1999 Results: March 22, 1999 (L: 3-2)
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Commentary (by me)

A tough loss, but we did get pretty decent pitching again, which was nice to see.   I really hope that holds up over the course of the season.

Mark Clark is really starting to look like another good pickup for Doug Melvin - I thought that when we first got him, but it's nice to be seeing Clark prove that theory correct.  We're starting to become more focued, it seems, and that's good, I'd like to hit opening day with a good stride.

We pitched against Justin Thompson, someone I'd love to have here in Arlington, but unfortunately, he's the ace of Detroit, I don't see that ever happening.  :)   Actually, I traded for him on my computer baseball game (I love to play Hardball 6), so he's a Ranger in my mind.  :)

More errors (OK, only one) today.  It seems that every game that goes by has some sort of error, and it's starting to irk me.  We had a big problem with that in 97, and it didn't get a whole lot better in 98.  I hope we can get a lid on this soon.

Commentary (by Jim Meeks)

Ah, another spring weekday, another day without the Rangers on the radio. The Rangers lost a tough one on Monday 3-2 to the Detroit Tigers.

Despite the loss, the Rangers' pitching continues to improve. This is the 3rd straight ballgame that the Ranger hurlers have pitched well. Mark Clark gave up 3 runs in 5 innings, but it appears wasn't hit hard. He only walked one. His control has been excellent this spring - and throughout his career. He's a true control pitcher.

Juan Gonzalez just keeps hitting. Today he rapped out a couple of singles and drove in another 2 runs. Last year Gonzalez was in great shape and stayed off the disabled list. They say this year he's in even better shape. Perhaps being in such great shape will again keep him healthy all year.

Justin Thompson, the lefty who will be the opening day starter for Detroit when they meet the Rangers in two weeks, pitched well for Detroit. Let's hope the Rangers have his number when they meet again.

Photos

capt_rangers_tigers.jpg (16888 bytes) goodwin_juansamuel.jpg (17879 bytes)
Royce Clayton sliding into second Tom Goodwin with Tigers coach Juan Samuel

Box Score 

Line Score
GPFT  FINAL
                      1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                      -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
  TEXAS               0  0  0   0  2  0   0  0  0    2  7  1
  DETROIT             1  0  0   0  2  0   0  0  x    3  8  0   FINAL

                 WP - JUSTIN THOMPSON (2-1)
                 LP - MARK CLARK (2-1)
               SAVE - SEAN RUNYAN (1)

    HOME RUNS:  TEX - NONE
                DET - NONE

         TIME:   2:13              ATT:  5,122

Box Score
TEXAS (2) AT DETROIT (3)

 TEXAS           AB  R  H BI  DETROIT         AB  R  H BI
 MCLEMORE 2B      2  1  1  0  J ENCARNACION CF 4  1  3  1
 DRANSFELDT 2B    1  0  0  0  JEFFRIES DH      2  0  0  1
 CLAYTON SS       4  1  1  0  POLONIA PH       1  0  1  0
 ZYWICA RF        0  0  0  0  HIGGINSON RF     3  0  1  1
 GREER LF         4  0  0  0  KAPLER RF        0  0  0  0
 D GALLAGHER 1B   0  0  0  0  TO CLARK 1B      2  0  0  0
 J GONZALEZ DH    3  0  2  2  MCCARTY 1B       1  0  0  0
 MATEO PR         0  0  0  0  K GARCIA LF      3  0  0  0
 I RODRIGUEZ C    3  0  1  0  EASLEY 2B        2  0  0  0
 ZAUN C           1  0  0  0  MACIAS 2B        0  0  0  0
 ZEILE 3B         3  0  0  0  CATALANOTTO 3B   3  1  1  0
 SHAVE 3B         1  0  0  0  AUSMUS C         3  0  1  0
 R KELLY RF       3  0  1  0  CASANOVA C       0  0  0  0
 CUYLER LF        1  0  0  0  L GARCIA SS      3  1  1  0
 SHELDON 1B       2  0  0  0
 S GREEN CF       1  0  1  0
 T GOODWIN CF     3  0  0  0
 SASSER 3B        1  0  0  0
 TOTALS          33  2  7  2  TOTALS          27  3  8  3
 TEXAS                   000 020 000-- 2
 DETROIT                 100 020 00x-- 3
 E--R KELLY. DP--TEXAS 3, DETROIT 1. LOB--TEXAS 8, DETROIT
 4. 2B--J ENCARNACION 2. SB--MCLEMORE, KAPLER, CATALANOTTO.
 CS--S GREEN, POLONIA, HIGGINSON, MCCARTY. SF--JEFFRIES.
                                   IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR
  TEXAS
 M CLARK (L)                       5   6   3   3   1   2   0
 ZIMMERMAN                         2   1   0   0   0   1   0
 LEVINE                            1   1   0   0   1   1   0
  DETROIT
 J THOMPSON (W)                    5   6   2   2   2   3   0
 REED                              3   0   0   0   2   1   0
 RUNYAN (S)                        1   1   0   0   0   0   0
 HBP--TO CLARK BY ZIMMERMAN.
 T--2:13. A--5,122.

Game Recap

LAKELAND, FLORIDA (TICKER) -- Justin Thompson collected his second win of the spring and Juan Encarnacion sparked a decisive fifth inning with one of his three hits as the Detroit Tigers edged the Texas Rangers, 3-2.

Thompson pitched four scoreless innings before allowing two runs in the fifth. He gave up six hits while walking two and striking out three.

Encarnacion went 3-for-4 with an RBI double in the fifth, scoring Frank Catalanotto to tie it 2-2. Later in the inning, Gregg Jefferies' sacrifice fly plated Karim Garcia with the decisive run.

Sean Runyan tossed a scoreless ninth for the save as the Tigers evened their exhibition record at 10-10.

Mark Clark suffered the loss, giving up three runs and six hits with a walk and two strikeouts over five innings.

Juan Gonzalez had two hits, including a two-run single off Thompson in the fifth.