PHOENIX — Adolis Garcia, not known for giving speeches, was struck by the moment’s significance. After learning that a strained oblique would prematurely end his remarkable postseason run, he gathered his Texas Rangers teammates in the visiting locker room at Chase Field. There, he told them he loved them and urged them to secure two more wins, clinching the franchise’s first-ever World Series championship in his honor. He exuded confidence in their ability to achieve this.
Corey Seager, the Rangers’ shortstop, commented on Garcia’s vulnerability and how challenging it is to address a team in such a situation. Despite being unable to contribute on the field due to his injury, Garcia’s support and motivation left a significant impact.
The Rangers delivered a stellar performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 4, resulting in an 11-7 victory. They scored 10 runs by the end of the third inning, with Andrew Heaney providing five innings of strong pitching, allowing only one run. The Rangers scored five runs in both the second and third innings, all with two outs, securing their 10th consecutive road win in the playoffs.
Amid their impressive performance, the Rangers remained focused on Adolis Garcia, the American League Championship Series MVP. A critical swing in the previous game had caused a left-side injury, leading to his exit from the game. Despite extensive treatment and efforts to avoid an inevitable injury, Garcia had to accept his inability to play.
Garcia’s pregame message centered on the team’s ability to overcome injuries, emphasizing that many of their key players had spent time on the injured list during the regular season. Notably, Jacob deGrom was lost for the season to Tommy John surgery, while Max Scherzer faced injuries that impacted his participation in the playoffs.
Garcia’s injury deeply affected him, and his heartfelt words resonated with the team. The Rangers showed resilience in Game 4, with Marcus Semien contributing a two-run triple and a three-run homer, Corey Seager hitting a 431-foot home run, and Travis Jankowski delivering a two-run double as Garcia’s replacement in right field. The Rangers achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first team to score five or more runs with two outs in consecutive innings in postseason history.
Despite a stunning early lead, the crowd at Chase Field remained hopeful, and the D-backs made valiant efforts. The Rangers are now just one win away from securing their first-ever World Series championship, a significant achievement in the franchise’s 62-year history. The team’s focus remains on maintaining their successful strategies, such as solid defense, pitching, timely hitting, and two-out RBIs, to secure the ultimate victory.
“We win the ballgame, we get a ring, of course,” said Marcus Semien, emphasizing the team’s one-game-at-a-time mentality. The Rangers aim to continue their winning approach and secure their historic title.