Adrian Beltre Homers Three Times, Texas Rangers Headed to the ALCS

Thanks to three Adrian Beltre longballs during Game 4 of the ALDS, the Texas Rangers have sent the Tampa Bay Rays packing and are headed straight to the American League Championship Series for the second season in a row.

The slugging first baseman went yard in his first three at bats during the 4-3 victory Tuesday in St. Petersburg. He hit solo shots off starter Jeremy Hellickson in the second and fourth innings before adding another solo homer for good measure in the seventh off reliever Matt Moore. Unfortunately, he missed the opportunity to hit a fourth home run in the eighth when he flied out to shallow right field.

After getting just one hit in 11 playoff at bats so far this postseason, Beltre really turned things around to become the sixth player in the history of the game to hit three home runs in a single postseason performance, and the first to do it during a divisional series. So that's pretty sweet.

The Rangers will now watch and wait to see who will face them in the ALCS between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers, who play Tuesday evening at 8:30pm ET on TBS. The Tigers have the chance to send the Yankees home tonight, as they lead the best-of-five series 2-1.

[ESPN Dallas/Fort Worth]