Texas Rangers Sweep Baltimore Orioles Out of ALDS

The Texas Rangers have swept the Baltimore Orioles, sending the team with the best record in the American League home via a 7-1 win in Game 3 of the ALDS on Tuesday.

Baltimore entered the postseason with an AL-best 101-61 mark, second in the major leagues to the National League-leading Atlanta Braves. The Rangers, on the other hand, had a bounce-back season after going 68-94 in 2022, finishing the regular season at 90-72 to grab the second AL wild-card spot.

Based on their records, then, the Orioles should have been the favorites to win the series. But thanks to a pair of close wins in Baltimore, and the Game 3 blowout win in Dallas, Texas is now in its first ALCS since 2011 when they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.

The contest unofficially ended in the bottom of the second inning, as Texas drove in five runs to extend its lead to 6-0.

First, it was catcher Mitch Garver driving in third baseman Josh Jung and shortstop Marcus Semien with an RBI double. Then, outfielder Adolis García launched a three-run shot to left, sending the crowd at Globe Life Field into a frenzy.

As for Baltimore, the franchise's postseason woes continue. The Orioles have not won a playoff series since sweeping the Detroit Tigers in the 2014 ALDS. Prior to that, Baltimore's last postseason series victory since the 1997 ALDS against the Seattle Mariners.