Ezequiel Duran’s clutch power and a lockdown bullpen performance snapped a four-game skid for the Texas Rangers.
The Texas Rangers snapped a four-game losing streak thanks to a two-hit, three-RBI night from Ezequiel Duran.
Kumar Rocker did enough in his three innings of work, but it was the Rangers bullpen that really kept them in this game.
In the end, the Milwaukee Brewers failed to sweep the Rangers as the American League West contenders ended this series with a 7-4 victory.
Duran's third-inning, two-out home run tied the game 2-2, and from there the Rangers were able to add two in the fifth, one in the sixth, and another two runs in the seventh inning.
Milwaukee added two themselves in the bottom of the seventh to cut the deficit to three, but that's all the Rangers would allow in their first victory since Aug. 24.
Duran gave the Rangers offense life
There's no time for this Rangers team to rest as they head back to Globe Life Field for another seven games across the next seven days.
Thursday, Aug. 27, was their only off day until Monday, Sept. 7.
Now, they at least have a bit of momentum on their side thanks to what Duran was able to do at American Family Field.
The 27-year-old saw his batting average climb to .273 this year, which is good for the second-best in the Rangers' series finale lineup, only behind Cody Freeman, though it's worth noting Freeman has had nearly 400 fewer at-bats.
Regardless, Duran hit his 15th home run of the year in a game where Joc Pederson would smash his 24th three innings later. Both of the Rangers' home runs came with two outs, so that's a huge step forward from a team that failed to do anything notable offensively in this losing streak.
Rangers bullpen could get them back in division title race
Now 67-70, the Rangers still trail the Houston Astros by two games. Starting pitching hasn't exactly been the Rangers' strong suit, or at least not their most consistent area this season, but the bullpen proved that they're able to work out Rocker's nine-out performance.
In fact, it was Tyler Alexander who picked up the win as he improved to 5-2 on the year. Alexander was the lone reliever to throw more than one inning.
Holds were given to Adam Macko and Jakob Junis, and as expected, Jacob Latz slammed the door shut with his 27th save of the year, but more importantly, his first since Thursday, Aug. 20.
