Game 42: May 22, 1999 (W: 8-7)
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Commentary (by me)

I was out and about doing some shopping and visiting baseball card shops (I just started collecting cards again this year for the first time in about 20 years).  I didn't hear very much of the game at all, but I did manage to hear the top of the ninth while sitting in the parking lot in front of the Barnes & Noble in Dallas at the Northpark mall.

Was very cool to hear the call on the home run by Gonzalez.   Was nice to see them pull out a late inning win - they hardly ever do that.   Zimmerman didn't pitch will, but shit..  It was his first bad outing.   Perhaps the Ranger starting pitching disease is spreading.  Hope not.

Commentary (by Jim Meeks)

I only got to hear the 8th and 9th innings of today's game (on RealAudio) as I had just gotten off work at that time.

What I heard was the Rangers pulling out a victory when trailing after 8 innings for only the 2nd time in 20 tries.

Juan Gonzalez belted a 3-run shot in the 9th inning to put the Rangers up for good.

Jeff Zimmerman had a rare, poor outing.

Game Recap

BALTIMORE (TICKER) -- Juan Gonzalez's three-run homer highlighted a four-run ninth inning as the Texas Rangers rallied for a wild 8-7 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

The top four batters in the Rangers' lineup all reached base and came around to score in the ninth as Mike Timlin (1-4) suffered his fourth blown save of the season. Texas was forced to rally from a 6-4 deficit after the Orioles scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to grab the lead.

"Our lineup is always in a game," Gonzalez said. "It is one of the best lineups in baseball. It is consistency we strive for."

John Wetteland came on for the Rangers in the ninth and immediately surrendered Delino DeShields' fourth homer of the season. But he struck out pinch-hitter Harold Baines, got Charles Johnson to fly out and struck out Brady Anderson for his 13th save in 14 opportunities.

Ivan Rodriguez also homered for the Rangers, who won for just the second time in six games following a four-game winning streak. Texas has homered in 10 straight games.

Tim Crabtree (3-0), the fourth of five Texas pitchers, earned the victory despite allowing two hits while recording just one out.

Baltimore has lost nine of its last 12 games overall but fell for just the third time in nine games at Camden Yards.

"It was a crying shame to lose that one," said Orioles manager Ray Miller. "We got some big plays and some key hits, but walks will kill you every time. You can't walk people, especially on that team. This is just disappointing."

Roberto Kelly, Mark McLemore, Rusty Greer and Gonzalez entered the ninth inning a combined 0-for-13 before lifting the Rangers to the victory. Kelly led off with a double and McLemore walked.

Greer hit a bouncer back to the mound, but Timlin threw wildly to third, allowing Kelly to scamper home and sending McLemore to third.

"It was a bad decision," said Timlin. "My first thought was to get the lead runner and I threw it away. I should have turned it and thrown to Delino (at second base). I screwed up. I'm not doing my job right now and shutting the door. This will probably bother me until the sun goes down, because tomorrow is another day."

"I've never seen that, ever before," added Miller of the play. "What I would have liked to have seen is, you get the two outs, man on third, end of story."

Gonzalez followed Timlin's mistake by driving a 1-1 pitch over the right-field fence for his ninth homer.

"I hit a fastball away," said Gonzalez. "I was looking fastball, just a ball I could hit hard. I wanted to drive in at least one run, but was happy I could make it three."

"Juan never lost his strength during the seven days he was out (with a strained right hamstring)," said Texas manager Johnny Oates. "He was worth waiting for. We got a break with their throwing error and we took advantage of it. You have to do that to win in this league."

Baltimore jumped on top in the first on Jeff Conine's RBI single before the Rangers grabbed a 2-1 advantage in the second on a run-scoring single by Lee Stevens and Royce Clayton's sacrifice fly.

Conine had four hits in a game for the 10th time in his career. Surhoff and Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken extended their hitting streaks to 13 and 11 games, respectively.

The Orioles tied it in the second as B.J. Surhoff delivered an RBI single, but Texas regained the advantage when Rodriguez belted his eighth homer leading off the fourth. Run-scoring singles by Conine in the fifth and DeShields in the seventh gave Baltimore a 4-3 lead.

A groundout by Lee Stevens in the eighth plated Luis Alicea as the Rangers forced another tie before Baltimore appeared to take control in the eighth.

Johnson drew a walk from Jeff Zimmerman leading off the frame and was sacrificed to second. Rich Amaral delivered a single to give the Orioles the lead and Conine's RBI single later in the frame made it 6-4.

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image

Royce Clayton turning two over McLemore	BJ Surhoff tries to catch Gonzalez' ninth inning home run - failure!	A smiling Juan getting congrats on his ninth inning homer

Box Score

Line Score
AL  FINAL
                    1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9     R  H  E
                    -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -     -  -  -
TEXAS               0  2  0   1  0  0   0  1  4     8  7  1
BALTIMORE           1  1  0   0  1  0   1  2  1     7 14  1   (FINAL)

BATTERIES:  TEX - AARON SELE, JEFF ZIMMERMAN (7TH), MIKE VENAFRO
                  (8TH), TIM CRABTREE (8TH), JOHN WETTELAND
                  (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ
            BAL - JUAN GUZMAN, DOUG JOHNS (7TH), MIKE FETTERS
                  (8TH), JESSE OROSCO (8TH), MIKE TIMLIN (8TH),
                  RICKY BONES (9TH) AND CHARLES JOHNSON

             WP - TIM CRABTREE (3-0)
             LP - MIKE TIMLIN (1-4)
           SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (13)

HOME RUNS:  TEX - IVAN RODRIGUEZ (8) OFF JU GUZMAN IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
                  JUAN GONZALEZ (9) OFF BONES IN THE 9TH, 2 ON
            BAL - DELINO DESHIELDS (4) OFF WETTELAND IN THE 9TH, 0 ON

     TIME:  3:46     ATT:  47,915

PROBABLES:  TEX - MIKE MORGAN (6-3, 4.89)
            BAL - MIKE MUSSINA (6-1, 4.68)



Box Score
TEXAS (8) AT BALTIMORE (7) - FINAL

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
T Goodwin cf            3  0  0  0   0  0   1  .215
 a-R Kelly ph-cf        2  1  1  0   0  1   0  .353
Mclemore 2b             2  1  0  0   3  2   0  .324
Greer lf                4  1  0  0   1  0   3  .304
J Gonzalez rf           5  1  1  3   0  0   3  .309
R Palmeiro dh           3  1  2  0   1  0   1  .379
 Alicea pr              0  1  0  0   1  0   0  .157
I Rodriguez c           4  1  1  1   1  0   2  .322
Zeile 3b                4  1  1  0   1  1   2  .250
L Stevens 1b            4  0  1  2   1  0   1  .315
Clayton ss              3  0  0  1   0  0   4  .152

Totals                 34  8  7  7   9  4  17

a-struck out for T Goodwin in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - R Kelly (6, Timlin). HR - I Rodriguez (8, 4th
inning off Ju Guzman 0 on, 0 out); J Gonzalez (9, 9th inning off
Bones 2 on, 0 out). SF - Clayton. RBI - L Stevens 2 (25),
Clayton (2), I Rodriguez (27), J Gonzalez 3 (33). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - T Goodwin 1, R Palmeiro 1, Clayton 3,
L Stevens 1.  Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: SB - Alicea (1, 2nd base off Bones/C Johnson).

FIELDING: E - T Goodwin (3, bobble). DP: 1 (Mclemore-Clayton-L Stevens).

BALTIMORE              ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
B Anderson cf           4  0  0  0   1  3   1  .272
Amaral rf               4  2  3  1   1  0   2  .233
Surhoff lf              4  1  1  1   1  2   1  .347
Belle dh                4  0  1  0   1  2   3  .267
Conine 1b               5  1  4  3   0  0   0  .281
C Ripken 3b             4  0  1  0   1  2   3  .262
Deshields 2b            5  1  2  2   0  1   3  .216
Bordick ss              4  0  1  0   0  1   2  .267
 a-Baines ph            1  0  0  0   0  1   0  .304
C Johnson c             4  2  1  0   1  0   1  .264

Totals                 39  7 14  7   6 12  16

a-struck out for Bordick in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - Bordick (9, Sele). HR - Deshields (4, 9th inning
off Wetteland 0 on, 0 out). S - B Anderson. RBI - Conine 3 (25),
Surhoff (26), Deshields 2 (11), Amaral (7). 2-out RBI - Conine
3, Surhoff, Deshields. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
Deshields 2, Belle 1, Amaral 1, Bordick 1, C Ripken 1. GIDP -
Belle.  Team LOB - 12.

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

FIELDING: E - Timlin (1, throw).

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Sele                          6       7   3   3   5   6   0   6.07
Je Zimmerman                  1 1/3   4   3   3   1   2   0   1.47
Venafro                         1/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   3.77
Crabtree (W, 3-0)               1/3   2   0   0   0   1   0   3.00
Wetteland (S, 13)             1       1   1   1   0   2   1   4.96

BALTIMORE                    ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Ju Guzman                     6       4   3   3   5   2   1   5.70
D Johns                       1       0   0   0   0   2   0   6.48
Fetters (H, 2)                  1/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   4.67
Orosco (H, 3)                 0       1   1   1   1   0   0   9.00
Timlin (L, 1-4; BS, 4)          2/3   1   3   2   2   0   0   5.06
Bones (BS, 2)                 1       1   1   1   1   0   1   3.38

Orosco pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.
Timlin pitched to 3 batters in the 9th.

WP - Sele, Ju Guzman 2. IBB - L Stevens (by Ju Guzman); B Anderson
(by Sele).  Pitches-strikes: Ju Guzman 114-60; D Johns 14-9; Fetters 1-1;
Orosco 11-6; Timlin 20-7; Bones 26-15; Sele 124-68; Je Zimmerman 30-21;
Venafro 5-3; Crabtree 13-8; Wetteland 17-13.  Ground balls-fly balls:
Ju Guzman 7-9; D Johns 0-1; Fetters 0-1; Orosco 0-0; Timlin 2-0; Bones 1-2;
Sele 6-6; Je Zimmerman 1-1; Venafro 0-0; Crabtree 0-0; Wetteland 0-1.
Batters faced: Ju Guzman 27; D Johns 3; Fetters 1; Orosco 2;
Timlin 6; Bones 5; Sele 29; Je Zimmerman 9; Venafro 1; Crabtree 3;
Wetteland 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Joe Brinkman. 1B--John Shulock. 2B--Derryl Cousins.
3B--Dale Scott.
T--3:46.  Att--47,915.   Weather: 85 degrees, cloudy.   Wind: 12 mph,
left to right.

AL       TEXAS AT BALTIMORE
         NOTE:  THE SINGLE BY BALTIMORE'S BJ SURHOFF IN THE SECOND INNING
                EXTENDED HIS HITTING STREAK TO 13 GAMES.

AL       TEXAS AT BALTIMORE
         NOTE:  THE SINGLE BY BALTIMORE'S CAL RIPKEN IN THE SEVENTH
                INNING EXTENDED HIS HITTING STREAK TO 11 GAMES.

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, Royce Clayton SS, Aaron Sele RHP.

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

Umpires -- Brinkman (HP), Shulock (1B), Cousins (2B), Scott (3B).

Gametime Weather: 85 degrees, Cloudy, wind left to right at 12 mph.

TEXAS 1ST: T Goodwin flied out to deep right. Mclemore struck out swinging. Greer walked. J Gonzalez grounded into fielder's choice to second, Greer out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BALTIMORE 0.

BALTIMORE 1ST: B Anderson grounded out to first. Amaral walked. Amaral caught stealing, catcher to shortstop. Surhoff struck out swinging, on Sele wild pitch, Surhoff safe at first. Belle walked, Surhoff to second. Conine singled to left, Surhoff scored, Belle to second. C Ripken walked, Belle to third, Conine to second. Deshields struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BALTIMORE 1.

TEXAS 2ND: R Palmeiro singled to center. R Palmeiro to second on Ju Guzman wild pitch. I Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. Zeile singled to left, R Palmeiro to third. L Stevens singled to right, R Palmeiro scored, Zeile to second. Zeile to third, L Stevens to second on Ju Guzman wild pitch. Clayton hit sacrifice fly to right center, Zeile scored, L Stevens to third. T Goodwin flied out to deep center. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, BALTIMORE 1.

BALTIMORE 2ND: Bordick flied out to right. C Johnson singled to right center. B Anderson struck out looking. Amaral singled to right, C Johnson to second. Surhoff singled to center, C Johnson scored, Amaral to second. Amaral to third on center fielder T Goodwin's fielding error. Belle struck out swinging. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 2, BALTIMORE 2.

TEXAS 3RD: Mclemore walked. Greer grounded out to second, Mclemore to second. J Gonzalez flied out to left center. R Palmeiro grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, BALTIMORE 2.

BALTIMORE 3RD: Conine flied out to deep right. C Ripken grounded out to shortstop. Deshields flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, BALTIMORE 2.

TEXAS 4TH: I Rodriguez homered to center. Zeile flied out to center. L Stevens flied out to deep right. Clayton flied out to shallow right. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, BALTIMORE 2.

BALTIMORE 4TH: Bordick flied out to shallow center. C Johnson grounded out to shortstop. B Anderson struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, BALTIMORE 2.

TEXAS 5TH: T Goodwin grounded out to first. Mclemore walked. Greer flied out to right center. J Gonzalez grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, BALTIMORE 2.

BALTIMORE 5TH: Amaral singled to center. Surhoff walked, Amaral to second. Belle grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Surhoff out at second, Amaral to third. Conine singled to center, Amaral scored. C Ripken struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, BALTIMORE 3.

TEXAS 6TH: R Palmeiro walked. I Rodriguez grounded out to pitcher, R Palmeiro to second. Zeile struck out swinging. L Stevens intentionally walked. Clayton flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, BALTIMORE 3.

BALTIMORE 6TH: Deshields flied out to left. Bordick doubled to deep center. C Johnson lined out to first. B Anderson intentionally walked. Amaral grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, BALTIMORE 3.

TEXAS 7TH: Doug Johns relieved Juan Guzman. R Kelly hit for T Goodwin. R Kelly struck out swinging. Mclemore struck out swinging. Greer flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, BALTIMORE 3.

BALTIMORE 7TH: Jeff Zimmerman relieved Aaron Sele. R Kelly in center. Surhoff flied out to right. Belle struck out swinging. Conine singled to center. C Ripken singled to center, Conine to third. Deshields singled to right, Conine scored, C Ripken to second. Bordick struck out swinging. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, BALTIMORE 4.

TEXAS 8TH: Mike Fetters relieved Doug Johns. J Gonzalez fouled out to catcher. Jesse Orosco relieved Mike Fetters. R Palmeiro singled to center. Alicea ran for R Palmeiro. I Rodriguez walked, Alicea to second. Mike Timlin relieved Jesse Orosco. Zeile walked, Alicea to third, I Rodriguez to second. L Stevens grounded out to first, Alicea scored, I Rodriguez to third, Zeile to second. Clayton grounded out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, BALTIMORE 4.

BALTIMORE 8TH: C Johnson walked. B Anderson sacrificed C Johnson to second. Amaral singled to center, C Johnson scored. Mike Venafro relieved Jeff Zimmerman. Surhoff struck out looking. Tim Crabtree relieved Mike Venafro. Belle reached on infield single, Amaral to third. Conine singled to center, Amaral scored, Belle to second. C Ripken struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, BALTIMORE 6.

TEXAS 9TH: R Kelly doubled to deep right. Mclemore walked. Greer safe at first on pitcher Timlin's throwing error, R Kelly scored, Mclemore to third. Ricky Bones relieved Mike Timlin. J Gonzalez homered to right, Mclemore and Greer scored. Alicea walked. Alicea stole second. I Rodriguez popped out to shallow right. Zeile fouled out to catcher. L Stevens grounded out to first. (4 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 8, BALTIMORE 6.

BALTIMORE 9TH: John Wetteland relieved Tim Crabtree. Deshields homered to right center. Baines hit for Bordick. Baines struck out swinging. C Johnson flied out to deep center. B Anderson struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 8, BALTIMORE 7.