After back stiffness forced Texas starter Max Scherzer (3-2-0-2-1, 36) out of the game after three innings, Jon Gray (above) was unexpectedly rushed into action. He pitched three innings of impressive relief (3-1-0-0-3, 30), needing only 30 pitches to sail through the middle innings. Corey Seager again came through with a big blow, a two-run homer* that carried Texas to a 3-1 victory Monday evening in Game 3.
The Diamondbacks shot themselves in the foot in the second inning when Christian Walker, having begun the frame with a double to right-center, got a late jump from second base on Tommy Pham's hard single to right and then ran through his third base coach's stop sign and was an easy out at the plate.