ARLINGTON -- Between batting practice and first pitch on Sept. 3 at Globe Life Field, Rangers first baseman Jake Burger shaved his big bushy beard down to what he described as a “Kevin Youkilis” goatee.
Obviously for such a major cosmetic change, Burger had to check in with his wife, Ashlyn, who said she was OK with it, as long as it produced some home runs.
It took a few days, but the home runs followed the goatee. Burger launched a pair of homers on Sunday afternoon, helping to carry the Rangers’ to an 8-6 win over the Rays that secured a split of the four-game set at Globe Life Field.
It was the ninth multi-homer game of his career and the second of the season (April 13 @ Athletics).
After two unsuccessful comeback attempts this weekend against the Rays, Burger and Co. finally got over the hurdle. The Rays led 4-0 midway through the second inning and 5-1 midway through the fourth. But Texas kept chipping away, including four runs in the fourth and two in the fifth for some much-needed insurance.