Duran Delivers Three RBIs as Rangers Outlast Brewers in Milwaukee

The Texas Rangers came to Milwaukee on Sunday and did what good baseball teams do against struggling pitching: they capitalized. Dustin May was absolutely dreadful for the Brewers, surrendering four runs on six hits in just 4.1 innings, and the Rangers’ veterans took full advantage of the early wildness to build a lead they’d never relinquish in a 7-4 victory at American Family Field.

Ezequiel Duran was the star of this affair, and frankly, it wasn’t even close. The Rangers’ infielder went 2-for-5 with a solo homer in the third and a critical two-run double in the fifth that essentially put the game out of reach. Three RBIs on Sunday might not sound like a massive performance, but in a game decided by three runs, Duran’s bat was the difference between victory and defeat. This is what separates contenders from pretenders in August: the ability to execute when the opposing pitcher loses the strike zone.

Joc Pederson added a solo shot in the sixth, continuing his steady production from the right side. For a Rangers team that’s been piecing together enough offense to win games all season, having a reliable veteran like Pederson in the lineup makes a tangible difference. Meanwhile, Cody Freeman and Jake Burger chipped in with clutch RBI singles later in the game, showing the Rangers had multiple threats the Brewers couldn’t shut down.

May’s Early Collapse Sets Tone

Dustin May’s outing was the real story here, and not in a good way for Milwaukee. Walking three batters and allowing runners in scoring position early is a recipe for disaster against a lineup capable of manufacturing runs. The Brewers’ rotation has been inconsistent all season, and May’s performance on Sunday is precisely why the organization should be concerned heading into September. When you’re a playoff contender, you need your starting pitchers to eat innings and keep the game close. May did neither.

The Brewers did strike first, scoring twice in the bottom of the first on a pair of singles from Jake Bauers and Jackson Chourio. That early advantage meant nothing, though, because the Rangers methodically built their own lead and simply had better execution in crucial moments.

Rangers’ Pitching Holds Course

Credit the Rangers’ pitching as well. Tyler Alexander came out of the bullpen and worked two perfect innings, and Jacob Latz closed out the ninth without incident for the save. This is what separates winning teams from losing teams in August: the ability to get shutdown performances from your secondary guys when your starter gets knocked around early.

Gary Sanchez provided a late comeback bid for Milwaukee with a two-run homer in the seventh, bringing his career total to 200, a nice personal milestone that meant little in the context of a losing effort. Sometimes individual achievements feel hollow when they come in defeat, and that’s exactly what happened here.

The Rangers head home having stolen a game in Milwaukee. Good teams find ways to win when the opposing starter falls apart, and that’s exactly what Skip Schumaker’s club did on Sunday. The Brewers had their chance and squandered it. That’s baseball in late August.