2023-09-04 00:07:26
ARLINGTON — On Sunday, just before their highly anticipated series once morest the Astros this week, the Rangers were seeing the same negative pattern of previous games: blown leads and painful one-run losses.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, following blowing leads of 3-0, 4-3 and 5-4 and with the game tied 5-5, Texas needed something big. And the Cuban fulfilled adolis garciawith a bombshell of gold off Twins reliever Josh Winder to give the Rangers the win and help them avoid a three-game sweep by Minnesota at Globe Life Field.
“I’ll say this: It was a huge win for us, obviously,” said Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, whose squad closed within 1.0 games of the Mariners for first place in the AL West. “These are the kind of games that haven’t ended in our favor lately.”
Sure enough, going into Sunday, Texas had lost 12 of its previous 15 games. Four of the straight losses had been with the Rangers up in the game at some point, and five of the previous six had been of that nature. And just like Saturday once morest Minnesota, four of those 12 losses had come in extra innings.
However, Garcia—who had 34 homers and 100 RBI this season with his 109-mph, 409-foot drive to left field off Winder’s 96.1-mph fastball—turned the tide. .
“It’s a great win for these guys,” Bochy said. “We’ve been through a lot, but this was a game that I thought we really needed. Great win for us.”
In the specific case of Garcia, one of the Rangers’ most valuable players this season, there have been ups and downs. On Sunday, before his decisive drive, the Ciego de Ávila native had struck out four times and a total of 11 times in his previous 25 plate appearances. However, on Saturday, he homered in his first inning and on Sunday, he celebrated in style at home plate by hitting his game-winning home run before a crowd of 35,531 in Arlington.
“I was working hard to make adjustments and help the team, because the team is not at its best and I felt very happy,” Garcia said of his shot on Saturday.
Said hit was in a lost cause. On Sunday, he made sure he wasn’t like that himself, having left four running backs in his first four at-bats.
“Wow, when you strike out four times, that’s a lot of pressure,” said Bochy, in his first season as Rangers manager following long stints as manager of the Padres and then the Giants, with whom he won three World Series between 2010 and in 2014. “I had had the opportunity to hit some big hits and I know the pressure was on. Good for him and good for us. It’s one of the biggest home runs we’ve had all year.”
Now, Garcia—named to his second All-Star Game in July—is hitting .247/.326/.499 on the season (.825 OPS). The Cuban is the first Rangers player with consecutive seasons of 100 RBIs or more since Adrian Beltre did it in 2011-12.
“Especially the way things have gone, we needed that,” said Texas starter John Gray, who allowed three runs in 5.0 innings and went to a no-decision on Sunday. “I hope it’s the spark of something big.”
Added Bochy, referring to the Monday-Wednesday series once morest the Astros, who are also battling the Rangers and Mariners for the top spot in the West: “We’ve had a tough couple of weeks, so winning this game is a good way to wrap it up. this series facing the one that comes now, a great series. It’s going to be an exciting series. We look forward to it and I’m sure they do too.”
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