Brewers 6, Rangers 2: Milwaukee beats Max Scherzer for third time, sweeps Texas

ARLINGTON, Tex. – At 39 years of age, Max Scherzer remains one of the best starting pitchers in the major leagues.

But for whatever reason, and despite their offensive struggles overall, the Milwaukee Brewers have had his number this season.

Propelled by a third inning in which they forced the right-hander to throw 42 pitches, the Brewers chased Scherzer before he was able to complete four full frames and went on to sweep away the American League West Division-leading Texas Rangers by a score of 6-2 at Globe Life Field on Sunday afternoon.

The performance put the wraps on a memorable nine-game road trip that saw Milwaukee open with a sweep of the Chicago White Sox, then be swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers before putting away the Rangers with an impressive mix of offense and pitching.

"It's a new series," said Christian Yelich, referring to bouncing back after the Dodgers series. "You come here, reset and try to play as well as you can, which we did a really good job of. A long travel night coming from L.A. and then the two day games, guys did a really good job of regrouping and just playing really well for three days."

BOX SCORE: Brewers 6, Rangers 2

Tyrone Taylor was the hitting star with a double, triple, two runs batted in and three runs scored from the No. 9 spot in the lineup while starter Adrian Houser spun five solid innings in a solid follow-up to Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta.

With their victory, the Brewers improved to 3-0 this season against Scherzer, who dropped to 12-5 overall and suffered his first loss since being traded to Texas at the deadline.

"It's one of those baseball things," Yelich said. "Some things you just can't explain in baseball, and that's probably one of those. He's a great pitcher. I don't think anybody who sees that you're matching up with him says, 'Oh, good.'

"But when you face him, you've just got to do a really good job of battling and executing when you get chances, because you really don't get a ton of chances."

Brewers' patient approach pays off

Scherzer made relatively quick work of the Brewers in the first two innings, allowing only a free pass to Rowdy Tellez.

But the worm turned in the third, when Taylor and Mark Canha sandwiched one-out walks around a Yelich single. Carlos Santana struck out, then Willy Adames was hit near the head by a 96-mph fastball – a blow that ultimately didn't do any damage but also forced home the game's first run.

Tellez followed with another walk making it 2-0 and giving him his first run batted in since July 4.

Rookie Andruw Monasterio then worked a 10-pitch at-bat before finally popping out on Scherzer's 42nd pitch of the frame.

After Texas got a run back in the bottom of the third on a Corey Seager homer, Milwaukee got right back at Scherzer with consecutive two-out doubles by Taylor and Yelich – Taylor's was blooped down the right-field line and Yelich's was a rocket down the first-base line – that made it 3-1.

Scherzer was done at that point having thrown 99 pitches, a tremendous turn of events for the Brewers.

Adrian Houser was terrific

The right-hander allowed consecutive singles in the first inning, only to wriggle off the hook.

Then after a scoreless second, he allowed a one-out double immediately after the Seager homer only to record the next two outs and limit the damage to a run.

Texas never threatened again after that, and his day was done after five innings and 82 pitches. He was replaced by Trevor Megill.

Houser struck out seven – his second-highest total of the season – while allowing six hits and a walk in improving to 5-4.

As usual, his peripherals weren't outstanding, as he generated only six whiffs and topped out at 92.9 mph with his four-seamer. Nevertheless, he delivered exactly what the Brewers needed.

Tyrone Taylor finishes the job

After reaching base and scoring in each of his first two plate appearances, Taylor just missed a two-run homer to center in the sixth. It was the third well-struck ball of the series the Brewers saw die at the warning track.

No worries.

Set up by the third error of the day by Rangers third baseman Ezequiel Duran and then a bunt that Brice Turang legged out for a hit, Taylor came to the plate against former Brewer Will Smith and sent a soft fly ball down the right-field line that fell out of the reach of J.P. Martinez and rattled into the corner.

Both runners scored and Taylor wound up at third with his first triple of the season.

Then, two batters later, Carlos Santana stayed on a Smith offering and sent it back through the middle to score Taylor for the third time on the day and up Milwaukee's lead to 6-1.

Two ninth-inning errors forced manager Craig Counsell to call on closer Devin Williams, who recorded his 30th save on just three pitches as Yelich made a sliding catch in left to retire Nathaniel Lowe and send the best home team in the majors to its fourth straight loss on its home field.

Minor injury sidelines Sal Frelick

On a day rookie Sal Frelick would have likely been in the lineup he was instead held out after suffering a minor leg injury running out a ground ball in the fifth inning of Saturday's win.

"He tweaked his right hamstring a little bit yesterday," Counsell said. "We don't think it's serious. He's pretty comfortable today. But with the off day tomorrow, it's the place to just (rest him)."

Brewers schedule coming up

Monday – Off day.

Tuesday – Twins at Brewers, 7:10 p.m. Minnesota RHP Bailey Ober (6-6, 3.40) vs. Milwaukee LHP Wade Miley (6-3, 3.05). TV: Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers get better of Max Scherzer again as the sweep Rangers