Credit: Sporting News
October 22, 2023... Game 6 of the American League Championship Series between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros. The 'Stros need a win to advance to the World Series, and the Rangers are trying to keep their season alive by any means possible.
In a closely fought game, the Rangers would get the better of the Astros, where the battle would be broken open in the top of the eighth and ninth innings in favor of the Rangers. The Rangers clutched out the win, with a lopsided 9-2 margin of victory.
Here is the Gameday lineups, stats, and graphics related to Game 6 for your further viewing.
Rangers vs Astros Game 6 Recap
The Astros would jump out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, when Yordan Alvarez singled in Jose Altuve off of Rangers' starter Nathan Eovaldi. However, the Rangers responded with an immediate answer as Mitch Garver hit a fly ball over the right field wall on the very first pitch from Framber Valdez in the top of the second inning, evening the score at 1-1. Then, in the top of the fourth inning, the Rangers would put a runner on and catcher Jonah Heim was up to bat. Heim proceeded to lift another ball to the short right field wall. Painstakingly for Astros fans, the ball was within inches of right fielder's Kyle Tucker's glove and went over the wall for a two run home run, putting the Rangers up 3-1 in this tension-packed Game 6.
Credit: Winnipeg Free Press
The Astros put together a rally in the bottom of the sixth inning against Eovaldi, who is ever durable and still in the game picking up crucial outs for his team. With runners on first and third base and one out, Mauricio Dubon lifted a high four-seam fastball out to deep right field for a sacrifice fly and made the score 3-2.
A noteworthy moment in the game came when Astros relief pitcher Hector Neris came into the game in the bottom of the seventh inning and proceeded to get into a runners on first and second base, two out jam, but got Rangers' two-hole Corey Seager to ground out to end the inning. The pitcher celebrated emphatically by slamming the ground with his hand and pumping his chest. This just shows how important baseball is to these players. Most of them bleed passion for their team and will do anything it takes to get their team to the ultimate goal of a World Series ring. Already an emotional pitcher, Neris showcased the ice in his veins and why he's been electric and effective out of the bullpen for the Astros this season.
The game was a pure Lone Star showdown up until the top of the eighth and ninth innings, when Mitch Garver doubled in Evan Carter to make the score 4-2. Ironically, Bryan Abreu faced and struck out Adolis Garcia, the batter's four strikeout of the game, earlier in that half. With Abreu appealing his two-game suspension from plunking Garcia the game prior, the at-bat was all the more meaningful, with each respective player having a point to prove. Abreu got the last laugh against Adolis in that at-bat, but the Rangers' cleanup hitter would get the last laugh of the game. After a bases-loaded Corey Seager hit by pitch in the top of the ninth to make the score 5-2, Garcia absolutely pummeled a ball at 110.1 mph off of Ryne Stanek for a grand slam, breaking the game open late and making the score 9-2.
Credit: MLB
In the bottom half of the ninth, Andrew Heaney replaced closer Jose Leclerc, in to get out of the jam in the eighth, and proceeded to produce three ground outs on four pitches to finish the game and give the Rangers the win and even the series back at 3-3.
Nothing is more exciting, but anxiety filled than hearing the words "Game 7". That's exactly what these two teams will be playing in tonight at 7:03 PM Central Time. The Rangers vs Astros has been a season-long battle, and after both posting a 90-72 regular season record, these teams can still not be separated as we head towards a Game 7.
Once again, we'll have a pitching rematch, this time from Game 3 as Max Scherzer (Rangers, 0-1, 11.25 ERA) matches up against Cristian Javier (Astros, 2-0, 1.69 ERA). The claiming of bragging rights in a bitter, and ever-growing rivalry and a trip to the World Series is on the line, what story lines and unforgettable moments could tonight possibly produce?
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