Game 10: Apr 15, 1999 (W: 4-3)[ Previous Game | Next Game ]
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Game 10: Apr 15, 1999 (W: 4-3)
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Game Commentary
Game Photos
Box/Line Score
Game Recap
Game Log
Commentary (by me)
A short commentary today, as I'm kinda busy today at work again. I will
say this. Wow - where was this pitching hiding? After the score
got tied 3-3, the Rangers retired everyone - 20 in a row! Crabtree looked
awesome, as did the other guys, but Crabby got Jay Buhner to strike out swinging on all
three pitches, and Wetteland was awesome too! Now, if Helling can keep this
up, his ERA might come down out of the stratosphere some more. It was a real
shame he didn't get the win - he really deserved it!
Also, Alicea & Kelly looked awesome again. These guys both signed two year contracts before the 98 season - both of their contracts are up after this season. I really hope we can sign both of them again - I like both these guys!
Commentary (by Jim Meeks)
Put away the hound dogs, cancel the call to the FBI and dim the scanning search
lights; Rick Helling has been found and he's alive and well in Seattle, Washington.
Rick Helling went 8 very strong innings Thursday, in what was by far his best outing of
the year. He gave up just 3 runs on 5 hits and no walks, although one of the hits was a
home run.
Exactly how good was Rick Helling? Well, for starters, his ERA dropped almost 5 full
runs. His curveball, which has seemed to be missing longer than Jimmy Hoffa, was very
visable Thursday afternoon in Seattle. He threw nine groundballs and had 4 strikeouts and
you can't even compare those numbers to his first 2 starts, when everything he threw
seemed to be belted deep in the air by the opposition.
The Rangers' bullpen combo of Tim Crabtree and John Wetteland - both throwing in the mid
90's, simply came in and shut the door on the beleaguered Mariners in the 9th and 10th
innings. Seattle has no bullpen at all and I'm beginning to wonder if Lou Piniella will
last another 25 games as manager there.
The Rangers won the game in in the 10th inning, 4-3. The star offensively was their
diminuative 2nd baseman Luis Alicea, subbing for the weak-knees of Mark McLemore. Alicea
went 3 for 5 with 2 ribbies, including the go-ahead RBI in the 10th.
I really like seeing both Alicea and Roberto Kelly in the lineup together. Kelly has hit
so well this year that he saw his batting average drop almost .100 points even
though he went 2 for 5.
Juan Gonzalez continues to leave runners in scoring position with less than 2 outs. As Joe
pointed out yesterday, he just isn't doing the job offensively at the moment.
The Rangers got some very good news out of Florida, as Mike Simms began his Minor League
rehab, going 2-2 with 2 walks for Charlotte of the Florida State League. The Rangers
expect Simms back with the ballclub as early as the next homestand.
The best news of the evening though came from that old, familiar face, "Bulldog"
Helling...who's certain demise has been greatly exaggerated.
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| Roberto Kelly doubles in the first inning | Luis Alicea scores on the double by Kelly | Royce Clayton steals second base in the third | Roberto Kelly chasing down a double | Mariners starter Jeff Fassero |
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| Luis Alicea hitting the winning double in the 10th inning | Pudge congratulating John Wetteland after the game was completed |
Line Score
AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
TEXAS 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEATTLE 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
10 R H E
-- - - -
TEXAS 1 4 9 0
SEATTLE 0 3 5 0 (FINAL 10)
BATTERIES: TEX - RICK HELLING, TIM CRABTREE (9TH), JOHN
WETTELAND (10TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ
SEA - JEFF FASSERO, JOHN HALAMA (9TH) AND TOM
LAMPKIN
WP - TIM CRABTREE (1-0)
LP - JOHN HALAMA (0-1)
SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (4)
HOME RUNS: TEX - NONE
SEA - DAVID BELL (3) OFF HELLING IN THE 3RD, 1 ON
TIME: 2:43 ATT: 22,145
PROBABLES: TEX - AARON SELE (2-0, 0.71)
OAK - TOM CANDIOTTI (0-2, 9.72)
SEA - JAMIE MOYER (1-1, 9.23)
ANA - TIM BELCHER (0-1, 12.28)
Box Score
TEXAS (4) AT SEATTLE (3) - FINAL IN 10 INNINGS
TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Alicea 2b 5 2 3 2 0 0 0 .250
R Kelly cf 5 0 2 1 0 0 1 .556
Shave 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .353
Greer lf 5 0 1 1 0 1 2 .359
J Gonzalez rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .268
R Palmeiro dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .241
I Rodriguez c 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .333
Zeile 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .333
L Stevens 1b 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 .361
T Goodwin pr-cf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .258
Clayton ss 3 1 1 0 0 1 2 .190
Totals 36 4 9 4 2 5 10
BATTING: 2B - R Kelly (2, Fassero); Greer (5, Fassero); Alicea
(1, Halama). S - Clayton. RBI - R Kelly (4), Alicea 2 (3), Greer (10).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Palmeiro 2, Greer 1.
Team LOB - 5.
BASERUNNING: SB - Clayton (2, 2nd base off Fassero/Lampkin).
CS - I Rodriguez (1, 2nd base by Fassero).
SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Da Bell 2b 4 1 1 2 0 1 0 .194
Mabry cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .214
Segui 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
E Martinez dh 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .333
Buhner rf 4 0 0 0 0 3 1 .200
B Huskey lf 4 0 2 1 0 1 0 .458
R Davis 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .270
Lampkin c 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .385
G Guevara ss 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 .300
a-Ibanez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
D Cedeno ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
Totals 35 3 5 3 0 7 5
a-grounded to first for G Guevara in the 8th.
BATTING: 2B - B Huskey (5, Helling). HR - Da Bell (3, 3rd inning
off Helling 1 on, 1 out). RBI - Da Bell 2 (6), B Huskey (5).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Lampkin 1. Team LOB - 2.
TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
Helling 8 5 3 3 0 4 1 8.59
Crabtree (W, 1-0) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.79
Wetteland (S, 4) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.86
SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
Fassero 8 7 3 3 2 4 0 7.50
Halama (L, 0-1) 2 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.18
Pitches-strikes: Fassero 116-66; Halama 20-14; Helling 124-80;
Crabtree 13-8; Wetteland 13-10. Ground balls-fly balls: Fassero
10-8; Halama 4-1; Helling 9-11; Crabtree 1-1; Wetteland 0-1.
Batters faced: Fassero 31; Halama 8; Helling 29; Crabtree 3;
Wetteland 3.
UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--Larry Barnett. 2B--Greg Kosc.
3B--Dan Morrison.
T--2:43. Att--22,145. Indoors.
AL TEXAS AT SEATTLE
NOTE: SEATTLE'S KEN GRIFFEY JR. IS NOT IN THE STARTING LINEUP
DUE TO THE STOMACH FLU. HE IS AVAILABLE TO PINCH HIT.
Game Recap
SEATTLE (TICKER) -- Luis Alicea doubled home the go-ahead run with one out in the
top of the 10th inning as the Texas Rangers swept a series at the Kingdome for the first
time in more than seven years with a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
Lee Stevens led off the 10th with a single off John Halama (0-1). Tom Goodwin ran for
Stevens and was sacrificed to second by Royce Clayton before Alicea lined the next pitch
into right-center field gap to put the Rangers ahead.
"I was just trying to stay with the pitch, trying hit the ball up the middle
somewhere," Alicea said. "It's a win situation because everybody likes to be the
hero. You think about all the good things that could happen if you come through."
Alicea went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored for the Rangers, who completed their
first sweep at Seattle since taking three games from September 23-25, 1991.
Tim Crabtree (1-0) tossed a scoreless inning in relief of starter Rick Helling to earn the
win and John Wetteland worked a perfect 10th for his fourth save in as many chances.
David Bell belted a two-run homer for the Mariners, who concluded a season-opening 4-6
homestand.
Seattle played without Ken Griffey Jr., who missed the game with a stomach ailment.
It looked like it was going to be another long night for the Seattle pitching staff in the
first inning. Alicea led off with a single and former Mariner Roberto Kelly doubled him
home.
The Rangers pounded out 36 hits and scored 24 runs in winning the first two games of the
series.
Texas extended its lead to 3-0 two innings later. Clayton led off with a single, stole
second and came home on a single by Alicea, who scored on Rusty Greer's double.
Seattle starter Jeff Fassero settled down after the third inning. He went eight innings
and allowed three runs and seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts. In two previous
outings this season -- both losses -- the lefthander was hammered for 12 runs and 18 hits
in 10 innings.
"I felt good out there today, closer to back where I want to be," Fassero said.
"I got the ball in and out good and that helps, moved the ball around and hit my
spots. I got the ball in to guys today without leaving it out over the plate and that's a
big key. That's what I haven't been doing."
The Mariners got back two runs in the bottom of the inning against starter Rick Helling.
Tom Lampkin started things with a single and Bell hit his third homer one out later,
bringing Seattle within 3-2.
Seattle got even in the fourth. Edgar Martinez led off with a double and scored one out
later on Butch Huskey's double to the gap in left-center field.
After Huskey's double, Helling resembled the pitcher who won 20 games last season as he
retired the final 14 batters he faced. He went eight innings, yielding three runs and five
hits with four strikeouts and no walks.
Like Fassero, Helling also struggled in losing his first two starts. Before today, the
righthander was torched for 13 runs -- 11 earned -- and 16 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
"I felt like I was aggressive today," Helling said. "My breaking ball got a
little better after the third inning. I felt like I made an adjustment on it. I didn't
throw it for strikes a whole lot but it was a lot sharper. I think it became a
factor."
Game Log
Texas Starting Lineups -- Luis Alicea 2B, Roberto Kelly CF, Rusty Greer LF, Juan
Gonzalez RF, Rafael Palmeiro DH, Ivan Rodriguez C, Todd Zeile 3B, Lee Stevens 1B, Royce
Clayton SS, Rick Helling RHP.
Seattle Starting Lineups -- David Bell 2B, John Mabry CF, David Segui 1B, Edgar Martinez
DH, Jay Buhner RF, Butch Huskey LF, Russ Davis 3B, Tom Lampkin C, Giomar Guevara SS, Jeff
Fassero LHP.
Umpires -- Hickox (HP), L Barnett (1B), Kosc (2B), Morrison (3B).
Gametime Weather: Indoors
TEXAS 1ST: Alicea singled to center. R Kelly doubled to right, Alicea scored. Greer
grounded out to first, R Kelly to third. J Gonzalez struck out looking. R Palmeiro flied
out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, SEATTLE 0.
SEATTLE 1ST: Da Bell grounded out to pitcher. Mabry popped out to shortstop. Segui flied
out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, SEATTLE 0.
TEXAS 2ND: I Rodriguez flied out to right. Zeile struck out looking. L Stevens grounded
out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, SEATTLE 0.
SEATTLE 2ND: E Martinez grounded out to third. Buhner struck out swinging. B Huskey
singled to left. R Davis flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, SEATTLE 0.
TEXAS 3RD: Clayton singled to center. Clayton stole second. Alicea singled to center,
Clayton scored. R Kelly grounded out to catcher, Alicea to second. Greer doubled to
center, Alicea scored. J Gonzalez popped out to second. R Palmeiro lined out to second. (2
Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, SEATTLE 0.
SEATTLE 3RD: Lampkin singled to center. G Guevara grounded into fielder's choice to
pitcher, Lampkin out at second. Da Bell homered to left, G Guevara scored. Mabry flied out
to center. Segui flied out to deep left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, SEATTLE 2.
TEXAS 4TH: I Rodriguez flied out to center. Zeile grounded out to second. L Stevens
walked. Clayton grounded into fielder's choice to second, L Stevens out at second. (0
Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, SEATTLE 2.
SEATTLE 4TH: E Martinez singled to center. Buhner struck out swinging. B Huskey doubled to
left center, E Martinez scored. R Davis flied out to deep right. Lampkin flied out to
right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, SEATTLE 3.
TEXAS 5TH: Alicea grounded out to shortstop. R Kelly grounded out to second. Greer
grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, SEATTLE 3.
SEATTLE 5TH: G Guevara flied out to center. Da Bell struck out swinging. Mabry popped out
to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, SEATTLE 3.
TEXAS 6TH: J Gonzalez grounded out to shortstop. R Palmeiro struck out looking. I
Rodriguez walked. I Rodriguez caught stealing, pitcher to first to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0
Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, SEATTLE 3.
SEATTLE 6TH: Segui grounded out to second. E Martinez grounded out to second. Buhner
grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, SEATTLE 3.
TEXAS 7TH: Zeile flied out to center. L Stevens singled to left center. Clayton struck out
swinging. L Stevens out at second on runners fielder's choice. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
TEXAS 3, SEATTLE 3.
SEATTLE 7TH: B Huskey grounded out to second. R Davis flied out to center. Lampkin
grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, SEATTLE 3.
TEXAS 8TH: Alicea flied out to center. R Kelly singled to center. Greer flied out to deep
center. J Gonzalez grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, SEATTLE 3.
SEATTLE 8TH: Ibanez hit for G Guevara. Ibanez grounded out to first. Da Bell popped out to
second. Mabry struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, SEATTLE 3.
TEXAS 9TH: John Halama relieved Jeff Fassero. D Cedeno at short. R Palmeiro grounded out
to first. I Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. Zeile grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, SEATTLE 3.
SEATTLE 9TH: Tim Crabtree relieved Rick Helling. Segui grounded out to second. E Martinez
flied out to deep left center. Buhner struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TEXAS 3, SEATTLE 3.
TEXAS 10TH: L Stevens singled to center. T Goodwin ran for L Stevens. Clayton sacrificed T
Goodwin to second. Alicea doubled to right center, T Goodwin scored. R Kelly flied out to
left. Greer struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, SEATTLE 3.
SEATTLE 10TH: T Goodwin in center. John Wetteland relieved Tim Crabtree. Shave at first. B
Huskey struck out swinging. R Davis flied out to right. Lampkin struck out swinging. (0
Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, SEATTLE 3.