THE LAST TIME EACH TEAM WON A WORLD SERIES | BASEBALL ⚾

 

BIDEN HOSTS WORLD SERIES CHAMPION RANGERS AT WHITE HOUSE

President Joe Biden noted the Word Series champion Texas Rangers were once the Washington Senators before they moved to Texas in 1972. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

 WASHINGTON -- The Texas Rangers visited the White House on Thursday to celebrate their 2023 World Series victory with President Joe Biden, who noted that the team was making a triumphant return to the city where its franchise was born.

"You're back in the nation's capital as world champions, and you deserve it," Biden said, referencing a team that was once the Washington Senators before it moved to Texas in 1972. "I think there's a word you all embody: resilience."

It's a long-standing tradition for professional and collegiate championship teams to come to the White House and be recognized by the president. The visit meant a rare public appearance by Biden since his July 21 announcement that he was dropping his bid for reelection and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic ticket in November.

The Rangers now play in Arlington, outside Dallas, and Biden said that city and region had grown accustomed to championships in football, basketball and hockey that left many wondering "if baseball would ever join them."

He noted that the Rangers failed to win last year's American League West division, which "was as tough as it's ever been." The team made the playoffs as a wild card and topped Tampa Bay and Baltimore before getting "revenge on the Houston Astros," Biden said, to make the World Series -- which they clinched in five games over the Arizona Diamondbacks in November.

"You never gave up," Biden said. "You kept the faith."

The event in the East Room began with the band playing an orchestral version of "Higher," the 1999 hit by Creed that became the 2023 Rangers' unofficial anthem. In the midst of their current season, the Rangers lost at home to the Astros on Wednesday and headed to New York after the ceremony for a series against the Yankees.

It was the Rangers' first championship, but the fourth for their manager, Bruce Bochy, who previously visited the White House after winning titles with the San Francisco Giants in the 2010, 2012 and 2014 seasons -- and celebrating them all while Barack Obama was president.

Biden noted that Bochy was running out of fingers on one hand for his World Series rings and that, if he were to win a fifth, he'd "need another finger" unless he put a ring on his thumb. "I don't know how you'd do that, man," Biden added.

Rangers general manager Chris Young called last season "a roller coaster."

"It was filled with highs and extreme lows, and there were moments where it didn't feel like we could possibly win the World Series," Young said. "But this group of guys, they never gave up hope. They never veered off course."

He said the players "forever changed the perception of our franchise" and fans had "waited a long time for this championship."

"You all deserve this," Young said. "We thank you for your patience."

As the players and Biden spoke, the World Series trophy sat on a table nearby, along with a No. 46 Rangers jersey with Biden's name on it and Rangers cowboy boots -- which the president declared would "give me another two inches."

"I had a hell of an arm," Biden joked as he held up the jersey. "I don't have it anymore."

- Associated Press

MLB ROUNDUP: DODGERS' 4-HOMER INNING

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 Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez and Jason Heyward homered in a seven-run sixth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers rolled to a 15-2 victory over the visiting Texas Rangers on Tuesday.

Will Smith added a three-run home run, Mookie Betts hit a three-run double and James Paxton (6-1) gave up one run over six innings as the Dodgers improved to 9-4 following a season-worst, five-game losing streak late last month.

Ezequiel Duran hit a home run as the Rangers lost for the fifth time in seven games. Texas starter Dane Dunning (4-5) gave up six runs over 3 2/3 innings, while Grant Anderson yielded all seven runs in the sixth inning while recording two outs.

The last time the Dodgers hit four home runs in an inning was on September 29, 2021.

Rays 5, Cubs 2

Brandon Lowe crushed a walk-off, three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning as Tampa Bay rallied and broke a four-game losing streak with a win over Chicago in St. Petersburg, Fla.

With the Rays down 2-1 and Cubs closer Hector Neris (6-1) on the mound, Jose Caballero slashed a one-out single to knock in Richie Palacios, who led off the ninth with a double. On a 3-2 splitter from Neris, Lowe rocked his third homer for his fourth career walk-off hit and Rays' fifth this season.

Chris Devenski (2-1) tossed a perfect ninth for Tampa Bay.

Padres 4, A's 3

Kyle Higashioka led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a walk-off home run as San Diego edged visiting Oakland.

Higashioka jumped on a hanging changeup from Scott Alexander (0-1) and lined it into the left field corner. Robert Suarez (3-0) retired all four batters he faced to pick up the win.

Tyler Soderstrom cracked a two-run homer off Enyel De Los Santos in the eighth inning, drawing the A's even at 3-3.

Yankees 10, Royals 1

Aaron Judge, back from his first day off of the season, homered and knocked in three runs as New York demolished host Kansas City.

After singling in a run in the first inning, Judge hit a two-run, 436-foot blast to center, his 25th, for a 9-0 Yankees lead in the seventh. He is hitting .401 with 21 homers and 49 RBIs over his past 41 games.

New York starter Marcus Stroman (6-2) threw 5 2/3 shutout innings, allowing four hits. Royals starter Brady Singer (4-3) was tagged for seven runs, six earned, on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Orioles 4, Braves 0

Jorge Mateo smacked a three-run home run in his first action in nine days and five pitchers combined on a five-hitter as Baltimore returned from an eight-game road trip to defeat Atlanta.

Albert Suarez (3-0) worked 5 1/3 shutout innings to help the Orioles earn fifth consecutive victory and their 15th win in their past 19 outings.

Atlanta starter Max Fried (6-3) lasted five-plus innings, and he was charged with four runs on six hits. His personal three-game winning streak ended.

Diamondbacks 9, Angels 4

Randal Grichuk and Corbin Carroll each fell one component short of the cycle as two of four Diamondbacks to record three hits during Arizona's victory over Los Angeles in Phoenix.

Grichuk finished a single shy and Carroll was missing the homer while Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. joined them as part of the three-hit brigade. Grichuk, Gurriel and Moreno drove in two runs apiece as the Diamondbacks racked up 15 hits while winning for the seventh time in 10 games.

Taylor Ward homered, drove in two runs and scored twice for the Angels, who have dropped three of four games.

Phillies 4, Red Sox 1

Kyle Schwarber hit two home runs, including his 17th career multi-homer game out of the leadoff spot, as visiting Philadelphia beat Boston.

Schwarber, who returned to Boston for the first time since his departure after the 2021 season, ripped leadoff blasts in the first and fifth innings. Bryson Stott went 2-for-4 and scored a run. Zack Wheeler (8-3) allowed just one run on three hits in seven innings.

David Hamilton went 2-for-4 for Boston. Kutter Crawford (2-6) struck out eight and surrendered four runs, two earned, over six innings.

Blue Jays 3, Brewers 0

George Springer, Spencer Horwitz and Danny Jansen had RBIs, Yusei Kikuchi pitched five scoreless innings and visiting Toronto defeated Milwaukee.

Kikuchi (4-5) allowed three hits and four walks while striking out five. Yimi Garcia pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings, recording three strikeouts to earn his fifth save of the season.

Brewers starter Carlos Rodriguez (0-1) made his major league debut and allowed two runs, seven hits and one walk in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out four.

Marlins 4, Mets 2

Jesus Luzardo combined with three relievers on a four-hitter for Miami in a victory at New York.

Tim Anderson, Nick Gordon and Bryan De La Cruz drove in runs for the Marlins, who won for just the second time in eight games. Mark Vientos laced a two-run double for the Mets, who fell to 6-4 in their last 10. Luzardo (3-5) gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Starling Marte finished with two hits for the Mets. New York starter Tylor Megill (1-3) allowed three runs, two earned, over 4 2/3 innings.

Rockies 5, Twins 4

Ezequiel Tovar and Ryan McMahon each homered and Colorado held on for a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Michael Toglia also drove in a run for the Rockies, who won for only the third time in their past 11 games. Byron Buxton went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run for Minnesota. Carlos Santana also hit a two-run homer for the Twins.

Rockies starter Cal Quantrill (6-4) pitched six scoreless innings. Tyler Kinley gave Santana's two-run shot in the ninth just still earned his fifth save. Twins reliever Caleb Thielbar (2-2) took the loss after yielding four runs without getting an out.

Astros 3, Giants 1

Ronel Blanco teamed with three relievers on a three-hitter and Houston took advantage of a Matt Chapman error to score the decisive runs in a victory at San Francisco.

Blanco (6-2) went six innings, limiting the Giants to one run and three hits. He walked one and struck out eight. Mauricio Dubon had two hits and scored twice while Jon Singleton collected two singles for the Astros.

Patrick Bailey had a double among the three hits for the Giants, who lost for just the second time in their past six games. The lone San Francisco run came via Brett Wisely's solo homer in the third inning. Giants starter Jordan Hicks (4-3) gave up three runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Guardians 5, Reds 3

Steven Kwan doubled twice, had three hits and drove in two runs, and Tyler Freeman made consecutive leaping catches at the outfield wall to lead visiting Cleveland over Cincinnati

Josh Naylor belted a tape-measure homer in the eighth inning for insurance, helping secure a win for Triston McKenzie (3-3), who worked 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball. Emmanuel Clase earned his 20th save as the Guardians won for their third game in a row.

Reliever Nick Martinez (2-4) gave up three runs in 1 2/3 innings as the Reds took their second straight loss after seven wins in a row.

Pirates 2, Cardinals 1

Jack Suwinski scored on a ninth-inning fielder's choice and Andrew McCutchen subsequently raced home on a sacrifice fly, fueling Pittsburgh to a victory at St. Louis.

Pirates rookie Paul Skenes allowed five hits and struck out eight over 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Colin Holderman (2-0) earned the win in relief, and David Bednar posted his 14th save despite seeing Nolan Gorman belt his first pitch for a homer to lead off the ninth inning.

Ryan Helsley (2-3) yielded both Pittsburgh runs in the ninth after Miles Mikolas took a no-hitter in the seventh inning. Mikolas fired seven shutout frames, permitting just one hit and one walk while fanning six.

Mariners 4, White Sox 3

Cal Raleigh doubled home the tying and go-ahead runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning as Seattle rallied to beat Chicago, spoiling the major league debut of top pitching prospect Drew Thorpe.

Raleigh, who hit a walk-off grand slam in an 8-4 victory over Chicago on Monday, had two doubles and three RBIs for the Mariners, who won their third in a row. Andrew Vaughn and Paul DeJong homered for the White Sox, who have lost 28 of 33 road games this season.

Thorpe was called up after going 7-1 with a 1.35 ERA at Double-A Birmingham. He allowed two runs -- one earned -- on three hits over five innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out four.

Nationals 5, Tigers 4 (10 innings)

Lane Thomas drove in the go-ahead run with a 10th-inning sacrifice fly and Washington extended its winning streak to four games by defeating host Detroit.

Thomas had two RBIs. Kyle Finnegan (2-3) struck out three in 1 1/3 perfect innings to pick up the win.

Riley Greene had a three-run triple for the Tigers, who fell for the fourth time in five games.

MLB ROUNDUP: SHOHEI OHTANI WINS | HOMERS IN TEXAS

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Shohei Ohtani starred on the mound and at the plate, Mickey Moniak delivered the tying hit and the go-ahead home run, and the Los Angeles Angels held on to beat the Texas Rangers 5-3 on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.

The Angels won three of four in the series.

Ohtani (6-2) allowed two runs in six innings, and he also hit his 22nd homer. Moniak finished with three hits, including an eighth-inning solo shot.

Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi (9-3) gave up three runs in seven innings. Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis Garcia each had two hits and an RBI for the Rangers.

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