WASHINGTON — Evan Carter and Jake Burger each finished a triple short of the cycle as the Texas Rangers beat the slumping Washington Nationals 4-2 on Sunday.

The Texas Rangers started this reliever in a bullpen game and his otherwise excellent game was derailed by a potential injury in the fourth inning.

Alex Call had finally done it. In the eighth inning, he worked a walk — the only free pass the Washington Nationals would earn Saturday. The moment was worthy of a celebration, so Call flipped his bat and jogged to first base as Robert Hassell III moved into scoring position.

Michael Soroka struck out seven in six sparkling innings, and the Washington Nationals beat Patrick Corbin and the Texas Rangers 2-0.

A three-game series at home is one thing. A nine-game sample for Marcus Semien is quite another. Semien has been the Rangers' hottest hitter.

The Washington Nationals will try to break out of their offensive slump when they host the Texas Rangers in the rubber game of their series on Sunday.