Benches clear in Rangers-Astros ALCS Game 5, multiple players ejected

A benches clearing brawl ensued in the bottom half of the eighth inning in Game 5 of the ALCS between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros Friday.

With the Rangers clinging to a 4-2 lead, both dugouts emptied after Astros reliever Bryan Abreu hit Rangers outfielder Adolis García with a pitch. After taking a 99 mph fastball to his left arm, García immediately got into the face of Astros catcher Martín Maldonado and it was on from there.

Benches have cleared in Arlington. pic.twitter.com/F1abofICpX

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 20, 2023

After about a minute of conflict, both teams returned to their benches, but not everyone did. In total, four were ejected from the game: Abreu, García, Maldonado and Astros manager Dusty Baker. Baker was tossed after he took exception to Abreu getting ejected from the game.

“Obviously, Abreu was not throwing at Garcia purposefully,” Fox Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal said on the FS1 broadcast. “But, given the emotions of the moment, I can understand the decision by the umpires. I can also understand why Dusty Baker didn’t like that decision. A situation like this, the umpires’ job is to get control of the game. That’s what they were trying to do.”

Astros come from behind to take series lead over Rangers

The altercation ignited the defending World Series champion Astros, who took the lead in the ninth inning thanks to second baseman José Altuve. Altuve belted a three-run home run to give Houston a 5-4 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The homer was Altuve’s 11th in the ALCS, the most in ALCS history. The Astros now lead the best of seven series 3-2. They are one win away from a third consecutive World Series appearance.

“It seems like in the biggest moments in this franchise’s history, he always comes through,” Astros third baseman Alex Bregman said after the game. “In awe, and I get to see him on a daily basis.”