Terrible injury news hits the Texas Rangers before Game 4 of the World Series
The “discomfort” that forced outfielder Adolis Garcia to leave Game 3 of the World Series early gave every single fan of the Texas Rangers pain.
Every fan had a right to be worried.
He was removed from the Rangers’ World Series roster prior to Game 4 of the World Series against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night in Phoenix. In his place, in right field, will be Travis Jankowski.
Garcia suffered the “discomfort” on a swing late in the Rangers’ 3-1 win in Game 3. He did not speak to the media after the game, and was taken for scans.
“He is not playing tonight,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday afternoon.
He called the injury a “moderate strain of the oblique,” and added, “That’s never a good thing.”
As he said, “It’s not good news.”
He was replaced on the roster by infielder Ezequiel Duran.
Garcia’s bat, and glove, are a major reason why the Rangers are in the World Series.
In this postseason, Garcia is batting .323 with eight home runs, 22 RBI and one double. He was named the American League Championship Series MVP.
In Game 1 of the World Series, he hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning. In Game 3, he threw out a runner at home plate during the Rangers’ 3-1 win.
“It’s a challenge, it’s not a problem. We’ve got great players behind him,” Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe said in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Starting pitcher Max Scherzer was also forced to leave Game 3. After he pitched three scoreless inning as the starting pitcher, a spasm in his back for him to end his night earlier than desired.
He, too, was removed from the Rangers’ playoff roster an hour before Game 4. He was replaced on the Rangers’ roster by left-handed pitcher Brock Burke.
In the bottom of the second inning of Game 3, Scherzer took a line drive off his elbow and back. He pitched one more scoreless inning, but said the pain started and would not subside.
He tried to pitch in the fourth inning, but walked off with the team trainer before facing the first batter.
He said after the game that he has experienced the spasms before, and they usually go away within 48 hours. He hoped to be available to pitch in this series.
This is not the news the Rangers were expecting.
