ARLINGTON — Two burgers for lunch, please, and you can hold the mayo this time.
The Texas Rangers continued their late-season playoff push with a 6-3 win vs. the Milwaukee Brewers at Globe Life Field Wednesday to secure a sweep of baseball’s best team. First baseman Jake Burger hit two home runs to carry the offense Wednesday after outfielder Michael Helman — one of the team’s several unlikely heroes in the midst of this stretch — played hero in the first two wins of the series.
The Rangers, at 77-70, are a season-high seven games over .500 and have won consecutive series vs. first-place teams. They’re now one game behind the Seattle Mariners for the third American League Wild Card position and two games back of the Houston Astros in the division. It’s the closest they’ve been to first place in the AL West since May 17.
Milwaukee right-hander Freddy Peralta, an All-Star who brought a 2.50 ERA into Wednesday’s game, had allowed two combined runs in his previous seven starts before the Rangers scored five against him in five innings.
Rangers
Burger hit his 15th home run of the season in the second inning when he drilled Peralta’s fastball off of the wall in center field to lead off the frame and make it a 2-1 game. He hit his 16th home run of the season in the fifth when he swatted a meaty changeup over the center field wall to give the Rangers a three-run lead.
It was Burger’s second multi-homer game this season and first since May 21 against the New York Yankees. The Rangers scored two runs in the third inning when designated hitter Joc Pederson beat out a bases-loaded double play to score Helman and when Peralta balked with two outs to score shortstop Josh Smith. A bases-loaded groundout from pinch hitter Rowdy Tellez gave them a sixth run in the bottom of the eighth.
Rangers right-hander starter Merrill Kelly allowed two runs before he recorded an out. Milwaukee second baseman Brice Turang hit a middle-middle cutter 435 feet into the Texas bullpen for a leadoff home run on Kelly’s third pitch and left fielder Jackson Chourio yanked an inside changeup into the left field seats for a two-run lead on his eighth pitch. He settled in afterward and allowed just one more run — on a Rhys Hoskins single in the sixth inning — before he was replaced by left-hander Hoby Milner after 93 pitches.
It’s the second time this month that the Rangers have won a game in which their starter allowed back-to-back home runs to open it. Left-hander Patrick Corbin allowed consecutive home runs to start a 7-5 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sep. 1.
Burger bombs: See photos from the Rangers sweep-sealing win against the Brewers
View Gallery
After revival behind unlikely heroes, Rangers’ vets need to follow suit amid playoff push
Texas might’ve needed unlikely talent to help jump-start a resurgent run, but it’ll need its expected regulars to help carry the momentum the rest of the way.
Michael Helman’s elite play has arrived right when the Texas Rangers needed it
The 29-year-old rookie has been one of baseball’s best hitters during his short time with the Rangers, helping to revive the clubhouse and thrust the team into the thick of a playoff chase.
After long time away, Rangers’ Jacob deGrom set to return to Citi Field at full force
The Rangers’ ace, who made his big league debut at Citi Field, pitched nine seasons for the Mets, but hasn’t pitched in Queens since 2022.
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.