Game 32: May 10, 1999 (L: 5-2)
[ Previous Game | Next Game ]
[ Schedule Menu | Main Page ]

Commentary (by me)

Last night was one of those "peace with the world" nights.  My wife was out getting her hair cut, so I was home alone with the TV and a Rangers game.  :)       I printed out one of my scorecards, sat in the recliner with some dinner, a glass of wine, and watched the Rangers game.  Out loud to no one, I exclaimed "Life is good".   And not because my wife wasn't there - she loves the game a lot herself (although she's not as fanatical as I am).  :)

Anyway, what can I say about this game?  We got shut down by Jamie Navarro, which was a shocker.  He pitched damn well, and we didn't get anything going really until the ninth, but it was too late.

I didn't think we played all that bad, but we couldn't get anything going against Navarro.   Not a whole lot else to say about this one.

Commentary (by Jim Meeks)

The new and improved White Sox have a new and improved pitcher - Jaime Navarro.

He beat the Rangers Monday evening throwing from different angles and changing speeds, all very effectively. The potent Rangers' offense was off-balance the entire time. That's the key to quieting the Rangers.

The surprising boost John Burkett gave the Rangers Sunday was wiped out Monday by the uneven pitching of Rick Helling. Helling gave up four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He had pitched well (on par with 1998 anyway) in his last 4 starts prior to Monday, but Mr. Hyde showed up on the mound in Chicago.

Every hitter in the ChiSox lineup had a hit off Rangers' pitching. Even the bullpen was bad (of course, Jeff Zimmerman aka SUPERMAN didn't pitch).

Some odd notes for you: Pudge Rodriguez stole his 8th base. Tom Goodwin stole 2 more as well. The Rangers lead the AL in steals. Hard to fathom on a team with 6 players on pace to drive in 99 or more runs.

Game Recap

CHICAGO (TICKER) -- Jaime Navarro pitched eight impressive innings and Brook Fordyce and Magglio Ordonez drove in two runs apiece to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers.

Navarro (2-3) allowed one run and four hits with a walk and four strikeouts. He lowered his ERA from 6.23 to 5.03. He retired nine straight batters after Tom Goodwin led off the first with a single. Mark McLemore broke the streak with a base hit in the fourth.

"I'm working fast and throwing strikes," said Navarro. "I've changed my arm angle, throwing more sidearm, and it's working. Me and Nardi (pitching coach Nardi Contreras) are on the same page, just like when I was with the Cubs and had Fergie Jenkins pushing me."

The White Sox opened the scoring in the second, when Ordonez blasted a 438-foot home run to left field off starter Rick Helling. Ordonez is hitting .548 (17-for-31) with two homers and five RBI in his career against Texas.

"I feel very comfortable at the plate, almost like a zone," said Ordonez. "I've got a plan and I'm sticking to it up there."

The Rangers tied it in the fourth. After singling, McLemore advanced on a groundout by Rusty Greer and scored when Juan Gonzalez singled off the left-field wall.

Chicago took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Chris Singleton plated a run with a double-play grounder and Fordyce came through with an RBI single.

The White Sox pushed across insurance runs in the seventh and eighth. Ordonez got credited with a RBI as he grounded into a fielder's choice, but McLemore dropped the relay. Fordyce drove in pinch-runner McKay Christensen with a single in the eighth.

Texas made it interesting in the ninth against reliever Bobby Howry. Rafael Palmeiro had a run-scoring single, but with two runners on, Ivan Rodriguez struck out and Todd Zeile ended the game with a forceout.

"I thought coming out of spring training we had a very overt type of offensive club. But for whatever reason, our defense has come and gone," siad Texas manager Johnny Oates. "It's hard for me to get a read on why."

Helling (3-4) allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings but his three-game winning streak was stopped.

"We were tired tonight and played poorly," added Oates. "Tomorrow, we're going to come out and kick butt."

Gonzalez had two hits for the Rangers, who fell to 3-3 on an eight-game roadtrip. Texas was held to six hits after exploding for 20 in Sunday's 11-6 win over Toronto.

The White Sox have won nine of their last 12 home games.

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image

White Sox pitcher Jamie Navarro	Juan going into second, but he's already out	Ray Durham getting thrown out at second attempting to steal

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  TEX - RICK HELLING, TIM CRABTREE (7TH), MIKE VENAFRO
                  (8TH), DANNY PATTERSON (8TH) AND IVAN
                  RODRIGUEZ
            CHA - JAIME NAVARRO, BOB HOWRY (9TH) AND BROOK
                  FORDYCE

             WP - JAIME NAVARRO (2-3)
             LP - RICK HELLING (3-4)
           SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS:  TEX - NONE
            CHA - MAGGLIO ORDONEZ (8) OFF HELLING IN THE 2ND, 0 ON

     TIME:  2:39     ATT:  12,670

PROBABLES:  TEX - AARON SELE (3-3, 4.54)
            CHA - JAMES BALDWIN (2-3, 5.56)



Box Score
TEXAS (2) AT CHI WHITE SOX (5) - FINAL

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
T Goodwin cf            3  0  1  0   1  0   0  .231
Mclemore 2b             3  2  1  0   1  0   2  .294
Greer lf                4  0  0  0   0  2   2  .298
J Gonzalez rf           4  0  2  1   0  0   1  .312
R Palmeiro dh           4  0  1  1   0  0   1  .343
 Zaun pr                0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .200
I Rodriguez c           4  0  1  0   0  2   2  .295
Zeile 3b                4  0  0  0   0  0   3  .243
L Stevens 1b            3  0  0  0   0  1   0  .325
Dransfeldt ss           2  0  0  0   0  1   0  .154
 a-Alicea ph            1  0  0  0   0  0   0  .179
 Shave ss               0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .304

Totals                 32  2  6  2   2  6  11

a-fouled to catcher for Dransfeldt in the 8th.

BATTING: RBI - J Gonzalez (28), R Palmeiro (22). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - J Gonzalez 1, Greer 1, Zeile 2. GIDP -
R Palmeiro. Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: SB - T Goodwin 2 (16, 2nd base off Navarro/B Fordyce 2);
I Rodriguez (8, 2nd base off Navarro/B Fordyce).

FIELDING: E - Mclemore (4, catch). DP: 1 (Mclemore-Dransfeldt-L Stevens).

CHI WHITE SOX          ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Durham 2b               4  1  2  0   0  0   1  .267
M Caruso ss             5  0  1  0   0  0   1  .267
F Thomas dh             4  0  1  0   1  0   2  .353
M Ordonez rf            3  1  1  2   1  0   3  .300
Konerko 1b              4  1  1  0   0  0   3  .250
 C Wilson 3b            0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .067
Norton 3b-1b            2  1  1  0   2  1   2  .220
Lee lf                  4  0  2  0   0  0   2  .273
 M Christensen pr-cf    0  1  0  0   0  0   0  .240
Singleton cf-lf         3  0  1  0   0  0   2  .268
B Fordyce c             4  0  2  2   0  0   3  .305

Totals                 33  5 12  4   4  1  19

BATTING: 2B - Singleton (4, Helling); F Thomas (10, Helling);
Konerko (6, Helling). 3B - Durham (2, Helling). HR - M Ordonez
(8, 2nd inning off Helling 0 on, 0 out). S - Singleton. RBI -
M Ordonez 2 (29), B Fordyce 2 (9). 2-out RBI - B Fordyce. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - B Fordyce 2, M Ordonez 1, Norton 1,
F Thomas 2. GIDP - Singleton. Team LOB - 10.

BASERUNNING: CS - Durham (3, 2nd base by Helling/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (Durham-M Caruso-Konerko).

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Helling (L, 3-4)              6 1/3   8   4   4   4   0   1   6.34
Crabtree                        2/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   4.09
Venafro                         2/3   4   1   1   0   0   0   5.40
D Patterson                     1/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   5.68

CHI WHITE SOX                ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Navarro (W, 2-3)              8       4   1   1   1   4   0   5.03
Howry                         1       2   1   1   1   2   0   2.77

WP - D Patterson. IBB - F Thomas (by Helling). HBP - Durham (by Helling).
Pitches-strikes: Navarro 106-63; Howry 24-14; Helling 104-58; Crabtree
11-8; Venafro 21-14; D Patterson 4-3.  Ground balls-fly balls: Navarro
9-11; Howry 1-0; Helling 7-11; Crabtree 1-0; Venafro 1-0; D Patterson
1-0.  Batters faced: Navarro 28; Howry 6; Helling 30; Crabtree 3;
Venafro 5; D Patterson 1.

UMPIRES: HP--Rick Reed. 1B--Al Clark. 2B--Larry Young. 3B--Tim
Tschida.
T--2:39.  Att--12,670.   Weather: 58 degrees, clear.   Wind: 10 mph,
left to 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.

Chi White Sox Starting Lineups -- Ray Durham 2B, Mike Caruso SS, Frank Thomas DH, Magglio Ordonez RF, Paul Konerko 1B, Greg Norton 3B, Carlos Lee LF, Chris Singleton CF, Brook Fordyce C, Jaime Navarro RHP.

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

Gametime Weather: 58 degrees, Clear, wind left to right at 10 mph.

TEXAS 1ST: T Goodwin singled to center. Mclemore flied out to center. T Goodwin stole second. Greer grounded out to first, T Goodwin to third. J Gonzalez fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, CHI WHITE SOX 0.

CHI WHITE SOX 1ST: Durham hit by pitch. Durham caught stealing, catcher to shortstop. M Caruso grounded out to first. F Thomas grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, CHI WHITE SOX 0.

TEXAS 2ND: R Palmeiro grounded out to second. I Rodriguez lined out to right. Zeile flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, CHI WHITE SOX 0.

CHI WHITE SOX 2ND: M Ordonez homered to left. Konerko flied out to deep right. Norton walked. Lee lined out to shortstop. Singleton doubled to shallow left, Norton to third. B Fordyce flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, CHI WHITE SOX 1.

TEXAS 3RD: L Stevens struck out swinging. Dransfeldt struck out swinging. T Goodwin lined out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, CHI WHITE SOX 1.

CHI WHITE SOX 3RD: Durham grounded out to shortstop. M Caruso flied out to shallow right center. F Thomas doubled to left. M Ordonez flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, CHI WHITE SOX 1.

TEXAS 4TH: Mclemore singled to right. Greer grounded out to second, Mclemore to second. J Gonzalez singled to deep left, Mclemore scored. R Palmeiro grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Gonzalez out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CHI WHITE SOX 1.

CHI WHITE SOX 4TH: Konerko doubled to deep right. Norton walked. Lee reached on infield single, Konerko to third, Norton to second. Singleton grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Lee out at second, Konerko scored, Norton to third. B Fordyce singled to right, Norton scored. Durham grounded out to first. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CHI WHITE SOX 3.

TEXAS 5TH: I Rodriguez struck out swinging. Zeile grounded out to shortstop. L Stevens flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CHI WHITE SOX 3.

CHI WHITE SOX 5TH: M Caruso grounded out to first. F Thomas flied out to right. M Ordonez walked. Konerko flied out to deep left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CHI WHITE SOX 3.

TEXAS 6TH: Dransfeldt grounded out to shortstop. T Goodwin walked. Mclemore flied out to left. T Goodwin stole second. Greer struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CHI WHITE SOX 3.

CHI WHITE SOX 6TH: Norton singled to center. Lee fouled out to right. Singleton lined out to right. B Fordyce flied out to shallow left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CHI WHITE SOX 3.

TEXAS 7TH: J Gonzalez flied out to center. R Palmeiro grounded out to second. I Rodriguez singled to center. I Rodriguez stole second. Zeile grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CHI WHITE SOX 3.

CHI WHITE SOX 7TH: Durham tripled to right center. M Caruso popped out to third. F Thomas intentionally walked. Tim Crabtree relieved Rick Helling. M Ordonez grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Durham scored, F Thomas safe at second on 2nd baseman Mclemore's fielding error. Konerko grounded into fielder's choice to first, F Thomas to third, M Ordonez out at second. Norton struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) TEXAS 1, CHI WHITE SOX 4.

TEXAS 8TH: Norton at first. C Wilson at third. L Stevens popped out to third. Alicea hit for Dransfeldt. Alicea fouled out to catcher. T Goodwin lined out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CHI WHITE SOX 4.

CHI WHITE SOX 8TH: Mike Venafro relieved Tim Crabtree. Shave at short. Lee singled to right. M Christensen ran for Lee. Singleton sacrificed M Christensen to second. B Fordyce singled to left, M Christensen scored. Durham singled to right, B Fordyce to second. M Caruso reached on infield single, Durham to second, B Fordyce out when hit by batted ball. Danny Patterson relieved Mike Venafro. Durham to third, M Caruso to second on D Patterson wild pitch. F Thomas grounded out to first. (1 Run, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CHI WHITE SOX 5.

TEXAS 9TH: Bob Howry relieved Jaime Navarro. Singleton in left. M Christensen in center. Mclemore walked. Greer struck out swinging. J Gonzalez singled to shallow left, Mclemore to second. R Palmeiro singled to right center, Mclemore scored, J Gonzalez to third. Zaun ran for R Palmeiro. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. Zeile grounded into fielder's choice to second, Zaun out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, CHI WHITE SOX 5.