Texas Rangers’ Jake Burger, front right, and Josh Jung celebrate after scoring on a Burger home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Texas Rangers’ Cody Freeman (39) reacts to scoring on a double by teammate Josh Jung as Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz, right, and umpire Mike Muchlinski, left, look on during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Houston Astros outfielder Cam Smith (11) can’t catch the home run hit by Texas Rangers’ Jake Burger during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Burger and Jung get to Valdez as Rangers beat Astros 4-2 to keep pace in AL wild card
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jake Burger followed Josh Jung’s tiebreaking double with a two-run homer off Framber Valdez in the sixth inning, and the Texas Rangers beat the Houston Astros 4-2 on Sunday to keep pace in the American League wild-card race.
Texas Rangers’ Jake Burger, front right, and Josh Jung celebrate after scoring on a Burger home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jake Burger followed Josh Jung’s tiebreaking double with a two-run homer off Framber Valdez in the sixth inning, and the Texas Rangers beat the Houston Astros 4-2 on Sunday to keep pace in the American League wild-card race.
The Rangers (74-70) remained 1 1/2 games behind Seattle (75-58), which won at Atlanta, for the final AL wild-card spot. Texas is four games behind the AL West-leading Astros (78-66) with 18 games remaining.
With two outs and the bases empty in the sixth, Cody Freeman singled and scored from first on Jung’s liner into the gap in left-center field. Burger’s 14th homer went to the opposite field in right three pitches later.
Phil Maton (3-5) allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings, and Shawn Armstrong retired the last four Houston hitters for his seventh save.
Texas starter Patrick Corbin didn’t allow a hit until the fifth but quickly lost a 1-0 lead to start the sixth when Mauricio Dubón doubled and Jeremy Peña singled him home.
Valdez allowed five hits and four runs — three earned — with five strikeouts in seven innings.
Key moment
Maton struck out Carlos Correa with a run in and the go-ahead runner at third to end the top of the sixth.
Key stat
The Rangers took a 6-4 lead in the season series with their Texas rivals, who meet for the final time in the regular season Sept. 15-17 in Houston.
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