ARLINGTON -- “Go Go Power Rangers” -- the theme song to the 90s hit show Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers -- echoed throughout Globe Life Field as the Rangers defense went back out to take the field for the third inning.
Power was exactly what the Rangers needed. It was provided in full force.
Entering Monday, Mariners starter George Kirby had allowed just 12 runs (11 earned) to the Rangers in 12 career starts across 74 1/3 innings. He had only allowed four home runs during his reign of terror.
Through three innings against Kirby on Monday, three Rangers had taken him deep for four home runs to double that total: Joc Pederson twice, with Ezequiel Duran and Jake Burger adding their own as Texas rolled to a 7-3 win over Seattle. They took three of four in the series.
“I think it's just the mentality of this clubhouse before we went into it,” Burger said postgame. “We didn't want to split the series. We wanted to take three, if not four. I think yesterday [a 6-4 loss] left a bad taste in our mouths. We came in here and took care of business.
“I think we looked at the series as if we split it, it was a failure. … I think we showed what type of team we can be.”
It’s telling that all the runs were produced by a trio of Rangers that desperately needed a bounce-back season.
Pederson slashed just .181/.285/.328 with a .613 OPS and nine home runs in 96 games in his first season with Texas in 2025. Duran broke out in 2023, when he hit .308/.344/.526 before the All-Star break in 2023 in place of an injured Corey Seager. He hasn’t been much of a factor in the Rangers' lineup since, slashing .237/.278/.309 with a 73 OPS+ in 182 games in 2024-25. Burger, known for his thump, had just a .688 OPS in his first season with Texas as well.
All three have meaningfully contributed to the Rangers' successes this season as they fight for pole position in the American League West.
“Joc, since moving into the leadoff spot, he's been as good as anybody in the league in the leadoff spot,” said Rangers manager Skip Schumaker. “This is the Joc that we all remembered. Zeke Duran, I don't know what else to say. He's an everyday player. It's been awesome. And Burger, he lives for the moments.
“To me this is who they are. It was more an outlier year last year with their tough years. I think this is who they are more in their career than maybe last year.
With Monday’s win, the Rangers secure a series victory over the Mariners and finish 6-1 against them at Globe Life Field. They're now 7-3 against them this season, clinching a season series victory for just the second time this decade (9-4 in 2023).
The Rangers extended their division lead over the Mariners to 2 1/2 games.
The club now goes on its most important road trip to this point in the season -- including three in St. Petersburg vs. the Rays (first place in the AL East) and three in Houston (tied for second place in the AL West) -- before the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline.
“It's huge,” Pederson said. “Every win matters, but I think the ones right before the Deadline, there's always a little more stress or attention, especially in a situation where you could go either way. But I think we put ourselves in a good spot. We’ve got to continue to play like that.
“Like you said, there's a long way to go, but it was a huge serious win. Felt like [we rose to the occasion]. I think really we put ourselves in position to win all four. Obviously, it's a good team. They came back and won one of them. But anytime you go 3-1, I think you answered the call and rose to the occasion.”