PHOENIX — Adolis Garcia has been this postseason’s MVP, but now the Rangers have to wonder if their star right fielder will continue playing in the World Series.
After hitting a fly to center that ended Monday’s top of the eighth inning Garcia departed with what the team called left side tightness.
Garcia was expected to receive further evaluation after the Rangers’ 3-1 victory over the Diamondbacks in Game 3 of the World Series.
Former Mets outfielder Travis Jankowski replaced Garcia in right for the bottom of the eighth.
Garcia, whose walk-off homer in the 11th inning on Friday won Game 1 for the Rangers, has established a MLB single-season record with 22 RBIs this postseason.
His early departure came on a night the Rangers watched Max Scherzer depart after three scoreless innings with back tightness.
With the weather cooperating — temperatures in Phoenix were in the 70s throughout the day — the roof at Chase Field was opened for the game.
The Diamondbacks play the vast majority of their home games with the roof closed, due to the extreme heat.
“I know some have said when it’s open the ball carries a little bit more,” Lovullo said. “As long as we know the landscape when we walk into the ballpark and nothing changes and no fast punches being thrown, whether we’re at home or on the road, I’m fine with it.”
The Rangers won their ninth straight road game to begin this postseason.
The 1996 Yankees were the only other team to begin a postseason with eight straight road victories.
The only other team to win eight straight road games in a single postseason was the 2019 Nationals.
The Yankees (1996-97) and (1937-42) share the major league record with nine consecutive postseason road victories.
Randy Johnson threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Luis Gonzalez.
Both former players starred for the Diamondbacks’ last World Series-winning team in 2001 and had their numbers retired by the organization.
Monday was the first World Series game at Chase Field since 2001’s dramatic Game 7, in which the Diamondbacks beat the Yankees on Gonzalez’s walkoff single against Mariano Rivera.