Bullpen becoming formidable as playoffs near

ARLINGTON — The Rangers have right-handed relievers Tony Barnette and Jeremy Jeffress back and their bullpen is starting to come together as the postseason approaches.

Barnette, pitching for the first time since Sept. 4, pitched a scoreless sixth inning and ended up getting the win in the Rangers’ 6-4 victory over the Brewers on Tuesday night. Barnette had been sidelined for over three weeks with a strained oblique muscle in the left ribcage.

“I hadn’t thrown quite a while in a game, but I feel good,” Barnette said. “I feel normal and that’s what’s most important. That’s what I’m going to most take away from this. First and foremost we won the game, that was big. Every win counts at this point, even though we’ve already clinched.”

Barnette entered in the top of the sixth with the Rangers trailing, 4-3. He allowed a couple of singles and Carlos Beltran helped him with a terrific diving catch in right. But Barnette also struck out two, including Scooter Gennett with two on and two out to end the inning.

“He looked great,” catcher Jonathan Lucroy said of Barnette. “It looked like nothing was wrong. It looked like …

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