Brewers 6, Rangers 1: Willy Adames powers the offense with another big game at the plate

ARLINGTON, Tex. -- Willy Adames has rediscovered his stroke -- and not a moment too soon for the Milwaukee Brewers.

The shortstop collected four more hits, including a home run, and reached base five times overall to fuel another strong offensive performance in a 6-1 victory over the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Saturday afternoon.

It was the second straight win in the series for the Brewers and the second straight game of three or more hits for Adames, who's raised his batting average 12 points since Milwaukee was swept in Los Angeles.

"We need production from everybody, and when guys can take turns picking each other up, that's a big thing," said manager Craig Counsell. "Guys like Christian (Yelich) and William (Contreras) have been our driving force all year, and for Willy to pick those guys up and have a big day, that's great."

Carlos Santana also homered for the second consecutive game as Milwaukee pounded out 15 hits -- one shy of tying a season high. Santana, Sal Frelick, Mark Canha and Tyrone Taylor also had two hits apiece.

Through the first two games of the series, the Brewers have racked up 29 hits. It marks the first time since Aug. 11-12, 2021, against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field they have recorded 14 or more hits in consecutive games.

"I guess it's because we didn't have any in LA -- we saved them all," joked Adames. "It was a tough series in LA, so we knew we had to play better baseball and I think that's what we've done here the first two games."

Also not to be overshadowed was a third 18-strikeout performance by Milwaukee's pitching staff this season. That ties a franchise record for a nine-inning game and had been last accomplished July 26 against the Cincinnati Reds.

"It's a good lineup," Counsell said. "If you're striking out 18 against the Rangers, you're pitching really, really well."

Santana comes through once again

A day after his three-run homer proved to be the difference in a nailbiting 9-8 victory over the Rangers, Santana got the Brewers out in front with a solo shot off Dane Dunning three batters into the game.

The homer was Santana's sixth since joining the Brewers, and his fourth in the last six games.

"Our lineup doesn't have a lot of big power in it right now," said Counsell. "So the addition of Carlos for that easy score of the home run matters, right? First inning, two outs, nobody on and we still score. The home run is still the easiest way to score, with one swing of the bat, and Carlos has provided that since he's been here."

Santana also scored the second run of the game as he drew a two-out walk from Dunning in the third, advanced to second on a bunt single by Frelick and then was driven in by an Adames single.

One inning aside, Freddy Peralta was terrific

Staked to that early lead, the right-handed Freddy Peralta struck out five of the first six hitters he faced before running into trouble in the third.

An assortment of bad luck and a loss of command allowed the Rangers to plate a run, making it 2-1, and then to load the bases with two outs before Peralta recovered to get Adolis García to foul out on his 39th pitch of the frame.

"We had Bryse Wilson getting ready to go," Counsell said. "They did a nice job of making it tough. He was so locked in early and frankly, locked in after that, too. They made him work; credit to them. But he stuck to it and gutted through it and it's a one-run inning despite having to work so hard."

Peralta struck out two more in both the fourth and fifth to reach 10 for the game -- the fifth time he's done so this season and 11th time in his career. He finished an out shy of recording his 14th quality start when he was pulled in favor of Hoby Milner after throwing his career-high-tying 109th pitch.

"I knew I was a little deep in the pitch count," said Peralta, who had 20-plus swings and misses (22) for the fifth time this year. "I asked Couns if he'd let me go out there and try to get outs in the sixth, he let me go out there and I feel good about it."

The victory was Peralta's fourth for the month as he improved to 10-8 on the season. The 10 wins tie a career high set in 2021.

"I feel that I'm doing the same thing and feeling the same way, if I'm being honest with you guys," he said. "It's baseball, and there are some things you cannot control like early in the season. But now, everything is going my way and I'll take everything that comes for me."

Adames stays red-hot

Adames singled in each of his first two at-bats Saturday before opening the sixth with a homer to right-center -- his first since Aug. 9 and a shot that ultimately knocked Dunning from the game.

Milwaukee wasn't finished, however, as Canha delivered a pinch-hit double off left-hander Martín Pérez. Andruw Monasterio followed with a single to left that scored Canha, upping the advantage to 4-1.

Consecutive doubles by William Contreras and Santana to start the seventh made it a 5-1 game, then Adames singled again in the ninth as part of a two-out, run-scoring rally.

The four hits tied a career high first set June 23 at Cleveland.

Adames entered the series with his batting average barely over the Mendoza Line at .201 and with a total of eight hits in his first 13 games in August. At the end of the game it sat at .213, a trend both player and team obviously hope continues.

"Amazing," is how Adames has described his time so far in Texas. "It's been tough, but thank God the past two days I've been feeling better, and hopefully we can continue to contribute to the team and win games."

All four of the hits by Adames came with two strikes, another good sign.

"It's an amazing sign," said Adames. "It means I'm not chasing a lot and I'm getting more confident at the plate."

Brewers schedule coming up

Sunday -- Milwaukee RHP Adrian Houser (4-4, 4.43) vs. Texas RHP Max Scherzer (12-4, 3.67). TV: Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.

More: Rowdy Tellez returns from IL, but Carlos Santana will remain Brewers' primary first baseman

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers 6, Rangers 1: Willy Adames powers the offense with four hits