Adolis Garcia has been my favorite Ranger since most of the end of last year and all of this year! He is a “team player” and applauds and cheers for all the deeds of his teammates. He came to the team speaking mostly Spanish, and earlier this year told the interviewer, when asked if he would need an interpreter, “No, I will speak in English”— and he gave an admirable interview. He seems to be a good “family man” and takes time to acknowledge the accolades and requests of the fans. He plays one of the best “right fields” I have ever seen in the Ranger’s ballpark and continues to hustle out there when other elements of the game are frustrating. He has massive arms and can also run like a deer! He hits mind-boggling home runs, almost as well as my childhood hitter hero, Mickey Mantle. When he catches an inning-ending fly ball, he tosses the ball into the stands as a souvenir. He appears to “praise the Lord” when he does well. He tries to stop problems from erupting. Can you tell he is my favorite?
All this being said, Adolis Garcia has been in a slump lately!
Last Sunday afternoon, many of the Themer clan journeyed to Globe Life Field and sat in the “Jr. Rangers” section of the center field bleachers—a great view of the entire stadium and the game. Luke, Ella, Mary Anne, Waylon, Katie, Weston, Vivian, and Don—a big, happy family, eating and drinking delicious snacks (stadium nachos, sodas, big cheesecovered Italian pretzels, chicken snack packs, popcorn, various ice cream goodies, etc.), “kidding around,” yelling and screaming and cheering and groaning, teasing each other, pulling for the Rangers to defeat the Minnesota (Twin Cities) Twins and to try to once again move into 1st place, where they had been most of the season!
The afternoon was wonderful, but, as time passed, the baseball progression was not too great! By the end of the 4th inning, the Rangers were ahead 3—0 (all scored during a great 1st inning) and cruising nicely; at the end of the 5th, though, the score was 3—3! At the end of the 6th, we had re-taken the lead, 4—3; the end of the 7th found the score at 5—4, but still in favor of Texas. Minnesota scored another run in the 8th to make it 5—5, and we Themers were getting a little worried. The Twins failed to tally in the ninth’s top, and up came the Rangers.
The Rangers were “in” the game, much thanks to Mich Garver’s two homerun blasts against his “old team.”
Adolis Garcia had been up to the plate four times earlier and had struck out all four times, not looking good in the process! He seemed to be battling some “fastball demon!”
Fans hoped the ninth inning’s fifth time up for Adolis might be the charm, but many were skeptical. Three fastballs and a slider, and no hit, but at least he had not swung too wildly! Another pitch with the count at two balls and two strikes—an inside, near the belt fastball, and Mr. Garcia smashed it about 450 feet into left field for his third career “walk-off” homerun. He was overcome with emotion and then ran around the bases and into the waiting arms of congratulations from his teammates, glad to see that “The Man” was back!
And, oh, yes, the Themers jumped up and down and hugged and “highfived” and celebrated a great day to be part of the JUNIOR RANGERS—and the temperature, while 100+ degrees outside, was a cool 74 degrees inside!
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.