After losing the opening game of the World Series in extra innings on Friday night, the Arizona Diamondbacks look to even things against Texas Rangers. Game 2 of the Fall Classic is 5 p.m. Saturday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, and will be shown on Fox.
Center fielder Alek Thomas gets rare start vs. lefty in Game 2
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Diamondbacks are giving center fielder Alek Thomas a rare start against a left-handed pitcher, putting him in the lineup in the No. 7 spot against the Texas Rangers and lefty Jordan Montgomery for Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night.
“Just a lot of room out there in center field,” manager Torey Lovullo said.”I wanted to make sure we were going to be running some baseballs down. And he actually swung the bat OK against (Montgomery) back at home.
“I felt like when you’re fighting for every inch on a baseball field, you’ve got to lock down certain parts of it. Pitching and defense are certainly top priorities for us.”
While that makes sense on its own, it makes even more sense considering how little production the Diamondbacks have been getting from the right-handed option who would take Thomas’ place in the lineup. Third baseman Emmanuel Rivera started three games in the National League Championship Series and is just 2 for 12 this postseason.
Thomas hit just .143 against left-handed pitching this season. He got the nod against lefty Clayton Kershaw in the division series but was left on the bench against…
