Higher! Texas Rangers Reach ALCS Heights For First Time in 12 Years

The Texas Rangers swept the Baltimore Orioles with a 7-1 Game 3 win Tuesday in front of the largest-ever crowd at Globe Life Field.

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers left no doubt.

The Rangers blew out the Baltimore Orioles to sweep their best-of-five ALDS with a 7-1 Game 3 win Tuesday night at Globe Life Field.

The Rangers advanced to their first ALCS since 2011 and will play the winner between the Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins. The Astros lead their ALDS 2-1 after beating the Twins 9-1 Tuesday afternoon. They'll go for the series clincher at 6:07 p.m. Wednesday at Target Field in Minneapolis.

An Astros win would set up a Lone Star State Showdown between the AL West rivals who both finished 90-72. The Astros won the division thanks to a 9-4 head-to-head edge against the Rangers.

The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the first on Corey Seager's solo homer and then blew it open with five more runs in the second in front of the largest crowd (40,861) in Globe Life Field's four-year history.

The inning started with a 15-pitch at-bat by Nathaniel Lowe against Orioles starter Dean Kremer before lining out to left field. Josh Jung quickly followed with a single. After Leody Taveras fouled out for the second out, the Rangers went for the jugular. Marcus Semien doubled and Seager was intentionally walked to load the bases for Mitch Garver, who doubled in two runs.

Aroldis Garcia ripped a 1-2 pitch into the left-center field stands for a three-run, back-breaking homer to knock Kremer from the game and give Texas a 6-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Nathan Eovaldi was cruising on the mound for the Rangers.

The Orioles, who won an AL-best 101 games during the regular season, hadn't been swept in 91 consecutive series. The last time Baltimore was swept was in May 2022 at Detroit. Only two teams have longer streaks (New York Giants 1903-05 and 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals).

Eovaldi held the Orioles to one run on five hits over seven innings. He struck out seven and walked none.

The Rangers are 5-0 in the postseason after sweeping the Rays in a best-of-3 Wild Card series and sweeping the Orioles 3-0.

Aroldis Chapman got two quick outs in the eighth but surrendered a single and walked two to load the bases to force manager Bruce Bochy to call on closer Jose Leclerc to get pinch-hitter Aaron Hicks. Hicks grounded out to first to strand the runners.

Rangers 7, Orioles 1

Here are the key takeaways from Game 3 at Globe Life Field:

Nathan Eovaldi Wins Another Clincher

Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi has been their closer. No, he's not coming out of the bullpen, but he's been on the mound for the Rangers' series-clinching wins against the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card and now against the Orioles in the ALDS.

Eovaldi was outstanding Tuesday, holding Baltimore to one run on five hits over seven innings.

The sold-out crowd chanted "E-VOL-D, E-VOL-D!" during the seventh. He made a curtain call to salute the fans from the dugout.

Eovaldi has been clutch in the postseason, including stints in 2018 and 2021 with the Red Sox. He has a 2.70 ERA in the playoffs and his teams are 10-3 when he starts in the postseason.

Seager Walk Record

Corey Seager nine walks are the most in a three-game span in postseason history. Seager walked two more times in Tuesday's win, including an intentional walk in the second.

Largest Globe Life Field Crowd Ever

A crowd of 40,861 packed Globe Life Field for Game 3 of the ALDS Tuesday, setting an attendance record for the three-year-old stadium.

Up Next

The Rangers get some days off for rest. The ALCS doesn't start until Game 1 on Sunday at either Houston or Minnesota. The Rangers, as the No. 5 of 6 seeds, will play Games Nos. 1-2 and 6-7 on the road and host Games Nos. 3-5 at Globe Life field.

2023 ALCS schedule:

Game 1: TBA Sunday at Houston or Minneapolis
Game 2: TBA Monday at Houston or Minneapolis
Game 3: TBA Oct. 18 at Globe Life Field
Game 4: TBA Oct. 19 at Globe Life Field
Game 5: TBA Oct. 20 at Globe Life Field
Game 6: TBA Oct. 22 at Houston or Minneapolis
Game 7: TBA Oct. 23 at Houston or Minneapolis

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You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

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