Adolis García Goes Viral For Spiking Bat, Putting Texas Rangers on Top in ALCS Game 5
The Texas Rangers' backs were up against the wall in Game 5 of the ALCS on Friday, as they trailed the Houston Astros 2-1 in the sixth.
A diving stop by second baseman Marcus Semien helped Texas limit the damage in the top of the frame, but the team still found itself losing by a run heading into back third of the contest. Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander was on the mound for Houston, and he had allowed just two hits entering the inning.
Right fielder Adolis García, who went 0-for-2 the first two times he faced Verlander, immediately turned the tides with his third trip to the plate.
García took the first pitch he saw deep to left-center, blasting Verlander's fastball 396 feet to get the crowd at Globe Life Field on its feet. Two Rangers had already gotten on base, meaning Texas went up 4-2 with one swing of the bat from their All-Star slugger.
Never one to downplay a big moment, García watched the ball fly as he methodically walked out of the batter's box. Once it finally cleared the fence, García chirped towards his own dugout, pounded his chest and spiked his bat before trotting around the bases.
It marked the Rangers' first lead of the night, and their first lead since the series moved to Arlington in Game 3.
After going ahead 2-0, Texas dropped the next two contests as Houston battled back to even the series. In doing so, the Astros gave themselves a decent chance to become the first team in League Championship Series history to lose the first two games at home and come back to advance to the World Series.
The Rangers now have control again late in Game 5, leading 4-2 midway through the seventh.
García is now batting .286 with four home runs, 11 RBI and an .897 OPS in the postseason. He finished the regular season batting .245 with 39 home runs, 107 RBI and an .836 OPS.
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