Diamondbacks rout Texas 9-1 to tie World Series

Arizona Diamondbacks routed Texas 9-1 on Saturday night to even the World Series tie at one game apiece.

Merrill Kelly struck out nine, walked none and allowed his only run on Mitch Garver’s leadoff homer in the fifth on a sinker at the bottom of the strike zone. His 22 strikes were the most for a Series pitcher since Stephen Strasburg in Game 6 for the 2019 Washington Nationals.

A night after wasting a two-run, ninth-inning lead in a 6-5, 11-inning loss, the Diamondbacks hit the ground running and showed in improved form, outhitting Texas 16-4, setting a record for the most hits for one team in a Series game in nine years.

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The best-of-seven Series now goes to Arizona for Game 3 on Monday in the first Series game at Phoenix since 2001. Texas has won all eight of its road games this postseason, equaling a major league record.