Benches clear in Texas! Adolis Garcia takes a hit from 99-mph fastball after go-ahead 3-run home run, as Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu and manager Dusty Baker get tossed in tense 5-4 win

A huge brawl broke out during the Houston Astros’ 5-4 win over the Texas Rangers in the AL Championships series after Adolis Garcia took a hit from a 99 mph fastball following a go-ahead 3-run home run while, pitcher Bryan Abreu and manager Dusty Baker were all ejected.

The Rangers outfielder was furious after he was hit on his upper left arm by a pitch from Abreu in the bottom of the eighth inning on Friday. He immediately turned around and got into catcher Martín Maldonado’s face. Garcia waved his finger in Maldonado’s face as the slugger sat behind and was pushed back by plate umpire Marvin Hudson.

Both the benches and bullpens were cleared, with players from both sides surrounding each other at home plate.

After Abreu and Garcia received the ejections, Baker threw his cap in response to his closer being thrown out of the game, and remained in the dugout for an extended period of time arguing with the officials before finally heading to the clubhouse went.

The Rangers led 4-2 after Garcia’s three-run homer in the sixth inning. He took a few short steps out of the batter’s box and watched the ball land on the seats before empathetically touching the bat.

Players leave the benches after Adolis Garcia (front) was hit in the eighth inning on Friday evening

Garcia, left, confronted Astros catcher Martin Maldonado after being hit by a 100 mph pitch

Garcia was hit on his upper left arm after earlier hitting a home run to give Texas the lead

On July 26, Houston’s Yordan Alvarez was hit by a pitch just after Alex Bregman homered in the first inning of the series finale, and Texas’ Marcus Semien took a retaliation shot 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 Garcia, who was face to face with the catcher as the benches cleared, although no punches were thrown.

Once order was restored, Ryan Pressly (1-0) got the next three outs before the Astros rallied in the ninth inning against Jose Leclerc (0-1).

Yainer Diaz led off with a single and pinch-hitter Jon Singleton walked before Jose Altuve hit an 0-1 pitch 350 feet to left for his 26th career postseason homer and his record third go-ahead ‘-homer in the ninth inning or later of the game. a play-off match. Altuve has three blowouts this postseason.

Houston’s Jose Altuve hits a three-run home run off Rangers reliever Jose Leclerc in the ninth

Altuve (27) celebrates with Yainer Diaz (21) and Grae Kessinger (16) after all three scored late

Rangers closer Jose Leclerc reacts after giving up a three-run HR to Altuve in the last inning

The Rangers threatened against Pressly in the ninth, when Mitch Garver and Jonah Heim led off with singles. But Semien lined a run to a leaping Grae Kessinger – in the game at shortstop after pinch-running for Singleton – and Corey Seager flew to left-center before Pressly struck out Evan Carter.

Alex Bregman homered in the first inning for his third blast of the postseason for the Astros. Nathaniel Lowe tied the game with a solo shot in the fifth, his second of the postseason.

Astros starter Justin Verlander gave up the four runs on six hits and one walk, while striking out three in 5 2/3 innings. Rangers starter Jordan Montgomery allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three in 5 1/3 innings.

Houston is 9-1 in Arlington in 2023, scoring 86 points in the 10 games played there. After winning all three games at rival Texas, the defending champion Astros head to Houston, needing one win to reach a third consecutive World Series.

They led 3-2 in the best-of-seven playoff series entering Game 6 on Sunday night.