Game 27: May 5, 1999 (W: 8-3)
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Commentary (by me)

Really busy day at work, didn't get to this until 4:30PM.  Was nice to get a big win, but again we bunched up in the first inning.  Couple of homers over the green monster.  Juan's looked like it was going out of the ballpark completely!    I thought Stevens played well at first base again.

Rick Helling pitched well, as did our relievers, although Venafro gave up his "out streak".  Nice to get a win.

Commentary (by Jim Meeks)

Fenway Park is historically a favorite place for the Rangers to play. Wednesday, the Rangers began a road trip in Boston and seemed to enjoy themselves.

Although the team had some bad news before the ball game concerning Royce Clayton's shoulder, the Rangers exploded for 5 runs in the first inning off Boston starter Pat Rapp. Pudge Rodriguez capped off the inning with a 3-run homer, his 5th of the year.

Rick Helling cruised, for once. In his 6.1 innings, he allowed no homers, the first time all year he's accomplished that feat. The bullpen combo of Mike Venafro and Jeff Zimmerman held down the Sox to preserve an 8 to 3 win.

Juan Gonzalez homered for the 5th time Wednesday, in perhaps his favorite park to hit in. Expect a big series from him.

Game Recap

BOSTON (TICKER) -- Staked to an early seven-run cushion, Rick Helling pitched 6 1/3 innings for his third straight win and Ivan Rodriguez homered and drove in four runs to give the Texas Rangers an 8-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

Texas scored five times in the first inning against Pat Rapp (1-2) and added two in the second for a 7-0 lead.

That was more than enough for Helling (3-3), who escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first and coasted into the seventh. He allowed two runs and seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts, lowering his ERA from 7.18 to 6.45.

"No question, it's a different ballgame when you score that many runs in the first couple of innings," Helling said. "Any pitcher will tell you, you pitch the game differently when you're up 7-0 in the first two innings. I went out there and threw a lot of fastballs to a team I knew could hit fastballs. But when you're up 7-0, you've got to make the game as quick as you can by throwing strike one."

Rookies Mike Venafro and Jeff Zimmerman finished up for the Rangers, who have won five straight road games.

"I thought our ballclub got off to a very good offensive start, obviously. A good first inning, a good second inning," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. "But I thought we lost a little bit of focus there in the middle innings, when we had a chance to put a few more runs on the board. We became a little bit impatient and swung at a lot of bad pitches. But if you get eight runs on the board, you've got to be happy with that."

Rodriguez's three-run blast highlighted the first-inning uprising for Texas, which moved three games above .500 for the fifth time this season.

Rapp did not survive the first, surrendering five runs and four hits with three walks while retiring only one batter. John Wasdin was a bright spot for Boston. He went 6 2/3 innings to equal the longest relief stint of his career and yielded two runs and seven hits.

"I really never got comfortable out there, couldn't much control of my fastball," Rapp said. "I'd get behind on the guys and every batter seemed to be hitting them hard, waiting on my pitches. Like with Rodriguez -- I went with a sinker in. It looked like something he was waiting for in that situation, and he got it."

Nomar Garciaparra hit his first homer since September 24 for the Red Sox, who have lost three straight and six of their last eight games.

"You go in cycles," Garciaparra said. "We were struggling to score runs early on in the season. Bats weren't coming alive. And right now, it seems like some of our pitchers are struggling a little bit, and that happens. We can't hold our heads down right now. We've got to pick each other up right now."

Juan Gonzalez and Rafael Palmeiro delivered RBI singles in the first ahead of Rodriguez's fifth homer of the season.

In the bottom half, Boston loaded the bases with two outs before Helling retired Mike Stanley on a fly ball to the warning track in right-center field.

"He dodged a lot of bullets tonight. It seemed like he was in trouble every inning," Oates said of his starter. "He only had one 1-2-3 inning. It seemed like we were approaching a record for putouts by outfielders. But he was aggressive, and that's what you're supposed to do with a big lead."

Rusty Greer and Rodriguez had run-scoring singles in the second to stretch the lead to 7-0.

Boston finally got on the board in the sixth as Jason Varitek hit his first career triple and scored on Damon Buford's infield hit. The Red Sox climbed within 7-3 one inning later on Garciaparra's homer, but Gonzalez connected for his fifth of the season in the eighth to cap the scoring.

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image

Goodwin steals second in the first inning	Juan going around the bases after his HR in the ninth	Pudge scores in the ninth, but was called out by another umpire due to interference by Todd Zeile at first base

Box Score

Line Score
AL  FINAL
                    1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9     R  H  E
                    -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -     -  -  -
TEXAS               5  2  0   0  0  0   0  0  1     8 12  0
BOSTON              0  0  0   0  0  1   2  0  0     3  8  0   (FINAL)

BATTERIES:  TEX - RICK HELLING, MIKE VENAFRO (7TH), JEFF
                  ZIMMERMAN (8TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ
            BOS - PAT RAPP, JOHN WASDIN (1ST), MARK GUTHRIE
                  (8TH), JIM CORSI (9TH) AND JASON VARITEK

             WP - RICK HELLING (3-3)
             LP - PAT RAPP (1-2)
           SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS:  TEX - IVAN RODRIGUEZ (5) OFF RAPP IN THE 1ST, 2 ON
                  JUAN GONZALEZ (5) OFF J CORSI IN THE 9TH, 0 ON
            BOS - NOMAR GARCIAPARRA (1) OFF VENAFRO IN THE 7TH, 1 ON

     TIME:  2:49     ATT:  20,960

PROBABLES:  TEX - AARON SELE (3-2, 4.45)
            BOS - BRET SABERHAGEN (2-1, 1.99)



Box Score
TEXAS (8) AT BOSTON (3) - FINAL

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
T Goodwin cf            4  2  2  0   1  0   0  .227
Mclemore 2b             4  0  0  0   1  2   2  .267
Greer lf                4  2  2  1   1  1   1  .311
J Gonzalez rf           5  2  2  2   0  1   2  .302
R Palmeiro dh           3  1  3  1   2  0   0  .352
I Rodriguez c           5  1  2  4   0  0   3  .293
Zeile 3b                4  0  1  0   1  0   3  .242
L Stevens 1b            3  0  0  0   1  2   2  .326
Dransfeldt ss           4  0  0  0   0  0   3  .214

Totals                 36  8 12  8   7  6  16

BATTING: 2B - T Goodwin (4, J Wasdin). HR - I Rodriguez (5, 1st inning
off Rapp 2 on, 1 out); J Gonzalez (5, 9th inning off J Corsi 0 on,
0 out). RBI - J Gonzalez 2 (23), R Palmeiro (19), I Rodriguez 4 (18),
Greer (18). 2-out RBI - I Rodriguez. Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - Zeile 1, Greer 1. GIDP - Dransfeldt 2. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: SB - T Goodwin (14, 2nd base off Rapp/Varitek);
Mclemore (2, 2nd base off Guthrie/Varitek); I Rodriguez (6, 2nd base
off J Corsi/Varitek).

BOSTON                 ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Offerman 2b             3  1  1  0   2  1   3  .340
John Valentin 3b        5  0  0  0   0  0   3  .208
Jefferson dh            3  0  2  0   0  0   0  .300
 a-Frye ph-dh           1  0  0  0   0  0   0  .292
 b-Daubach ph           1  0  0  0   0  1   1  .321
N Garciaparra ss        4  1  1  2   0  0   3  .321
Oleary lf               3  0  0  0   0  0   1  .263
Stanley 1b              4  0  0  0   0  0   3  .310
Varitek c               4  1  1  0   0  1   0  .236
Buford cf               4  0  2  1   0  1   0  .322
T Nixon rf              3  0  1  0   1  0   1  .140

Totals                 35  3  8  3   3  4  15

a-grounded to first for Jefferson in the 7th; b-struck out for
Frye in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - Buford (4, Helling); Offerman (13, Helling). 3B -
Varitek (1, Helling). HR - N Garciaparra (1, 7th inning off
Venafro 1 on, 2 out). RBI - Buford (10), N Garciaparra 2 (13).
2-out RBI - Buford, N Garciaparra 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - Stanley 2, Offerman 1. Team LOB - 9.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - Oleary (I Rodriguez at 2nd base).
DP: 3 (N Garciaparra-Stanley, N Garciaparra-Offerman-Stanley,
Offerman-Stanley-Varitek).

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Helling (W, 3-3)              6 1/3   7   2   2   2   2   0   6.45
Venafro                         2/3   1   1   1   0   0   1   1.23
Zimmerman                     2       0   0   0   1   2   0   0.93

BOSTON                       ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Rapp (L, 1-2)                   1/3   4   5   5   3   1   1   7.97
J Wasdin                      6 2/3   7   2   2   2   5   0   2.70
Guthrie                       1       0   0   0   1   0   0   4.40
J Corsi                       1       1   1   1   1   0   1   4.63

HBP - Oleary (by Helling).  Pitches-strikes: Rapp 35-15; J Wasdin
100-63; Guthrie 16-8; J Corsi 17-8; Helling 104-60; Venafro 9-7;
Zimmerman 26-17.  Ground balls-fly balls: Rapp 0-0; J Wasdin 10-5;
Guthrie 2-1; J Corsi 2-0; Helling 4-13; Venafro 2-0; Zimmerman 2-2.
Batters faced: Rapp 8; J Wasdin 27; Guthrie 4; J Corsi 4; Helling 29;
Venafro 3; Zimmerman 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Tschida. 1B--Rick Reed. 2B--Fieldin Culbreth.
3B--Larry Young.
T--2:49.  Att--20,960.   Weather: 59 degrees, overcast.   Wind: 8 mph,
in from right.

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, Kelly Dransfeldt SS, Rick Helling RHP.

Boston Starting Lineups -- Jose Offerman 2B, John Valentin 3B, Reggie Jefferson DH, Nomar Garciaparra SS, Troy Oleary LF, Mike Stanley 1B, Jason Varitek C, Damon Buford CF, Trot Nixon RF, Pat Rapp RHP.

Umpires -- Tschida (HP), Reed (1B), Culbreth (2B), Young (3B).

Gametime Weather: 59 degrees, Overcast, wind in from right at 8 mph.

TEXAS 1ST: T Goodwin walked. Mclemore struck out swinging. T Goodwin stole second. Greer walked. J Gonzalez singled to left center, T Goodwin scored, Greer to third. R Palmeiro singled to right, Greer scored, J Gonzalez to third. I Rodriguez homered to left center, J Gonzalez and R Palmeiro scored. Zeile singled to left. L Stevens walked, Zeile to second. John Wasdin relieved Pat Rapp. Dransfeldt grounded into double play, shortstop to first, L Stevens out at second. (5 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 1ST: Offerman walked. John Valentin flied out to right. Jefferson singled to center, Offerman to second. N Garciaparra lined out to third. Oleary hit by pitch, Offerman to third, Jefferson to second. Stanley flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, BOSTON 0.

TEXAS 2ND: T Goodwin doubled to right. Mclemore flied out to center, T Goodwin to third. Greer singled to center, T Goodwin scored. J Gonzalez flied out to shallow right. R Palmeiro walked, Greer to second. I Rodriguez singled to center, Greer scored, R Palmeiro to second. Zeile lined out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 2ND: Varitek fouled out to catcher. Buford struck out swinging. T Nixon singled to center. Offerman struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, BOSTON 0.

TEXAS 3RD: L Stevens grounded out to second. Dransfeldt grounded out to shortstop. T Goodwin singled to left center. Mclemore struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 3RD: John Valentin flied out to deep center. Jefferson singled to right. N Garciaparra flied out to deep right. Oleary lined out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, BOSTON 0.

TEXAS 4TH: Greer struck out swinging. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. R Palmeiro singled to right. I Rodriguez grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, R Palmeiro out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 4TH: Stanley flied out to right. Varitek flied out to right center. Buford doubled to left. T Nixon walked. Offerman flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, BOSTON 0.

TEXAS 5TH: Zeile walked. L Stevens struck out swinging. Dransfeldt grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Zeile out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 5TH: John Valentin grounded out to pitcher. Jefferson grounded out to first. N Garciaparra grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, BOSTON 0.

TEXAS 6TH: T Goodwin flied out to center. Mclemore grounded out to second. Greer singled to right. J Gonzalez flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 6TH: Oleary flied out to right center. Stanley flied out to right. Varitek tripled to right. Buford reached on infield single, Varitek scored. T Nixon grounded out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, BOSTON 1.

TEXAS 7TH: R Palmeiro singled to right center. I Rodriguez grounded into fielder's choice to third, R Palmeiro out at second. Zeile hit into fielder's choice to left, I Rodriguez out at second. L Stevens struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, BOSTON 1.

BOSTON 7TH: Offerman doubled to right. John Valentin flied out to deep left center. Mike Venafro relieved Rick Helling. Frye hit for Jefferson. Frye grounded out to first, Offerman to third. N Garciaparra homered to left, Offerman scored. Oleary grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, BOSTON 3.

TEXAS 8TH: Mark Guthrie relieved John Wasdin. Dransfeldt grounded out to third. T Goodwin lined out to left. Mclemore walked. Mclemore stole second. Greer grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, BOSTON 3.

BOSTON 8TH: Jeff Zimmerman relieved Mike Venafro. Stanley popped out to second. Varitek struck out swinging. Buford grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, BOSTON 3.

TEXAS 9TH: Jim Corsi relieved Mark Guthrie. J Gonzalez homered to left. R Palmeiro walked. I Rodriguez grounded into fielder's choice to third, R Palmeiro out at second. I Rodriguez stole second. Zeile grounded out to second, I Rodriguez to third. I Rodriguez out at home on batter's interference. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 8, BOSTON 3.

BOSTON 9TH: T Nixon grounded out to first. Offerman walked. John Valentin popped out to first. Daubach hit for Frye. Daubach struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 8, BOSTON 3.