- Adolis García shines with a ninth-inning grand slam, securing the win for the Rangers.
- Nathan Eovaldi delivers a stellar performance, solidifying his reputation as a postseason pitcher.
- It all comes down to Game 7: the American League championship is on the line at Minute Maid Park.
There will be a Game 7 in Houston. The Texas Rangers pulled ahead late and clinched a 9-2 victory over the Astros in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday night at Minute Maid Park. The series is now tied 3-3, setting the stage for a decisive Game 7 on Monday to determine who advances to the World Series to face either the Phillies or the Diamondbacks.
In Game 6, Nathan Eovaldi pitched 6 1/3 effective innings for the Rangers, and Adolis García, who played a major role in the near-brawl of Game 5, hit a ninth-inning grand slam to all but guarantee the Texas win. The outcome of Game 6 means that the visiting team remains undefeated in this series.
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García’s Game-Changing Moment
The Rangers scored opposite-field homers from Mitch Garver and Jonah Heim early in the game, but the shot everyone is talking about was Adolis García’s ninth-inning grand slam off a Ryne Stanek fastball that sealed Game 6. That hit left the bat at 110 mph and traveled 375 feet. In his previous four at-bats in Game 6, García was fervently booed by the Houston crowd. The boos, of course, stem from Game 5 and García’s central role in the near-brawl that’s still being discussed. Essentially, it gave Texas a seven-run lead, relieving all the pressure from the bullpen for the bottom of the ninth.
García has now homered in three consecutive games and has five home runs in the 2023 postseason.
Eovaldi looked like a Cy Young contender for Texas before a forearm injury put him on the injured list for over a month. After returning in early September, he struggled with a 9.30 ERA and an equally dismal 7.88 FIP over his final six starts of the regular season. However, in the playoffs, Eovaldi rediscovered something much closer to his prime form.
Altuve’s Impressive Stats
Altuve entered Game 6 with a batting line of .273/.333/.636 for the ALCS and added two more hits on Sunday night. Altuve will be a significant contender for the ALCS MVP honors if the Astros manage to win Game 7. Regardless of how it unfolds, Altuve’s extensive postseason track record will look even more impressive after his 2023 performance.
The American League pennant will be decided on Monday back at Minute Maid Park with Game 7 between these two teams. The first pitch is set for 8:03 p.m. ET. Max Scherzer of the Rangers will take on Cristian Javier of the Astros. It’s worth noting that the visiting team remains unbeaten in this series, and Houston in 2023 has a sub-.500 home record.
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