Rangers Make History after Defeating Astros in Game 2 of ALCS

By Joshua Carter Oct 17, 2023 #Houston Astros #MLB #Playoffs #Sports #texas #Texas Rangers

HOUSTON – The Texas Rangers remain undefeated in postseason play, having won six postseason games and their seventh on the road in Houston, defeating the Astros 5-4.

The Rangers have won seven consecutive playoff games, five of which have been won on the road in hostile territory.

Impressive, to say the least.

The Rangers jumped out in front early against the Astros and never lost the lead, even as Houston mounted a comeback.

“It’s just baseball to us,” Texas third baseman Josh Jung said after the game to reporters.

“We’re jumping on teams early, and that helps us settle in. Our pitching has been outstanding. You can’t ask for anything more than what they’ve given us.”

Adolis García, Mitch Garver, and Nathaniel Lowe each hit an RBI single to give Texas a 4-0 first inning against Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez.

Houston tried to rally to a comeback with a Yordan Alvarez homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to bring the score 5-4 but fell short.

Nathan Eovaldi led the Rangers to victory against Valdez after pitching through six innings and striking out nine batters.

At one point, Eovaldi faced a batter with bases loaded and was able to strike out two in a row in the fifth inning.

“You’re talking about one of the elite pitchers in the game,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said.

“They have that ability to turn up a notch when they had to. We made an error, bases loaded, and it’s about picking each other up, and he picked us up there and made great pitches.”

With the win on Monday, Texas has joined an exclusive list of teams that have started a postseason on a longer winning streak, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs.

And with seven consecutive victories, the Rangers have cemented themselves in postseason history.

The Rangers are the fifth team in MLB history and the first since the Astros last season to win their first seven postseason games.

The Kansas City Royals hold the record with an eight-game win streak to start the 2014 postseason.

The Rangers host game 3 of the ALCS in Arlington Wednesday night.

By Joshua Carter

Joshua Carter, a Dallas native, is a seasoned journalist with a passion for storytelling. He holds a bachelor's degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from the University of North Texas and has previously worked for the Dallas Express. Throughout his career, Joshua has interviewed a diverse range of personalities, from Mark Cuban to Ice Cube, providing unique insights into their lives. With a commitment to excellence, he continues to captivate audiences with his compelling storytelling and insightful interviews.