HOUSTON -- You hear it so often at playoff time that the words take on the form of the cliche: The team that wins the big moments, wins in the postseason., who clanged homer in Game 2 off a metallic sign above the Crawford Boxes at Minute Maid Park."You never know who's going to win the big moment."
In this instance, pulling off an escape that would make Houdini jealous is what Eovaldi did best. Eovaldi won the moment, striking out Yanier Diaz and"That was the turning point in the game," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said."Found a way to get through it. And terrific job by . He had good stuff today. He pitched very well."
"I didn't really think about ," Leclerc said via a team interpreter."I just had to get one out, then three more outs." That's how it played out, with the ball deflecting off Jung's glove and suspending in the air for what felt like a long time. Jung simply gathered it back in and stepped on the third base bag for the force out, ending the inning.
Now the Rangers are getting into historical territory. Texas has reeled off seven straight wins to start the playoffs including six on the road. Only 2014 Royals had a longer playoff winning streak. Only the 2005 White Sox had a longer road win streak within the same postseason.