PHOENIX — The Texas Rangers overcame injuries to Adolis García and Max Scherzer for a 3-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks and a 2-1 World Series lead.
Now, if Texas is going to close out its first championship, it may have to do so without two of its biggest stars.
García, perhaps the hottest hitter in all of baseball this October, left in the eighth inning Monday night after hurting his left side on a swing. He went to a hospital for an MRI.
“We’re being optimistic there but we’ll know more tomorrow,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said.
The AL Championship Series MVP is hitting a team-high .323 in the postseason with eight homers and a major league-record 22 RBIs, one more than David Freese had for the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals. García is 3 for 10 in the World Series with two RBIs, including an 11th-inning home run off Miguel Castro that gave Texas a 6-5 win in Friday’s opener.
Scherzer left his Game 3 outing after three innings because of back tightness.
“I’m in full spasm," he said. “It’s locked up pretty good. I’ve had spasms before. The way this kind of goes, tomorrow will be sore, then it’s the second day — the second day will let you know where this is at.”
The 39-year-old Scherzer could be in line to pitch Saturday's Game 7 on regular rest.
Game 4 is Tuesday night in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks will piece things together on the mound with multiple relievers, starting with lefty Joe Mantiply. The Rangers will counter with lefty Andrew Heaney.