Rangers vs Astros : ALCS Game 7 Recap

Credit: KERA News

October 23, 2023...Game 7 of the American League Championship Series between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. Winner goes to the World Series, simple as that.

The Rangers would dominate the game from start to finish, winning 11-4, and advancing to the World Series for the first time in 12 years, when they went back-to-back in 2010 and 2011, but would come up short both times.

Here is the Gameday lineups, stats, and graphics related to Game 7 for your further viewing.

Rangers vs Astros Game 7 Recap

The Rangers offense would jump all over Astros' starting pitcher Cristian Javier in the top of the first inning. A Corey Seager solo home run blast, and singles from Adolis Garcia and Mitch Garver put Texas up 3-0, chasing Javier after the right-hander only recorded one out, giving up four hits, three earned runs, and one walk. The Astros would respond with a Jose Abreu single run scoring single in the bottom of the first to make the score 3-1. Garcia would then hit his sixth home run of the postseason, fourth of the ALCS, in the top of the third inning. The Astros responded with an Alex Bregman solo home run in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 4-2 through three complete innings in Game 7.

While the Astros still felt like they were in the game only being down two runs, unfortunately, the Rangers would break open that margin and effectively give the Astros very little hope of making a large comeback. An Evan Carter two run double, and another two run single from Adolis, made the score 8-2 in a blink of an eye in top of the fourth. Furthermore, a Nathaniel Lowe two run home run in the top of the sixth made the score 10-2.

Credit: Field Level Media

One of the main bright spots for the Astros was Yordan Alvarez, as he has been for the 'Stros the entire postseason. Yordan would go 3-for-4 in this game, notably with a run-scoring single in the bottom of the seventh scoring Bregman. However, Adolis Garcia's torrid postseason continued as he hit a solo blast in the top of the eighth, making the score 11-3. This was El Bombi's (Garcia's nickname) seventh home run of the postseason, and fifth in the ALCS. Also, he has homered in every game since Game 4.

Jose Altuve would homer again in the bottom of the ninth off Jose Leclerc to make the score 11-4, but ultimately, the Rangers would win after Leclerc got Kyle Tucker to ground out and dashed any of the Astros' hope of making a nearly impossible comeback, and ended their chance of back-to-back World Series titles.

Credit: WAMC

Unsurprisingly, Adolis Garcia was named the American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player. He batted 4-for-5 with two home runs and five runs batted in, in Game 7, and for the series, 10-for-28 (.357 batting average) with five home runs and 15 runs batted in.

The Rangers will play the winner of the NLCS Game 7 taking place tonight between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Philadelphia Phillies. World Series Game 1 starts Friday, October 27th at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are the home team no matter who advances between the Phillies and Diamondbacks.

Simply, the Rangers vs Astros Lone Star ALCS matchup will be unforgettable. But, baseball fans...buckle up, this has been one wild, unpredictable 2023 postseason so far, and all the more drama, memories, and moments will be made in the 2023 World Series.