The Arizona Diamondbacks are looking to even up the World Series against the Texas Rangers in Game 4 of the series on Tuesday night. And one error from Diamondbacks star Christian Walker led to a disastrous inning that the team may not recover from.
Things got off to a horrible start for the Diamondbacks in the crucial Game 4. The Rangers quickly got off to a 5-0 lead thanks to three straight two-out hits in the top of the second inning, capped off by a two-run home run by Corey Seager.
Corey Seager crushes his third homer of the World Series and the Rangers take a 5-0 lead! ⚾️💣 #WorldSeriespic.twitter.com/fI4KUKu7ND
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 1, 2023
A 5-0 lead is clearly a big hole to get out of. But things got even worse for Arizona in the top of the third inning after Walker’s costly error.
The Ranger yet again found themselves in scoring position, with runners on first and second base with only one out. Rangers catcher Jonah Heim hit a ground ball to Walker at first base, and it looked like it was going to be an inning-ending double play.
Instead, the typically sure-handed Walker bobbled the ball as he went to try to throw it to second base. He wasn’t able to get control of the ball back, and the Diamondbacks ended up getting nobody out on the play.
Here is the error by Christian Walker that led to this five-run inning for the Rangers.
Diamondbacks fans will certainly be looking back at this play with disgust if they go on to lose this one…😬 pic.twitter.com/7VNI8HxMa5— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 1, 2023
The Rangers would go on to capitalize on this crucial error in a big way. Rangers outfielder Travis Jankowski hit a three-run double to make it 7-0. And then Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien would put the game even further out of reach later in the inning with a three-run home run to make it 10-0.
The Rangers tack on two more runs 😳
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/AWYICKRMiq
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 1, 2023
Marcus Semien with a 3-run blast to make it 10-0 Rangers in the 3rd inning of Game 4! ⚾️💣😲pic.twitter.com/7HIK00Q6cK
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 1, 2023
The error from Walker ended up being a five-run mistake. And Diamondbacks fans were quick to place much of the blame on him for this horrendous start to Game 4.
The Rangers scored five more runs in an inning that could have been scoreless had Christian Walker not bobbled a potential inning-ending double play ball.
More mistakes looming large for the D-backs.
— Jesse Friedman (@JesseNFriedman) November 1, 2023
Travis Jankowski is 2 for 2 in his World Series debut. Christian Walker might get DFA’d after the series is over.
pic.twitter.com/5JI0R3wTbM— Division III Benchwarmer (@d3Benchwarmer_) November 1, 2023
Christian Walker needs to get benched. He has failed his team at the plate all post season and just committed an error that has lead to 5 runs since.
— BRF47 (@LJP19871) November 1, 2023
This is getting sideways quickly.
Christian Walker has an error and Travis Jankowski doubles to bring in two. Semien hits a 3-run bomb to make it 10-0.
Ryne Nelson getting loose. Might just try to stick with him to try to save the bullpen as much as you can for tomorrow.
— Jordan Hamm (@JordyHamm) November 1, 2023
What makes the play even worse is that Walker is typically an excellent fielder. He even won the Gold Glove award for first basemen in the National League last season.
To put it simply, Walker has not shown up in the biggest moments of this series thus far, struggling both at the plate and now defensively as well. And this error could very well be what gives the Rangers a 3-1 series lead.
