Inside the Astros

Old Nemesis Still Tormenting Houston Astros

In case it was forgotten, Adolis Garcia still owns the Houston Astros.

Tyler Maher

Apr 5, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia (53) rounds the bases after he hits a three run home run against the Houston Astros during the second inning at Globe Life Field.
Apr 5, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia (53) rounds the bases after he hits a three run home run against the Houston Astros during the second inning at Globe Life Field. / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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It's been nearly six months since the Houston Astros lost to the Texas Rangers in the 2023 ALCS, and Adolis Garcia is still giving them nightmares.

Friday's series opener against the Rangers was a major embarrassment for the Astros, who got bludgeoned 10-2. Texas scored five runs in the second inning and never looked back, pounding out 16 hits en route to an easy victory.

Meanwhile, Garcia picked up where he left off against Houston last fall, going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Garcia tagged Hunter Brown for a three-run shot in the second, giving him five straight games with a long ball versus the Astros dating back to the ALCS.

The tater extended the Rangers' lead to 5-0, but Garcia wasn't finished. He added an RBI single in the seventh, giving him a whopping 16 RBIs in his last four games against Houston. He's now driven in at least one run in seven straight games versus the Astros.

If it wasn't clear already, Houston officially has an Adolis Garcia problem, and not just in October.

In 48 career regular-season games against the Astros, Garcia has a batting average of .272 with 13 home runs, 39 RBIs and a .524 slugging percentage -- impressive numbers given that Houston usually has one of the best pitching staffs in baseball.

Whatever the Astros' gameplan is for attacking Garcia, it clearly isn't working.

Houston needs to figure out how to neutralize him (or at least keep him in the yard), especially with men on base. Granted, he's a two-time All-Star and a talented hitter, but the Astros can't keep letting him beat them like this.

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Tyler Maher
TYLER MAHER

Tyler grew up in Massachusetts and is a huge Boston sports fan, especially the Red Sox. He went to Tufts University and played club baseball for the Jumbos. Since graduating, he has worked for MLB.com, The Game Day, FanDuel and Forbes. When he's not writing about baseball, he enjoys running, traveling, and playing fetch with his golden retriever.

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