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PHOENIX — The Texas Rangers’ prowess on the road this postseason has been a source of widespread inquiry but very little explanation. Max Scherzer, whose 2019 Washington Nationals rode a similar run to a championship, was the latest to deliberate on the topic and struggled to explain it himself. Instead, he referenced a trait that transcends setting.
“Nothing’s going to faze us,” he said before Sunday’s workout. “We’ve seen it. I feel like I’ve seen it over my time since I’ve been here on the Rangers — that there’s been moments where you think the team is going to fold over, and it absolutely snaps back the other way and punches the other guy in the face.”
It was obvious once again Monday night.
Scherzer’s back spasmed three innings into his start, forcing him to exit Game 3 of the World Series after recording only nine outs. It was Jon Gray, the veteran starter turned temporary reliever, who provided the big punch, delivering three quality innings to hand a small lead over to the Rangers’ high-leverage relievers and set the tone in a 3-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Rangers have now won an unprecedented nine consecutive road games in these playoffs, a run that saw them surge past the 99-win Tampa Bay Rays, the 101-win Baltimore Orioles and the defending champion Houston Astros. Two more, and the Rangers — with a 2-1 lead over the D-backs in this best-of-seven series — will claim the first championship in their 62-year history.
To get here, they overcame an eight-game losing streak near the middle of August and six losses in seven games to begin September. They responded to losing the division title on the final day of the regular season by reeling off seven consecutive playoff wins, then lost three consecutive American League Championship…
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