Game 15: Apr 21, 1999 (L: 4-2)
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Game Commentary
Game Photos
Box/Line Score
Game Recap
Game Log
Commentary (by me)
I thought we made out better than the game looked. I also thought Helling was
pulled too quickly.
I'm really tired today - I don't feel up to writing commentary.
Commentary (by Jim Meeks)
It's the same song, the second verse. The Rangers just cannot beat the New York
Yankees. They lost 4-2.
Wednesday, the Rangers and Rick Helling squared off against baseball's premier pitcher,
Roger Clemens.
Clemens was wild in the first inning. He uncharacteristically walked three hitters.
Goodwin, who led off the game with a walk, stole second and third and came home on an
error by catcher Joe Girardi. No hits, one run after one-half inning. The Rangers,
however, couldn't muster anything after this, except for a 4th inning solo homer by Todd
Zeile (his 4th).
The Yankees really didn't do much either, but they did hit 2 homers off of Helling.
Helling has now given up a homer in each start this year - and two in each start but one.
Clemens settled down and wound up giving the Rangers just one earned run in 7+ innings.
One lone bright spot remains the pitching of Jeff Zimmerman, who threw zeroes for 2
innings. He's been nothing short of remarkable.
The Rangers have lost 4 of their last 5 ball games, yet remain the leader in the A.L. West
because the other teams are playing poorly also.
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| No, no. One is for sugar, and two is for ketchup - got it? |
Line Score
AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TEXAS 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 0
NY YANKEES 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 x 4 6 2 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: TEX - RICK HELLING, MIKE MUNOZ (5TH), JEFF ZIMMERMAN
(6TH), ERIC GUNDERSON (8TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ
NYY - ROGER CLEMENS, MIKE STANTON (8TH), JEFF NELSON
(8TH), MARIANO RIVERA (9TH) AND JOE GIRARDI
WP - ROGER CLEMENS (2-0)
LP - RICK HELLING (0-3)
SAVE - MARIANO RIVERA (2)
HOME RUNS: TEX - TODD ZEILE (4) OFF CLEMENS IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
NYY - CHILI DAVIS (4) OFF HELLING IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
DEREK JETER (5) OFF HELLING IN THE 5TH, 1 ON
TIME: 2:53 ATT: 23,984
PROBABLES: TEX - AARON SELE (2-1, 3.78)
MIN - ERIC MILTON (0-0, 5.40)
TOR - DAVID WELLS (3-0, 2.55)
NYY - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ (2-1, 5.12)
Box Score
TEXAS (2) AT NY YANKEES (4) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS
TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Goodwin cf 3 1 0 0 1 1 2 .229
Mclemore 2b 4 0 2 0 0 1 2 .313
Greer lf 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 .310
J Gonzalez rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .271
R Palmeiro dh 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .304
I Rodriguez c 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .273
Zeile 3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 3 .264
L Stevens 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .321
Clayton ss 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .114
Totals 30 2 5 1 4 6 18
BATTING: HR - Zeile (4, 4th inning off Clemens 0 on, 1 out). RBI
- Zeile (8). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - I
Rodriguez 1, T Goodwin 1, R Palmeiro 1, Mclemore 1, Zeile 1.
Team LOB - 8.
BASERUNNING: SB - T Goodwin 3 (8, 2nd base off Clemens/Girardi
2, 3rd base off Clemens/Girardi); Mclemore (1, 2nd base off
Clemens/Girardi).
NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Knoblauch 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294
Jeter ss 2 1 1 2 2 0 0 .434
Oneill rf 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 .265
B Williams cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .327
T Martinez 1b 3 0 0 1 1 0 1 .224
C Davis dh 4 1 2 1 0 2 1 .370
Ledee lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .158
Sojo 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .357
Girardi c 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .200
Totals 30 4 6 4 4 5 12
BATTING: HR - C Davis (4, 2nd inning off Helling 0 on, 1 out);
Jeter (5, 5th inning off Helling 1 on, 1 out). RBI - C Davis
(11), Jeter 2 (12), T Martinez (3). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - Ledee 1. Team LOB - 6.
FIELDING: E - Girardi (2, throw); Knoblauch (4, throw).
TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
Helling 4 1/3 5 4 4 4 4 2 8.53
M Munoz 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.40
Zimmerman 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Gunderson 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 8.00
NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
Clemens 7 1/3 4 2 1 4 6 1 4.07
Stanton 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 9.00
Nelson 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.84
WP - Clemens, Helling. Pitches-strikes: Clemens 113-66; Stanton
1-1; Nelson 5-4; Helling 97-55; M Munoz 10-6; Zimmerman 17-10;
Gunderson 13-9. Ground balls-fly balls: Clemens 7-9; Stanton
0-1; Nelson 1-0; Helling 3-6; M Munoz 1-1; Zimmerman 1-5;
Gunderson 2-0. Batters faced: Clemens 31; Stanton 1; Nelson 2;
Helling 22; M Munoz 3; Zimmerman 6; Gunderson 3.
UMPIRES: HP--Rocky Roe. 1B--Durwood Merrill. 2B--John
Hirschbeck. 3B--Dave Phillips.
Weather: 62 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, out to left.
AL TEXAS AT NY YANKEES
NOTE: NEW YORK'S DEREK JETER HOMERED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
INNING TO EXTEND HIS HITTING STREAK TO 10 GAMES.
Game Recap
BRONX, NEW YORK (TICKER) -- Roger Clemens tied an American League record by winning
his 17th consecutive decision as the New York Yankees defeated the Texas Rangers, 4-2.
Clemens (2-0) matched the mark set by Baltimore's Dave McNally from 1968-69 and
Cleveland's Johnny Allen from 1936-37. He has not lost in 26 starts since May 29, when he
allowed four runs over seven innings to the Indians as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.
"I ride myself hard and tonight I wasn't giving in," Clemens said.
The five-time Cy Young Award winner rebounded from a no-decision last week against
Baltimore in which he yielded seven runs and 11 hits in three innings. Tonight, he allowed
just one earned run and four hits over 7 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out six.
"I am trying to establish myself," he said. "There is a lot of work to be
done. I feel real behind but I am getting the outs."
Clemens had a rocky start. He allowed an unearned run and three walks in the first inning
but struck out Ivan Rodriguez with runners on first and second to prevent further damage.
"He had a tough night," Yankees interim manager Don Zimmer said. "He
couldn't get it all together but he is a gamer. Tonight, he struggled but he won the
game."
Derek Jeter continued his power surge and extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a
go-ahead two-run homer off Rick Helling (3-0) in a three-run fifth inning. Jeter has five
home runs in 14 games. He did not his fifth last year until the 28th game.
"I want to be more patient and selective," Jeter said. "I am working on
driving the ball and I am seeing the ball better."
Helling, a 20-game winner in 1998, lost for the third time in four starts this year. He
yielded four runs and five hits while walking four and striking out four in 4 1/3 innings.
After yielding Jeter's homer, Helling walked Paul O'Neill and allowed a single to Bernie
Williams as the Yankees knocked out the righthander by putting runners on the corners.
Mike Munoz entered and got Tino Martinez to hit into a force play, scoring O'Neill with
the final run.
Mike Stanton and Jeff Nelson each recorded an out in relief of Clemens in the eighth.
Nelson allowed a single to Rodriguez before getting Todd Zeile to hit into a force play
with runners on first and second.
Mariano Rivera fired a perfect ninth for his second save as the Yankees won their second
straight and seventh in eight home games.
New York has taken five in a row overall against Texas dating to a three-game sweep in
last year's 1998 American League Division Series. The Rangers have managed just three runs
on 22 hits in the five games.
"Our bats will come around," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said.
Zeile gave Texas a 2-1 lead with a one-out homer in the fourth, but Clemens retired nine
of the next 10 batters he faced before walking Royce Clayton with one out in the seventh.
"Clemens didn't have all his stuff, but they did enough to win the game," Oates
said. "He pitched a pretty good game and we just didn't hit enough tonight."
Clemens has allowed five home runs this season after giving up 11 last year.
"I am not worried," Zimmer said. "He'll pitch a lot of great games for
us."
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, Rick Helling RHP.
Ny Yankees Starting Lineups -- Chuck Knoblauch 2B, Derek Jeter SS, Paul Oneill RF, Bernie
Williams CF, Tino Martinez 1B, Chili Davis DH, Ricky Ledee LF, Luis Sojo 3B, Joe Girardi
C, Roger Clemens RHP.
Umpires -- Roe (HP), D Merrill (1B), J Hirschbeck (2B), Phillips (3B).
Gametime Weather: 62 degrees, Clear, wind out to left at 8 mph.
TEXAS 1ST: T Goodwin walked. Mclemore flied out to left center. T Goodwin stole second. T
Goodwin stole third. T Goodwin scored on catcher Girardi's throwing error. Greer walked. J
Gonzalez popped out to first. R Palmeiro walked, Greer to second. I Rodriguez struck out
swinging. (1 Run, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 0.
NY YANKEES 1ST: Knoblauch lined out to second. Jeter walked. Oneill popped out to third. B
Williams popped out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 0.
TEXAS 2ND: Zeile safe at first on 2nd baseman Knoblauch's throwing error. Zeile to second
on Clemens wild pitch. L Stevens struck out looking. Clayton grounded out to shortstop. T
Goodwin flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 0.
NY YANKEES 2ND: T Martinez popped out to second. C Davis homered to right. Ledee singled
to center. Sojo struck out swinging. Girardi struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0
Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 1.
TEXAS 3RD: Mclemore singled to center. Mclemore stole second. Greer grounded out to
pitcher. J Gonzalez flied out to deep center, Mclemore to third. R Palmeiro grounded out
to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 1.
NY YANKEES 3RD: Knoblauch grounded out to second. Jeter walked. Oneill flied out to deep
right. B Williams struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 1.
TEXAS 4TH: I Rodriguez lined out to center. Zeile homered to right center. L Stevens flied
out to deep center. Clayton grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2,
NY YANKEES 1.
NY YANKEES 4TH: T Martinez walked. C Davis struck out swinging. Ledee grounded into
fielder's choice to second, T Martinez out at second. Sojo grounded out to shortstop. (0
Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 1.
TEXAS 5TH: T Goodwin struck out looking. Mclemore singled to center. Greer fouled out to
third. J Gonzalez flied out to deep center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES
1.
NY YANKEES 5TH: Girardi flied out to left. Knoblauch singled to shallow right center.
Knoblauch to second on Helling wild pitch. Jeter homered to right, Knoblauch scored.
Oneill walked. B Williams singled to center, Oneill to third. Mike Munoz relieved Rick
Helling. T Martinez grounded into fielder's choice to second, Oneill scored, B Williams
out at second. C Davis singled to center, T Martinez to second. Ledee flied out to left.
(3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 4.
TEXAS 6TH: R Palmeiro flied out to left. I Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. Zeile
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 4.
NY YANKEES 6TH: Jeff Zimmerman relieved Mike Munoz. Sojo popped out to second. Girardi
fouled out to first. Knoblauch flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY
YANKEES 4.
TEXAS 7TH: L Stevens grounded out to second. Clayton walked. T Goodwin grounded into
fielder's choice to second, Clayton out at second. T Goodwin stole second. Mclemore struck
out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 4.
NY YANKEES 7TH: Jeter flied out to right. Oneill flied out to center. B Williams grounded
out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 4.
TEXAS 8TH: Greer singled to center. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. Mike Stanton relieved
Roger Clemens. R Palmeiro flied out to right. Jeff Nelson relieved Mike Stanton. I
Rodriguez singled to center, Greer to second. Zeile grounded into fielder's choice to
shortstop, I Rodriguez out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 4.
NY YANKEES 8TH: Eric Gunderson relieved Jeff Zimmerman. T Martinez grounded out to
shortstop. C Davis struck out swinging. Ledee grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0
Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 4.
TEXAS 9TH: Mariano Rivera relieved Jeff Nelson. L Stevens grounded out to second. Alicea
hit for Clayton. Alicea grounded out to second. T Goodwin flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0
Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 4.