Game 5 between the Rangers and Astros took a tumultuous turn with a heated brawl and controversial ejections. Get the inside scoop on the intense showdown and the dramatic moments that unfolded on the field.
Game 5 between the Rangers and Astros proved to be a highly eventful and intense matchup, marked by a brawl and a controversial ejection of key players.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, tensions flared as a brawl erupted, leading to the ejections of the Rangers’ Adolis Garcia, Astros’ Bryan Abreu, and Astros manager Dusty Baker.
The brawl was triggered when Garcia was hit by a pitch from Abreu. Immediately, Garcia turned to catcher Martin Maldonado, convinced that the hit was deliberate. Earlier in the sixth inning, Garcia had launched a go-ahead three-run homer on the first pitch he faced. His subsequent at-bat ended with him being hit by a pitch on the very first delivery, which left no doubt about the ejection.
Following a discussion among the umpires, Abreu was also thrown out of the game. The pitch that hit Garcia was deemed intentional, a clear basis for an automatic ejection. Baker was visibly displeased with this decision, as he could not comprehend how it was determined to be intentional. At the time of the ejections, the Rangers were leading 4-2, with one runner on base and no outs.
Baker later expressed his bewilderment, emphasizing the challenge of proving intent. He argued that given Garcia’s struggles with pitches down in the zone, it was reasonable for Abreu and the Astros to go up and inside, where he already faced difficulties.
Baker explained, “How do you prove intent? That’s what I don’t understand. And I haven’t been that mad in a long time. I don’t usually get mad about nothing.”
The brawl resulted in an 11-minute delay, but it did not disrupt the Astros’ momentum. In the top of the ninth inning, Jose Altuve delivered a three-run shot, putting Houston back in the lead at 5-4. Unfortunately for the Rangers, they couldn’t mount a comeback in the bottom of the ninth, leading to a 3-2 series deficit.
The altercation raised the question of whether it served as a wake-up call for the home team. In response, Baker expressed uncertainty, saying, “I don’t know. I wasn’t seeing nothing. I was just seeing red. I hope it did. And if that’s what it takes sometimes, I guess you’ve got to do it.”
The game’s drama and intensity left both teams and fans on the edge of their seats, making it a memorable and contentious clash between the Rangers and Astros.
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