ARLINGTON, Texas — Tempers boiled over in the eighth inning of ALCS Game 5 between the Rangers and Astros at Globe Life Field as benches emptied and a manager and two players were tossed from the game.
It started in the bottom of the inning with one runner on and Bryan Abreu on the mound in relief for Houston. The Rangers’ Adolis García, who had hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning, came to bat.
Abreu threw a pitch that drilled the left arm of García and García immediately went after Astros catcher Martín Maldonado and had to be held back. That’s when both benches emptied.
Once the dust settled, García and Abreu were both ejected and shortly after, Houston manager Dusty Baker was tossed. Crew chief James Hoye said Abreu was tossed for throwing with intent and García for being the aggressor in a confrontation with catcher Maldonado. Baker got the boot for arguing.
After the game, Baker was asked about the pitch from Abreu.
“We didn’t do anything wrong and I can understand how he (García) could take exception because nobody likes to get hit, but you’re certainly not going to add runs on in the ninth inning in the playoffs and we’re trying to win the game,” he said.
While it wouldn’t make sense for the Astros to intentionally throw at anyone in a close game late, much less a critical game, the hit-by-pitch came in García’s first at bat since the Rangers slugger hit a three-run home run to put Texas ahead, 4-2. As the ball was traveling out of the park, García walked slowly down to first base and at one point slammed the bat down before taking his trip around the bases.
As for Rangers’ manager Bruce Bochy, he said "who knows what the intentions were,” but also pointed out how García hit that home run and then was drilled by Abreu.
This was that home run.
For the Astros, it may have fired them up as they got out of the inning with no damage. Then in the top of the ninth inning, the Astros' Jose Altuve hit a three-run home run to give Houston a 5-4 lead. Houston would hold on to win it and take a 3-2 series lead back to Minute Maid Park.
The teams do have a history of bad blood.
On July 26 in Houston, Yordan Alvarez got hit by a pitch right after Alex Bregman homered in the first inning of that series finale, and Texas' Marcus Semien took a retaliatory plunk in the third.
Semien hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the fourth, and exchanged words with Maldonado. An inning later, Semien scored on a grand slam by García, who was face-to-face with the catcher when the benches cleared, though no punches were thrown.