1999 Results: March 18, 1999 (L: 7-2)[ Previous Game | Next Game ]
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1999 Results: March 18, 1999 (L: 7-2)
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Game Commentary
Game Photos
Box/Line Score
Game Recap
Rangers Media Notes
Commentary (by me)
Again, we're not on KRLD (grrr), so there's little to talk about (from my
standpoint, anyway) that is game specific. I did kind of watch the line score
developing off the sports ticker, and it was 1-0 for the longest time, I thought pitching
was doing well. Then I turn in and see a big 6 spot for the Twins.
Burkett was tagged for the loss, even though four of the Twin runs came off a slam against
Wetteland. Burkett did pretty good, pitching five innings and allowing only one run
and three hits. Kind of a shame then that he got tagged for the loss, as our runs
didn't come until after Wetteland allowed six friggin runs in one inning!
Wetteland isn't doing that great so far this spring. Of course, he's coming off a
surgery, so he has more of an excuse than some others who are struggling this spring.
We did have a couple of home runs by our guys (Mateo & Clayton), but that was all the offense. We also had another error today. I haven't actually sat down and counted them, but it really seems like we're making far more errors than we did last year, and last year wasn't that great. :( I know, I know, it's still Spring Training, but I still don't like to see them, anyway.
Other: Boy, Kerry Wood sure is taking a beating. Out all of 99, and could conceivably miss 2000 as well! Yikes!
Commentary (by Jim Meeks)
The Rangers came up losers 7-2 to Minnesota Thursday in the first game of a rare
spring doubleheader, ending a 5 game win team streak. I can only think of one other time
that the Rangers ever played a spring doubleheader and that was several years back.
This game was only played to a 7 inning conclusion, since travel by bus is the norm in the
spring, the Twins obviously didn't want the hassle of fighting alligators *and* old ladies
all night long on some God-forsaken Florida highway to Fort Myers (I can say that since I
live only 150 miles from Fort Myers). This game wasn't on radio anywhere, so you'll have
to forgive me if my accounts from the box score aren't very accurate. I got stuck
listening to the only all-AL Grapefruit game on the web today; Boston and Tampa Bay. It
was bad anough listening to those Beantown announcers yesterday and today I got a
second-helping. Oh well.
Rangers' starter John Burkett came up with a good outing, throwing 5 strong innings and
giving up just 1 run on 3 hits. This is his first good outing this spring and it's
without-a-doubt the strongest outing by a Rangers starter all spring.
Unfortunately, John Wetteland looks like he was shelled again. In his last 2 outings (2
IP) this spring, he's given up a hefty 12 runs on 11 hits and 2 homers. Makes me wonder if
his ankle and elbow really are ok. If they aren't, the Rangers will have another large
problem on their hands other than the disabilities of Mike Simms and Rafael Palmeiro.
Ruben Mateo continues to have an auspicious spring. In this game, the young Dominican went
1 for 1 with a homer and an RBI. In his last 5 games, Mateo is 5 for 9 with 2 homers, 2
doubles and 3 RBIs.
Rusty Greer had a couple of hits for the Rangers and Pudge Rodriguez had 2 as well,
including a double. Royce Clayton hit a HR in the final frame but also commited his third
error of the spring.
 |
||
| Juan Gonzalez striking out |
Line Score
GPFT FINAL (1ST GAME)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 1 0 0 0 0 6 0 7 8 0
TEXAS 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 7 1 FINAL IN 7
WP - MIKE LINCOLN (1-1)
LP - JOHN BURKETT (0-1)
HOME RUNS: MIN - COREY KOSKIE (2) OFF WETTELAND IN THE 6TH
TEX - ROYCE CLAYTON (1) OFF STENTZ IN THE 7TH
RUBEN MATEO (2) OFF STENTZ IN THE 7TH
TIME: 2:06
Box Score
MINNESOTA (7) AT TEXAS (2) (1ST GM) -- FINAL IN 7
MINNESOTA AB R H BI TEXAS AB R H BI
J JONES CF 4 1 2 0 T GOODWIN CF 3 0 0 0
ALLEN LF 4 1 2 0 MCLEMORE 2B 2 0 0 0
T WALKER 2B 2 1 0 1 MATEO RF 1 1 1 1
COOMER 3B 4 1 1 1 GREER LF 3 0 2 0
LAWTON RF 3 1 1 0 J GONZALEZ RF 3 0 0 0
STEINBACH C 2 1 0 0 HUBBARD C 0 0 0 0
MIENTKIEWICZ 1B 3 0 0 0 I RODRIGUEZ C 2 0 2 0
KOSKIE DH 3 1 1 4 ALICEA 2B 1 0 0 0
GUZMAN SS 3 0 1 0 L STEVENS 1B 2 0 0 0
ZEILE 3B 3 0 1 0
R KELLY DH 3 0 0 0
CLAYTON SS 2 1 1 1
TOTALS 28 7 8 6 TOTALS 25 2 7 2
MINNESOTA 100 006 0-- 7
TEXAS 000 000 2-- 2
E--CLAYTON. DP--TEXAS 1. LOB--MINNESOTA 4, TEXAS 9. 2B--J
JONES 2, I RODRIGUEZ, ALLEN. HR--KOSKIE (OFF WETTELAND),
CLAYTON (OFF STENTZ), MATEO (OFF STENTZ). CS--MCLEMORE.
S--T GOODWIN. SF--T WALKER.
IP H R ER BB SO HR
MINNESOTA
LINCOLN (W) 3 4 0 0 1 2 0
WELLS 2 1 0 0 2 1 0
STENTZ 2 2 2 2 2 1 2
TEXAS
BURKETT (L) 5 3 1 1 1 2 0
WETTELAND 1 5 6 5 1 0 1
CRABTREE 1 0 0 0 1 0 0
T--2:06.
PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA (TICKER) -- Corey Koskie hit a grand
slam off reliever John Wetteland to highlight a six-run sixth inning as the Minnesota
Twins beat the Texas Rangers, 7-2, in the first game of a spring doubleheader.
Koskie had 26 homers and 105 RBI for Triple-A Salt Lake last season and is expected to be
used at third base and designated hitter this year. His second homer of the spring
increased Minnesota's lead to 7-0.
Wetteland was charged with all six runs in the inning. He allowed five hits and walked
one.
Mike Lincoln (1-1) started for Minnesota and pitched three scoreless innings to earn the
win.
Texas' John Burkett (0-1) worked five innings and allowed one run and three hits.
Royce Clayton and Ruben Mateo hit solo homers in the seventh for the Rangers.