In his previous 5 video games, Adolis Garcia has six house runs and 15 RBI. That’s greater than the mixed totals for Tampa, Miami, Toronto, and Milwaukee this postseason (10 runs, 1 dinger). It’s greater than what the Dodgers and Braves collectively might muster within the NLDS (13 runs, 4 homers), and tops the 101-win Orioles’ 2023 playoff manufacturing (11 runs, 4 house runs). And who is aware of when Garcia will cease levitating, as a result of it’ll be onerous to deliver him again all the way down to earth after his heroics in Sport 1 of the World Sequence on Friday.
The Texas Rangers overcame a 5-3 ninth-inning deficit by way of a Corey Seager two-run shot earlier than Garcia put himself — and the opening recreation — firmly within the annals of postseason historical past within the backside of the eleventh for a 6-5 win. It was the seventeenth walkoff in World Sequence historical past, the primary since 2018, and the second in Rangers’ historical past. (Nelson Cruz ended Sport 2 of the 2011 Fall Traditional with a walkoff grand slam.)
Some will query Torey Lovullo’s resolution to pitch to Garcia, and that will be truthful as a result of Garcia is wielding Excalibur prefer it’s a Wiffle ball bat. I do know there was one away, no one on, and it appears foolish to deliberately stroll the primary batter following a pitching change, however come on.
The ALCS MVP has been stirring the Rangers’ drinks all October, and as quickly because the depend ran to 3-1, I don’t need the following pitch anyplace close to the zone.
To be sincere, Miguel Castro didn’t even make that egregious of a mistake; it was a sinker within the decrease third of the strike zone, and, as John Smoltz identified on the published, Garcia simply occurred to hit the ball precisely the place it was pitched. In comparison with the no doubters the 30-year-old has put into orbit just lately, the alternative subject walkoff was tame.
In fact it wasn’t, as a result of it referred to as recreation, however Texas followers beckoned the oppo shot over the fitting subject wall as a lot as Garcia.
It’s at all times superb when a slugger will get on a heater. Hitting a baseball could be probably the most tough job in sports activities, but when somebody with Adolis Garcia’s expertise is seeing all the things, opposing managers, pitchers and followers detest every at bat. You realize they’re muttering, “This man? Once more?” beneath their breath as he’s strolling into the field, with the joviality of Mario storming Bowser’s citadel.
“Hey, itsa me, Adolis!”
