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.

Texas has done all it can to get the offense going short of pushing a button and blowing it up. But games like Saturday’s 5-0 win over the Washington Nationals remind him of something else, something so frustratingly simple that it may end up defining whether Texas makes the playoffs or not.

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy may be leaving after this season. If that happens, the team has a candidate to replace him.

Rangers second. Marcus Semien singles to shortstop. Josh Jung flies out to deep right field to Alex Call. Evan Carter homers to right field. Marcus Semien scores. Jake Burger doubles to deep

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 tussle with the New York Mets Tuesday in the opener of a 3-game series at Citi Field.