The Texas Rangers have made it back to the World Series for just the third time in team history as their bats came alive in Game 7 in the ALCS, defeating the Houston Astros.
The last time the Rangers made a World Series appearance was in 2010 and 2011, both against the San Francisco Giants.
As they have done all throughout the postseason, the Rangers have defeated their opponents on the road.
Texas came out swinging, putting up three against Cristian Javier in the first inning.
The first came from a Corey Seager home run to right field to give the Rangers the first lead of the game to make it 1-0.
The next two runs came from Adolis Garcia’s RBI single to left field to bring in Evan Carter and an RBI single to center field by Mitch Garver to bring in Garcia.
In the fourth, Texas scored another four runs off J.P. France and didn’t let up.
Garcia homered twice and drove in five runs , and earned ALCS MVP honors after setting an RBI record in the postseason.
“He’s a bad man, isn’t he?” Seager said after the game.
“To be able to come into this atmosphere and get booed every at-bat and do what he did was really special. It was really fun to watch.”
Garcia had 15 RBI in the series to break the record set by Nelson Cruz with 13 for Texas in the 2011 ALCS.
He was booed relentlessly every time he came to the plate.
“When there’s a lot of emotions, the fans out there, they are rallying for their team, it fuels me,” García said. “It’s motivation that helps me out when I’m playing.”
Rangers starting pitcher Max Scherzer pitched for only 2 2/3 innings and allowed four hits and two runs with two walks.
Houston could not mount a late comeback off a Jose Altuve 27th career postseason homer in the ninth.
The Rangers picked up their eighth road win this postseason to punch their ticket to the World Series for only the third time in franchise history.
Texas will play either the Arizona Diamondbacks or the Philadelphia Phillies in a quest to win the team’s first World Series.