Game 47: May 28, 1999 (W: 6-4)
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Commentary (by me)

After never having accomplished the feat in the first 26 years of the team's existance, the Rangers pulled it off for the third time in less than a year, having done the back-to-back-to-back home run thing.  :)   This time it was Juan, Raffy, & Pudge.  Only earlier in the week, it was three other guys, one of which being Pudge, and last year when it was done for the first time, Pudge was also involved (with Juan & Will Clark).

We started this game with a 5 run first inning (similar to the game against the Yankees with Roger Clemens).  It was enough to hold on for the win - we didn't need any more, but we did get one more later on in the game in the 7th inning. 

Aaron Sele pitched well, but spectacurly.  He lasted into the 7th inning, giving up four runs.  Was OK, but he is improving - it seems that our entire staff is coming around.  Which is nice.  With the kids coming up doing a great job, it's nice to see our established pitching getting it together.   I'd love to put some distance between us and the rest of the division as we approach the 50th game of the season.

Kinda tired - not going to write much about this one.   :)

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

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) -- Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmeiro and Ivan Rodriguez hit consecutive homers in the first inning as the Texas Rangers went back-to-back-to-back for the second consecutive home game and beat the Minnesota Twins, 6-4.

Rodriguez, Palmeiro and Todd Zeile accomplished the rare feat in the fifth inning when the Rangers were last at The Ballpark at Arlington, a 7-6 victory over Tampa Bay on May 19. It is just the third time in franchise history the Rangers have hit three straight homers.

"It's pretty exciting for the fans," Rodriguez said. "They don't get to see that too often."

"With this lineup, we're capable of doing that," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "I never get tired of seeing it."

Aaron Sele (4-4) won for the first time since April 22 and improved to 11-2 lifetime against the Twins. He allowed four runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings but got enough support from his lineup to break a three-game losing skid and a five-start winless streak.

"I still feel I have a lot of room to improve," Sele said. "I'm just not throwing quality pitches. We're winning ballgames, and I'm pitching deep into games, which is good. I'm just trying to get this thing going and help this offense."

Gonzalez's 13th homer broke an 0-for-15 slump against Brad Radke (4-4), who allowed six runs and 10 hits over six innings as he suffered his second straight loss following a three-game winning streak.

"I am actually happy about what happened. I thought I should have given up 15 runs tonight," Radke said. "I was drained. I don't know why, I was just kind of out there going through the motions."

Radke failed to last beyond the sixth inning for the first time since April 26, a span of five starts.

After Radke departed, five relievers combined to toss two hitless innings but the Twins were unable to rally against the Texas bullpen.

Jeff Zimmerman threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings and John Wetteland set down the side in order in the ninth for his 15th save in 16 chances.

Texas would use the long ball to score five times in the first to take control.

Tom Goodwin began the rally with a walk, Mark McLemore singled and Rusty Greer's groundout made it 1-0. Gonzalez followed by driving a 2-2 pitch over the left-field wall to give the Rangers a three-run advantage.

"Not the best pitches in the world," Twins manager Tom Kelly said. "They can explode on you quickly. They have a great lineup and can put up runs really quickly."

Palmeiro hit the first pitch he saw to right field for his 14th homer and Rodriguez blasted an 0-1 delivery to left for his 10th, making it 5-0.

"I wasn't thinking about hitting a home run there," Rodriguez said. "I was just thinking I had to get a hit or at least to hit it hard and put it in play."

Minnesota jumped back into the game in the third by scoring three times. Todd Walker had an RBI double, Chad Allen contributed a run-scoring single and Matt Lawton grounded into a double play, plating Walker.

"I tip my hat to these guys," Radke said of his teammates. "They didn't give up afer the first inning. They scored three runs to get back in it."

Gonzalez's sacrifice fly in the fifth gave the Rangers a 6-3 advantage before the Twins cut into the deficit in the seventh on an RBI single by Walker. But Zimmerman relieved Sele, and after allowing a single to Allen, struck out Lawton to end Minnesota's last serious threat.

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image

Lee Stevens tagging out Chad Allen after being picked off first	Doug mientkiewicz missing a ball hit by Rusty for a single	Juan Gonzalez hitting a single...	... and running by first	Juan getting congrats for his first inning HR

Pudge getting congrats for his first inning HR	Royce Clayton turning a double play

Box Score

Line Score
AL  FINAL
                    1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9     R  H  E
                    -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -     -  -  -
MINNESOTA           0  0  3   0  0  0   1  0  0     4  8  0
TEXAS               5  0  0   0  1  0   0  0  x     6 10  1   (FINAL)

BATTERIES:  MIN - BRAD RADKE, TRAVIS MILLER (7TH), BOB WELLS
                  (7TH), GARY RATH (7TH), MIKE TROMBLEY (7TH)
                  AND TERRY STEINBACH
            TEX - AARON SELE, JEFF ZIMMERMAN (7TH), JOHN
                  WETTELAND (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

             WP - AARON SELE (4-4)
             LP - BRAD RADKE (4-4)
           SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (15)

HOME RUNS:  MIN - NONE
            TEX - JUAN GONZALEZ (13) OFF B RADKE IN THE 1ST, 1 ON
                  RAFAEL PALMEIRO (14) OFF B RADKE IN THE 1ST, 0 ON
                  IVAN RODRIGUEZ (10) OFF B RADKE IN THE 1ST, 0 ON

     TIME:  2:42     ATT:  27,765

PROBABLES:  MIN - ERIC MILTON (2-4, 6.79)
            TEX - MIKE MORGAN (6-4, 6.26)



Box Score
MINNESOTA (4) AT TEXAS (6) - FINAL

MINNESOTA              ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
T Walker 2b             5  1  2  2   0  1   1  .268
Allen lf                3  0  2  1   1  0   1  .284
Lawton rf               3  0  0  0   0  2   3  .274
M Cordova dh            4  0  1  0   0  2   1  .284
Coomer 3b               4  0  1  0   0  1   3  .327
Mientkiewicz 1b         4  0  0  0   0  1   3  .241
Steinbach c             4  0  0  0   0  0   2  .284
T Hunter cf             2  1  0  0   1  0   0  .224
 a-Gates ph             1  0  0  0   0  0   0  .228
Hocking ss              3  2  2  0   1  0   0  .250

Totals                 33  4  8  3   3  7  14

a-grounded to shortstop for T Hunter in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - T Walker (13, Sele); Hocking (4, Sele); Coomer
(11, Je Zimmerman). RBI - T Walker 2 (13), Allen (16). 2-out RBI -
T Walker. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Lawton 1,
Steinbach 1. GIDP - Lawton, Allen. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: Picked off - Allen (1st base, I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Walker-Hocking-Mientkiewicz).

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
T Goodwin cf            3  1  0  0   1  1   3  .228
Mclemore 2b             3  2  2  0   1  0   0  .338
Greer lf                4  0  1  1   0  1   1  .306
J Gonzalez rf           3  1  2  3   0  0   2  .312
R Palmeiro dh           3  1  1  1   1  0   2  .377
I Rodriguez c           4  1  1  1   0  1   3  .315
Zeile 3b                4  0  1  0   0  1   0  .262
L Stevens 1b            4  0  1  0   0  2   1  .325
Clayton ss              4  0  1  0   0  0   1  .209

Totals                 32  6 10  6   3  6  13

BATTING: 2B - Greer (19, B Radke); Zeile (14, B Radke). HR -
J Gonzalez (13, 1st inning off B Radke 1 on, 1 out); R Palmeiro
(14, 1st inning off B Radke 0 on, 1 out); I Rodriguez (10, 1st inning
off B Radke 0 on, 1 out). SF - J Gonzalez. RBI - Greer (39),
J Gonzalez 3 (44), R Palmeiro (40), I Rodriguez (32). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - T Goodwin 2, I Rodriguez 2.
GIDP - R Palmeiro. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: E - Clayton (4, ground ball). DP: 2 (Zeile-Mclemore-L Stevens,
Mclemore-L Stevens-Clayton-Mclemore).

MINNESOTA                    ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
B Radke (L, 4-4)              6      10   6   6   1   4   3   3.82
Travis Miller                   1/3   0   0   0   1   1   0   1.93
B Wells                         1/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   4.61
Rath                          0       0   0   0   1   0   0  15.00
Trombley                      1 1/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   2.14

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Sele (W, 4-4)                 6 2/3   6   4   4   3   3   0   5.98
Je Zimmerman (H, 6)           1 1/3   2   0   0   0   3   0   1.36
Wetteland (S, 15)             1       0   0   0   0   1   0   4.34

Rath pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

HBP - Lawton (by Sele).  Pitches-strikes: Sele 102-61; Je Zimmerman
25-16; Wetteland 10-8; B Radke 94-61; Travis Miller 11-4; B Wells
3-1; Rath 5-1; Trombley 13-8.  Ground balls-fly balls: Sele 10-6;
Je Zimmerman 0-1; Wetteland 1-1; B Radke 9-5; Travis Miller 0-0;
B Wells 0-1; Rath 0-0; Trombley 2-1.  Batters faced: Sele 28;
Je Zimmerman 6; Wetteland 3; B Radke 28; Travis Miller 2;
B Wells 1; Rath 1; Trombley 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Rich Garcia. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Ray Dimuro.
3B--Tim Welke.
T--2:42.  Att--27,765.   Weather: 76 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 7 mph, right to left.




AL       MINNESOTA AT TEXAS
         NOTE:  THE HOME RUNS BY TEXAS' JUAN GONZALEZ AND RAFAEL PALMEIRO
                IN THE FIRST INNING WERE BACK-TO-BACK.

AL       MINNESOTA AT TEXAS
         NOTE:  THE HOME RUNS BY TEXAS' JUAN GONZALEZ, RAFAEL PALMEIRO,
                AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ WERE BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK.

Game Log

Minnesota Starting Lineups -- Todd Walker 2B, Chad Allen LF, Matt Lawton RF, Marty Cordova DH, Ron Coomer 3B, Doug Mientkiewicz 1B, Terry Steinbach C, Torii Hunter CF, Denny Hocking SS, Brad Radke RHP.

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.

Umpires -- Garcia (HP), Reilly (1B), R Dimuro (2B), Welke (3B).

Gametime Weather: 76 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind right to left at 7 mph.

MINNESOTA 1ST: T Walker grounded out to second. Allen walked. Allen picked off at first, catcher to first. Lawton struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: T Goodwin walked. Mclemore singled to right, T Goodwin to third. Greer grounded out to second, T Goodwin scored, Mclemore to second. J Gonzalez homered to left, Mclemore scored. R Palmeiro homered to right. I Rodriguez homered to left. Zeile struck out swinging. L Stevens grounded out to third. (5 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, TEXAS 5.

MINNESOTA 2ND: M Cordova singled to left. Coomer struck out swinging. Mientkiewicz grounded into fielder's choice to first, M Cordova out at second. Steinbach grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 2ND: Clayton flied out to left. T Goodwin grounded out to shortstop. Mclemore flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, TEXAS 5.

MINNESOTA 3RD: T Hunter walked. Hocking walked, T Hunter to second. T Walker doubled to left, T Hunter scored, Hocking to third. Allen singled to left center, Hocking scored, T Walker to third. Lawton grounded into double play, third to second to first, Allen out at second, T Walker scored. M Cordova safe at first on shortstop Clayton's fielding error. Coomer flied out to left. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) MINNESOTA 3, TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 3RD: Greer grounded out to shortstop. J Gonzalez reached on infield single. R Palmeiro grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Gonzalez out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 3, TEXAS 5.

MINNESOTA 4TH: Mientkiewicz flied out to deep left center. Steinbach grounded out to shortstop. T Hunter flied out to deep left center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 3, TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 4TH: I Rodriguez flied out to right center. Zeile grounded out to second. L Stevens singled to right. Clayton singled to left center, L Stevens to second. T Goodwin grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 3, TEXAS 5.

MINNESOTA 5TH: Hocking singled to left. T Walker lined out to second. Allen grounded into double play, second to first to shortstop to second, Hocking out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 3, TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 5TH: Mclemore reached on infield single. Greer doubled to right, Mclemore to third. J Gonzalez hit sacrifice fly to right, Mclemore scored. R Palmeiro popped out to second. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 3, TEXAS 6.

MINNESOTA 6TH: Lawton hit by pitch. M Cordova struck out swinging. Coomer flied out to right. Mientkiewicz grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 3, TEXAS 6.

TEXAS 6TH: Zeile doubled to right. L Stevens struck out swinging. Clayton grounded out to third. T Goodwin struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 3, TEXAS 6.

MINNESOTA 7TH: Steinbach grounded out to second. T Hunter popped out to shallow center. Hocking doubled to right center. T Walker singled to center, Hocking scored. Jeff Zimmerman relieved Aaron Sele. Allen singled to right center, T Walker to second. Lawton struck out looking. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 4, TEXAS 6.

TEXAS 7TH: Travis Miller relieved Brad Radke. Mclemore walked. Greer struck out swinging. Bob Wells relieved Travis Miller. J Gonzalez flied out to shallow center. Gary Rath relieved Bob Wells. R Palmeiro walked, Mclemore to second. Mike Trombley relieved Gary Rath. I Rodriguez grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, R Palmeiro out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 4, TEXAS 6.

MINNESOTA 8TH: M Cordova struck out swinging. Coomer doubled to deep right. Mientkiewicz struck out swinging. Steinbach fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 4, TEXAS 6.

TEXAS 8TH: Zeile grounded out to pitcher. L Stevens struck out swinging. Clayton flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 4, TEXAS 6.

MINNESOTA 9TH: John Wetteland relieved Jeff Zimmerman. Gates hit for T Hunter. Gates grounded out to shortstop. Hocking flied out to center. T Walker struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 4, TEXAS 6.