Rangers-Astros Game 6: Texas sends series to Game 7 with 9-2 win
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 22: Adolis Garcia #53 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a grand slam home run against Ryne Stanek #45 of the Houston Astros during the ninth inning in Game Six of the American League Championship Series at Minute
HOUSTON - The Texas Rangers were fighting for their playoff lives in Houston on Sunday night and on Monday they'll fight again.
The Rangers beat the Astros 9-2 to even up the series at 3-3 and set up a make-or-break Game 7 on Monday night.
The Rangers won behind strong pitching from starter Nathan Eovaldi and homers from Mitch Garver, Jonah Heim and Adolis Garcia.
The Astros jumped out to an early lead, with Yordan Alvarez driving home Jose Altuve for the first run of the game in the bottom of the first.
The Rangers responded in the top of the second, with DH Mitch Garver hitting a solo homerun on the first pitch of the inning to tie the game.
Jonah Heim hit a two-run homer off of Valdez in the top of the fourth. It was his second homer off of Astros starter Framber Valdez in the series.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 22: Jonah Heim #28 of the Texas Rangers hits a two run home run against Framber Valdez #59 of the Houston Astros during the fourth inning in Game Six of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 2
Mauricio Dubon drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the 6th inning to cut the Rangers lead to 3-2.
Mitch Garver continued his big night with a double that drove in Evan Carter to bring the Ranger lead to 4-2.
Rangers closer Jose LeClerc was brought in by manager Bruce Bochy in the 8th with two men on.
LeClerc walked his first batter, but was able to get a lineout and strikeout to get out of the jam.
In the top of the ninth, Corey Seager was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring the score to 5-2.
Adolis Garcia, who had struck out 4 times in the game, then hit a grand slam to put Texas up 9-2.
Andrew Heaney breezed through the 9th to complete the win.
"I’m just proud of how these guys keep bouncing back," Texas manager Bruce Bochy said.
The Rangers will send trade deadline acquisition Max Scherzer to the mound against Cristian Javier for the Astros.
Both pitchers threw in Game 3 of the series. The Astros won the game 8-5.
The Astros, who are undefeated on the road in five games this postseason.
Houston fell to 1-4 at home this postseason after posting a 39-42 mark at Minute Maid Park in the regular season.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 22: Jose Leclerc #25 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after striking out Jon Singleton #28 of the Houston Astros to end the eighth inning in Game Six of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 22
No team with a losing record at home has ever reached the World Series.
The wild-card Rangers, one of six major league teams without a World Series title, need one win to return to the Fall Classic for the first time since back-to-back trips in 2010-11.
A Houston win would send them to the World Series for the third straight year.
Game 7 will be played in Houston on Monday night.
The game will broadcast on FOX 4 with first pitch at 7:03 p.m.
Live Updates
ALCS Game 6 Starting Pitchers
- Rangers: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (12-5, 3.63 ERA, 1.14 WHIP)
- Astros: LHP Framber Valdez (12-11, 3.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP)
Rangers Lineup ALCS Game 6
- Marcus Semien, 2B
- Corey Seager, SS
- Robbie Grossman, LF
- Adolis Garcia, RF
- Mitch Garver, DH
- Jonah Heim, C
- Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
- Josh Jung, 3B
- Leody Taveras, CF
Astros Lineup ALCS Game 6
- Jose Altuve, 2B
- Michael Brantley, LF
- Alex Bregman, 3B
- Yordan Alvarez, DH
- Jose Abreu, 1B
- Kyle Tucker, RF
- Mauricio Dubon, CF
- Jeremy Pena, SS
- Martin Maldonado, C
Rangers Fans Hopeful for ALCS Comeback
A watch party was held at Globe Life Field on Saturday for Rangers fans.
Fans around the stadium say they are feeling optimistic because Texas won Game 1 and 2 in Houston.
They are hopeful the Rangers can pull out a win in Game 6 and force a Game 7 in Houston.
"Astros look pretty good and our boys are pretty young, it’s their first year together, it’s a learning experience. They have the pull, they have the drive, hopefully it comes through tonight," said Rangers fan Pierre Amador.
"We beat Houston in Houston, we do it all the time. But we must have this World Series. We’ve been waiting 51 years to get a World Series win. So this is the year, this is our year!" said Rangers fan Tom Young.
A watch party will also be held for Game 7.
Tickets for the watch party at Globe Life Field are available on the Rangers website or at the door.