Texas — Deafening stillness replaced the overwhelming boos, and Adolis García took his time rounding the bases once more.
In Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday night, the Rangers’ slugger put an end to his team’s 9-2 victory against the Astros. He silenced the Minute Maid Park crowd with a grand slam in the ninth inning, which helped force a winner-take-all Game 7.
Two days prior, García and Houston reliever Bryan Abreu incited a benches-clearing altercation in Arlington. This was the most recent development in what has grown to be an incredible rivalry between García and the Astros.
“I think Doli is the one player I want to play against difficult opposition,” Mitch Garver remarked. “And tonight he proved it.”
The Houston fans showed their disapproval of Abreu’s two-game punishment for purposefully throwing at García in Game 5 by booing him mercilessly throughout the 22 pitches he saw on Sunday night, almost two hours after it was revealed.
The Rangers win Game 6 thanks to García’s home run and Eovaldi’s tenacious start.
García appeared to succumb to the strain as he struck out four times in his opening four at-bats. Then he retaliated.
Jonah Heim remarked, “That’s just baseball justice at its finest right there.” “He kind of puts the game on ice, and they’re booing them the entire time.”
With an exit velocity of 110.1 mph, García pounded that Ryne Stanek fastball with force, landing it in the left-field seats, according per Statcast. In that moment, too, he stayed unabashedly himself, holding his bat halfway to first base before hurriedly tossing it away and beginning a slow trot.
Bruce Bochy on winning Game 6
2023 October 23 · 1:58
Bruce Bochy on winning Game 6
In contrast to his 30.5-second trot time in Game 5, this one finished in 29.8 seconds. When García arrived at home plate, the Astros lead had shifted from 5-2 to 9-2, and many of the supporters had already departed from their seats.
• In Game 6, Eovaldi steps up to the plate to set the setting for Scherzer
“I’m not an outfield player. Speaking of García’s huge night, Marcus Semien commented, “I know [visiting players] get yelled at all night.” “It must have been insane. The ALCS is taking place at the plate, and Houston Astros supporters have already attended. They made every effort to penetrate our minds. He makes a fantastic swing to calm everyone down.
In the same game, García became the only player in postseason history to record four strikeouts and a grand slam. But after a performance like that, he had come up clutch before this year. On September 3 at Globe Life Field, the right fielder defeated the Twins with a walk-off home run after failing to hit in his first four at-bats.
Walk-off home run by Adolis García (34)
0:30 Sep 4, 2023
Walk-off home run by Adolis García (34)
However, that incident occurred at home, where supporters were there from the beginning.
Heim remarked, “I don’t know how you can boo someone for getting hit.” But things are as they are. It’s encouraging to see how soon he was able to calm them down.
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In Game 6, Heim had his own memorable moment as he launched the game-winning two-run home run in the fourth inning. That ball had just enough carry to get past Kyle Tucker’s glove and travel a projected 336 feet to right field on Statcast.
The two-run home run by Jonah Heim
2023-10-23 · 0:28
The two-run home run by Jonah Heim
With the exception of Minute Maid Park and Yankee Stadium, Heim’s home run would have been an out in 28 of the 30 MLB ballparks. It was his second home run of the postseason. But right now, with players like Semien and Corey Seager still trying to find their strength in this series, the Rangers will take them in whatever form they come.
It was also the reason why a night such as Garver’s was so significant. With a game-tying opposite-field home shot in the top of the second and an RBI double in the eighth, the Rangers designated hitter came only one out of the cycle. Garver had an even better October as a result; in eight postseason games, he had 10 RBIs.
The solo home run by Mitch Garver Oct. 23, 2023 · 0:30
Mitch Garver’s one-man show
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• Three main plots for Game 7 of the ALCS
“I’ve stated it [since] mid-August—there will be a dogfight until the very end,” Garver declared. Excellent baseball teams on both sides. They have hitting and pitching, but we also have those things. Everyone is probably eager for the one game that will decide everything.
The RBI double of Mitch Garver October 23, 2023 · 0:23
Mitch Garver’s double with RBI
After Game 6, García wasn’t accessible for interviews, but you don’t need to find out how excited he is. When he sends one to the stands, just notice how he hits his chest and gestures up at the heavens.