Former Brewers abound in Rangers’ dugout

ARLINGTON — How did Carlos Gomez salvage his season after leaving the Astros for the Rangers? It helped that he walked into a new clubhouse full of familiar faces.

They’re the Texas Brewers, or the Milwaukee Rangers if you like. Gomez joined a Texas team with three former teammates from his years in Milwaukee, including two from the 2011 Brewers club that came within two victories of the World Series. Prince Fielder, Jonathan Lucroy and Jeremy Jeffress made Gomez feel comfortable from the “Go-Go.”

“It’s like coming back home again,” Gomez said.

Gomez’s old team visited his new one beginning Monday, when the Brewers and Rangers began a three-game Interleague series at Globe Life Park. Even without Fielder in the house — he succumbed to a career-ending neck injury earlier this summer — the connections abounded. Besides the three former Brewers active for Texas, Milwaukee starter Matt Garza pitched for the Rangers in the second half of 2013 before signing a four-year, $50 million contract with the Brewers. Milwaukee reliever Corey Knebel was also briefly with the Rangers before they traded him to the Brewers in the Jan. 19, 2015, deal for Yovani Gallardo.

The most recent ties between the teams belonged to Lucroy and Jeffress, who were dealt at the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline for three top prospects. Jeffress was available in the Rangers’ bullpen on Monday for the first time since returning from a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility following an arrest for driving under the …

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