ARLINGTON – Jake Burger picked the perfect night to wake up.

The Texas Rangers first baseman entered Friday batting just .150 in July, but he delivered the biggest swings in a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field. Burger blasted a two-run homer, added the go-ahead single and helped Texas open a four-game AL West showdown with a statement victory.

The Rangers improved to 52-51 and pushed their division lead over Seattle to 1½ games. The Mariners fell to 51-53 after letting multiple opportunities slip away.

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Burger’s home run came in the fourth inning against Bryce Miller and barely cleared the wall in right field. It didn’t matter how far it traveled. The two-run shot erased a Seattle lead and gave Burger his team-leading 18th homer of the season.

He wasn’t finished.

With the game tied in the sixth, Burger jumped on the first pitch from Eduard Bazardo and sent it back through the middle, scoring Brandon Nimmo and putting Texas ahead 4-3. The Rangers added another run when Nicky Lopez dropped a bunt in front of the plate and Bazardo’s rushed throw sailed high off catcher Cal Raleigh’s glove, allowing Evan Carter to score.

That insurance run became essential.

Seattle cut the deficit in the ninth against Jacob Latz, but the Rangers closer held on for his 20th save in 22 opportunities. Peyton Gray worked a scoreless sixth and improved to 5-0.

Burger now leads Texas with 64 RBIs, and his timing couldn’t have been better. The Rangers have needed another consistent power threat, and Friday offered a reminder of how dangerous their lineup can look when Burger is locked in.

Wyatt Langford also provided an early spark. One pitch after fouling a ball off his left foot and limping away from the batter’s box, Langford launched a first-inning home run to left field for a 1-0 lead.

That’s one way to answer the pain.

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MacKenzie Gore allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks across five innings. Miller was charged with five runs in 5⅓ frames for Seattle.

Joc Pederson also collected the 1,000th hit of his career, adding another milestone to a night Texas badly needed.

The Rangers didn’t dominate. They survived a tense, messy divisional fight.

In late July, that’s sometimes even better.