Game 45: May 25, 1999 (W: 7-2)
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Commentary (by me)

We got a very good pitching outing from three rookies - Glynn (starter), Venafro, & Zimmerman.  Today's DMN said that the game was the first that Johnny Oates had managed that had three rookie pitchers in it.  Not sure about the history of the club, but it was impressive to see.  Was much better than last year's rookie pitching experiments of Todd Van Poppel & Matt Perisho.  Speaking of pitchers, the cameramen and Bill Jones pointed out that Roger Pavlik was in the stands - he was sitting in the first row behind the bullpen chatting with the Ranger pitchers.  I wonder if he's going to attempt a comeback next spring training?

Still, I thought Ryan Glynn pitched well, but probably started to show nerves towards the end of his outing.  He went 4.1 innings, not enough for the win, but certainly good enough to keep his slot in the rotation.  Mike Venafro came in and pitched really well for his first major league win (3.2 innings), and then Jeff Zimmerman came in for the ninth.  Zim initially looked shaky, but ended up getting a shutout inning (that will help my fantasy team <g>).

Royce Clayton probably had his best offensive night of the season, getting three hits in 3 AB, scoring a run, and getting an RBI.  Nice night for him - this is why we signed him for four years.  :)   On the flip side, Raffy went 0 for 3, lowering his average to .385 (from .392).   Mark McLemore was back after coming out last night.  That's good to see.  I'm really pulling for Mac to have a stellar year - I'd like him to stay around (provided he can play). 

No home runs though, which is the first game in like 10 or 12 games or something like that where we didn't have any home runs at all.  I was kind of hoping we'd get 10 runs, as that would have been three games in a row where we were involved in a 10+ run game.

Was a really nice night for the rookies - I hope these guys are not flashes, and they stick.  We need the help;.

Commentary (by Jim Meeks)

Not available.  I haven't heard from Jim in a few days.  Jim, if you see this, drop me a line - you OK?

Game Recap

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA (TICKER) -- Rookie Mike Venafro tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief for his first major league win as the Texas Rangers defeated the slumping Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 7-2.

With the Rangers leading 5-2 one out into the fifth, Venafro (1-0) replaced rookie Ryan Glynn and retired the first seven batters he faced.

"Johnny usually brings me in to face certain batters," Venafro said. "Tonight, when Johhny handed me the ball, he said, `The rest of the game is yours.'"

Venafro, who debuted April 24, allowed only two hits and threw 22 of his 33 pitches for strikes. He recorded eight of his 11 outs on the ground.

The 25-year-old has pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings in three outings against the Devil Rays.

Glynn was two outs from qualifying for his first big league win in his first start. He gave up two runs and seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings.

"You want to do everything in your power as a manager to give him a chance to get the win," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "I just felt that on this occasion that I'd gone as far as I could. He'll get many more opportunities in the future."

Jeff Zimmerman was the last of Texas' three rookie pitchers, firing a scoreless ninth.

"It's exciting to see three kids from the minor league system that were not on the club this spring come in here and do what they did," Oates said. "It's special. It's exciting."

The Rangers have allowed a total of five runs in consecutive wins over Tampa Bay after giving up at least 13 three times in their previous seven games.

"I expect that to happen before the year is over," said Oates, whose team entered the night 13th in the American League with a 5.94 ERA. "We are going to pitch much better from here on out. We're going to have some tough times but, from here, we will win more than we lose."

The Rangers have won three in a row and four of their last six after dropping three straight.

Tom Goodwin and Royce Clayton each had three hits, a run scored and an RBI for Texas, which took a 4-0 lead with three runs in the third against former Ranger Bobby Witt (3-2).

Texas started the third with two singles and a walk and scored when John Flaherty dropped a called strike for a passed ball. Rusty Greer followed with a sacrifice fly and Juan Gonzalez added an RBI single off the left-field wall.

Witt, who played parts of 11 seasons with Texas, including the previous three, allowed seven runs and nine hits over six innings. He walked two, struck out five and failed to win for the fourth straight outing.

"It starts with pitching," Devil Rays manager Larry Rothschild said. "You get behind early and it is a constant uphill battle. The time has come where we have to make pitches to get us through five innings. It's just time."

Witt gave up consecutive doubles to Todd Zeile and Lee Stevens in the seventh, then contributed a fielding error on Clayton's sacrifice. Scott Aldred replaced Witt and gave up an RBI single to Goodwin, which capped the scoring.

Fred McGriff went 4-for-5 for the Devil Rays, who have lost four in a row after winning five of six.

Tampa Bay got within 4-1 in the third on McGriff's RBI single, but Glynn got Flaherty and Boggs with runners on the corners to end the inning.

The Rangers countered with a run in the fourth as catcher Ivan Rodriguez walked, stole second and scored with two outs on Clayton's single.

The Devil Rays again threatened in the fourth, closing to 5-2 on Randy Winn's run-scoring single. But Glynn stranded two more by getting Dave Martinez to fly out and striking out slugger Jose Canseco.

"I was really happy with the big strikeout on Canseco," Glynn said. "That was probably the turning point of the game. I made the pitch, but it was a great call."

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image

Rangers starter Ryan Glynn, making his first ever major league start	Sidearmed reliever Mike Venafro	Tom Goodwin is out trying to steal second in the first inning	Tom Goodwin scores!	Pudge didn't like the call on the third strike

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  TEX - RYAN GLYNN, MIKE VENAFRO (5TH), JEFF ZIMMERMAN
                  (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ
            TAM - BOBBY WITT, SCOTT ALDRED (7TH), RICK WHITE
                  (8TH), ESTEBAN YAN (9TH) AND JOHN FLAHERTY

             WP - MIKE VENAFRO (1-0)
             LP - BOBBY WITT (3-2)
           SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS:  TEX - NONE
            TAM - NONE

     TIME:  3:03     ATT:  16,058

PROBABLES:  TEX - RICK HELLING (4-5, 5.25)
            TAM - TONY SAUNDERS (3-3, 6.18)



Box Score
TEXAS (7) AT TAMPA BAY (2) - FINAL

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
T Goodwin cf            5  1  3  1   0  1   1  .233
Mclemore 2b             3  1  0  0   1  0   2  .331
Greer lf                3  0  0  1   0  3   2  .298
J Gonzalez rf           4  0  1  1   0  2   0  .313
R Palmeiro dh           3  1  0  0   0  0   1  .385
I Rodriguez c           3  1  1  0   1  1   0  .321
Zeile 3b                4  1  2  1   0  1   1  .256
L Stevens 1b            4  1  1  1   0  0   3  .323
Clayton ss              3  1  3  1   0  0   1  .192

Totals                 32  7 11  6   2  8  11

BATTING: 2B - I Rodriguez (8, Witt); Zeile (13, Witt); L Stevens
(14, Witt). S - Clayton. SF - Greer. RBI - Zeile (26), Greer (37),
J Gonzalez (41), Clayton (4), L Stevens (26), T Goodwin (12).
2-out RBI - Clayton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
Greer 1. GIDP - L Stevens.  Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - T Goodwin (21, 2nd base off Witt/Flaherty);
I Rodriguez (12, 2nd base off Witt/Flaherty). CS - T Goodwin 2 (5,
2nd base by Witt/Flaherty, 2nd base by Aldred/Flaherty); Clayton
(3, 2nd base by Witt/Flaherty).

TAMPA BAY              ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Winn cf                 3  1  1  1   2  0   0  .277
Da Martinez rf          5  0  0  0   0  2   3  .302
Canseco dh              4  0  1  0   1  1   2  .304
Mcgriff 1b              5  0  4  1   0  1   1  .342
Flaherty c              4  0  0  0   0  0   6  .255
Boggs 3b                4  0  0  0   0  0   2  .286
Sorrento lf             3  0  0  0   0  1   1  .269
 a-Clyburn ph-lf        1  0  0  0   0  0   0  .200
Cairo 2b                3  1  2  0   1  0   0  .308
Stocker ss              4  0  1  0   0  0   2  .326

Totals                 36  2  9  2   4  5  17

a-grounded to third for Sorrento in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - Mcgriff (12, Glynn). RBI - Mcgriff (34), Winn (10).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Flaherty 1, Boggs 1,
Canseco 1, Sorrento 1, Mcgriff 1.  Team LOB - 11.

FIELDING: E - Witt (1, ground ball). PB - Flaherty.
DP: 2 (Stocker-Cairo-Mcgriff, Cairo-Mcgriff).

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Glynn                         4 1/3   7   2   2   3   3   0   7.04
Venafro (W, 1-0)              3 2/3   2   0   0   0   0   0   3.00
Je Zimmerman                  1       0   0   0   1   2   0   1.42

TAMPA BAY                    ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Witt (L, 3-2)                 6       9   7   6   2   5   0   5.79
Aldred                        1       1   0   0   0   1   0   3.75
R White                       1       0   0   0   0   1   0   4.23
Yan                           1       1   0   0   0   1   0   3.18

Witt pitched to 3 batters in the 7th.

HBP - R Palmeiro (by Witt).  Pitches-strikes: Witt 119-73;
Aldred 13-7; R White 9-7; Yan 14-9; Glynn 92-54; Venafro 33-22;
Je Zimmerman 17-9.  Ground balls-fly balls: Witt 6-4; Aldred 0-1;
R White 2-0; Yan 1-1; Glynn 5-5; Venafro 8-3; Je Zimmerman 1-0.
Batters faced: Witt 27; Aldred 3; R White 3; Yan 4; Glynn 23;
Venafro 13; Je Zimmerman 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Mccoy. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Marty
Foster. 3B--Jim Evans.
T--3:03.  Att--16,058. Indoors.


AL       TEXAS AT TAMPA BAY
         NOTE:  TEXAS' IVAN RODRIGUEZ EXTENDED HIS HITTING STREAK TO 15
                GAMES WITH A DOUBLE IN THE TOP OF THE SECOND INNING.

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, Ryan Glynn RHP.

Tampa Bay Starting Lineups -- Randy Winn CF, Dave Martinez RF, Jose Canseco DH, Fred Mcgriff 1B, John Flaherty C, Wade Boggs 3B, Paul Sorrento LF, Miguel Cairo 2B, Kevin Stocker SS, Bobby Witt RHP.

Umpires -- L Mccoy (HP), C Meriwether (1B), Foster (2B), Evans (3B).

Gametime Weather: Indoors

TEXAS 1ST: T Goodwin singled to left center. Mclemore flied out to left. T Goodwin caught stealing, catcher to second. Greer struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 1ST: Winn grounded out to third. Da Martinez struck out swinging. Canseco walked. Mcgriff singled to right, Canseco to third. Flaherty grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Mcgriff out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, TAMPA BAY 0.

TEXAS 2ND: J Gonzalez struck out looking. R Palmeiro hit by pitch. I Rodriguez doubled to left center, R Palmeiro to third. Zeile singled to left, R Palmeiro scored, I Rodriguez to third. L Stevens grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Zeile out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 2ND: Boggs popped out to second. Sorrento struck out swinging. Cairo singled to right. Stocker grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, TAMPA BAY 0.

TEXAS 3RD: Clayton singled to right. T Goodwin singled to center, Clayton to third. T Goodwin stole second. Mclemore walked. Clayton scored, T Goodwin to third, Mclemore to second on Flaherty passed ball. Greer hit sacrifice fly to center, T Goodwin scored. J Gonzalez singled to deep left, Mclemore scored. R Palmeiro lined into double play, second to first, J Gonzalez doubled off first. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 3RD: Winn walked. Da Martinez lined out to center. Canseco singled to left, Winn to second. Mcgriff singled to right, Winn scored, Canseco to third. Flaherty popped out to shortstop. Boggs grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, TAMPA BAY 1.

TEXAS 4TH: I Rodriguez walked. I Rodriguez stole second. Zeile struck out swinging. L Stevens grounded out to pitcher. Clayton singled to shallow right, I Rodriguez scored. Clayton caught stealing, catcher to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, TAMPA BAY 1.

TAMPA BAY 4TH: Sorrento grounded out to first. Cairo walked. Stocker singled to center, Cairo to second. Winn singled to left, Cairo scored, Stocker to second. Da Martinez flied out to deep right, Stocker to third. Canseco struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, TAMPA BAY 2.

TEXAS 5TH: T Goodwin grounded out to third. Mclemore grounded out to shortstop. Greer struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, TAMPA BAY 2.

TAMPA BAY 5TH: Mcgriff doubled to deep center. Flaherty lined out to left. Mike Venafro relieved Ryan Glynn. Boggs grounded out to shortstop, Mcgriff to third. Sorrento grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, TAMPA BAY 2.

TEXAS 6TH: J Gonzalez grounded out to shortstop. R Palmeiro flied out to center. I Rodriguez struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, TAMPA BAY 2.

TAMPA BAY 6TH: Cairo grounded out to shortstop. Stocker popped out to shortstop. Winn flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, TAMPA BAY 2.

TEXAS 7TH: Zeile doubled to right center. L Stevens doubled to right, Zeile scored. Clayton sacrificed L Stevens to third, Clayton safe at first on pitcher Witt's fielding error. Scott Aldred relieved Bobby Witt. T Goodwin singled to right, L Stevens scored, Clayton to second. Mclemore flied out to left center, Clayton to third. T Goodwin caught stealing, catcher to shortstop. Greer struck out looking. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 7, TAMPA BAY 2.

TAMPA BAY 7TH: Da Martinez grounded out to shortstop. Canseco grounded out to shortstop. Mcgriff singled to center. Flaherty grounded into fielder's choice to third, Mcgriff out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, TAMPA BAY 2.

TEXAS 8TH: Rick White relieved Scott Aldred. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. R Palmeiro grounded out to shortstop. I Rodriguez grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, TAMPA BAY 2.

TAMPA BAY 8TH: Boggs grounded out to pitcher. Clyburn hit for Sorrento. Clyburn grounded out to third. Cairo singled to center. Stocker flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, TAMPA BAY 2.

TEXAS 9TH: Esteban Yan relieved Rick White. Clyburn in left. Zeile fouled out to first. L Stevens grounded out to first. Clayton singled to left. T Goodwin struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, TAMPA BAY 2.

TAMPA BAY 9TH: Jeff Zimmerman relieved Mike Venafro. Winn walked. Da Martinez struck out looking. Canseco grounded out to pitcher, Winn to second. Mcgriff struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 7, TAMPA BAY 2.