In Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night, Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte set the record with a hit in his 17th straight playoff game, while Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia tied it with his 21st RBI.
After driving in 15 runs to help defeat the Houston Astros, the 30-year-old Garcia—who was named the American League Championship Series MVP—singled to left field off Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen in the first inning to score rookie Evan Carter.
The cleanup hitter for the Rangers, Garcia, scored one run and launched a home run in the wild-card series before adding four RBIs and another home run in the division series. He was on the verge of emulating David Freese’s 2011 postseason run, which kept the Rangers from capturing their first title, thanks to his five home run effort in the ALCS.
Freese and the Cardinals faced the Rangers with the hopes of earning their first championship in more than 50 years after Freese was named the NLCS MVP. His seven RBIs for the series included a walk-off home run in Game 6 and a triple in the ninth inning. In his 54th playoff plate appearance, Garcia recorded his 21st RBI; Freese accomplished the same feat in 71. In addition, Friday night is the anniversary of the historic Game 6 victory that propelled the Cardinals to the championship.
Marte, 30, has played in 17 playoff games and has hit safely in 13 of them in October. Marte drove home Geraldo Perdomo and helped chase Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi with his fifth-inning double, part of a lethal 1-2 punch atop the Diamondbacks order with Corbin Carroll.
Three other players—Hank Bauer, the seven-time World Series champion with the New York Yankees, Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, and 12-time All-Star Manny Ramirez—had all previously had 17-game hitting streaks in the playoffs. Marte joined their distinguished company.
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