The Texas Rangers celebrate at Minute Maid Park in Houston after defeating the Astros and clinching their spot in the 2023 World Series. Photo by Godofredo A. Vásquez via AP Photo
The Texas Rangers have slayed the dragon that is the Houston Astros.
Game 7 of the 2023 ALCS shaped up to be a thriller, for the majority of America outside of Houston. Right off the bat, Texas took a commanding lead and whooped their cross-state rival to win the AL Pennant, punching their ticket to the 2023 World Series.
Quick Start
Adolis Garcia has been a thorn in the Astros’ side all series. The Rangers slugger was named the 2023 ALCS MVP after he owned the club for the entire series. Garcia hit two home runs in the game, his fourth and fifth dingers in four games. Right away, he lined a shot off Astros starter Cristian Javier, which eventually led to the Rangers taking a quick lead in the first.
With the Astros’ leash short, manager Dusty Baker pulled Javier after only one out in the first. If the Astros were to win this game, it would have to be through their elite bullpen. But facing Texas’ otherworldly offense, the bullpen wasn’t so elite. The Astros were already down 3-0 in the first, and although they would climb back a bit, making it a 4-2 game after three, the fourth inning would all but seal it for Texas.
Game Over
With Garcia already having hit a liner in the first and a solo homer in the third, he hit a two-run single which capped a four-run inning for Texas, making the game 8-2. It would then become 10-2 and Garcia would hit another home run, making the final score 11-4 Texas. The Rangers celebrated on the Astros’ home turf, clinching the AL Pennant and punching their ticket to the World Series.
“October is different, in every sense—the emotions, the fans, everything is different,” Garcia said in Spanish. “But thankfully, I’ve always been able to control my emotions and keep being myself.”
“He’s just a talented guy,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said of Garcia. “I’m not surprised by anything. Defensively, offensively, we’re lucky to have him.”
A la the 2019 World Series, this ALCS saw the home team lose every game; that is, every game was won on the road. Remarkably, the Texas Rangers lost 102 games in 2021; now, just two years later, thanks to a combination of a strong homegrown core and elite free agent signings, they have won their third-ever pennant.
Game 7 of the NLCS between the Phillies and Diamondbacks will commence tonight. The winner of that game shall face Texas in the 2023 World Series, of which Texas will have home field. But again, if this series showed us anything, it’s that home field advantage can *sometimes* be a mirage.
