Game
5 of the ALCS between the Astros and Rangers ends with a wild victory thanks to
Jose Altuve's home run.
Dallas, Texas - Congenial to contentious to insane, this
American League Championship Series between in-state rivals finally saw order
restored by one of the greatest postseason players in baseball history.
Jose Altuve had the final say in a stunning four-inning stretch that saw two huge swings of the
bat, three lead changes, and a bench-clearing incident while the ALCS advantage
found equilibrium. In the top of the ninth inning of Game 5, he hit a three-run
home ball to left field off of Rangers closer Jose Leclerc to give the Astros a
5-4 victory, reviving their season and putting them back on the verge of the
World Series.
After Adolis Garcia's three-run home run with one out in the top of the sixth inning gave
them a 4-2 lead, they were on a high. The Astros reliever Bryan Abreu appeared
to strike out Garcia in retaliation for his celebratory bat spike in the bottom
of the eighth inning, giving them the moral high ground.Garcia jumped up in the
face of catcher Martin Maldonado right away, thinking the throw was meant as
payback for Garcia's fervent celebration or continuing from a dispute between
the two clubs in July.
Unrest followed.A floating sea of people gathered around home plate as the seats cleared. The
Astros manager Dusty Baker's indignant response to Abreu's removal earned him a
very swift boot, and the umpires promptly booted both Garcia and Abreu, the
latter of which was not immediately apparent.
Leclerc, who set up Altuve by giving up a single and a walk to pinch-hitters Yainer Diaz and Jonathan
Singleton, probably did not benefit from the delay. At Globe Life Field, he
sent a bipartisan rumble through the 41,519 incredulous spectators.
Lead by Astros.
The Astros shifted it to the top of the order in the bottom of the ninth, mirroring what they did
in the top of the frame, and Ryan Pressly, their closer, came under pressure.
But unlike Leclerc,
Pressly—who was brought in to take Abreu's place after he was booted—calmed the
fury. Marcus Semien was cut off too soon. A long fly ball to center was hit by
Corey Seager.
Evan Carter, a rookie, also failed to get on base.
That's it. Astros'
benefit. The Lone Star pecking order was also preserved—at least for the time
being. Here is how Game 5
progressed:
Astros take the lead after Jose Altuve's spectacular home run.
Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer to give the Astros a 5-4 lead in the ninth inning after Rangers
reliever José Leclerc allowed a single and walk to start the inning.
The second-most in baseball history, Altuve hit his 26th postseason home run.
After Adolis Garcia was struck by a pitch, the benches were cleared and several were ejected
Texas city ARLINGTON The American League Championship Series has been a fierce but civil
conflict for the Lone Star State. However, some bad history, one bat spike, and
one pitch to the ribs quickly changed all of that.
Texas Rangers slugger Adolis Garcia was hit in the ribs by Houston Astros
reliever Bryan Abreu on the first pitch of their at-bat in the eighth inning,
two innings after Garcia had given the Rangers a 4-2 lead with a three-run home
run in this vital Game 5.
When Garcia and Astros catcher Martin Maldonado came snout to mask, Garcia immediately began to
smell intently. The seats were vacant. Bullpens disappeared. In varied states
of attire, players who had left the game trudged down the tunnel leading to the
clubhouse and onto the field.
Garcia and the Astros have had a falling out since a July bench-clearing incident that
followed Garcia's grand slam that increased Texas' lead to 13-3. That day, on
this platform that was the most prominent, Maldonado and Garcia exchanged
words. For live updates from Game 5 of the ALCS, keep reading:
Rangers take the lead as Adolis Garcia hits a home run off of Verlander.
Texas's ARLINGTON -
A 41,519-person crowd was virtually kept in check the whole afternoon by Justin
Verlander. And they just ambushed him after that.
With a double, a single, and Adolis Garcia's three-run homer, the core of the Rangers' order of
Corey Seager, Evan Carter, and Adolis jumped Verlander.