Game 25: May 2, 1999 (W: 8-6)
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Commentary (by me)

Well, I was over some friends' house for dinner last night, so I didn't get to see or hear much of any of this game.  However, he did have a cable modem, and I got to see score updates from time to time.  Naturally, since I wasn't there, they started doing good again.  Saw that Raffy got his 2,000th career hit, which was cool.

Mark Clark went into the 8th inning tonight - virtually uncharted territory for a Rangers pitcher this year.  His ERA is still way up in the stratosphere - upper 7's.  Not good.

Commentary (by Jim Meeks)

Pitcher Mark Clark, taking a rotation turn on 3 days' rest for the first time this season, won the ballgame Sunday, with help from Tom Goodwin, Juan Gonzalez and Raffy Palmeiro.

Clark once again laboured through the middle innings but hung on until the 8th inning. The Rangers' bullpen - which has been near-flawless since Jeff Zimmerman has arrived - once again stopped the opponents.

Clark was not spectacular - only adequate. But adequacy will win you 15 games as a starter for the Rangers, who have an offense capable of burying any opponent (except the Yankees).

Goodwin had a rare good game, getting two hits, stealing a base and being a general nuisciance for the Indians. He refused to comment to reporters after the game, which makes you wonder what bird got into his craw?

Gonzalez ripped another homer and drove in another couple of runs. He's on a binge right now, so the opponents better not throw him strikes. Gonzo now has 20 RBI's and is on a pace to drive in 154 runs. Just a week ago - we all wondered aloud as to what destination Gonzalez' bat had vacationed to.

Palmeiro had 3 hits including his 2000th Major League hit. He also drove in 2 runs.

The Rangers played solid defense behind Clark, who threw 11 ground ball outs.

Game Recap

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) -- The red-hot duo of Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez combined for five hits and four RBI and Tom Goodwin and Luis Alicea drove in two runs apiece as the Texas Rangers held on for an 8-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

Palmeiro singled home Gonzalez in the first inning, capped a five-run fourth with an RBI double and doubled again in the seventh. His first double was his 2,000th career hit.

"It was a nice ovation. Three-thousand is still on my mind but it's way out there," Palmeiro said. "I think it's in reach but that's years away."

"The way he swings the bat, he's a guy that when his fielding days are over and he wante to DH, he could do it for 3,000," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said.

Palmeiro has started 24 games as designated hitter while continuing to rehab from arthroscopic right knee surgery.

"It felt pretty good running. As fas as running goes, I'll see how I go tomorrrow," he said. "It seems like it gets a little bit better each day. But with Lee (Stevens) doing such a great job, both offensively and defensively, it's easier not to rush back."

Gonzalez doubled and scored in the first and belted a solo homer off starter Charles Nagy (3-2) in the third. The home run was his 31st against Cleveland, his most against any opponent.

Palmeiro is 7-for-14 with two homers and six RBI in his last four games. Gonzalez is batting .434 (10-for-23) during a six-game hitting streak.

Mark Clark (2-2) defeated his former team, allowing four runs and six hits over seven-plus innings. Rookie Jeff Zimmerman gave up one run in the eighth and John Wetteland surrendered a solo homer to Richie Sexson in the ninth before completing his ninth save in 10 opportunities.

"I'm sure that a lot of those guys knew that I was going to be throwing strikes so they were out there swinging," said Clark, who pitched for Cleveland from 1993-95. "It feels good to beat anybody but it's a little extra special to beat a club I've been with before. Besides, they've got a good club."

The Indians dropped to 6-4 on an 11-game road trip.

Nagy had by far his worst start of the season in his fourth straight loss to the Rangers. He was tagged for eight runs and nine hits over 3 1/3 innings.

"Nagy has been better. He was up in the strike zone," Indians manager Mike Hargrove said. "We said with (Bartolo) Colon, you can't throw good big-league hitters high strikes. When you keep the ball high, you make bad big-league hitters look good."

Texas jumped on Nagy for two runs in the first as Gonzalez doubled in Tom Goodwin and scored on Palmeiro's single. Gonzalez's fourth homer of the season in the third made it 3-0.

The Indians pulled within 3-2 in the fourth. Roberto Alomar tripled and one out later Jim Thome and Travis Fryman drew walks. David Justice followed with a two-run single.

The Rangers chased Nagy with five runs in the fourth. Ivan Rodriguez led off with a single and stole second before Todd Zeile walked. Stevens' infield single loaded the bases and Nagy struck out rookie Kelly Dransfeldt. Goodwin delivered a double off the wall in center, scoring Rodriguez and Zeile for a 5-2 lead.

Alicea singled home Stevens and Goodwin and Rich DeLucia relieved Nagy. After Rusty Greer flied out and Gonzalez walked, Palmeiro stroked a double to right, making it 8-2.

The Indians began chipping away in the fifth on Alomar's sacrifice fly and added two more in the eighth. Omar Vizquel opened the inning with a single and Zimmerman replaced Clark. Alomar's double moved Vizquel to third and Manny Ramirez followed with a run-scoring groundout. Alomar came home on a wild pitch before Thome struck out.

The RBI was Ramirez's major league-leading 32nd of the season.

Sexson's fouth homer capped the scoring.

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image

Raffy acknowledges the crowd after getting his 2,000th career hit - a double	Juan Gonzalez scores on Raffy's double	Juan Gonzalez scores from a different angle	Todd Zeile slides safely and akwardly into third	John Wetteland & Pudge celebrate the win as Kenny Lofton goes by

Box Score

Line Score
AL  FINAL
                    1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9     R  H  E
                    -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -     -  -  -
CLEVELAND           0  0  0   2  1  0   0  2  1     6  8  1
TEXAS               2  0  1   5  0  0   0  0  x     8 11  0   (FINAL)

BATTERIES:  CLE - CHARLES NAGY, RICH DELUCIA (4TH), PAUL WAGNER
                  (8TH), STEVE REED (8TH) AND SANDY ALOMAR JR
            TEX - MARK CLARK, JEFF ZIMMERMAN (8TH), JOHN
                  WETTELAND (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

             WP - MARK CLARK (2-2)
             LP - CHARLES NAGY (3-2)
           SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (9)

HOME RUNS:  CLE - RICHIE SEXSON (4) OFF WETTELAND IN THE 9TH, 0 ON
            TEX - JUAN GONZALEZ (4) OFF NAGY IN THE 3RD, 0 ON

     TIME:  2:51     ATT:  29,921

PROBABLES:  CLE - JARET WRIGHT (2-0, 5.90)
            TEX - MIKE MORGAN (4-1, 3.26)



Box Score
CLEVELAND (6) AT TEXAS (8) - FINAL

CLEVELAND              ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Lofton cf               5  0  0  0   0  0   2  .347
Vizquel ss              4  1  2  0   0  0   0  .362
R Alomar 2b             3  2  2  1   0  0   1  .323
M Ramirez rf            4  0  0  1   0  0   2  .324
Thome 1b                3  1  0  0   1  2   0  .291
Fryman 3b               3  0  0  0   1  0   0  .275
Justice dh              3  0  2  2   0  0   0  .218
 a-E Wilson ph          1  0  0  0   0  0   0  .225
Sexson lf               4  1  1  1   0  0   3  .239
S Alomar c              4  1  1  0   0  0   1  .315

Totals                 34  6  8  5   2  2   9

a-popped to shortstop for Justice in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - Justice (2, M Clark); S Alomar (5, M Clark); R Alomar
(8, Zimmerman). 3B - R Alomar (1, M Clark). HR - Sexson (4, 9th inning
off Wetteland 0 on, 1 out). SF - R Alomar. RBI - Justice 2 (8),
R Alomar (13), M Ramirez (32), Sexson (12). 2-out RBI - Justice 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Lofton 1, Sexson 1.
Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: E - Thome (2, drop foul). Outfield assists - M Ramirez
(Zeile at 3rd base).

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
T Goodwin cf            5  2  2  2   0  1   1  .210
Alicea 2b               5  1  1  2   0  2   1  .194
Greer lf                3  0  0  0   2  1   2  .316
J Gonzalez rf           4  2  2  2   1  1   2  .306
R Palmeiro dh           4  0  3  2   0  0   0  .321
I Rodriguez c           4  1  1  0   0  0   4  .287
Zeile 3b                2  1  0  0   2  0   1  .253
L Stevens 1b            3  1  2  0   1  0   0  .352
Dransfeldt ss           4  0  0  0   0  3   6  .250

Totals                 34  8 11  8   6  8  17

BATTING: 2B - J Gonzalez (6, Nagy); T Goodwin (3, Nagy); R Palmeiro 2
(5, Delucia 2). HR - J Gonzalez (4, 3rd inning off Nagy 0 on, 2 out).
RBI - J Gonzalez 2 (20), R Palmeiro 2 (18), T Goodwin 2 (6), Alicea 2 (5).
2-out RBI - J Gonzalez 2, R Palmeiro 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - I Rodriguez 3, T Goodwin 1, Dransfeldt 1.
Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: SB - T Goodwin (12, 2nd base off Nagy/S Alomar);
I Rodriguez (5, 2nd base off Nagy/S Alomar).

CLEVELAND                    ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Nagy (L, 3-2)                 3 1/3   9   8   8   2   4   1   5.46
Delucia                       3 2/3   2   0   0   3   4   0   6.35
Wagner                          2/3   0   0   0   1   0   0   0.00
Reed                            1/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   1.54

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
M Clark (W, 2-2)              7       6   4   4   2   1   0   7.36
Zimmerman                     1       1   1   1   0   1   0   1.04
Wetteland (S, 9)              1       1   1   1   0   0   1   4.76

M Clark pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.

WP - Zimmerman. IBB - L Stevens (by Delucia).  Pitches-strikes:
M Clark 93-64; Zimmerman 10-7; Wetteland 17-11; Nagy 68-38;
Delucia 65-41; Wagner 14-8; Reed 4-3.  Ground balls-fly balls:
M Clark 11-9; Zimmerman 1-1; Wetteland 1-2; Nagy 1-4; Delucia 2-5;
Wagner 1-1; Reed 0-1.  Batters faced: M Clark 29; Zimmerman 4;
Wetteland 4; Nagy 20; Delucia 16; Wagner 3; Reed 1.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Onora. 1B--Larry Young. 2B--Gary Cederstrom.
3B--Drew Coble.
T--2:51.  Att--29,921.   Weather: 60 degrees, drizzle.   Wind: 12 mph,
right to left.

AL       CLEVELAND AT TEXAS
         NOTE:  THE START OF THE GAME IS BEING DELAYED DUE TO RAIN.  THE
                PITCHERS HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO WARM UP.

AL       CLEVELAND AT TEXAS
         NOTE:  THE GAME IS UNDERWAY AFTER A RAIN DELAY.

AL       CLEVELAND AT TEXAS
         NOTE:  THE DOUBLE BY TEXAS' RAFAEL PALMEIRO IN THE BOTTOM OF THE
                FOURTH INNING WAS THE 2,000TH HIT OF HIS MAJOR LEAGUE
                CAREER.

Game Log

Cleveland Starting Lineups -- Kenny Lofton CF, Omar Vizquel SS, Roberto Alomar 2B, Manny Ramirez RF, Jim Thome 1B, Travis Fryman 3B, David Justice DH, Richie Sexson LF, Sandy Alomar Jr C, Charles Nagy RHP.

Texas Starting Lineups -- Tom Goodwin CF, Luis Alicea 2B, Rusty Greer LF, Juan Gonzalez RF, Rafael Palmeiro DH, Ivan Rodriguez C, Todd Zeile 3B, Lee Stevens 1B, Kelly Dransfeldt SS, Mark Clark RHP.

Umpires -- Onora (HP), Young (1B), Cederstrom (2B), Coble (3B).

Gametime Weather: 60 degrees, Drizzle, wind right to left at 12 mph.

CLEVELAND 1ST: Lofton flied out to right center. Vizquel grounded out to third. R Alomar lined out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: T Goodwin reached on infield single. Alicea flied out to deep right. T Goodwin stole second. Greer fouled out to first. J Gonzalez doubled to left, T Goodwin scored. R Palmeiro singled to right, J Gonzalez scored. R Palmeiro to second advancing on throw. I Rodriguez flied out to right center. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 2.

CLEVELAND 2ND: M Ramirez lined out to third. Thome grounded out to pitcher. Fryman popped out to shallow right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 2ND: Zeile walked. L Stevens singled to right, Zeile thrown out at third. L Stevens to second advancing on throw. Dransfeldt struck out swinging. T Goodwin grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 2.

CLEVELAND 3RD: Justice doubled to right. Sexson grounded out to shortstop. S Alomar grounded out to shortstop. Lofton fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 3RD: Alicea struck out looking. Greer struck out looking. J Gonzalez homered to right. R Palmeiro lined out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 3.

CLEVELAND 4TH: Vizquel grounded out to third. R Alomar tripled to right center. M Ramirez popped out to first. Thome walked. Fryman walked, Thome to second. Justice singled to right, R Alomar and Thome scored, Fryman to third. Sexson grounded into fielder's choice to third, Justice out at second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 2, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 4TH: I Rodriguez reached on infield single. I Rodriguez stole second. Zeile walked. L Stevens reached on infield single, I Rodriguez to third, Zeile to second. Dransfeldt struck out looking. T Goodwin doubled to deep center, I Rodriguez and Zeile scored, L Stevens to third. Alicea singled to right center, L Stevens and T Goodwin scored. Rich Delucia relieved Charles Nagy. Greer flied out to center. J Gonzalez walked, Alicea to second. R Palmeiro doubled to right, Alicea scored, J Gonzalez to third. I Rodriguez popped out to shallow right. (5 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 2, TEXAS 8.

CLEVELAND 5TH: S Alomar doubled to left. Lofton flied out to left. Vizquel singled to left, S Alomar to third. R Alomar hit sacrifice fly to left, S Alomar scored. M Ramirez grounded into fielder's choice to third, Vizquel out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 3, TEXAS 8.

TEXAS 5TH: Zeile popped out to second. L Stevens grounded out to second. Dransfeldt struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 3, TEXAS 8.

CLEVELAND 6TH: Thome struck out looking. Fryman grounded out to third. Justice grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 3, TEXAS 8.

TEXAS 6TH: T Goodwin struck out swinging. Alicea struck out looking. Greer walked. J Gonzalez continued to bat after dropped foul ball by 1st baseman Thome. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) CLEVELAND 3, TEXAS 8.

CLEVELAND 7TH: Sexson grounded out to third. S Alomar flied out to left center. Lofton grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 3, TEXAS 8.

TEXAS 7TH: R Palmeiro doubled to left. I Rodriguez lined out to center. Zeile flied out to left center. L Stevens intentionally walked. Dransfeldt grounded into fielder's choice to second, L Stevens out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 3, TEXAS 8.

CLEVELAND 8TH: Vizquel reached on infield single. Jeff Zimmerman relieved Mark Clark. R Alomar doubled to deep right, Vizquel to third. M Ramirez grounded out to third, Vizquel scored, R Alomar to third. R Alomar scored on Zimmerman wild pitch. Thome struck out looking. Fryman flied out to deep left center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 5, TEXAS 8.

TEXAS 8TH: Paul Wagner relieved Rich Delucia. T Goodwin grounded out to second. Alicea lined out to first. Greer walked. Steve Reed relieved Paul Wagner. J Gonzalez popped out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 5, TEXAS 8.

CLEVELAND 9TH: John Wetteland relieved Jeff Zimmerman. E Wilson hit for Justice. E Wilson popped out to shortstop. Sexson homered to right center. S Alomar grounded out to shortstop. Lofton fouled out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 6, TEXAS 8.