Texas Rangers, Houston Astros Benches Clear After Adolis Garcia Hit By Pitch in ALCS Game 5

Texas Rangers slugger Adolis Garcia, Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker and reliever Bryan Abreu were ejected in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The bad blood between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros finally spilled over in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, as the benches cleared and ejections were made after Adolis García was hit by pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday at Globe Life Field.

The Astros would win 5-4 on a Jose Altuve three-run homer in the ninth to take a 3-2 lead with the series going back to Houston. Game 6 is Sunday at Minute Maid Park.

García had given the Rangers a 4-2 in the sixth on a three-run homer off Astros ace Justin Verlander. On the home run trot, García took is time with the bat held in his right hand for several steps before slamming it to the turf. He stepped on home plate emphatically, matching the ear-splitting intensity of the sellout crowd.

The next time García came to bat, Houston reliever Bryan Abreu drilled García in the side. García immediately had words with catcher Martin Maldonado, and the benched and bullpens emptied on both sides.

Benches have cleared in Arlington. pic.twitter.com/F1abofICpX

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 20, 2023

The finger pointing and harsh words continued for several minutes around home plate. No punches appeared to be thrown. Houston’s Yordan Alvarez eventually tied to calm García. Both are Cuban natives.

Abreu and García were ejected, as was Astros manager Dusty Baker. By the time play was continued, about 25 minutes had passed. 

The All-Star slugging right fielder drilled the first pitch he saw from Verlander in the sixth into the left-field seats to give Texas its first lead in three home games and since sweeping two games in Houston to start the series.

García’s 396-foot blast off a 95-mph fastball scored Corey Seager and Evan Carter, erasing a 2-1 Houston lead.

Garcia Blast Gives Rangers First Lead

You can follow Art Garcia on Twitter @ArtGarcia92.

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