Garcia hits HR as big as Texas

MANILA, Philippines — Adolis Garcia smashed a solo home run in the 11th inning to give the Texas Rangers a dramatic 6-5 victory over Arizona on Friday in the 119th World Series opener.

After Corey Seager crushed a game-tying two-run homer for Texas in the ninth inning, Rangers outfielder Garcia blasted the winning homer to left field off Arizona relief pitcher Miguel Castro.

“I was thinking hit a good pitch, make a good at-bat and just give me the victory to my team,” Garcia said.

“It was an exciting moment. I was just looking into the dugout, looking at my teammates. Happy. Happy.”

The homer gave the 30-year-old Cuban outfielder 22 runs batted in during the 2023 playoffs, breaking to old one-season record of 21 set by David Freese in 2013.

The Rangers, rallying two outs from defeat, grabbed a 1-0 lead in Major League Baseball’s best-of-seven final with Game 2 also at Texas on Saturday (today Manila time).

“There’s no quit in us, even if we’re down early,” Texas slugger Evan Carter said.