Burger’s Blast Lifts Rangers Past Diamondbacks, Ignites Playoff-Like Energy in August

ARLINGTON, Texas — The crack of the bat was loud enough to cut through the humid Texas night. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Jake Burger turned on a hanging slider from Diamondbacks starter Ryne Nelson, launching a two-run home run into the left-field seats.

By the time the ball landed, Burger had already pounded his chest, pointed toward the dugout, and set Globe Life Field ablaze. The scoreboard flipped to 3-1 in favor of the Rangers, but the moment felt bigger than a two-run swing. It felt like a statement — the kind of jolt this club has been searching for in a season filled with streaks, slumps, and questions about identity.

A Timely Spark for an Uneven Offense

Before Burger’s blast, the Rangers’ offense had been grinding without much to show for it. They’d left runners stranded in the first and third innings, and the frustration was mounting. Arizona had struck first, scratching out a run in the top of the fourth thanks to a bloop single and a productive groundout.

But when Corey Seager reached on a sharp single to right to lead off the bottom of the inning, the atmosphere shifted. Nelson’s command wavered, and Burger — who entered the game hitting just .238 with runners in scoring position — stepped to the plate with a purpose.

“He’s been due for one like that,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said afterward. “Jake’s been hitting the ball hard lately, but tonight he got a pitch he could drive, and he didn’t miss it. That’s the type of swing that can wake up a lineup.”

Burger worked the count to 2-1, then unleashed on a middle-in slider. It traveled 406 feet, leaving his bat at 108 mph. The crowd erupted as Burger rounded the bases with an energy that was equal parts relief and adrenaline.

Momentum Shift, Tangible and Intangible

From that point on, the Rangers looked like a different team. Pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, who had been laboring early, found another gear. His fastball command sharpened, and he struck out four of the next six batters he faced.

“I’m not gonna lie — that kind of stuff fires you up on the mound,” Eovaldi said. “You get some run support like that, especially in a close game, and it changes your whole approach.”

The dugout, too, seemed looser. Players were on the top step, leaning over the railing, ready to greet each hitter coming back from the plate. The kind of small, intangible energy that can be elusive over a 162-game grind suddenly felt abundant.

Burger’s Journey to This Moment

For Burger, this homer was more than just a big swing in August. It was the latest chapter in a career that has already seen its share of twists. Drafted 11th overall in 2017, he endured multiple Achilles injuries that nearly derailed his playing days before they truly began.

Since then, Burger has built a reputation as a power threat with the ability to change games in an instant. But consistency has often been the missing piece. Nights like this one serve as reminders of his upside — and why the Rangers traded for him to begin with.

“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but I always try to stay ready for moments like that,” Burger said. “You don’t get to control when they come, but you can control how you prepare for them.”

Diamondbacks Left Searching for Answers

For Arizona, the loss was another missed opportunity to gain ground in the Wild Card race. Nelson, who had been cruising through the first three innings, admitted that the mistake to Burger was a turning point.

“I tried to get it in on him, but it just spun back over the plate,” Nelson said. “Against a hitter like that, you can’t miss middle-middle. He made me pay for it.”

The Diamondbacks mustered just two hits after the fourth inning, and by the time the Rangers’ bullpen took over in the seventh, the outcome felt all but sealed.

Why It Matters in the Standings

With the win, Texas improved to 64-59, keeping pace in a crowded American League Wild Card picture. The victory also carried a psychological boost — the kind of midseason momentum swing that can ripple forward.

“This isn’t October baseball yet,” Bochy said, “but games like this — against good teams, in tight situations — they matter. You build confidence, and that’s something we’ll need down the stretch.”

The Rangers’ offense, which has been feast-or-famine much of the season, will need more nights like this from Burger and the middle of the order. If they can pair timely hitting with their top-end pitching, the postseason remains within reach.

Fans Feel the Surge

Globe Life Field isn’t always the loudest ballpark in MLB, but Tuesday night, it shook. The roar when Burger’s home run cleared the wall was sustained, and it carried through the rest of the game. Fans stayed until the final out, soaking in a performance that felt bigger than just one win in August.

“It felt like a playoff game in here tonight,” Burger said with a grin. “If that’s what it’s gonna be like.