Game 13: Apr 18, 1999 (W: 6-2)[ Previous Game | Next Game ]
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Game 13: Apr 18, 1999 (W: 6-2)
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Game Commentary
Game Photos
Box/Line Score
Game Recap
Game Log
Commentary (by me)
A much better game than the first two in the series - this looked like the Seattle
series. There wasn't a whole lot wrong with this game that I could tell other than
Eric Gunderson, who looks like he probably pitched himself down to AAA when Mike Simms is
ready to come back.
Mike Morgan is looking again like he's going to be the steal of the offseason. Through 5 innings, Mike had pitched only 65 pitches with two hits (although one of them was a solo HR), and 85 pitches through 6 innings. There were a couple of 1-2-3 innings, and he looked pretty dominating. The seventh seems to be his limit so far this season - a double and then Ben Grieve singled in a run, so he got taken out before a whole lot of damage could be done. Was a great outing still, only giving up two runs on 4 hits. Jeff Zimmerman came in and pitched and retired just about everyone he faced, giving up only one hit over two innings, and 2 strikeouts. Once the hitters figure him out, he won't be as dominating, but it's still nice to have an arm like this. I'd be shocked if he was sent back down when Simms comes up.
The Rangers bats were a bit more awake than in the first two games of this series. Point in case.. The Rangers had nine hits through the first out in the fourth inning, which was more than they had in the first two games against the A's combined! The fourth was a power inning for us. Todd Zeile had a big solo home run to left (there was a funny visual on TV of the ball bouncing down a flight of stairs), and then two pitches later, Lee Stevens hit what Bill Jones called a "titanic blast" to right field - the first back to back home runs by the Rangers for the year. Raffy also had a spectacular day; he was 4 for 4 with two RBI's and a run scored - looked good. Probably would have had a double if he could run as fast as he normally does. Todd Zeile also had a great day on the field, making a couple of really great plays - lookd like the veteran third baseman we dealt for last year. :)
Silly play in the third - Goodwin was going to steal second, and the A's shortstop (I think it was the shortstop) stood on the base waiting for the ball to come in, and the base itself came out of the ground and up in the air. Goodwin was called out (see photos below), but I have to wonder if the play would have gone the Rangers way if the base had stayed in the ground. Speaking of stolen bases, Lee Stevens had one, and it was his 5th in his career, and his first since 1997.
There was one really funny thing they did on the TV - they put Tom Grieve up on screen, and had a graphic that said ".000 batting average this season". Thought that was rather funny. :) A great game - but our weak ass pitching is headed to Yankee Stadium next - I don't feel very confident there at all. Can we have Sele & Morgan pitch there? :)
Commentary (by Jim Meeks)
The Rangers' salvaged what was almost a Lost Weekend by defeating the
Oakland Athletics Sunday.
Paced by a great (for Texas pitching) outing by Mike Morgan, terrific defense from Todd
Zeile and shutout relief from Jeff Zimmerman and John Wetteland, the Rangers held the A's
to 7 hits.
The Rangers' banged out 15 hits, including 4 for Rafael Palmeiro, who finally saw his
batting average eclipse .300 (he's now hitting .333). Palmeiro also added a couple of
RBI's.
Texas hit back-to-back homers in the 4th when Zeile and Lee Stevens connected. That's the
first time this year they've done that.
With the pitching the Rangers got Sunday from Morgan, they could have beaten anyone.
Here's hoping it continues, as the Rangers travel to Yankee Stadium Tuesday to play the
hated Yankees.
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| Ranger starter Mike Morgan | Tom Goodwin |
Tom Goodwin reacts in disbelief at being called out on the play | Mac congratulates Wetteland at the end of the game |
Line Score
AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TEXAS 1 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 6 15 1
OAKLAND 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 7 2 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: TEX - MIKE MORGAN, JEFF ZIMMERMAN (7TH), JOHN
WETTELAND (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ
OAK - MIKE OQUIST, KEVIN JARVIS (3RD), TIM WORRELL
(6TH), BUDDY GROOM (8TH), BILL TAYLOR (9TH)
AND AJ HINCH, MIKE MACFARLANE (8TH)
WP - MIKE MORGAN (3-0)
LP - MIKE OQUIST (1-1)
SAVE - NONE
HOME RUNS: TEX - TODD ZEILE (3) OFF JARVIS IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
LEE STEVENS (4) OFF JARVIS IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
OAK - JASON GIAMBI (4) OFF MORGAN IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
TIME: 2:53 ATT: 14,460
PROBABLES: TEX - JOHN BURKETT (0-1, 11.57)
NYY - DAVID CONE (2-0, 1.59)
OAK - KENNY ROGERS (0-1, 5.73)
CLE - BARTOLO COLON (2-0, 3.27)
Box Score
TEXAS (6) AT OAKLAND (2) - FINAL
TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Goodwin cf 5 1 2 0 0 1 2 .262
Mclemore 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 3 .293
Greer lf 5 1 2 0 0 0 3 .327
J Gonzalez rf 4 1 2 0 1 1 2 .294
R Palmeiro dh 4 0 4 2 0 0 1 .333
Alicea pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
I Rodriguez c 5 0 1 1 0 0 5 .271
Zeile 3b 5 1 1 1 0 1 4 .283
L Stevens 1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 3 .362
Clayton ss 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .133
Totals 40 6 15 5 2 3 23
BATTING: 2B - Mclemore (3, Worrell); R Palmeiro (2, Worrell).
3B - Mclemore (2, Oquist). HR - Zeile (3, 4th inning off Jarvis
0 on, 0 out); L Stevens (4, 4th inning off Jarvis 0 on, 0 out).
SF - R Palmeiro. RBI - R Palmeiro 2 (8), Zeile (7), L Stevens (11),
I Rodriguez (12). 2-out RBI - R Palmeiro. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - I Rodriguez 1, L Stevens 1, Greer 2,
Zeile 2. GIDP - I Rodriguez. Team LOB - 10.
BASERUNNING: SB - L Stevens (1, 2nd base off Worrell/Macfarlane).
CS - T Goodwin (2, 2nd base by Oquist/Hinch).
FIELDING: E - L Stevens (2, ground ball).
OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Phillips 2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .234
Spiezio 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333
Mcdonald cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .265
Ja Giambi 1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 .313
Jaha dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .325
Stairs rf 4 1 3 0 0 0 0 .295
Grieve lf 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .167
Tejada ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .341
Chavez 3b 2 0 1 0 2 1 1 .188
Hinch c 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .125
a-Raines ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .235
Macfarlane c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .250
Totals 34 2 7 2 2 6 17
a-grounded to second for Hinch in the 7th.
BATTING: 2B - Stairs 2 (4, Morgan, Wetteland). 3B - Chavez (1,
Morgan). HR - Ja Giambi (4, 4th inning off Morgan 0 on, 1 out).
RBI - Ja Giambi (11), Grieve (2). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - Tejada 1, Hinch 1, Macfarlane 1. Team LOB - 7.
BASERUNNING: CS - Hinch (1, 2nd base by Morgan/I Rodriguez).
FIELDING: E - Chavez (2, throw); Tejada (1, pop up). DP:
1 (Spiezio-Ja Giambi).
TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
Morgan (W, 3-0) 6 5 2 2 1 3 1 3.72
Zimmerman 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00
Wetteland 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 3.18
OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
Oquist (L, 1-1) 2 1/3 6 3 3 0 1 0 4.32
Jarvis 2 2/3 5 3 3 1 0 2 13.50
Worrell 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 3.38
Groom 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
Taylor 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1.80
Morgan pitched to 2 batters in the 7th.
Worrell pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.
Pitches-strikes: Oquist 48-29; Jarvis 42-28; Worrell 29-20;
Groom 11-7; Taylor 11-7; Morgan 90-54; Zimmerman 26-16;
Wetteland 16-8. Ground balls-fly balls: Oquist 3-2; Jarvis 2-6;
Worrell 2-3; Groom 1-1; Taylor 2-1; Morgan 8-6; Zimmerman 1-3;
Wetteland 0-2. Batters faced: Oquist 12; Jarvis 14; Worrell 10;
Groom 3; Taylor 4; Morgan 24; Zimmerman 7; Wetteland 5.
UMPIRES: HP--Dan Morrison. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--Larry Barnett.
3B--Greg Kosc. EJECTIONS: OAKLAND's T Phillips by Morrison (6th).
T--2:53. Att--14,460. Weather: 65 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 9 mph, right to left.
AL TEXAS AT OAKLAND
NOTE: OAKLAND STARTER MIKE OQUIST LEFT THE GAME IN THE TOP OF
THE THIRD INNING AFTER TAKING A LINE DRIVE OFF OF HIS
LEFT HAND.
AL TEXAS AT OAKLAND
NOTE: OAKLAND STARTER MIKE OQUIST LEFT THE GAME IN THE TOP OF
THE THIRD INNING WITH A BRUISED LEFT WRIST. HE HAS BEEN
TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR X-RAYS.
AL TEXAS AT OAKLAND
NOTE: THE HOME RUNS BY TEXAS' TODD ZEILE AND LEE STEVENS IN THE
FOURTH INNING WERE BACK-TO-BACK.
AL TEXAS AT OAKLAND
NOTE: OAKLAND SECOND BASEMAN TONY PHILLIPS WAS EJECTED BY HOME
PLATE UMPIRE DAN MORRISON IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
INNING AFTER ARGUING A CALLED THIRD STRIKE.
Game Recap
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA (TICKER) -- Mike Morgan won his third game to match his best
start in 10 years and Rafael Palmeiro had four hits and two RBI as the Texas Rangers
avoided a three-game sweep with a 6-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics.
Morgan (3-0) pitched six-plus innings, allowing two runs and five hits as he joined
Toronto's David Wells as the only three-game winners in the American League. He walked one
and struck out three in improving to 4-3 lifetime against the team with whom he made his
major league debut on June 11, 1978.
The 39-year old Morgan threw 90 pitches and is 3-0 for the first time since 1990, when he
went 11-15 for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"When I'm out there, I'm focused on getting my team a win," Morgan said.
"As long as we win in the games I'm pitching in, I'm going to have a job for a long
time. If I had pitched for an offensive club my whole career, I think my career would have
been a lot different."
"We were talking back in January that he could be as big a signing as we've had all
year," said Texas manager Johnny Oates about Morgan. "There's a reason all those
teams wanted him."
Todd Zeile and Lee Stevens hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning for Texas,
which was outscored, 19-5, in losing the first two games of the series.
Mike Oquist (1-1) allowed three runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings. He left the game after
being hit in the left wrist by Rusty Greer's line drive. X-rays were negative and Oquist
is listed as day-to-day.
"He's lucky it's not worse," said Oakland manager Art Howe. "It's just
badly bruised. He didn't have any feeling in his left hand when we got out there. He'll be
fine for his next start, that's what we feel."
Tom Goodwin led off the game with a single to center and one out later Greer's hit put
runners on the corners. Oquist struck out Juan Gonzalez but Palmeiro followed with a
single to right to score Goodwin for a 1-0 lead.
Mark McLemore tripled with one out in the third and scored on Greer's hit off Oquist's
wrist, giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead. Kevin Jarvis replaced Oquist and Gonzalez singled to
center before Palmeiro lifted a sacrifice fly to left to make it 3-0.
Zeile led off the fourth and sent Jarvis' 2-0 pitch over the left-field fence for his
third home run of the season. Stevens followed by hitting a 1-1 offering over the
right-center field wall for his fourth homer.
Oakland cut the deficit to 5-1 when Jason Giambi hit Morgan's 1-1 pitch over the
right-field fence for his fourth homer.
Ivan Rodriguez had a run-scoring single to give Texas a 6-1 advantage in the fifth.
Matt Stairs led off the seventh with a double and Ben Grieve followed with a single for
Oakland's final run.
Game Log
Texas Starting Lineups -- Tom Goodwin CF, Mark Mclemore 2B, Rusty Greer LF, Juan
Gonzalez RF, Rafael Palmeiro DH, Ivan Rodriguez C, Todd Zeile 3B, Lee Stevens 1B, Royce
Clayton SS, Mike Morgan RHP.
Oakland Starting Lineups -- Tony Phillips 2B, Jason Mcdonald CF, Jason Giambi 1B, John
Jaha DH, Matt Stairs RF, Ben Grieve LF, Miguel Tejada SS, Eric Chavez 3B, Aj Hinch C, Mike
Oquist RHP.
Umpires -- Morrison (HP), Hickox (1B), L Barnett (2B), Kosc (3B).
Gametime Weather: 65 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind right to left at 9 mph.
TEXAS 1ST: T Goodwin singled to center. Mclemore flied out to left. Greer singled to left
center, T Goodwin to third. J Gonzalez struck out looking. R Palmeiro singled to right, T
Goodwin scored, Greer to third. I Rodriguez popped out to second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0
Errors) TEXAS 1, OAKLAND 0.
OAKLAND 1ST: T Phillips grounded out to second. Mcdonald grounded out to second. Ja Giambi
flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, OAKLAND 0.
TEXAS 2ND: Zeile grounded out to third. L Stevens grounded out to second. Clayton grounded
out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, OAKLAND 0.
OAKLAND 2ND: Jaha flied out to right. Stairs singled to center. Grieve grounded out to
first, Stairs to second. Tejada grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1,
OAKLAND 0.
TEXAS 3RD: T Goodwin reached on bunt single to second. T Goodwin caught stealing, catcher
to second. Mclemore tripled to center. Greer reached on infield single. Mclemore scored on
3rd baseman Chavez's throwing error. Kevin Jarvis relieved Mike Oquist. J Gonzalez singled
to shallow center, Greer to third. R Palmeiro hit sacrifice fly to left, Greer scored. I
Rodriguez flied out to right. (2 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 3, OAKLAND 0.
OAKLAND 3RD: Chavez walked. Hinch grounded into fielder's choice to third, Chavez out at
second. T Phillips struck out looking. Hinch caught stealing, catcher to second to first.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, OAKLAND 0.
TEXAS 4TH: Zeile homered to left. L Stevens homered to right center. Clayton lined out to
right. T Goodwin grounded out to first. Mclemore flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0
Errors) TEXAS 5, OAKLAND 0.
OAKLAND 4TH: Mcdonald grounded out to pitcher. Ja Giambi homered to right. Jaha grounded
out to shortstop. Stairs flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, OAKLAND 1.
TEXAS 5TH: Greer grounded out to pitcher. J Gonzalez walked. R Palmeiro singled to right,
J Gonzalez to third. I Rodriguez singled to left center, J Gonzalez scored, R Palmeiro to
second. Zeile fouled out to first. L Stevens flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0
Errors) TEXAS 6, OAKLAND 1.
OAKLAND 5TH: Grieve grounded out to first. Tejada flied out to right. Chavez tripled to
center. Hinch struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, OAKLAND 1.
TEXAS 6TH: Tim Worrell relieved Kevin Jarvis. Clayton grounded out to shortstop. T Goodwin
fouled out to third. Mclemore doubled to right center. Greer flied out to center. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, OAKLAND 1.
OAKLAND 6TH: T Phillips struck out looking. Oakland's T Phillips ejected by Morrison.
Mcdonald safe at first on 1st baseman L Stevens' fielding error. Ja Giambi flied out to
left. Jaha flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 6, OAKLAND 1.
TEXAS 7TH: Spiezio at second. J Gonzalez flied out to center. R Palmeiro doubled to right
center. I Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. Zeile struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TEXAS 6, OAKLAND 1.
OAKLAND 7TH: Stairs doubled to deep center. Grieve singled to center, Stairs scored. Jeff
Zimmerman relieved Mike Morgan. Tejada flied out to center. Chavez struck out swinging.
Raines hit for Hinch. Raines grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6,
OAKLAND 2.
TEXAS 8TH: Macfarlane catching. L Stevens safe at first on shortstop Tejada's fielding
error. L Stevens stole second. Clayton walked. Buddy Groom relieved Tim Worrell. T Goodwin
struck out swinging. Mclemore flied out to center. Greer grounded out to second. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 6, OAKLAND 2.
OAKLAND 8TH: Spiezio singled to shallow center. Mcdonald flied out to center. Ja Giambi
popped out to shallow left. Jaha struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6,
OAKLAND 2.
TEXAS 9TH: Bill Taylor relieved Buddy Groom. J Gonzalez singled to left. R Palmeiro
singled to right, J Gonzalez to second. Alicea ran for R Palmeiro. I Rodriguez grounded
into double play, second to first, Alicea out at second, J Gonzalez to third. Zeile flied
out to left. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, OAKLAND 2.
OAKLAND 9TH: John Wetteland relieved Jeff Zimmerman. Stairs doubled to right center.
Grieve popped out to shallow left center. Tejada struck out swinging. Chavez walked.
Macfarlane flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, OAKLAND 2.