DBacks know they won't have pool party at Chase Field after Game 3 loss

Corbin Carroll didn’t have to think very long about the difference between the Diamondbacks clinching a playoff series at home versus on the road.

“Pool party!” the star rookie outfielder said, referencing the team’s mad dash to the pool beyond the center field wall after sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the divisional round at Chase Field. “That’s one. It was really neat to be able to see some of our fans stick around and kind of be a part of that. That was special.”

It remains an enduring image of this postseason. But it won’t happen again.

The Diamondbacks can no longer clinch the World Series championship at home after losing Game 3 to the Texas Rangers, 3-1, on Monday night, falling behind 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Arizona must win at least one of the next two games on Tuesday or Wednesday to force the series back to Arlington, Texas, and prevent the Rangers from throwing a downtown Phoenix pool party of their own.

The DBacks must win both of their remaining home games to avoid heading to Texas down 3-2 in the series, in which case they’d need to win both Games 6 and 7 on the road, as they did to seize the National League pennant in Philadelphia.

It’s a tall task.

The Rangers are undefeated away from Globe Life Field this postseason and have set a major- league, single-season playoff mark with a 9-0 record on the road. It is the longest road winning streak in a single postseason in baseball history, surpassing the 2019 Washington Nationals and 1996 New York Yankees, which each won eight in a row on the road. It also ties the major-league record for consecutive road playoff victories across multiple seasons, matching the Yankees’ streaks from 1937-42 and 1996-97.

“It’s a small sample size,” Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien said. “I think that anything can happen at this level. Anybody can beat anybody in any place, home or away. Obviously, this postseason, that’s been the theme. Not just us. Look at the NLCS and what happened and what we did. We won a lot of games on the road when our backs were against the wall. That’s the type of team we are.”

The Rangers, like the DBacks in Philadelphia, won Games 6 and 7 of the American League Championship Series on the road against the Houston Astros to reach the World Series.

The Rangers’ all-time postseason road record (21-15) is the highest away winning percentage (.583) in Major League Baseball playoff history, minimum 25 games.

“We’re just playing good baseball,” said Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer, who started Game 3 but left after the third inning with back tightness. “It could happen at home. For whatever reason, the cookie is breaking where it’s on the road. It has nothing to do with anything about Texas — our fans are awesome, man — it’s just for whatever reason, the ball just seems to bounce our way on the road.”

The Diamondbacks knew, after blowing a late lead to lose Game 1, 6-5 in extra innings, and cruising to a 9-1 victory in Game 2 in Arlington, that they’d need to win all three games in Phoenix to clinch the championship at home.

“I’m sure it would be good for the city, for the fans, but that’s a really good team over there,” DBacks designated hitter Tommy Pham said before Game 3. “You can’t underestimate them, so it’s not going to be easy.”

The World Series team with home field advantage has won 26 of the past 36 (72.2%) championships since 1985, excluding 2020, which was held at a neutral site.

This includes the DBacks clinching the 2001 World Series at home, when they defeated the Yankees in seven games. The home team won every game.

Arizona first baseman Christian Walker said rallying from an 0-2 deficit against the Phillies and winning Games 6 and 7 of the NLCS in Philadelphia has helped to relieve pressure and keep the DBacks loose in the series after they dropped the first game in dramatic fashion.

“It’s cool to look back and think about that series, especially when you start out 0-1,” Walker said. “It’s a good reminder, ‘Hey, every game is its own thing. You don’t have to win them all. You’ve just got to win four, right?’”

When the World Series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 has gone on to win the series 41 of 62 (66.1%) times.

The Rangers are in the World Series for the third time, having lost to San Francisco in five games in 2010 and St. Louis in seven games in 2011.

A giant image depicting the DBacks’ 2001 World Series championship hangs on the wall outside their clubhouse at Chase Field. They’ll need to win three of the next four games, with the clincher coming in Texas, to secure the franchise’s second title.

But first, there are two more games at Chase Field.

“These are exciting times,” Carroll said, “and I think that we can’t take it for granted. It’s been a long time since World Series baseball has been in Arizona, and so I just hope that everyone soaks it up and takes advantage of it. These are all must-win games and we’re going to attack it as such.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DBacks have work ahead to avoid returning to Texas in World Series hole