6 forgotten playoff moments that won the Texas Rangers the World Series

6) Nathaniel Lowe's 5th inning walk of game 5 of the World Series

This final moment did not give Texas a lead or keep Texas from losing a lead. It did not initiate a rally of any sort in its wake. It did strike a blow to Arizona starting pitcher Zac Gallen in game five of the World Series. Gallen was magnificent through the first four innings of game five. Texas obviously had a game plan to attack Gallen early and to try and take advantage of his fastball in early counts. They did not want him to get to two strikes and be able to use his knuckle curve or other secondary pitches to strike hitters out. Gallen had just 35 pitches through the first four innings. More importantly, Texas had no hits and no batters had reached base through four innings. Gallen was throwing a perfect game in the World Series.

Texas started working counts finally in the fifth inning. Garver led off the fifth with a deep fly out to Lourdes Gurriel Jr in left, but not before making Gallen throw eight pitches. Josh Jung then flew out to Gurriel Jr in left as well, but not before making Gallen throw five pitches. Finally, Lowe came up and Gallen started missing low and did not have complete command of his pitches for the first time in game five. Lowe just refused to chase and took a walk on five pitches. Finally, Gallen would be forced to throw out of the stretch. Heim then ended the inning with a strikeout on six pitches. After Gallen had thrown just 35 in the first four innings, he had to throw 24 pitches in the fifth.

Texas did not score in the fifth, but the increased pitch count did have an effect. He retired the bottom of the order plus Semien in the sixth. In the seventh Texas finally got to him with a single from Seager, a double from Evan Carter, and then the RBI single from Mitch Garver that gave Texas the lead in game five.

Lowe's walk while insignificant in the grand scheme of the game, did remove the fact that he was pitching a perfect game. It did increase his pitch count. It provided a model for how Texas should be attacking Gallen. It eventually led to him being fatigued enough that in the seventh Texas was able to take advantage and take the lead and win the World Series.

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