Three takeaways as the Rangers force Game 7 in ALCS

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 10/22/23

We will have at least one Game 7 to decide a World Series berth as the Texas Rangers bashed their way to a 9-2 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday night.

That sets the stage for winner-take-all game on Monday night in Houston.

Here are three takeaways from the Rangers' big win.

1. No home field advantage in this series. Maybe this is a good sign for Texas and a bad sign for Houston going into Game 7, but the home teams are 0-6 so far in the ALCS.

This is not the first time the Astros have been involved in a series like this. The last time a best-of-seven series happened where home teams failed to win a game was the 2019 World Series when the Astros lost in seven games to the Washington Nationals. They will be trying to rewrite that narrative on Monday night.

2. Jose Leclerc redeems himself. Even though the final score might not indicate, the outcome of this game was very much in doubt in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Rangers were clinging to a 4-2 lead while the Astros loaded the bases with only one out.

After being the losing pitcher in Game 5 of the series in Texas, surrendering a decisive three-run home run to Jose Altuve, Rangers relief pitcher Jose Leclerc rose to the occasion on Sunday night.

After getting Mauricio Dubon to line out to shortstop, he struck out pinch-hitter Jon Singleton to strike out and end the potential Astros rally.

The fact Leclerc was able to end his outing after throwing just 16 pitches is also significant because it likely means he will be available for Monday's Game 7 in Houston. He is one of the Astros' best relief pitchers and that could be massive.

3. Adolis Garcia gets the last laugh .... in this game. After getting plunked in the eighth inning of Game 5 and igniting a bench-clearing brawl that resulted in three ejections and a suspension for Astros relief pitcher Bryan Abreu, Garcia delivered the knockout punch on Sunday night when he came to bat in the top of the ninth inning with the bases loaded and ripped a grand slam into the left field seats.

That ball was absolutely crushed and gave the Rangers even more insurance runs than they would need. That was the third Rangers' home run of the night as Garcia joined Mitch Garver and Jonah Heim in hitting the ball out of the park.

Garver was another of the big stars of the night for the Rangers as he went 3-for-4 with his second home run of the playoffs and an RBI double in the top of the eighth inning to extend the Rangers lead.

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