The Arizona Diamondbacks have defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 in Game 7 of the NLCS to win the NL pennant and will make their first trip to the World Series since 2001.
The D'Backs triumphed despite being down 2-0 and then 3-2 and having to play Games 6 & 7 in Philadelphia where they had been dominated.
D'Backs second baseman Ketel Marte was named NLCS MVP. Marte went 12 for 31 (.387) with 3 RBI in the NLCS.
As with the NLCS, the D'Backs will begin on the road when they travel to Globe Life Park to commence the World Series on Friday.
If given the choice, I would rather see the Rangers win the World Series as they have never won a Fall Classic since their inauguration as the second incarnation as the Washington Senators in 1961.
However, the D'Backs haven't won a World Series in 22 years and wouldn't lose sleep if they won another. I'd be happiest for D'Backs manager Torey Lovullo who I remember as a top prospect for the Detroit Tigers in the late 1980's. He bounced around with the New York Yankees, California Angels, Seattle Mariners, Oakland A's, Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies. I remember seeing Lovullo play in Ottawa when he was a member of the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Red Barons when they were the Triple-AAA affiliate of the Phillies.
Lovullo, of course, is remembered for his time in the Red Sox organization managing the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2010 and as a member of the Red Sox big league coaching staff from 2013 to 2016. Earning a World Series ring in 2013, he stepped in as interim manager when John Farrell fell ill in 2015.
Considering Lovullo is only two years removed from leading the D'Backs to 110 losses, this is a remarkable reversal of fortune. In view of Lovullo's arduous career, he is difficult to root against and so are his scrappy D'Backs.
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