In a twist of fate, the AL Championship Series between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros has become a battle of road victories, with both teams unable to secure a win on their home turf. The intensity of this unusual series has now brought us to a thrilling Game 7 at Minute Maid Park.

The latest game saw the Astros' crowd mercilessly booing Adolis Garcia, the "Public Enemy No. 1" in Houston. Garcia struggled in his first four at-bats, striking out each time. However, in a display of "baseball justice," Garcia seized the moment in the ninth inning by hitting a grand slam that propelled the Rangers to a resounding 9-2 victory.

With the series now tied at three games apiece, history beckons. Only once before, in the 2019 World Series, has a seven-game series witnessed every win by the visiting team (not including the pandemic NBA bubble). The Astros themselves experienced this phenomenon in the World Series, losing Games 1, 2, 6, and 7 at Minute Maid Park. Now, history may repeat itself as the Rangers' ace, Max Scherzer, takes the mound for the decisive Game 7.

Scherzer was acquired by the Rangers from the Mets at the trade deadline, with high hopes of leading his team back into the playoffs for the first time since 2017. As General Manager Chris Young stated, Scherzer was the man they wanted for these crucial moments, and now is the perfect opportunity for him to shine.

This ALCS has been a back-and-forth battle between the two Lone Star clubs. The Astros clinched the AL West title in the final game of the season, with the teams finishing with identical records. Houston ultimately secured the tiebreaker by winning the season series 9-4 against Texas. However, their performance against the Rangers in this series has been perplexing. The Astros boasted a dominant 6-1 record at Globe Life Field, the Rangers' home stadium, but struggled at home, going 0-3 against their rivals. Minute Maid Park has not been kind to the Astros this season, with an overall record of 40-46.

As the stage is set for Game 7, the Astros face potential setbacks. Bryan Abreu, their top set-up man, could be absent after being suspended for intentionally hitting Adolis Garcia in Game 5. Abreu's appeal is still pending, and the ruling may leave the Astros without a key weapon in their bullpen.

The tension between Garcia and Abreu was palpable in Game 6, with the crowd showering Garcia with boos. However, Garcia had the last laugh with his grand slam, silencing the stadium and securing the win for the Rangers. Both teams had their chances throughout the game, with Houston loading the bases in the eighth inning but failing to capitalize, thanks to the stellar pitching of the Rangers' Josh Sborz and closer Jose Leclerc.

Now, the series comes down to a winner-takes-all Game 7. The strange pattern of road team victories continues to baffle fans, leaving both teams yearning for a home-field advantage that has eluded them thus far. Will the Astros break the pattern and claim victory in their own ballpark, or will the Rangers ride the momentum of their stunning Game 6 triumph to secure a spot in the World Series? The answers will unfold on Monday night, in what promises to be an unforgettable Game 7 showdown at Minute Maid Park.