Game 16: Apr 22, 1999 (W: 6-4)[ Previous Game | Next Game ]
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Game 16: Apr 22, 1999 (W: 6-4)
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Game Commentary
Game Recap
Game Photos
Box/Line Score
Game Log
Commentary (by me)
Let's see. The pitching. Well, I thought Aaron Sele was pitching
great. Only gave up a couple of hits through the first few, one run. Seemed to
be crusing along, and then Johnny Oates took him out. I didn't catch the pitch
count, but I'm hoping that's the reason, as he didn't seem to be in really huge trouble
when he came out. Still, he got the win, which was nice. Would have been nice
to see him get into the 7th, though. Zimmerman, while not as sharp as he usually was
came in and got the job done.
The game was actually a tight game up until the top of the 8th - some good baseball, as the Rangers were up only 2-1, on two solo Home runs by Lee Stevens & Todd Zeile, who both seem to be having nice Aprils. We busted it open to 6-1 on a bloop double to right field by Roberto Kelly scoring two, and then another double by Rusty Greer scoring two more. Given the way we were pitching, I thought it was an easy cruise, especially going into the bottom of the 9th still up 6-1. We then had appearances by Munoz (who was OK and appeared in the 8th), and Crabtree (who wasn't). Both Munoz & Crabtree pitched only 2/3 of an inning, giving up runs (1 for Munoz, 2 for Crabby). Crabtree was rather ineffective, allowing the Twins to get back in the game at 6-4. Wetteland, who wasn't expected to show because of the score came in and got a save. I liked that we won, but I didn't like the fall-apart in the bottom of the ninth.
However, the biggest story was Pudge getting wailed upon in the first inning. At the end of the inning, Mark McLemore threw home as Matt Lawton was attempting to score. As Matt hit the plate, he elbowed Pudge in the head trying to score. Pudge managed to hold on to the ball, and the inning was over, but after getting hit by Lawton, he also crashed into the home plate umpire, and then was laying flat on his back on the ground for a good couple of minutes. He eventually got up, and sat in the dugout for a minute or two before heading to the trainer's room. He looked really dazed there. Later on we found out that he was hit in the same cheekbone that was fractured in 1993 - although Xrays didn't show anything broken. Pudge reported feeling dizzy, and he's listed as day to day. That's good.
Commentary (by Jim Meeks)
Aaron Sele bounced back from a poor start last time out and the Rangers held off a
9th inning comeback bid by the Twins and beat them 6-4 Thursday.
Sele pitched almost 6 innings and gave up just 1 run in his stint. Historically, April is
his favorite month to pitch and it's showed this April as well.
The Rangers got homers from Rafael Palmeiro (his third) and Lee Stevens (his fifth). The
Rangers however, managed only 6 hits and can now be officially labeled "in a hitting
slump as a team". The Yankees shut down Texas earlier this week.
This is going to sound like a broken record, but rookie Jeff Zimmerman continues to
impress. Really good relief pitchers are extremely hard to find. His value to this team is
phenomenal and should not be misused nor under appreciated.
It should also be noted that Rusty Greer and Roberto Kelly (who continues to play *well*)
each drove in a couple of runs for the Red Shoe.
The Angels lost and Seattle was postponed on Thursday. The Angels, while playing just
about each loss close the past week, are struggling offensively, even though Mo Vaughn is
playing again. The Rangers remain in first place.
Game Recap
MINNEAPOLIS (TICKER) -- Roberto Kelly and Rusty Greer had two-run doubles in the
eighth after Aaron Sele labored through 5 2/3 innings as the Texas Rangers defeated the
Minnesota Twins, 6-4.
Texas was nursing a 2-1 lead when Minnesota starter Eric Milton walked Lee Stevens and
Royce Clayton to start the eighth. Bob Wells replaced Milton and threw wildly to first on
Mark McLemore's sacrifce, loading the bases. Kelly followed with a line drive into
right-center field, scoring Stevens and Clayton for a 4-1 lead.
Eddie Guardado came in to face Greer, who lined a 3-0 pitch down the right-field line to
make it 6-1. Guardado intentionally walked Juan Gonzalez to load the bases and struck out
Rafael Palmeiro before Gregg Zaun flied out. The Rangers left the bases loaded as Mike
Trombley came in to strike out Todd Zeile.
Minnesota scored three times in the ninth before John Wetteland struck out Marty Cordova
with a runner at second for his fifth save in as many chances.
Sele (3-1) gave up one run and seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts. He threw
86 pitches and improved to 10-2 lifetime against the Twins.
"Aaron Sele threw the ball really well tonight," Texas manager Johnny Oates
said. "The bullpen came in and did the job and we were able to put together a big
inning in the eighth to get the win."
Milton (0-1) allowed four runs and three hits in seven-plus innings, walking four and
striking out four.
"Milton gave us a chance to win, but we couldn't put anything together
offensively," Minnesota manager Tom Kelly said.
Mike Munoz walked pinch hitter Brent Gates to start the ninth and was replaced by Tim
Crabtree. Terry Steinbach reached on an infield single and Cristian Guzman grounded out to
put runners on second and third. Todd Walker followed with an RBI groundout to pull the
Twins within 6-2.
Minnesota right fielder Matt Lawton and Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez both left the game
after a collision at home plate in the first inning. Lawton was thrown out trying to score
on Cordova's single and suffered a bruised right shoulder. Rodriguez sustained a mild
concussion and bruised left cheekbone.
Both are listed as day-to-day.
"It's still a little sore," Lawton said. "I iced it after I left the game.
Hopefully he'll be ready to go tmorrow. I'll be ready to go."
Torii Hunter tripled off the right-field wall to score Steinbach and chase Crabtree. An
RBI single by Denny Hocking -- Lawton's replacement -- off Wetteland made it 6-4 before
Cordova struck out.
Palmeiro gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead with one out in the second when he hit Milton's 1-1
pitch over the center-field fence for his third home run of the season.
With one out in the second, Stevens hit his fifth homer to give Texas a 2-0 advantage.
Cordova and rookie Doug Mientkiewicz had consecutive singles off Sele with one out in the
sixth and Chris Latham followed with a sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to 2-1. After
Corey Koskie walked, Jeff Zimmerman relieved Sele and walked Steinbach before getting
Guzman to ground into a forceout.
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| Mac applies the tag at second | Matt Lawton crashing into Pudge in the first inning | Pudge receiving some help on the field |
Line Score
AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TEXAS 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 6 6 1
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 4 10 1 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: TEX - AARON SELE, JEFF ZIMMERMAN (6TH), MIKE MUNOZ
(8TH), TIM CRABTREE (9TH), JOHN WETTELAND
(9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ, GREGG ZAUN (2ND)
MIN - ERIC MILTON, BOB WELLS (8TH), EDDIE GUARDADO
(8TH), MIKE TROMBLEY (8TH), BENJ SAMPSON (9TH)
AND TERRY STEINBACH
WP - AARON SELE (3-1)
LP - ERIC MILTON (0-1)
SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (5)
HOME RUNS: TEX - RAFAEL PALMEIRO (3) OFF E MILTON IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
LEE STEVENS (5) OFF E MILTON IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
MIN - NONE
TIME: 3:05 ATT: 11,221
PROBABLES: TEX - MARK CLARK (0-2, 10.68)
MIN - MIKE LINCOLN (0-2, 3.77)
Box Score
TEXAS (6) AT MINNESOTA (4) - FINAL
TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Mclemore 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .308
R Kelly cf 5 1 2 2 0 1 1 .522
Greer lf 4 0 1 2 0 0 1 .306
J Gonzalez rf 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .258
R Palmeiro dh 4 1 1 1 0 2 2 .300
I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
a-Zaun ph-c 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 .000
Zeile 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .246
L Stevens 1b 3 2 1 1 1 2 0 .316
Clayton ss 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 .105
Totals 32 6 6 6 5 7 12
a-walked for I Rodriguez in the 2nd.
BATTING: 2B - R Kelly (3, Wells); Greer (7, Guardado); Mclemore
(4, Sampson). HR - R Palmeiro (3, 2nd inning off E Milton 0 on,
1 out); L Stevens (5, 3rd inning off E Milton 0 on, 0 out).
S - Mclemore. RBI - R Palmeiro (9), L Stevens (12), R Kelly 2 (6),
Greer 2 (12). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Zeile 2,
R Kelly 1. GIDP - Zeile. Team LOB - 5.
BASERUNNING: SB - Zaun (1, 2nd base off E Milton/Steinbach).
FIELDING: E - Zaun (1, throw). DP: 1 (L Stevens-Clayton-
L Stevens).
MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Walker 2b 5 0 0 1 0 0 1 .222
T Hunter cf 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 .228
Lawton rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .344
Hocking rf 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 .297
M Cordova dh 5 1 3 0 0 2 1 .327
Mientkiewicz 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .288
Allen lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277
Latham pr-lf 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 .083
Koskie 3b 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 .308
a-Gates ph 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .304
Steinbach c 2 1 1 0 2 0 0 .265
C Guzman ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 5 .167
Totals 33 4 10 4 5 8 13
a-walked for Koskie in the 9th.
BATTING: 2B - Lawton (7, Sele). 3B - T Hunter (1, Crabtree).
SF - Latham. RBI - Latham (3), T Walker (5), T Hunter (6), Hocking (4).
2-out RBI - T Hunter, Hocking. Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - C Guzman 3, M Cordova 1. GIDP - Mientkiewicz. Team LOB - 9.
BASERUNNING: SB - Allen (4, 2nd base off Sele/Zaun).
CS - T Hunter (1, 2nd base by Sele/Zaun).
FIELDING: E - Wells (1, throw). DP: 1 (C Guzman-
T Walker-Mientkiewicz).
TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
Sele (W, 3-1) 5 2/3 7 1 1 3 5 0 3.22
Zimmerman (H, 1) 1 2/3 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00
M Munoz 2/3 0 1 1 1 1 0 6.14
Crabtree 2/3 2 2 2 0 0 0 8.44
Wetteland (S, 5) 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.00
MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
E Milton (L, 0-1) 7 3 4 4 4 4 2 5.32
Wells 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 9.00
Guardado 2/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 3.00
Trombley 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
Sampson 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 13.50
E Milton pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.
Wells pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.
M Munoz pitched to 1 batter in the 9th.
IBB - J Gonzalez (by Guardado). HBP - Allen (by Sele).
Pitches-strikes: E Milton 110-63; Wells 6-5; Guardado 17-8;
Trombley 4-3; Sampson 19-11; Sele 86-43; Zimmerman 26-15;
M Munoz 12-5; Crabtree 13-10; Wetteland 6-5. Ground balls-fly
balls: E Milton 8-9; Wells 0-0; Guardado 0-1; Trombley 0-0;
Sampson 1-1; Sele 6-4; Zimmerman 2-2; M Munoz 1-0; Crabtree 2-0;
Wetteland 0-0. Batters faced: E Milton 27; Wells 2; Guardado 4;
Trombley 1; Sampson 4; Sele 25; Zimmerman 6; M Munoz 3; Crabtree 4;
Wetteland 2.
UMPIRES: HP--Durwood Merrill. 1B--John Hirschbeck. 2B--Dave
Phillips. 3B--Rocky Roe.
T--3:05. Att--11,221. Indoors.
AL TEXAS AT MINNESOTA
NOTE: TEXAS CATCHER IVAN RODRIGUEZ LEFT THE GAME AFTER THE
FIRST INNING WITH AN UNDISCLOSED INJURY. HE WAS INVOLVED
IN A HOME PLATE COLLISION WITH MINNESOTA'S MATT LAWTON.
AL TEXAS AT MINNESOTA
NOTE: TEXAS CATCHER IVAN RODRIGUEZ LEFT THE GAME AFTER THE
FIRST INNING WITH DIZZYNESS AND PAIN IN HIS LEFT CHEEK.
AL TEXAS AT MINNESOTA
NOTE: MINNESOTA RIGHT FIELDER MATT LAWTON LEFT THE GAME AFTER
THE SECOND INNING WITH A RIGHT SHOULDER CONTUSION. HE
SUFFERED THE INJURY WHEN HE COLLIDED WITH TEXAS' IVAN
RODRIGUEZ.
AL TEXAS AT MINNESOTA
NOTE: MINNESOTA'S CHAD ALLEN LEFT THE GAME IN THE BOTTOM OF THE
FOURTH INNING AFTER BEING HIT BY THE PITCH ON THE RIGHT
FOREARM.
AL TEXAS AT MINNESOTA
NOTE: TEXAS CATCHER IVAN RODRIGUEZ LEFT THE GAME AFTER THE
FIRST INNING WITH A BRUISED CHEEKBONE AND A SLIGHT
CONCUSSION. THE X-RAYS ON HIS CHEEK WERE NEGATIVE.
Game Log
Texas Starting Lineups -- Mark Mclemore 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, Aaron Sele RHP.
Minnesota Starting Lineups -- Todd Walker 2B, Torii Hunter CF, Matt Lawton RF, Marty
Cordova DH, Doug Mientkiewicz 1B, Chad Allen LF, Corey Koskie 3B, Terry Steinbach C,
Cristian Guzman SS, Eric Milton LHP.
Umpires -- D Merrill (HP), J Hirschbeck (1B), Phillips (2B), Roe (3B).
Gametime Weather: Indoors
TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore grounded out to pitcher. R Kelly struck out swinging. Greer lined out
to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0.
MINNESOTA 1ST: T Walker flied out to left center. T Hunter struck out swinging. Lawton
doubled to center. M Cordova singled to shallow center, Lawton thrown out at home. (0
Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0.
TEXAS 2ND: J Gonzalez struck out swinging. R Palmeiro homered to center. Zaun hit for I
Rodriguez. Zaun walked. Zeile grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first,
Zaun out at second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 0.
MINNESOTA 2ND: Zaun catching. Mientkiewicz struck out swinging. Allen singled to left.
Koskie struck out looking. Allen stole second. Allen to third on catcher Zaun's throwing
error. Steinbach walked. C Guzman struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) TEXAS 1,
MINNESOTA 0.
TEXAS 3RD: Hocking in right. L Stevens homered to right. Clayton fouled out to first.
Mclemore flied out to deep left. R Kelly singled to center. Greer grounded out to pitcher.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 0.
MINNESOTA 3RD: T Walker grounded out to second. T Hunter walked. Hocking struck out
looking. T Hunter caught stealing, catcher to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2,
MINNESOTA 0.
TEXAS 4TH: J Gonzalez flied out to center. R Palmeiro struck out swinging. Zaun walked.
Zaun stole second. Zeile flied out to deep center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2,
MINNESOTA 0.
MINNESOTA 4TH: M Cordova singled to left. Mientkiewicz grounded into double play, first to
shortstop to first, M Cordova out at second. Allen hit by pitch. Latham ran for Allen.
Koskie grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 0.
TEXAS 5TH: Latham in left. L Stevens struck out swinging. Clayton lined out to second.
Mclemore grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 0.
MINNESOTA 5TH: Steinbach grounded out to third. C Guzman reached on bunt single to
shortstop. T Walker flied out to center. T Hunter popped out to shallow right center. (0
Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 0.
TEXAS 6TH: R Kelly flied out to right. Greer flied out to right. J Gonzalez flied out to
center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 0.
MINNESOTA 6TH: Hocking grounded out to first. M Cordova singled to center. Mientkiewicz
singled to right, M Cordova to third. Latham hit sacrifice fly to left, M Cordova scored.
Koskie walked, Mientkiewicz to second. Jeff Zimmerman relieved Aaron Sele. Steinbach
walked, Mientkiewicz to third, Koskie to second. C Guzman grounded into fielder's choice
to third, Mientkiewicz out at home. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 1.
TEXAS 7TH: R Palmeiro grounded out to third. Zaun grounded out to shortstop. Zeile
grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 1.
MINNESOTA 7TH: T Walker grounded out to first. T Hunter flied out to left. Hocking flied
out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 1.
TEXAS 8TH: L Stevens walked. Clayton walked, L Stevens to second. Bob Wells relieved Eric
Milton. Mclemore sacrificed L Stevens to third, Clayton to second, Mclemore safe at first
on pitcher Wells' throwing error. R Kelly doubled to right, L Stevens and Clayton scored,
Mclemore to third. Eddie Guardado relieved Bob Wells. Greer doubled to right, Mclemore and
R Kelly scored. J Gonzalez intentionally walked. R Palmeiro struck out swinging. Zaun
flied out to left center, Greer to third. Mike Trombley relieved Eddie Guardado. Zeile
struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 6, MINNESOTA 1.
MINNESOTA 8TH: M Cordova struck out swinging. Mike Munoz relieved Jeff Zimmerman.
Mientkiewicz grounded out to second. Latham struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0
Errors) TEXAS 6, MINNESOTA 1.
TEXAS 9TH: Benj Sampson relieved Mike Trombley. L Stevens struck out swinging. Clayton
grounded out to shortstop. Mclemore doubled to right center. R Kelly flied out to deep
right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, MINNESOTA 1.
MINNESOTA 9TH: Gates hit for Koskie. Gates walked. Tim Crabtree relieved Mike Munoz.
Steinbach reached on infield single, Gates to second. C Guzman grounded out to third,
Gates to third, Steinbach to second. T Walker grounded out to second, Gates scored,
Steinbach to third. T Hunter tripled to deep right, Steinbach scored. John Wetteland
relieved Tim Crabtree. Hocking singled to left center, T Hunter scored. Hocking to second
on fielder indifference. M Cordova struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS
6, MINNESOTA 4.