Game 34: May 13, 1999 (W: 15-7)
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Commentary (by me)

Bombs away!  That's what Eric Nadel said in the post game wrap up when starting to describe the bottom of the fourth inning at the Ballpark, and I was there - it certainly felt that way!  In short - a Grand Slam, a 3 run homer, and a solo shot in the same inning - MAN!

After the first three and a half innings, I thought it was going to be one of those good close games, as both pitchers seemed decent, but not totally unhittable.  And then we got to the bottom of the 8th inning.  Oh man..    The second 8 spot in two consective games, and the second game in a row with a grand slam (that's a record).  Here's a snip from the game log.  That about tells it all.. 

R Palmeiro singled to right. Zeile singled to left, R Palmeiro to second. L Stevens safe at first on 2nd baseman Deshields' fielding error, R Palmeiro to third, Zeile to second. R Kelly homered to right center, R Palmeiro, Zeile and L Stevens scored. Dransfeldt grounded out to third. T Goodwin walked. Mclemore singled to center, T Goodwin to second. Greer homered to right, T Goodwin and Mclemore scored. Doug Linton relieved Scott Kamieniecki. I Rodriguez lined out to right. R Palmeiro homered to right. Zeile lined out to shortstop. (8 Runs, 6 Hits, 1 Error) BALTIMORE 1, TEXAS 9.

Three home runs in the same inning.  What an inning.   We left this inning 9-1.  It felt good.  It's funny, because walking into the park for the game I told my wife that the Rangers were due to really beat up on someone - thinking the '99 Orioles were the perfect team to do that to.  OK, it's the top of the fifth, and we give up a run.  No biggie, we're still up 9-2.   However, it started to fall apart, and it felt like the way out in front loss to the Yankees a few weeks back again.  We gave up a fivespot in the top of sixth, and we were only up two runs again.  It really felt like "bleeding" sitting there watching that.

Anyways, in the bottom of the 6th, we pulled ahead again, back to 12-7, and then ripped it open again in the bottom of the 8th with another three for a final tally of 15-7.  The Rangers bats were more than alive!    Kelly's salami was the first one I'd seen live in quite some time, and the first for my wife.  It was quite cool seeing the big wide eyed look on her when it was gone.  The inning was awesome, and the fans around us were into it, too.   The last couple of games I went to there were quite a lot of opposing fans out in Section 39.  No biggie, I don't mind that unless they're really obnoxious, but it was cool to have more Ranger fans there for this really great win!

Other than the sixth inning, I thought the Rangers pitching did rather well.  Take away the fivespot, and we only gave up two runs the whole game, both on solo shots.  Venafro, Zimmerman, & Munoz combined for 4 innings of shutout ball - Zimmerman's two innings were perfect!  Methinks this kind will be here next year if this holds up.

Commentary (by Jim Meeks)

The Rangers have reminded themselves of something they had forgotten. if they can't out-pitch an opponent, they can sure out hit them.

The offense, which has set or tied some kind of club record in 3 of the last 4 games, was at it again Thursday as they spanked the Orioles 15-7.

Roberto Kelly, filling in for an injured Juan Gonzalez, hit a grand slam in an 8-run uprising in the 4th inning. The 4th inning outburst was the club's second 8 run inning in a span of 5 innings (going back to Tuesday).

Kelly's slam marked the first time the Rangers had ever hit a salami in back-to-back contests. Sunday, they tied a club record with 8 doubles.

Mike Morgan was terrible. Short and simple. The starters have been pretty bad for a while now, they certainly aren't out-pitching anyone.

The team has found one new wrinkle that has been missing - they can outscore anyone if they click on all cylinders. And lately they are clicking.

Game Recap

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) -- Cal Ripken may have come back a day too soon. He was part of an awful effort by the Baltimore Orioles' defense and watched another pathetic performance by the pitching staff.

Baseball's iron man made his long-awaited return and committed one of his team's five errors. Four of them came in the sixth inning, when the Texas Rangers scored three times to help seal a 15-7 victory.

Eight months removed from ending his consecutive games streak at 2,632, Ripken returned from his first ever stint on the disabled list after missing 22 contests with a back problem. He stroked an RBI single and scored on a two-run single by Brady Anderson, capping a five-run sixth that pulled Baltimore within 9-7.

But the Orioles blew any chance of completing the comeback in the bottom half with awful defense. Errors by relievers Mike Fetters and Jesse Orosco preceded a throwing error by four-time Gold Glove catcher Charles Johnson, helping Texas take an 11-7 lead. Ripken, who went 1-for-4, allowed Todd Zeile's grounder to squirt through his legs as Rafael Palmeiro scored.

"It felt a bit strange," Ripken said of returning. "I felt all right in the batter's box and pretty good in the field. It was good to be back."

It was Palmeiro's first game against his former team since he left Baltimore during the offseason to sign a free agent deal with Texas. Palmeiro scored four times, finishing 2-for-2 with three walks and a solo homer that capped an eight-run fourth.

"I just wanted the team to keep rolling," Palmeiro said. "It's not necessary who we are playing."

Palmeiro led off the fourth with a single and later scored on Roberto Kelly's second career grand slam, which followed a fielding error by Orioles second baseman Delino DeShields. Rusty Greer added a three-run blast off Scott Kamieniecki (0-2) before Palmeiro took Doug Linton deep for his seventh homer and a 9-1 cushion.

Kelly, whose other grand slam came in 1993, helped Texas match a team record with three home runs in one inning. He started in right field for reigning AL MVP Juan Gonzalez, who sat out with a strained right hamstring.

"We are capable of scoring a lot quickly. I thought Roberto Kelly's grand slam gave us a bit of impetus," said Rangers manager Johnny Oates. "We are not excited about Juan not being in the lineup, but for one night, we scored runs without him."

Greer contributed four RBI and Mark McLemore collected four hits for the Rangers, whose 15 runs matched a season high.

Kamieniecki saw his ERA rise to 23.40 as he was shelled for eight runs and seven hits with three walks in just 3 1/3 innings. Linton, Fetters, Orosco and Gabe Molina combined to give up seven runs -- five earned -- and six hits with three walks.

"I put the ball over the plate and they hit 'em," Kamieniecki said. "It was a bad pitch to Kelly, and then they score four (more) runs."

The Orioles, whose staff owns the third-worst ERA in the majors, have surrendered 38 runs during their current four-game losing streak. They have allowed 11 runs or more six times in 34 games this season and the three home runs allowed in one inning matched a club record.

"Embarrassing performance pitching-wise at least, and then there was sloppy play on top of that," said Oriols manager Ray Miller. "We have no confidence. ... This ballclub is just begging for someone to go out and throw it over the plate."

Mike Morgan (6-2) took advantage of the Rangers' outburst, notching the win despite allowing five runs and nine hits in five innings.

Trailing 9-1, Baltimore attempted a rally as DeShields hit a solo shot in the fifth and Albert Belle smacked a two-run homer to trigger the five-run sixth.

Linton yielded a leadoff walk to Tom Goodwin in the bottom half before being replaced by Fetters, who gave up McLemore's RBI triple. Fetters bobbled Greer's grounder but appeared out of the jam when Ivan Rodriguez grounded to third, as Ripken gunned down Greer at second and Reboulet threw out McLemore at home.

In came Orosco, who immediately threw away a pickoff attempt and Rodriguez went to second. Palmeiro walked and the Rangers tried a double steal. Johnson's throw sailed into center field, allowing Rodriguez to score, and Palmeiro scored on Ripken's error for a 12-7 cushion.

Texas added three runs in the eighth. McLemore singled to lead off, Rodriguez doubled and Palmeiro was intentionally walked to load the bases. Zeile stroked a two-run single to left off Molina and Stevens followed with an RBI single to right.

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image

Baseball fan Will Spain tries to get Cal Ripken's attention before the game	Cal Ripken at bat	Cal hitting into a double play	Kelly Dransfeldt turns one of the four double plays the Rangers turned	Mac's out at home on a very bizarre 6-4-2 double play.

The power stroke of Roberto Kelly in the fourth - A grand salami!

Box Score

Line Score
AL  FINAL
                    1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9     R  H  E
                    -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -     -  -  -
BALTIMORE           0  0  1   0  1  5   0  0  0     7 13  5
TEXAS               1  0  0   8  0  3   0  3  x    15 13  0   (FINAL)

BATTERIES:  BAL - SCOTT KAMIENIECKI, DOUG LINTON (4TH), MIKE
                  FETTERS (6TH), JESSE OROSCO (6TH), GABE MOLINA
                  (7TH) AND CHARLES JOHNSON
            TEX - MIKE MORGAN, DANNY PATTERSON (6TH), MIKE
                  VENAFRO (6TH), JEFF ZIMMERMAN (7TH), MIKE
                  MUNOZ (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

             WP - MIKE MORGAN (6-2)
             LP - SCOTT KAMIENIECKI (0-2)
           SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS:  BAL - BRADY ANDERSON (6) OFF MORGAN IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
                  DELINO DESHIELDS (3) OFF MORGAN IN THE 5TH, 0 ON
                  ALBERT BELLE (7) OFF MORGAN IN THE 6TH, 1 ON
            TEX - ROBERTO KELLY (2) OFF KAMIENIECKI IN THE 4TH, 3 ON
                  RUSTY GREER (4) OFF KAMIENIECKI IN THE 4TH, 2 ON
                  RAFAEL PALMEIRO (7) OFF LINTON IN THE 4TH, 0 ON

     TIME:  3:02     ATT:  40,678

PROBABLES:  BAL - SCOTT ERICKSON (1-5, 6.59)
            TEX - MARK CLARK (2-3, 7.85)



Box Score
BALTIMORE (7) AT TEXAS (15) - FINAL

BALTIMORE              ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
B Anderson cf           4  1  3  3   1  0   0  .282
Bordick ss              5  0  1  0   0  1   4  .250
Surhoff lf              4  1  2  0   1  0   2  .350
Belle rf                5  1  2  2   0  0   2  .239
Baines dh               4  1  2  0   0  0   2  .289
Conine 1b               4  0  1  0   0  0   3  .264
C Ripken 3b             4  1  1  1   0  0   1  .188
Deshields 2b            1  1  1  1   1  0   0  .180
 a-Reboulet ph-2b       1  1  0  0   1  1   0  .234
C Johnson c             4  0  0  0   0  0   4  .238

Totals                 36  7 13  7   4  2  18

a-walked for Deshields in the 6th.

BATTING: 3B - B Anderson (2, Morgan). HR - B Anderson (6, 3rd
inning off Morgan 0 on, 2 out); Deshields (3, 5th inning off
Morgan 0 on, 1 out); Belle (7, 6th inning off Morgan 1 on,
0 out). RBI - B Anderson 3 (17), Deshields (8), Belle 2 (24),
C Ripken (3). 2-out RBI - B Anderson. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - Bordick 1, Surhoff 1, Belle 1. GIDP - Bordick,
C Ripken, C Johnson, Conine.  Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: E - Deshields (3, ground ball); Fetters (2, bobble);
Orosco (1, throw); C Johnson (1, throw); C Ripken (6, ground
ball). Outfield assists - Belle (L Stevens at 2nd base).
DP: 2 (C Ripken-Reboulet-C Johnson, Reboulet-Bordick-Conine).

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
T Goodwin cf            2  3  0  0   3  0   1  .216
Mclemore 2b             5  2  4  1   0  1   1  .322
Greer lf                5  1  2  4   0  0   3  .303
I Rodriguez c           5  2  1  0   0  0   4  .295
R Palmeiro dh           2  4  2  1   3  0   0  .360
Zeile 3b                5  1  2  2   0  0   3  .250
L Stevens 1b            5  1  1  1   0  0   3  .325
R Kelly rf              5  1  1  4   0  1   1  .400
Dransfeldt ss           4  0  0  0   0  0   1  .182

Totals                 38 15 13 13   6  2  17

BATTING: 2B - Greer (13, Kamieniecki); I Rodriguez (6,
G Molina). 3B - Mclemore (3, Fetters). HR - R Kelly (2, 4th inning
off Kamieniecki 3 on, 0 out); Greer (4, 4th inning off
Kamieniecki 2 on, 1 out); R Palmeiro (7, 4th inning off Linton
0 on, 2 out). RBI - Greer 4 (30), R Kelly 4 (11), R Palmeiro (24),
Mclemore (10), Zeile 2 (21), L Stevens (23). 2-out RBI -
R Palmeiro. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Zeile 1,
I Rodriguez 1, R Kelly 1. GIDP - T Goodwin.  Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: SB - T Goodwin (17, 2nd base off Kamieniecki/
C Johnson); Mclemore (4, 2nd base off Kamieniecki/C Johnson);
R Palmeiro (1, 2nd base off Orosco/C Johnson); I Rodriguez (9, 3rd
base off Orosco/C Johnson).

FIELDING: DP: 4 (Mclemore-Dransfeldt-L Stevens,
Dransfeldt-Mclemore-L Stevens 3).

BALTIMORE                    ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Kamieniecki (L, 0-2)          3 1/3   7   8   7   3   1   2  23.40
Linton                        1 2/3   1   2   2   1   0   1   6.17
Fetters                         2/3   1   1   0   0   0   0   3.38
Orosco                          1/3   0   1   0   1   0   0   8.38
G Molina                      2       4   3   3   1   1   0   4.50

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Morgan (W, 6-2)               5       9   5   5   3   0   3   4.67
D Patterson                   0       2   2   2   0   0   0   7.11
Venafro (H, 1)                1       1   0   0   1   1   0   4.91
Zimmerman                     2       0   0   0   0   1   0   0.71
M Munoz                       1       1   0   0   0   0   0   3.68

Morgan pitched to 3 batters in the 6th.
D Patterson pitched to 2 batters in the 6th.
Linton pitched to 1 batter in the 6th.

WP - G Molina. IBB - R Palmeiro (by G Molina).  Pitches-strikes:
Morgan 77-42; D Patterson 5-3; Venafro 20-11; Zimmerman 18-10;
M Munoz 16-9; Kamieniecki 77-45; Linton 23-13; Fetters 10-5;
Orosco 17-8; G Molina 46-25.  Ground balls-fly balls: Morgan 12-3;
D Patterson 0-0; Venafro 1-1; Zimmerman 2-3; M Munoz 3-0;
Kamieniecki 4-5; Linton 3-2; Fetters 1-0; Orosco 0-1; G Molina 3-2.
Batters faced: Morgan 23; D Patterson 2; Venafro 5; Zimmerman 6;
M Munoz 4; Kamieniecki 21; Linton 7; Fetters 3; Orosco 3; G Molina 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Durwood Merrill. 1B--John Hirschbeck. 2B--Dave
Phillips. 3B--Rocky Roe.
T--3:02.  Att--40,678.   Weather: 79 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 8 mph, in from right.

Game Log

Baltimore Starting Lineups -- Brady Anderson CF, Mike Bordick SS, Bj Surhoff LF, Albert Belle RF, Harold Baines DH, Jeff Conine 1B, Cal Ripken Jr 3B, Delino Deshields 2B, Charles Johnson C, Scott Kamieniecki RHP.

Texas Starting Lineups -- Tom Goodwin CF, Mark Mclemore 2B, Rusty Greer LF, Ivan Rodriguez C, Rafael Palmeiro DH, Todd Zeile 3B, Lee Stevens 1B, Roberto Kelly RF, Kelly Dransfeldt SS, Mike Morgan RHP.

Umpires -- D Merrill (HP), J Hirschbeck (1B), Phillips (2B), Roe (3B).

Gametime Weather: 79 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind in from right at 8 mph.

BALTIMORE 1ST: B Anderson walked. Bordick grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, B Anderson out at second. Surhoff singled to right. Belle grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Surhoff out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: T Goodwin walked. T Goodwin stole second. Mclemore struck out swinging. Greer doubled to left, T Goodwin scored. I Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. R Palmeiro walked. Zeile flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0, TEXAS 1.

BALTIMORE 2ND: Baines singled to center. Conine lined out to right. C Ripken grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Baines out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 2ND: L Stevens flied out to shallow center. R Kelly flied out to right. Dransfeldt grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 0, TEXAS 1.

BALTIMORE 3RD: Deshields walked. C Johnson grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Deshields out at second. B Anderson homered to right center. Bordick grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 1, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 3RD: T Goodwin grounded out to pitcher. Mclemore singled to center. Greer flied out to center. Mclemore stole second. I Rodriguez popped out to shallow right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 1, TEXAS 1.

BALTIMORE 4TH: Surhoff walked. Belle singled to right, Surhoff to second. Baines flied out to center. Conine grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Belle out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 1, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 4TH: R Palmeiro singled to right. Zeile singled to left, R Palmeiro to second. L Stevens safe at first on 2nd baseman Deshields' fielding error, R Palmeiro to third, Zeile to second. R Kelly homered to right center, R Palmeiro, Zeile and L Stevens scored. Dransfeldt grounded out to third. T Goodwin walked. Mclemore singled to center, T Goodwin to second. Greer homered to right, T Goodwin and Mclemore scored. Doug Linton relieved Scott Kamieniecki. I Rodriguez lined out to right. R Palmeiro homered to right. Zeile lined out to shortstop. (8 Runs, 6 Hits, 1 Error) BALTIMORE 1, TEXAS 9.

BALTIMORE 5TH: C Ripken popped out to first. Deshields homered to right. C Johnson grounded out to third. B Anderson tripled to deep left center. Bordick grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 2, TEXAS 9.

TEXAS 5TH: L Stevens grounded out to second. R Kelly grounded out to pitcher. Dransfeldt grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 2, TEXAS 9.

BALTIMORE 6TH: Surhoff singled to center. Belle homered to center, Surhoff scored. Baines singled to center. Danny Patterson relieved Mike Morgan. Conine singled to left, Baines to second. C Ripken singled to left, Baines scored, Conine to second. Mike Venafro relieved Danny Patterson. Reboulet hit for Deshields. Reboulet walked, Conine to third, C Ripken to second. C Johnson grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, C Ripken to third, Reboulet to second, Conine out at home. B Anderson singled to right, C Ripken and Reboulet scored, C Johnson to second. Bordick struck out swinging. Surhoff flied out to shallow right. (5 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 7, TEXAS 9.

TEXAS 6TH: Reboulet at second. T Goodwin walked. Mike Fetters relieved Doug Linton. Mclemore tripled to left center, T Goodwin scored. Greer safe at first on pitcher Fetters' fielding error. I Rodriguez grounded into fielder's choice to third, Greer out at second, Mclemore out at home attempting to advance on play. Jesse Orosco relieved Mike Fetters. I Rodriguez to second on pitcher Orosco's throwing error. R Palmeiro walked. I Rodriguez stole third, R Palmeiro stole second. I Rodriguez scored, R Palmeiro to third on catcher C Johnson's throwing error. Zeile safe at first on 3rd baseman C Ripken's fielding error, R Palmeiro scored. L Stevens fouled out to catcher. (3 Runs, 1 Hit, 4 Errors) BALTIMORE 7, TEXAS 12.

BALTIMORE 7TH: Jeff Zimmerman relieved Mike Venafro. Belle popped out to third. Baines grounded out to second. Conine popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 7, TEXAS 12.

TEXAS 7TH: Gabe Molina relieved Jesse Orosco. R Kelly struck out swinging, on G Molina wild pitch, R Kelly safe at first. Dransfeldt grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, R Kelly out at second. T Goodwin grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Dransfeldt out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 7, TEXAS 12.

BALTIMORE 8TH: C Ripken grounded out to shortstop. Reboulet struck out looking. C Johnson popped out to shallow left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 7, TEXAS 12.

TEXAS 8TH: Mclemore singled to right. Greer flied out to center. I Rodriguez doubled to left, Mclemore to third. R Palmeiro intentionally walked. Zeile singled to left, Mclemore and I Rodriguez scored, R Palmeiro to second. L Stevens singled to right, R Palmeiro scored, Zeile to third. L Stevens out at second attempting to advance on throw. R Kelly flied out to center. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 7, TEXAS 15.

BALTIMORE 9TH: Mike Munoz relieved Jeff Zimmerman. B Anderson grounded out to first. Bordick singled to right. Surhoff grounded out to second, Bordick to second. Belle grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BALTIMORE 7, TEXAS 15.