Corey Seager rescued the Texas Rangers with a dramatic game-tying blast in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the World Series, and Adolis García lifted them past the Arizona Diamondbacks with a walk-off home run.
García became the first player since Kirk Gibson to hit a walk-off homer in Game 1 of a World Series. Gibson of course accomplished the feat for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Oakland Athletics on October 15, 1988.
He was not in the Dodgers lineup that night due to injury but managed to make a pinch-hit appearance in the bottom of the ninth inning. Gibson’s game-winning home run off vaunted closer Dennis Eckersley was his lone plate appearance during the 1988 World Series.
That was not the case for García, who has been on a postseason tear of late. Though, he did experience an injury scare of his own in the bottom of the ninth inning when being hit by a pitch in the left wrist/hand. García was checked on by a trainer before remaining in the game and immediately stealing second base.
Earlier in the night, the Cuban native hit an RBI single.
García has hit a home run in five consecutive playoff games, which is one shy of tying Daniel Murhphy’s MLB record he set in 2015.
“Just very happy to be at the opportunity to be in the history books,” García said after Game 1. “But like I said as well, just when I’m in the batter’s box I’m just focused and I tune out everything, every other noise, and I’m just focused on the situation.”
Adolis García breaks David Freese’s postseason RBI record
With his performance in Game 1, García now has 22 RBI in the postseason this year. That’s the most in MLB history, breaking the record previously held by David Freese when he broke the Rangers’ hearts in 2011.
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