run

Among the highlights was rookie Evan Carter, who was only called up to the team from the minors in September. The 21-year-old reached base in every game of the Series, surprising even veteran manager Bruce Bochy in the process.

“I don’t even know if he knows he’s in the big leagues,” Bochy said earlier in the playoffs. “This guy has such composure.”

The Rangers have already been to the World Series twice – in 2010 and 2011 – but lost to the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals.

The Texas Rangers celebrate their first World Series victory.

Jamie Squire/Getty

Retired Red Sox Player David Ortiz ‘Used to Hate’ Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter: ‘We’re Family Now’ (Exclusive)

Against the latter team, the Texas team did so in heartbreaking fashion. They came within one shot of winning the title twice in Game 6, but the Rangers couldn’t close out the Cardinals.

This year, a scrappy team — which lost the division title on the final day of the season to the Astros and lost two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom to Tommy John surgery in June — got it done with good old-fashioned teamwork, under the watchful eye of legendary manager Bruce Bochy, who came out of retirement to send them into the history books.

In Game 5, the Rangers blanked the Diamondbacks 5-0. The game was a hitless pitchers’ duel until the seventh, when Seager ended Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen’s hitless effort with a leadoff single. The Rangers got their star pitching performance from Nathan Eovaldi, who gave up just four hits in six innings.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

All of this was something that even Rangers diehards had a hard time predicting as the 2023 season progressed. But on Wednesday in Phoenix, the team gave its longtime fans a moment they will cherish forever.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education