Game 46: May 26, 1999 (W: 8-6)
[ Previous Game | Next Game ]
[ Schedule Menu | Main Page ]

Commentary (by me)

We got a sweep of the Devil Rays last night with an 8-6 win.  Helling was pitching pretty decent until he gave up a 2 run home run late, and then was pulled.   He still got the win, but didn't seem totally dominating.  Still, a win's a win.

I'm not going to write about last night's game, as I'm pretty brain dead from only getting a few hours sleep last night.  I will say that it's not good to see a pitcher go down like Tony Saunders did last night.  That was just horrible.  I was listening on the radio when it happened, but I got to see it on Sportscenter later on ESPN.  Man, that looks like about the worst thing that can happen to a pitcher.  His arm just snaps while pitching.  I can't imagine anything hurting more on the field - even getting hit on the head with a batted ball.

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) -- Rick Helling labored through seven-plus innings and Todd Zeile drove in two runs to lead the Texas Rangers to an 8-6 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who lost pitcher Tony Saunders for the season.

Helling (5-5) gave up five runs and eight hits with two walks and a strikeout in improving to 3-0 lifetime against the Devil Rays. He left after allowing a leadoff single to Dave Martinez and a home run to Jose Canseco, who hit his 18th to move within one of Seattle's Ken Griffey Jr. (19) for the major league lead.

"I felt good about what I did through seven innings," Helling said. "I felt like I did my job to help the team win. Then I went out there in the eighth and instead of leaving here feeling good about what I did, I'm leaving here feeling bad about it. Two batters gave me a whole new prospective."

The Rangers used three relievers in the eighth as Tampa Bay batted around and scored three runs to close within 8-6. John Wetteland struck out pinch-hitter and former New York Yankees teammate Wade Boggs to end the inning with the bases loaded.

"I felt bad, he's such a great hitter," Wetteland said. "I wanted to make sure I didn't look at him or anything, just kind of walk off the mound."

Wetteland allowed one hit and struck out two in the ninth for his 14th save in 15 chances.

Saunders fractured his left humerus in two places while throwing a wild pitch in the third inning. The lefthander fell to the ground and writhed in pain after his pitch sailed to the backstop.

"He was in as much pain as I have seen," said Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild. "He doesn't need surgery, the doctors will set it and let it heal like any other (broken) bone. He's out for the year and I'll go as far as that."

Julio Santana (1-4) was tagged for three runs and three hits in 1 1/3 innings for the loss.

Roberto Kelly led off the third and hit his third home run of the season off Saunders to cut Texas' deficit to 3-1. Royce
Clayton followed with a single and Luis Alicea had a base hit one out later. After Ivan Rodriguez flied out, Rusty Greer
had an RBI single to left-center, scoring Clayton. Alicea scored on the wild pitch on which Saunders sustained his injury.

Jon Shave led off the fifth with a double off Santana and one out later Rodriguez snapped a 3-3 tie and extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a single. Rick White relieved Santana and struck out Juan Gonzalez. But after an intentional walk to Rafael Palmeiro loaded the bases, Zeile singled up the middle to plate Rodriguez and Greer for a 6-3 advantage.

Texas added two runs off Esteban Yan in the eighth on an RBI single by Clayton and an RBI double by pinch-hitter Lee Stevens.

In the bottom half, Mike Munoz retired the first two batters he faced before walking Paul Sorrento. Tim Crabtree allowed consecutive singles to John Flaherty and Miguel Cairo to score Sorrento before Wetteland came in and walked Kevin Stocker, loading the bases.

"You've got the bases loaded, a tying run at second base, Boggs at the plate, yeah I guess that's getting hairy. That's one way of putting it," said Texas manager Johnny Oates. "We happened to have a barber handy tonight, cutting it a little close, but that's OK as long as it looks it good when you get out of the chair."

The Devil Rays opened a 3-0 lead in the second on a two-run single by Stocker and a sacrifice fly by Randy Winn.

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image

Jon Shave catching a ball at first	Tony Saunders at the beginning of the game	The rest of these pics are of Tony Saunders being taken off the field after he broke his arm.

Box Score

Line Score
AL  FINAL
                    1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9     R  H  E
                    -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -     -  -  -
TEXAS               0  0  3   0  3  0   0  2  0     8 12  1
TAMPA BAY           0  3  0   0  0  0   0  3  0     6 11  0   (FINAL)

BATTERIES:  TEX - RICK HELLING, MIKE MUNOZ (8TH), TIM CRABTREE
                  (8TH), JOHN WETTELAND (8TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ
            TAM - TONY SAUNDERS, MIKE DUVALL (3RD), JULIO
                  SANTANA (4TH), RICK WHITE (5TH), ESTEBAN YAN
                  (8TH), ROBERTO HERNANDEZ (9TH) AND JOHN
                  FLAHERTY

             WP - RICK HELLING (5-5)
             LP - JULIO SANTANA (1-4)
           SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (14)

HOME RUNS:  TEX - ROBERTO KELLY (3) OFF SAUNDERS IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
            TAM - JOSE CANSECO (18) OFF HELLING IN THE 8TH, 1 ON

     TIME:  3:26     ATT:  17,575

PROBABLES:  MIN - BRAD RADKE (4-3, 3.34)
            TEX - AARON SELE (3-4, 6.07)

            TAM - WILSON ALVAREZ (2-2, 3.29)
            SEA - FREDDY GARCIA (5-1, 4.50)



Box Score
TEXAS (8) AT TAMPA BAY (6) - FINAL

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Alicea 2b               5  1  1  0   0  2   2  .158
I Rodriguez c           5  1  1  1   0  0   4  .317
Greer lf                5  1  3  1   0  1   0  .307
J Gonzalez rf           4  0  0  0   1  3   3  .305
R Palmeiro dh           3  0  0  0   2  0   2  .377
 Mclemore pr            0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .331
Zeile 3b                4  1  2  2   1  0   1  .262
R Kelly cf              3  1  1  1   1  0   3  .356
 T Goodwin pr-cf        0  1  0  0   0  0   0  .233
Clayton ss              4  1  2  1   0  1   0  .207
Shave 1b                3  1  1  0   0  0   1  .333
 a-L Stevens ph-1b      1  0  1  1   0  0   0  .327

Totals                 37  8 12  7   5  7  16

a-doubled for R Kelly in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - Shave (2, J Santana); Greer (18, J Santana);
L Stevens (15, Yan). HR - R Kelly (3, 3rd inning off Saunders 0 on,
0 out). RBI - R Kelly (13), Greer (38), I Rodriguez (31), Zeile 2 (28),
Clayton (5), L Stevens (27). 2-out RBI - Greer, Zeile 2. Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - R Palmeiro 1, R Kelly 1, I Rodriguez 2.
GIDP - R Kelly, J Gonzalez. Team LOB - 7.

FIELDING: E - Alicea (2, ground ball). DP: 2 (Clayton-Alicea-Shave 2).

TAMPA BAY              ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Winn cf                 3  0  1  1   0  0   2  .279
 a-Boggs ph             1  0  0  0   0  1   3  .283
 Clyburn rf             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .200
Da Martinez rf-cf       4  1  1  0   0  1   2  .301
Canseco dh              5  1  2  2   0  0   2  .307
Mcgriff 1b              5  0  1  0   0  2   2  .338
Perry 3b                4  1  1  0   1  0   2  .333
Sorrento lf             3  1  1  0   1  1   2  .272
Flaherty c              4  1  2  0   0  0   2  .262
Cairo 2b                3  1  1  1   1  0   1  .309
Stocker ss              3  0  1  2   1  0   0  .326

Totals                 35  6 11  6   4  5  18

a-struck out for Winn in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - Winn (9, Helling). HR - Canseco (18, 8th inning
off Helling 1 on, 0 out). S - Da Martinez. SF - Winn. RBI -
Stocker 2 (17), Winn (11), Canseco 2 (40), Cairo (9). 2-out RBI -
Cairo. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Mcgriff 1,
Da Martinez 1, Boggs 2, Perry 1. GIDP - Perry, Cairo. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: SB - Canseco (2, 2nd base off Wetteland/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: DP: 2 (Perry-Cairo-Mcgriff, Stocker-Cairo-Mcgriff).

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Helling (W, 5-5)              7       8   5   5   2   1   1   5.37
M Munoz (H, 4)                  2/3   0   1   1   1   1   0   5.12
Crabtree (H, 4)               0       2   0   0   0   0   0   2.76
Wetteland (S, 14)             1 1/3   1   0   0   1   3   0   4.58

TAMPA BAY                    ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Saunders                      2 2/3   4   3   3   1   2   1   6.43
Duvall                          1/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   3.00
J Santana (L, 1-4)            1 1/3   3   3   3   1   0   0   9.85
R White                       2 2/3   1   0   0   1   4   0   3.86
Yan                           1       3   2   2   1   1   0   3.68
R Hernandez                   1       1   0   0   1   0   0   4.81

Helling pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.
Crabtree pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.

WP - Saunders. IBB - R Palmeiro (by R White).  Pitches-strikes:
Saunders 53-31; Duvall 2-1; J Santana 27-14; R White 44-28; Yan
29-16; R Hernandez 16-7; Helling 121-77; M Munoz 11-7; Crabtree
7-4; Wetteland 33-22.  Ground balls-fly balls: Saunders 3-3;
Duvall 1-0; J Santana 2-2; R White 2-2; Yan 1-1; R Hernandez
3-0; Helling 8-12; M Munoz 0-1; Crabtree 0-0; Wetteland 1-0.
Batters faced: Saunders 13; Duvall 1; J Santana 7; R White 10;
Yan 7; R Hernandez 4; Helling 30; M Munoz 3; Crabtree 2;
Wetteland 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Marty Foster. 2B--Jim Evans.
3B--Larry Mccoy.
T--3:26.  Att--17,575. Indoors.

Game Log

Texas Starting Lineups -- Luis Alicea 2B, Ivan Rodriguez C, Rusty Greer LF, Juan Gonzalez RF, Rafael Palmeiro DH, Todd Zeile 3B, Roberto Kelly CF, Royce Clayton SS, Jon Shave 1B, Rick Helling RHP.

Tampa Bay Starting Lineups -- Randy Winn CF, Dave Martinez RF, Jose Canseco DH, Fred Mcgriff 1B, Herbert Perry 3B, Paul Sorrento LF, John Flaherty C, Miguel Cairo 2B, Kevin Stocker SS, Tony Saunders LHP.

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

Gametime Weather: Indoors

TEXAS 1ST: Alicea flied out to left. I Rodriguez grounded out to third. Greer struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 1ST: Winn doubled to left. Da Martinez sacrificed Winn to third. Canseco popped out to first. Mcgriff flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, TAMPA BAY 0.

TEXAS 2ND: J Gonzalez struck out swinging. R Palmeiro grounded out to second. Zeile grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 2ND: Perry singled to center. Sorrento flied out to left. Flaherty singled to left, Perry to second. Cairo walked, Perry to third, Flaherty to second. Stocker singled to right, Perry and Flaherty scored, Cairo to third. Winn hit sacrifice fly to left, Cairo scored. Stocker to second advancing on throw. Da Martinez grounded out to second. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, TAMPA BAY 3.

TEXAS 3RD: R Kelly homered to left. Clayton singled to center. Shave flied out to right. Alicea singled to center, Clayton to second. I Rodriguez flied out to left center. Greer singled to left center, Clayton scored, Alicea to third. J Gonzalez walked, Greer to second. Alicea scored on Saunders wild pitch. Mike Duvall relieved Tony Saunders. R Palmeiro grounded out to first. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 3RD: Canseco popped out to third. Mcgriff singled to left. Perry grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Mcgriff out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, TAMPA BAY 3.

TEXAS 4TH: Julio Santana relieved Mike Duvall. Zeile walked. R Kelly grounded into double play, third to second to first, Zeile out at second. Clayton flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 4TH: Sorrento singled to left. Flaherty flied out to right. Cairo grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Sorrento out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, TAMPA BAY 3.

TEXAS 5TH: Shave doubled to left center. Alicea flied out to center, Shave to third. I Rodriguez singled to left, Shave scored. Greer doubled to right center, I Rodriguez to third. Rick White relieved Julio Santana. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. R Palmeiro intentionally walked. Zeile singled to center, I Rodriguez and Greer scored, R Palmeiro to third. R Kelly flied out to right. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 5TH: Stocker popped out to second. Winn safe at first on 2nd baseman Alicea's fielding error. Da Martinez lined out to right. Canseco fouled out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 6, TAMPA BAY 3.

TEXAS 6TH: Clayton struck out looking. Shave flied out to right center. Alicea struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 6TH: Mcgriff grounded out to pitcher. Perry walked. Sorrento struck out looking. Flaherty grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Perry out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, TAMPA BAY 3.

TEXAS 7TH: I Rodriguez grounded out to second. Greer grounded out to pitcher. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 7TH: Cairo flied out to right. Stocker popped out to shallow left. Winn flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, TAMPA BAY 3.

TEXAS 8TH: Esteban Yan relieved Rick White. R Palmeiro flied out to center. Zeile singled to center. R Kelly walked, Zeile to second. Clayton singled to left, Zeile scored, R Kelly to second. R Kelly to third, Clayton to second advancing on throw. L Stevens hit for Shave. T Goodwin ran for R Kelly. L Stevens doubled to left center, T Goodwin scored, Clayton to third. Alicea struck out swinging. I Rodriguez grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 8, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 8TH: L Stevens at first. T Goodwin in center. Da Martinez singled to right. Canseco homered to left, Da Martinez scored. Mike Munoz relieved Rick Helling. Mcgriff struck out swinging. Perry lined out to right. Sorrento walked. Tim Crabtree relieved Mike Munoz. Flaherty singled to center, Sorrento to second. Cairo singled to right, Sorrento scored, Flaherty to second. John Wetteland relieved Tim Crabtree. Stocker walked, Flaherty to third, Cairo to second. Boggs hit for Winn. Boggs struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 8, TAMPA BAY 6.

TEXAS 9TH: Roberto Hernandez relieved Esteban Yan. Da Martinez in center. Clyburn in right. Greer singled to center. J Gonzalez grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Greer out at second. R Palmeiro walked. Mclemore ran for R Palmeiro. Zeile grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 8, TAMPA BAY 6.

TAMPA BAY 9TH: Da Martinez struck out looking. Canseco singled to left. Canseco stole second. Mcgriff struck out swinging. Perry grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 8, TAMPA BAY 6.