Credit: USA Today's FTW
October 20, 2023...it's Game 5 of the American League Championship Series between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros at Globe Life Field. Winner takes a decisive 3-2 series lead, and is on the doorstep on heading to the World Series.
It was a Game 1 rematch between two outstanding pitchers: Justin Verlander and Jordan Montgomery. However, this game will be remembered for a historic postseason brawl that happened between the two Lone Star State teams in the bottom of the eighth inning and how can we forget...a go-ahead three-run home run by the postseason clutch king himself: Jose Altuve.
Here is the Gameday lineups, stats, and graphics related to Game 5 for your further viewing.
Rangers vs Astros Game 5 Recap
The Astros started off hot once again in the top of the first inning with a solo home run by Alex Bregman off of Montgomery. The game would then become a pitcher's duel between Verlander and Montgomery until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Rangers' first baseman Nathaniel Lowe hit an opposite home run to left field, tying the score at 1-1. The Astros would scrap together a rally in the top of the sixth against the dominant Montgomery as with runners on first and third base with one out, Jose Abreu hit a weak ground ball to Corey Seager at shortstop. But, the ball took a bad hop and got past him and into to the outfield to score Bregman from third, thus giving the Astros a 2-1 lead.
The rest of Game 5 would consist of pure drama and twists and turns from here on out. Following a Seager double and Evan Carter single off of Verlander, in stepped Adolis Garcia. The batter proceeded to hit a first pitch 95 mph fastball 396 feet for a three-run home run, giving the Rangers a dramatic 4-2 lead. Foreshadowing later events, Garcia took his time and showboated after the home run, which consisted of a bat spike and a slow walk down to first base.
Credit: MLB
Later in the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with the Rangers batting and the score still 4-2 in favor of the home team, Astros set-up reliever Bryan Abreu would plunk Adolis Garcia, in his first at-bat since showboating the homer, with a 98.9 mph fastball in the upper arm. Garcia proceeded to get into Astros' catcher Martin Maldonado's face, thinking the hit by pitch was intentional and too high up on his body at that velocity. This proceeded to clear the benches and bullpens of both teams, and Astros manager Dusty Baker would be ejected from Game 5, along with Abreu and Garcia for their involvement in the incident.
After all the commotion, Ryan Pressley would come into the game to get the Astros out of a runners on first and second base, no outs situation, as any more runs scored by the Rangers would surely put the game to rest. Fortunately for the Astros, their closer got out of the jam to give his team a glimmer of hope to come back in the top of the ninth.
After getting the last out of the top of the eighth inning, Rangers' closer Jose Leclerc was in to close the door and put the Rangers one win away from the World Series as they head back to Houston. That just wasn't the case though. Astros' pinch-hitter Yainer Diaz collected his first career postseason hit, and another pinch-hitter Jon Singleton showcased immense discipline drawing a walk against Leclerc.
In comes Jose Altuve, who is 0-for-4 in the game up to this point. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Altuve would hit a 89.8 mph changeup that was on the inside half of the plate and take it over the left field wall, just out of the reach of outfielder Evan Carter, for a three-run home run, putting the Astros up 5-4 very late in the game. This was Altuve's 26th career postseason home run (still three behind Manny Ramirez at 29), and was his third go-ahead home run in the ninth inning or later in his postseason career, in which he is the only player in history to achieve that milestone. This just once again demonstrates the clutch gene Jose Altuve possesses, in which no moment is too big for him.
Credit: ESPN
However, the game wasn't over just yet, the Rangers still needed to bat in the bottom of the ninth, after Leclerc picked up the final three outs after the gut-punching home run. Pressley was still in for the previous inning, and it looked like we would have another turn in the game after Mitch Garver and Jonah Heim hit a pair of singles to put runners on first and second with nobody out. The outs recorded following produced some scares for Astros fan's with a leaping grab by defensive replacement Grae Kessinger at shortstop and a deep line drive by Seager that was caught by Mauricio Dubon on the center field warning track for the out.
Then, up steps 21-year old Evan Carter who demonstrates a knowledge for the game and discipline in the batter's box far beyond his age. But, Carter would strikeout swinging, as Pressley picked up the win, and the Astros would hold onto their late lead and win the game 5-4.
Looking Forward
Saturday, October 21st is a travel day as the clubs head down to Houston for Game 6 on Sunday. Tomorrow's pitching matchup will once again be a rematch, this time from Game 2, as Nathan Eovaldi (Rangers, 3-0, 2.29 ERA) takes on Framber Valdez (Astros, 0-2, 11.57 ERA).
An Astros win sends them to their third straight World Series, a Rangers win forces a Game 7 on Monday. So, be sure to watch Rangers vs Astros ALCS Game 6 at 7:07 PM Central Time during prime time on Sunday, October 21st. There is so much riding on this game, a growing, bitter rivalry, a state of survival to keep their season going for the Rangers, and a motivation to continue doing their job and make it back to the World Series for the Astros. ALCS Game 6 is a MUST WATCH!!
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