Homers by Carter and Burger send Texas to win column
The Texas Rangers scored four runs while the Washington Nationals scored two runs.
One of the consequences of having a rotation that is filled with oft-infirmed arms is most are required to be handled with kid gloves. That philosophy necessitated a precautionary trip to the injured list for Nathan Eovaldi and with Kumar Rocker not yet big league viable, the Rangers opted for a full bullpen game for today’s finale from D.C.
It worked out just fine.
Six Rangers pitchers combined to allow two runs on six hits with a couple of walks and eleven strikeouts. Jacob Latz made his second ever career start and did what constituted as the heavy lifting for the day with 3 1⁄3 innings of work with a career high seven strikeouts.
After “starter” Latz left, a quartet of Jacob Webb, Hoby Milner, Shawn Armstrong, and Robert Garcia combined to work through the remaining 5 2⁄3 innings, allowing just five Nationals to reach.
Texas is simply living a charmed life on the mound this year.
Player of the Game: At the plate, the Rangers were in danger of some pretty 2025 Rangers shenanigans — going 0-for-11 with RISP and leaving eight on base — but they did have four runs cross the plate so no one is complaining.
Jake Burger collected three hits, including a home run. Meanwhile, Evan Carter was flirting with a cycle.
Evan Carter puts the Rangers on top with a two-run homer! pic.twitter.com/lwPX5hLZ14
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 8, 2025
Carter’s two-run blast in the top of the second helped give the bullpen arms something to work with. Carter also doubled and then singled in his next two at-bats but the triple eluded him in his last attempt.
Nevertheless, Carter’s 3-for-4 day, combined with Burger’s big day right ahead of him in the order, allowed Texas to do enough to leave Washington with a series win as they claimed just their third instance of winning consecutive games on the road this season.
Up Next: The Rangers will take a breather on Monday as they next head north to Minnesota to open up a series against the Twins beginning on Tuesday evening at Target Field.