1999 Results: Apr 1, 1999 (W: 6-4)
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Commentary (by me)

I'm out on vacation, and found 10 minutes to update this page - no commentary from me today.  However, I am going to the game at the Ballpark tonight (Friday 4/2).   Should be fun!

Commentary (by Jim Meeks)

The Rangers beat the Red 6-4 to close out their Grapefruit portion of the exhibition season Thursday, but more importantly, they got some great news from the rehab department.

John Wetteland, who's been shelved for most of the spring with a bum ankle, started the game for Texas and pitched one scoreless inning. I have no idea how good his velocity was or anything, since the game with AWOL as far as radio goes, but the Rangers obviously had him facing the top of the Cincy lineup for a purpose - a test. It appears as though he's passed it. He's pitched on consecutive days (yesterday, he pitched an inning in a minor league game). This is tremendous news for the Rangers.

The good news didn't stop there. Rafael Palmeiro, down with 2 seperate knee injuries all spring, made his Grapefruit League debut Thursday and hit a home run, serving as the DH. While he's not running at 100%, he says in two weeks he thinks he will be running full speed. Batting fifth, it's his bat that the Rangers froth over, not his speed.

Aaron Sele pitched decently for Texas. All in all, he's had an acceptable spring training - much like Rick Helling, Mark Clark and John Burkett. Nothing to write home about, but with this Texas offense, you don't have to be Cy Young, you just have to be Mike Young.

It was good news day all around in camp and with the final two exhibitions switching to Arlington, the entire team must be pretty excited about the health of Wetteland and Palmeiro.

The final roster spots are still on the table...who will be the utilty infielder? Will Ruben Mateo make the team or will Melvin insist he be sent to AAA? Will Johnny Oates take Zimmerman over Mike Munoz or perhaps Eric Gunderson in the bullpen? We'll soon find out. Opening Day is just 4 days away!

Photos

040199_1.jpg (13238 bytes) 040199_3.jpg (21015 bytes) 040199_3.jpg (21015 bytes)
Raffy hits a home run.. ..and then celebrates John Wetteland pitching

Box Score 

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

                 WP - AARON SELE (3-2)
                 LP - DANNY GRAVES (0-2)
               SAVE - JEFF ZIMMERMAN (1)

    HOME RUNS:  CIN - DMITRI YOUNG (2) OFF SELE IN THE 4TH
                TEX - RAFAEL PALMEIRO (1) OFF GRAVES IN THE 8TH

         TIME:   2:05              ATT:  2,109


Box Score
CINCINNATI (4) AT TEXAS (6)

  CINCINNATI      AB  R  H BI  TEXAS           AB  R  H BI
  HAMMONDS CF      4  0  0  0  T GOODWIN CF     2  1  1  2
  B LARKIN SS      3  1  2  1  S GREEN CF       3  0  0  0
  BRANSON SS       1  0  0  0  MCLEMORE 2B      2  0  2  1
  MORRIS 1B        4  0  1  1  ALICEA 2B        2  1  1  0
  VAUGHN DH        1  0  0  0  GREER LF         2  0  0  0
  SWEENEY DH       2  1  1  0  MATEO RF         0  0  0  0
  CASEY PH         1  0  0  0  J GONZALEZ RF    2  0  1  0
  D YOUNG RF       3  1  2  2  ZAUN C           2  0  1  1
  CAMERON CF       1  0  0  0  PALMEIRO DH      3  1  1  1
  TAUBENSEE C      4  0  1  0  I RODRIGUEZ C    2  1  0  0
  TUCKER LF        3  0  0  0  BOURNIGAL SS     2  0  0  0
  C BAERGA 2B      1  0  0  0  L STEVENS 1B     2  0  0  0
  M LEWIS 3B       3  1  1  0  SHAVE 3B         2  1  1  0
  STYNES LF        1  0  0  0  ZEILE 3B         2  0  0  0
  REESE 2B         3  0  1  0  SHELDON 1B       2  0  0  0
  A BOONE 3B       1  0  0  0  CLAYTON SS       1  1  0  0
                               CUYLER LF        2  0  1  1
  TOTALS          36  4  9  4  TOTALS          33  6  9  6
  CINCINNATI              000 310 000-- 4
  TEXAS                   030 010 02x-- 6
  E--ALICEA, SWEENEY. DP--CINCINNATI 1, TEXAS 1.
  LOB--CINCINNATI 5, TEXAS 7. 2B--T GOODWIN, SWEENEY,
  CUYLER. HR--D YOUNG (OFF SELE), PALMEIRO (OFF GRAVES).
  SB--I RODRIGUEZ.
                                    IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR
   CINCINNATI
  BERE                              5   6   4   1   3   2   0
  D REYES                           2   0   0   0   1   2   0
  GRAVES (L)                        1   3   2   2   0   0   1
   TEXAS
  WETTELAND                         1   0   0   0   0   1   0
  SELE (W)                          7   8   4   4   0   4   1
  ZIMMERMAN (S)                     1   1   0   0   0   3   0
  T--2:05. A--2,109.

Game Recap

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA (TICKER) -- Rafael Palmeiro made his first appearance of the spring and led off the eighth inning with a tie-breaking home run in the Texas Rangers' 6-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Palmeiro, recovering from knee surgery, gave Texas a 5-4 lead with his shot off loser Danny Graves. He was 1-for-3 with a walk as the designated hitter.

Milt Cuyler added an insurance run in the eighth with an RBI triple.

Texas closer John Wetteland, bothered by a right ankle injury, started and pitched a scoreless inning in his first game action since March 18. Aaron Sele pitched up the win by yielding four runs and eight hits in seven innings. Sele struck out four and walked none.

Jeff Zimmerman tossed a scoreless ninth for the save.

Tom Goodwin's two-run triple helped the Rangers to a 3-0 lead in the third but Dmitri Young helped the Reds tie it in the fourth with a two-run homer.