Tensions flared during Wednesday’s AL West rivalry clash between the Astros and Rangers.
Benches cleared at Minute Maid Park following a grand slam from Texas’s All-Star outfielder Adolis Garcia in the fifth inning. The homer extended the Rangers’ lead to 13–3, and when Garcia arrived at home plate after trotting around the bases, he had an angry Martin Maldonado waiting for him.
The pair appeared to exchange words, prompting both benches to clear while members of the Astros bullpen could be seen jogging onto the field.
As a result of the altercation, Maldonado and Marcus Semien were both ejected by umpires.
Benches clear in Rangers-Astros game after a grand slam by Adolis Garcia!!
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 27, 2023
(via @BallySportsSW )pic.twitter.com/WgZT1iXcXm
There was plenty of build up to the benches-clearing incident in the fifth inning.
In the first inning, Rangers starter Andrew Heaney hit Yordan Alvarez with a pitch. In the third, Astros’ Framber Valdez hit Semien, prompting umpires to issue warnings to both benches.
Semien got his revenge in the fourth inning when he extended Texas’s lead to 6–3 with a two-run home run, during which he appeared to jaw at Valdez while rounding the bases.
Marcus Semien had some words for Framber Valdez after hitting a 2-run homer off of him 👀🍿
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 27, 2023
(via @Rangers )pic.twitter.com/sSHZNW7sOl
Then, the benches cleared amid the seven-run fifth inning for the Rangers.
Heading into Wednesday’s matchup, only one game separated the two teams, with Texas holding the top spot in the division. As the race for the division title heats up, so did the emotion on the field for the two Lone Star rivals.
