Garcia, Marte continue runs, tie playoff records

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia tied the single-postseason record with his 21st RBI, and Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte tied the record with a hit in his 17th consecutive playoff game during Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night.

The 30-year-old Garcia, who won American League Championship Series MVP honors after driving in 15 runs to help beat the Houston Astros, laced a first-inning single to left field off Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen to score rookie Evan Carter.

Garcia, the Rangers’ cleanup hitter, hit a home run and drove in one run during the wild-card series and followed with a home run and four RBIs in the division series. His performance in the ALCS, during which he hit five home runs, put him on the precipice of matching David Freese’s 2011 playoff run that prevented the Rangers from winning their first championship.

After winning MVP honors in the NLCS, Freese and the Cardinals faced the Rangers, then seeking their first title in more than 50 years of existence. His ninth-inning triple and extra-inning walk-off home run in Game 6 contributed to his seven RBIs in the series. Garcia’s 21st RBI came in his 54th plate appearance of the postseason; Freese reached his mark in 71. Friday night also marks the anniversary of the infamous Game 6 that the Cardinals won to propel them to the title.

Marte, also 30, has hit safely in all 17 postseason games he has played, including 13 this October. Part of a potent 1-2 punch atop the Diamondbacks’ lineup with Corbin Carroll, Marte’s fifth-inning double drove in Geraldo Perdomo and helped chase Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi.

Marte joined rather illustrious company among the three others who previously had 17-game hitting streaks in the postseason: Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, 12-time All-Star Manny Ramirez and Hank Bauer, who won seven World Series with the New York Yankees.