HOUSTON — The ball left Alex Bregman’s bat and flew high over the playing field at Minute Maid Park in what, for a moment, seemed like the latest chapter in the Houston Astros’ charmed postseason history. But rather than carry onto the train tracks above the vaunted ballpark, it died at the wall nearly 366 feet from home plate. There waiting was poised Texas Rangers rookie Evan Carter, the kid who continues to thrive and exceed every expectation here in October.
Carter fired a throw back into the infield, where José Altuve had crossed second base before backtracking toward first. Second baseman Marcus Semien was aware as the play unfolded: Altuve did not touch second again before retreating to first. He received Carter’s throw standing on the bag. And after the review, there was no question: Altuve was out. The eighth-inning double play took the air out of Minute Maid Park. And in a reversal of fortunes, it became the latest instance of a postseason where every break keeps going the Rangers’ way.
When all was said and done, the Rangers walked away with a 2-0 victory in Game 1 of the American League Champion Series. A budding rivalry lived up to its billing. Jordan Montgomery, the Rangers’ trade deadline godsend, got the win after 6 ⅓ innings of sterling, scoreless baseball.
The left-hander, traded from the Cardinals this summer, outdueled Houston starter Justin Verlander in a tense game that did not feel in hand until the final out. Despite a strong outing, Verlander took the loss after surrendering two earned runs over the course of his 6 ⅔ innings.
EVAN CARTER TAKE A BOW🤯
What a play by the 21-year-old.
🎥 @MLBONFOXpic.twitter.com/ZUE00ZFP9E
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) October 16, 2023
Meanwhile, a Texas pitching staff that entered the postseason troubled has continued to shine under the lights of October. And on a team built on big contracts and a grand vision, it was smaller, homegrown names who provided the offense Sunday at Minute Maid Park. The Rangers’ lead took shape in the second inning, when Carter, the rookie folk hero, slapped a ball just past a diving José Abreu at first base. As the ball trickled into right field, Carter’s wheels began churning. He zoomed past first and carried on into second, just beating a throw that was dropped at the bag.
The next batter, catcher Jonah Heim, singled to center field. Carter read the ball well and scored easily to give his team an early edge in front of a hostile Houston crowd.
The Rangers’ next strike came in the fifth inning, when Verlander hung a 1-2 slider to No. 9 hitter Leody Taveras. Taveras, a quiet but important contributor for the Rangers this postseason, turned on the lowly breaking ball and sent it over the right-field fence on a line.
With the 2-0 advantage in pocket, manager Bruce Bochy — the calm hand with three World Series rings to his name — again faced the challenge of hitting the right bullpen buttons in situations of the highest magnitude.
Bochy pulled Montgomery after 6 1/3 innings despite the bottom of the Houston order at the plate. Montgomery’s stuff looked diminished to Mauricio Dubón, the first batter in the seventh who lined a ball deep but foul, a moment that nearly altered the dynamic of the game. Bochy made his measured walk to the mound and handed the ball over to right-hander Josh Sborz, who retired Jeremy Pena and pinch-hitter Yanier Díaz. Sborz came back for the eighth but walked the leadoff hitter in Altuve. That is when Bochy turned to lefty Aroldis Chapman in perhaps Texas’ biggest conundrum in six games this postseason. The double play on Bregman’s ball to the wall proved to be a potent elixir.
In the ninth, Texas closer José Leclerc recorded the final three outs. He pounded his chest after the final strike. With their sixth win in six tries this postseason in hand, the Rangers celebrated their early advantage in a series that may have more astonishing moments ahead.
Required reading
(Photo: Erik Williams / USA Today)