AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: RANGERS VS ASTROS

October 20, 2023

Adolis Garcia

Globe Life Field

Texas Rangers

Postgame 5 Press Conference

Astros - 5, Rangers - 4

Q. What did you tell Maldonado after they hit you? It seemed like you thought they hit you on purpose.

ADOLIS GARCÍA: I just reacted to the ball that came towards me. It was something in that situation, he could have hurt me, he could have injured me. I just let him know that shouldn't happen there.

Q. You and Maldonado have talked before. Was any of that a factor in that moment? Because you turned to him instead of the pitcher who had thrown the ball.

ADOLIS GARCÍA: It was just the heat of the moment. I just reacted to being hit by the pitch. I just reacted towards him as soon as I felt the hit. It was just a thing that happened in that instant.

Q. Do you regret the way you reacted considering how it played out for your team after the fact?

ADOLIS GARCÍA: I think we're always focused on winning, no matter what happens in what situation. I think in that moment I want to win, I want the team to win, so I would obviously feel bad.

Q. Why did they tell you you were ejected from the game?

ADOLIS GARCÍA: I don't really know. It could have been something -- probably, maybe, based on my reaction to what happened. But I really don't know.

Q. Did you get the idea the Astros might have been upset with the way you watched or celebrated your home run?

ADOLIS GARCÍA: I think we're in the postseason, you know. It's the moment. You hit a ball like that, you're going to celebrate. It's where we're at right now.

So I don't think that that's a way for them -- if they're trying to react to that, I don't think that's the correct way.

Q. The home run was obviously a huge emotional lift for this team. You are an emotional heartbeat of this club. So this loss is definitely a letdown. How do you, emotionally, and this club respond?

ADOLIS GARCÍA: I think that there's still games left. There's another game that we have to turn towards, focus on. I'm going to keep letting the guys know, we still have a shot at this. We're going to keep grinding, and we're going to try to find a way to win.

Q. (Question in Spanish.)

ADOLIS GARCÍA: He just tried to calm me down. He just told me he didn't think it was on purpose. He just asked me to look at him and try to calm down in that situation.

Q. When you came to bat in that inning, in the 8th, just knowing the history between the two teams, did you think there was a chance that you were going to get hit?

ADOLIS GARCÍA: No, I was just focused on that moment, my next at-bat. I was just focusing on how I could help the team.

Q. To the question earlier about in the moment, your reaction was to turn to Martín Maldonado. I've watched you go back and forth over the last few years. Is it personal between you and Martín at this point?

ADOLIS GARCÍA: No, not really. I don't have anything personal with anyone. My thing is just to go out there and play baseball. I really don't have anything personal against anyone.