The Rangers are back in the Fall Classic.
Texas turned its Game 7 in Houston into an extended victory lap after it jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and kept the runs coming, eventually winning 11-4.
The Rangers are the first team to score 10+ runs in a postseason winner-take-all Game 7 since the 2007 Red Sox in the ALCS.
— Jason Catania (@JayCat11) October 24, 2023
This is only the seventh such time, with the most runs being a 15-spot by Atlanta in the 1996 NLCS.
With the win, the Rangers advance to their first World Series since 2011 when they lost a heartbreaker to the Cardinals in seven games. Texas was one strike away from winning its first championship in Game 6 before David Freese etched his name into MLB lore.
If those Rangers were as good on the road as these Rangers, that wouldn't have been an issue. Texas improved to a stunning 8-0 on the road during the playoffs after going 40-41 away from home during the regular season.
Right fielder Adolis Garcia, one of the Rangers best players all season, made a name for himself on the national stage during the ALCS after a Game 5 sequence in which he hit a massive three-run home run and then got hit by a pitch during his next at-bat, causing a dugout-clearing scuffle.
He was phenomenal in Game 7, hitting two home runs and driving in five runs in five at-bats.
ADOLIS GARCIA HOMERS AGAIN IN HOUSTON
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 24, 2023
4-1 RANGERS
: FOX/FS1 pic.twitter.com/H1De3JNlsv
Adolis García is 3-for-3 with 4 RBI.
— MLB (@MLB) October 24, 2023
His 19 RBI this #Postseason are a @Rangers franchise record! #ALCS pic.twitter.com/KfbVSBCEqK
ADOLIS GARCÍA. AGAIN. #ALCS pic.twitter.com/pKHEIi5akn
— MLB (@MLB) October 24, 2023
Garcia's ALCS is arguably the most impressive individual performance against the Astros in the playoffs since Albert Pujols in the 2004 NLCS, which also happened to be the last time both LCS went to a seventh game.
That year, Pujols batted .500 with four home runs and nine runs batted in. Garcia finished the series with a .357 average, five home runs and 15 runs batted in.
On Dec. 21, 2019, the Texas Rangers paid a nominal sum of cash to the St. Louis Cardinals for the rights to a 26-year-old outfielder with 17 major league at-bats.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 24, 2023
His name was Adolis Garcia.
In the ALCS this year, Garcia is hitting .357/.400/.893 with five home runs and 15 RBI.
He achieved multiple firsts with his dominant series, per ESPN and OptaStats. He also set the record for most RBI before the World Series in a postseason, as noted by Sarah Langs.
Adolis García is the FIRST player in MLB history to have an RBI in six straight games within a postseason series pic.twitter.com/T8UpjH5H07
— ESPN (@espn) October 24, 2023
Adolis García of the @Rangers is the first player in MLB history to have a homer and 3+ RBI in 3 consecutive postseason games. pic.twitter.com/LbGln2GJUv
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) October 24, 2023
Adolis García’s 20 RBI are the most before the World Series in a single postseason https://t.co/OGniOPbDzH
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 24, 2023
The Rangers will have home-field advantage in the World Series no matter who wins the NLCS. They won six more games than the Diamondbacks during the regular season and hold the tiebreaker over the Phillies after sweeping a series against them from March 30-April 2.
The way they've played on the road, homefield advantage might not be the best thing for them in the World Series. However, the Rangers have Garcia. With the pace he's on, Texas should like its chances anywhere.
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