Texas Rangers capture first World Series title

Los Angeles: The Texas Rangers captured the World Series for the first time in the team’s 63-year history on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), defeating Arizona 5-0 to complete a historic playoff championship run.

Marcus Semien’s two-run home run, a run-scoring Mitch Garver single, and a pivotal ninth-inning Diamondbacks error produced the runs that enabled Texas to win Major League Baseball’s best-of-seven final by 4-1.

“It’s just emotional,” Semien said. “Everything I have ever worked for is for this moment.”

Corey Seager of the Texas Rangers hoists the trophy after being named the Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player Award after the Texas Rangers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 in Game Five to win the World Series at Chase Field on Wednesday, November 1, in Phoenix, Arizona (Thursday, November 2, in Manila). PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN PETERSEN / AFP

Texas went undefeated in 11 contests on the road away from their suburban Dallas home ballpark, capped by sweeping three games in Phoenix over the Diamondbacks.

The Rangers, who began as the Washington Senators in 1961 before relocating to Texas in 1972, had reached the World Series in 2010 and 2011, losing first to San Francisco and then St. Louis.

The D-backs suffered their first World Series defeat, having won the 2001 crown in their only prior appearance.

Arizona pitcher Zac Gallen kept Texas hitless through six innings, the 28-year-old US right-hander baffling the same batters who blasted out 11 runs on 11 hits the night before.

But the Rangers pounced for a run on three hits in the seventh inning and scored four more in the ninth to secure the crown.