How Do Texas Rangers Slow Down Houston Astros At Globe Life Field? 'Undercooked' Clubhouse Food

The Texas Rangers have been here before. After the Houston Astros knotted up the ALCS 2-2, Rangers players aim to lean on their resiliency in crucial Game 5.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe kept it light after the team's 10-3 drubbing at the hands of the Houston Astros Thursday.

The Astros evened the American League Championship Series 2-2 with the win, setting up a massively pivotal Game 5 at 4:07 p.m. Friday at Globe Life Field.

How will he 'flush' the loss?

"I have a puppy at home, so I'll hang out with him. Probably watch some golf highlights," Lowe said of his three-month-old German Shepherd that was being passed around between teammates in the clubhouse during Tuesday's off day.

To win, the Rangers will have to prevent the Astros from continuing to treat Globe Life Field like their preferred retractable-roof stadium. Houston is 8-1 in Arlington this season, including the last seven at GLF in which they've outscored Texas 74-32.

Globe Life Field fireworks go off after Corey Seager's game-tying homer in the third inning of ALCS Game 4 / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

"They crush the ball here, I don't know [why]," Lowe said. "Maybe it's too nice in the visiting clubhouse and we need to maybe switch up the spread, and leave something uncooked a little bit."

This ALCS is the seventh best-of-seven series in which the road team won the first four games and the first since the 2019 World Series. The only LCS in which the road team won the first four games was the 1993 ALCS between the Blue Jays and White Sox. Toronto opened with two wins in Chicago and eventually won in six.

Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien's view hasn't changed.

"I think the series is still ours to win because we're at home and have our fans," he said. "If we can [take] a 3-2 lead tomorrow, it would be a nice flight to Houston and give us a boost, so that's what we're trying to do. You flush tonight, play as hard as we possibly can tomorrow. That's my MO."

Lowe said getting the GLF crowd something to roar about early is crucial.

"We've got to stay light and we need to make sure the home crowd is involved a little bit better," he said, referring to the Astros' three-run first in Game 4. "And, if we score first, we're in a good spot." 

Lowe, who was 1 for 4 with a double, dismissed the suggestion that losing twice at home after winning twice on the road shifted the team's prospects.

"We had to win four either way, so if we have to take it all the way, then we'll take it all the way," he said. "Ideally, we would have liked to have a little bit more momentum going into [Game 5] but that's a good team over there and it's no surprise to see them fight the way they fought."

Why Rangers Will Win Game 5

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

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