Rangers Use Double Burger Combo to Sweep Brewers

Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images

September 10, 2025

Rangers 6, Brewers 3

ARLINGTON, Texas (Sept 10) — The Texas Rangers treated the Milwaukee Brewers to a three-game sweep, beating them 6–3, Wednesday afternoon. Their hero in this one was Jake Burger, who smashed a pair of home runs to keep his team on a hot streak as they wrap up a 5–1 homestand, their next to last of the regular season. They began the day 2 1/2 games out of first in the AL West behind the division-leading Houston Astros. They could gain another half game depending on the outcome of the Astros’ 7:05 pm Eastern tilt with the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

After an off-day Thursday, the Rangers begin a three-game series against the New York Mets as part of a six-game road trip. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for Friday at 7:10 pm Eastern at Citi Field. Righty Jacob deGrom (11–7, 2.78 ERA), facing his former team, will make his 28th start for the Rangers, while right-hander Jonah Tong (1–1, 4.09 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Mets.

The Brewers, meanwhile, will begin their next-to-last homestand Friday with three against the St. Louis Cardinals. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm Central at American Family Field. It will be a duel of righties as Andre Pallante (6–13, 5.28 ERA) will take the hill for the Cardinals, and Quinn Priester (12–2, 3.25 ERA) will get the ball for the Brewers.

Burger Homers Twice

The Brewers got off to a quick start in the top of the first off righty Merrill Kelly. Back-to-back home runs by Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio had Ranger fans squirming in their seats early.

The Rangers answered back in the bottom of the second. With Freddy Peralta on the mound for the Brewers, Burger led off with a towering shot to deep center on a 1–2 pitch.

They tied things up in the bottom of the third. Michael Helman singled with one out. Josh Smith and Wyatt Langford followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases. On deck was Joc Pederson, who plated Helman by grounding into a 4–6 force play. With Burger at the plate, Smith reached home on a balk by Peralta, giving the Rangers a 3–2 lead.

They tallied two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Smith led off with a single to center. Three batters later, Burger drove him in with his second dinger of the afternoon. It was a two-run shot that also went to center.

The Brewers inched closer in the top of the sixth. Caleb Durbin lined a one-out single to left. He moved to third later in the inning on a single to left by Danny Jansen. Up next was Rhys Hoskins, pinch-hitting for Joey Ortiz. Jansen scored, moments later, on a single to left by Hoskins.

More Insurance

The Rangers scored their final run in the bottom of the eighth off reliever Erick Fedde, who opened the inning by walking Burger. After Josh Jung popped out to first, Kyle Higashioka reached on a fielder’s choice and Burger moved to second on a fielding error by Durbin at third. Fedde walked Alejandro Osuna to load the bases before Rowdy Tellez, pinch-hitting for Ezequiel Duran, grounded to second, bringing Burger across the plate.

What Went Right for the Rangers

The Brewers both entered and left with the best record in the majors. For three consecutive days, the Rangers denied them of their 90th win of the season with a renewed spirit. Burger’s home runs were huge in the series finale on Wednesday, and there were several others that contributed good at-bats, including Helman with a single.

This is the time of year teams need an all hands on deck approach. That’s what the Rangers have at this point. They’ve gotten a reminder of how great winning can be, and they’re doing what they can to keep it up.

What Went Wrong for the Rangers

The back-to-back home runs by Turang and Chourio hurt the Rangers. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy admitted that it was a shock to the system. They scattered a few more hits that eventually led to another run for the Brewers, but they were able to stop the bleeding.

Relentless Outing for Kelly

Rangers starter Merrill Kelly battled through 5 2/3 innings to earn the win, improving his record to 12–7 with an ERA of 3.21. His final line was 10 H, 3 R-ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 2 HR, 93 pitches/67 strikes. He allowed the home runs to Turang and Chourio to open the top of the first, the second time he’s allowed consecutive long balls to begin a start in his career.

Reliever Phil Maton earned his fourth save of the year after recording the last two outs in the ninth with one strikeout.

Peralta’s Effort

Brewers starter Freddy Peralta took his sixth loss of the season, making his record 16–6 with an ERA of 2.69. His line was 5 IP, 6 H, 5 R-ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 113 pitches/72 strikes. Peralta’s 113 pitches marked a career-high, surpassing his previous mark of 111 on May 28, 2024 against the Chicago Cubs. No other Brewers pitcher has thrown more in a game since that date. Peralta had his scoreless streak end at a career-high 30 innings when Burger homered in the second. That streak was the second-longest scoreless run in franchise history to only Teddy Higuera’s 32 frames in 1987.

Bochy’s Postgame Comments

After the game, Bochy commented on the energy that his team has shown recently. “I think it’s been fun for [the veterans] to watch,” he said. “We’re seeing these young guys coming up and having fun, playing loose, playing with joy. When you look at them, they’re all smiling, having a good time. I think the enthusiasm from the young guys is contagious to the veterans. They’re having a blast, too.”