The Texas Rangers decisively defeated the Houston Astros 11-4 in Game 7 of the ALCS to earn their first AL pennant since 2011.
Rangers' outfielder Adolis Garcia earned ALCS MVP honors hitting .429 (12 for 28) with 5 HR and an AL record 15 RBI including a four hit performance in the clincher which included 2 HR and 5 RBI. Astros pitching could not figure out Garcia resulting in the Cuban born slugger being plunked by Astros relieve Bryan Abreu in Game 5 resulting in a 2-game suspension.
Texas won all four of its LCS games at Houston's Minute Maid Park much like when the Washington Nationals won the 2019 World Series against these same Astros. Coincidentally, Max Scherzer was tonight's Game 7 starter for the Rangers and was also the Game 7 starter for the Nats four years ago. Come to think of it, the Texas Rangers started out as the second incarnation of the Washington Senators back in 1961 after the original Senators moved to the Twin Cities to become the Minnesota Twins.
The Rangers are seeking their first World Series title. Of course, they won back-to-back AL pennants in 2010 and 2011, coming within a strike of winning the Fall Classic in the latter series against the St. Louis Cardinals before David Freese put the Rangers' celebration on ice. The Rangers are led by Bruce Bochy who will be in his fifth World Series as a skipper. Bochy led the San Diego Padres to the NL pennant in 1998 and three World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014. The 2010 World Series title, of course, came at the expense of the Rangers.
The 2023 World Series opens at Globe Life Park on Friday night. The Rangers will learn who they will face tomorrow night when the Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks square off in Game 7 of the NLCS. The Phillies are attempting to win back-to-back NL championships while the D'Backs, two years removed from losing 110 games, are vying for their first World Series trip since 2001.
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