Is Jake Burger back? Rangers 1B leads walk-off win after spending weekend on the bench

TL;DR

Jake Burger led the Texas Rangers to a 6-5 walk-off victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, hitting a go-ahead home run and a game-tying single. This performance comes after he was benched over a slump, highlighting his importance to the team's lineup.

Key points

Jake Burger hit a go-ahead home run and a game-tying single.
The Rangers won 6-5 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Burger was benched due to a slump before this game.
Danny Jansen hit the walk-off single to secure the win.
Manager Skip Schumaker emphasized Burger's importance to the lineup.

Texas RangersArizona Diamondbacks

Texas Rangers Ezequiel Duran (left), Jake Burger (21) and Josh Jung (6) mob Danny Jansen (9) after Jansen hit a walk-off single to win the game in the bottom of the ninth inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington, May 12, 2026. The Rangers won 6-5 over the Arizona Diamondbacks. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News) ARLINGTON — Rangers manager Skip Schumaker believed that first baseman Jake Burger was only "a hit or two away from getting extremely hot and carrying a team" when he benched their once-cleanup hitter amid a ghastly slump this weekend. A hit, or two, might've been dead on. Burger, in a 6-5 walk-off win vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks at Globe Life Field, hit a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning and a game-tying single in the ninth inning to plate half of the club's runs in a game-tying win. His ninth-inning single off Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Paul Sewald set catcher Danny Jansen up for a walk-off single in the next at-bat. "We need him," Schumaker said of Burger. "Middle of the lineup, bottom of the lineup lately, and he's provided some huge runs and runs batted in." Texas Rangers catcher Danny Jansen (9) is congratulated on his walk-off single by winning pitcher (44) during the bottom of the ninth inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington, May 12, 2026. The Rangers walked it off with a 6-5 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News) The Rangers needed a rally after their usually reliable bullpen had an uncharacteristic night. Left-handed pitcher , who'd thrown in back-to-back games after rookie right-hander Gavin Collyer created a ninth-inning mess in Tuesday's win that forced him into action, allowed a leadoff double to right fielder . The speedy outfielder advanced to third base on a wild pitch, and after shortstop walked, scored on a double from third baseman to tie the game. First baseman drove in two more runs with a single in the next at-bat to give the Diamondbacks a 5-3 lead and chase Latz from the game. The 30-year-old rotation candidate-turned-closer hadn't allowed a run since the Rangers shifted him into the highest-leverage bullpen role nearly two weeks ago. The collective relief staff had been stellar, too, before the trio of right-hander , left-hander and Latz combined to allow five runs in the series finale. Winn allowed a run to score off a pair of doubles in the sixth inning, and Beeks was charged with a run after he loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. The Rangers were a collective 0 for 12 outside of center fielder 's two singles before Burger whacked a go-ahead, three-run home run in the fifth inning. Carter led that inning off with a single, left fielder Alejandro Osuna was hit by a pitch on the elbow in the next at-bat and Burger sent right-handed pitcher 's middle-middle sinker into the right field seats. Burger sat the last two games of the team's weekend series vs. the after he'd slashed just .178/.215/.307 in the month that preceded it. He went hitless with a strikeout in Monday's series opener vs. the Diamondbacks, totaled three hits and drove in a pair of runs in Tuesday's win and provided the only significant source of offense in Wednesday's loss. "I felt really close Game 1 of this series," Burger said. "I'm just kind of putting it together."

Q&A

What did Jake Burger do in the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks?

Jake Burger hit a go-ahead home run and a game-tying single, contributing significantly to the Rangers' 6-5 walk-off win.

Why was Jake Burger benched before the game?

Jake Burger was benched due to a slump, having slashed just .178/.215/.307 in the month prior to the game.

How did the Texas Rangers win the game against the Diamondbacks?

The Rangers won the game with a walk-off single by Danny Jansen after Burger's ninth-inning single tied the game.

What does Jake Burger's performance mean for the Rangers' lineup?

Burger's performance is crucial as he has been a key contributor to the team's offense, and manager Skip Schumaker believes he can carry the team with a few hits.