Texas Rangers' Bruce Bochy Calls Benches-Clearing Delay 'Crap,' Questions Intentions of Houston Astros

The wait after the benches cleared in the eighth inning of the ALCS Game 5 may have negatively impacted Texas Rangers closer Jose Leclerc, who gave up a game-winning homer to Houston Astros' Jose Altuve.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy didn’t hide his disgust with the delay caused by the benches-clearing incident in the eighth inning of Monday’s Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.

The Rangers and Houston Astros spilled out the field after Adolis García has intentionally hit, according to the umpire ruling, by reliever Bryan Abreu. The teams exchanged unpleasantries, but no punches, for several minutes until order was partially restored.

Astros manager Dusty Baker also came out to argue and was ejected, causing even more of a delay. (Abreu and García were also tossed.)

Astros manager Dusty Baker was ejected during a benches-clearing incident in Game 5 of the ALCS / © Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

That wait, which was approximately 25 minutes, didn’t sit well with Bochy.

“I was concerned about that delay. I really was,” he said. “It was a long one. It was taking too long, to be honest. The whole thing is a bunch of crap, to be honest, what happened there. Who knows what intentions are, but it’s not the first time it’s happened, and couldn’t get the game going again.”

Bochy added that stoppage may have played a part in closer Jose Leclerc giving up the go-ahead home run to Jose Altuve in the ninth, which lifted the Astros to a 5-4 victory and 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“And I’m sure it affected him, because he came in to get an out there in the eighth inning,” Bochy said. “Maybe that played a part in it.”

The benches cleared between the Rangers and Astros on July 26 after García hit a grand slam in a 13-5 Texas win. García and Marcus Semien exchanged words with Astros catcher Martin Maldonado in that regular season game, leading to ejections for the latter two.

Baker bristled at the suggestion that García was hit on purpose, especially in a two-run game. García’s three-run homer in the sixth off Justin Verlander gave the Rangers a 4-2 lead.

“We pitch him up. We pitch him up and in,” Baker said. “And anytime you’re throwing a projectile 97 miles an hour, some of them are going to get away. I don’t care if you’re Big League, Hall of Fame, I don’t care who you are.”

Baker asked, “How do you prove intent?” He also understood why Bochy was upset on the field during the delay, but the veteran Houston skipper wasn’t about to leave quietly.

“I haven’t been that mad in a long time,” Baker said. “And I don’t usually get mad about nothing. So I’m just glad that we won the game and it turned out right for us.”

Leclerc Beat by Altuve in Astros Comeback

You can follow Art Garcia on Twitter @ArtGarcia92.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.