Beltre Performs as Late Addition to Lineup

Adrian Beltre still can't run, and he looks uncomfortable on the baseball field, but on Monday afternoon, he talked his way into the Rangers lineup about an hour before game time after he'd initially been on the bench for a third straight game of the ALDS.

Guys like Robinson Chirinos and Elvis Andrus talked about what a lift Beltre's return would be when it came, and both of those guys got hits on Monday, but other than a Shin-Soo Choo revival, no one else followed suit.

Beltre singled in his first two at-bats and drove a ball to the warning track in right field, showing he was plenty capable of playing, but "rally factor" that Jeff Banister might have considered in playing his team leader didn't really come to fruition.

After the Rangers' Game 4 loss, Beltre was asked by reporters if he'd be in the lineup for Game 5, and he responded in true Beltre fashion.

"Unless I get hit by a car," he said.

That's why we love Adrian Beltre, and now you just have to hope Wednesday won't be his final game of the season.

Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
Contact Us