Texas Rangers Celebrate ... Again! View Celebration Gallery, Video After ALDS Sweep
ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers partied hard Tuesday night, but the party was quick.
Players, coaches, and staff celebrated with an intense champagne and beer-soaked party in a special "Celebration Room" on the lower level of Globe Life Field after sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS to reach the ALCS for the first time since 2011.
The alcohol showers, however, didn't last long. Players and staff started peeling off to share the 7-1 win with family and friends on the field.
The Texas Rangers fans, which made up most of the sold-out crowd of 40,861 at Globe Life Field Tuesday night, were as loud as a crowd as ever been at the four-year old stadium.
The Texas Rangers dugout emptied as soon as Jose Leclerc recorded a game-ending strikeout Tuesday at Globe Life Field.
Jose Leclerc recorded the final four outs in the Texas Rangers' ALDS sweep of the Baltimore Orioles in Games 3 Tuesday at Globe Life Field.
Texas Rangers players, including Austin Hedges, Josh Smith, and Max Scherzer rush the field to celebrate with Jose Leclerc and Jonah Heim after sweeping the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night at Globe Life Field.
Texas Rangers players rush the mound to congratulate Jose Leclerc, who recorded the final four outs in the Game 3 sweep of the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night at Globe Life Field.
Texas Rangers players rushed the field to celebrated the Game 3 sweep of the Baltimore Orioles.
Texas Rangers rushed towards the mound to celebrate with Jose Leclerc and Jonah Heim after clinching a trip to the ALCS.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy hugs Mitch Garver after completing the sweep of the Orioles.
Texas Rangers players celebrate their ALDS win and salute the fans Tuesday night at Globe Life Field.
Aroldis Chapman was pulled with two outs after he loaded the bases with two walks and a single in the eighth. Jose Leclerc came in and got the final out.
Texas Rangers majority owner and managing partner Ray Davis celebrated on the field with the team after they swept the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night at Globe Field.
Texas Rangers players celebrated their Game 3 sweep of the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night at Globe Life Field.
Texas Rangers players celebrated their Game 3 sweep of the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night at Globe Life Field.
The Texas Rangers celebrated their Game 3 sweep of the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night at Globe Life Field.
Texas Rangers players, staff, and coaches celebrated with champagne and beer showers after sweeping the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night at Globe Life Field.
Nathaniel Lowe, right, celebrates with Adolis Garcia during the Texas Rangers Game 3 party at Globe Life Field.
Adolis Garcia, center, celebrates with Texas Rangers teammates after sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS Tuesday night at Globe Life Fied.
The Texas Rangers took a team photo after clinching the ALDS with a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday at Globe Life Field.
The Rangers open the ALCS on Sunday at either Houston or Minneapolis. The Astros and Twins play Game 4 of their ALDS at 6:07 p.m. Wednesday. The Astros lead the best-of-5 series 2-1.
The Rangers were 4-9 against the AL West rival Astros and 2-5 against the Twins. The Rangers and Astros both finished 90-72 but Houston earned the AL West Division title by virtue of their head-to-head advantage. The Twins won the AL Central with an 87-75 record.
The Rangers' sweep gives them four days off before the ALCS. That could be beneficial because the club had been on the road since Sept. 24 with regular-season series finales at Anaheim and Seattle, before flying cross country to play Tampa Bay in the Wild Card round. After sweeping the Rays, the Rangers flew directly to Baltimore for the ALDS. The Rangers didn't return home to Texas until late Sunday night. They were gone for 14 days.
Game 1: TBA Sunday at Houston or Minneapolis
Game 2: TBA Monday at Houston or Minneapolis
Game 3: TBA Oct. 18 at Globe Life Field
Game 4: TBA Oct. 19 at Globe Life Field
Game 5: TBA Oct. 20 at Globe Life Field
Game 6: TBA Oct. 22 at Houston or Minneapolis
Game 7: TBA Oct. 23 at Houston or Minneapolis
* Games Nos. 5-7 are if necessary