Game 61: June 13, 1999 (L: 4-2)
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Commentary (by me)

There wasn't really a whole lot to this game.  Mike Morgan, outside of the second inning pitched very well, and the two Ranger relivers that followed (Venafro/Crabtree) each pitched one scoreless inning.  Mike Morgan made one big mistake in the second, a three run home run to Kurt Abbott.  Other than that, he was great.  In fact, the Rockies went down 1-2-3 in every inning from the fourth to the ninth with only two hits in that mix.  The three run home run did it.

The Rangers weren't a whole lot better, except we didn't go down 1-2-3 as many times.  The Rockies did it in 7 of the 9 innings, we did it in only 3.  Our lone scoring was the two solo home runs by Juan Gonzalez & Rafael Palmeiro in the 4th.  We had a few chances (1st and 3rd with 2 outs in the first, 1st and 3rd with 1 out in the 9th), but we didn't mount any real offense.

In fact, the offense for both sides was rather scattered, as there were a total of 15 hits for both teams, and 14 of them were by different players (only Echevarria for Colorado had two).  We had our chances, and we didn't come through.  Oh well.

On to a hellacious 8 game stretch with four games in New York, and four in Boston.  Ugh.  Hope we come out of that still in first, and still in decent shape.

Ruben Mateo went 0-4 with a walk - he has one hit in his first two games, a home run.  Mateo did try and make a good catch during the game, but missed it - he looked good, and he did change his uniform number from 38 to 21 - no reason given on TV that I heard for the switch.

Commentary (by Jim Meeks)

Mike Morgan had his most effective outing of the year, but one bad pitch was belted for a 3 run homer and the Rangers lost.

This is one game the Rangers should have won. They had numerous opportunities to win the game, including in the 9th inning, but it wasn't to be.

Ruben Mateo, sporting Ruben Sierra (and Roberto Clemente's) #21, made a bad judgement play in center, diving for a ball he should have played differently. Although he walked in the game, he did strike out twice.

Juan Gonzalez drove in his 1,000th career run with a solo homer.

Game Recap

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) -- Bobby Jones made just two mistakes over 6 1/3 innings and Kurt Abbott hit a three-run homer in a four-run second inning as the Colorado Rockies defeated the Texas Rangers, 4-2.

Jones (2-5) surrendered consecutive homers to Juan Gonzalez and Rafael Palmeiro in a five-pitch span to start the fourth but little else. He allowed five hits overall, walked three and struck out seven. Mike DeJean retired all five batters he faced and Dave Veres allowed two singles in the ninth but recovered for his ninth save in 13 opportunities.

Jones improved to 2-4 as a starter, winning for the first time since May 11. He allowed less than three runs in a start for the first time since limiting the Mets to two runs in that victory.

Abbott highlighted a two-out rally with his third homer of the season, giving Colorado a 3-0 lead. Darryl Hamilton added an RBI single off Mike Morgan (6-5) to complete the Rockies' scoring.

Gonzalez's solo homer was his 1,000th RBI. He accomplished the feat in 1,158 games, tying him with Jimmie Foxx for the sixth-fastest in major league history.

Morgan, who has a personal three-game losing streak, pitched better in his second start since returing from the disabled list. He allowed four runs and seven hits over seven innings but remained winless since May 13.

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image

Rockies' manager Jim Leyland eats an ice cream cone before the game starts	Juan connects for his 1000th RBI in his career, a solo shot in the fourth	Todd Zeile congratulating Juan on his homer	More congrats for Juan on his homer	"Gee, Mr. Clayton..  That's a mighty fine bubble you've blown there.  Now can you please tuck in your red socks?"

Kurt Abbott trotting by Royce Clayton after his home run	Kurt Abbott gets congrats on his three run homer in the second

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  COL - BOBBY M JONES, MIKE DEJEAN (7TH), DAVE VERES
                  (9TH) AND HENRY BLANCO
            TEX - MIKE MORGAN, MIKE VENAFRO (8TH), TIM CRABTREE
                  (9TH) AND GREGG ZAUN

             WP - BOBBY M JONES (2-5)
             LP - MIKE MORGAN (6-5)
           SAVE - DAVE VERES (9)

HOME RUNS:  COL - KURT ABBOTT (3) OFF MORGAN IN THE 2ND, 2 ON
            TEX - JUAN GONZALEZ (17) OFF BOBBY M JONES IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
                  RAFAEL PALMEIRO (19) OFF BOBBY M JONES IN THE 4TH, 0 ON

     TIME:  2:23     ATT:  39,651

PROBABLES:  SFO - SHAWN ESTES (3-4, 5.43)
            COL - MARK BROWNSON (0-1, 7.36)

            TEX - MARK CLARK (3-5, 7.90)
            NYY - HIDEKI IRABU (2-3, 5.29)


Box Score
COLORADO (4) AT TEXAS (2) - FINAL

COLORADO               ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
D Hamilton cf           4  0  1  1   0  0   0  .314
N Perez ss              4  0  1  0   0  0   1  .283
L Walker rf             4  0  0  0   0  0   1  .354
Castilla 3b             4  0  1  0   0  1   0  .277
Helton 1b               3  0  1  0   1  0   0  .266
Echevarria lf           4  1  2  0   0  0   3  .297
 Clemente pr-lf         0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .333
L Harris dh             3  1  0  0   1  0   1  .208
K Abbott 2b             3  1  1  3   0  1   0  .217
Blanco c                3  1  1  0   0  0   0  .291

Totals                 32  4  8  4   2  2   6

BATTING: 3B - Blanco (2, Morgan). HR - K Abbott (3, 2nd inning
off Morgan 2 on, 2 out). RBI - K Abbott 3 (9), D Hamilton (17).
2-out RBI - K Abbott 3, D Hamilton. GIDP - Echevarria 2, L Walker.
Team LOB - 3.

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             5  0  0  0   0  1   2  .300
Mateo cf                4  0  0  0   1  2   2  .125
Greer lf                3  0  1  0   1  1   0  .293
J Gonzalez rf           3  1  1  1   1  0   2  .314
R Palmeiro dh           4  1  1  1   0  1   4  .362
Zeile 3b                4  0  1  0   0  0   0  .253
L Stevens 1b            4  0  1  0   0  1   1  .305
Clayton ss              3  0  1  0   0  2   2  .252
Zaun c                  3  0  0  0   0  1   3  .222
 a-I Rodriguez ph       1  0  1  0   0  0   0  .301

Totals                 34  2  7  2   3  9  16

a-singled for Zaun in the 9th.

BATTING: HR - J Gonzalez (17, 4th inning off Bobby M Jones 0 on,
0 out); R Palmeiro (19, 4th inning off Bobby M Jones 0 on, 0 out).
RBI - J Gonzalez (53), R Palmeiro (57). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - R Palmeiro 2, Mateo 1.  Team LOB - 9.

FIELDING: DP: 3 (Zeile-L Stevens, Morgan-Clayton-L Stevens,
Clayton-L Stevens).

COLORADO                     ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Bobby M Jones (W, 2-5)        6 1/3   5   2   2   3   7   2   4.56
Dejean (H, 6)                 1 2/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   6.44
D Veres (S, 9)                1       2   0   0   0   2   0   4.60

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Morgan (L, 6-5)               7       7   4   4   2   2   1   6.34
Venafro                       1       0   0   0   0   0   0   2.25
Crabtree                      1       1   0   0   0   0   0   3.13

HBP - Clayton (by Bobby M Jones).  Pitches-strikes: Morgan 83-52;
Venafro 9-5; Crabtree 11-6; Bobby M Jones 101-58; Dejean 26-16;
D Veres 23-15.  Ground balls-fly balls: Morgan 13-6; Venafro 1-2;
Crabtree 1-2; Bobby M Jones 3-9; Dejean 3-2; D Veres 0-1.  Batters
faced: Morgan 27; Venafro 3; Crabtree 4; Bobby M Jones 28; Dejean 5;
D Veres 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Dave Phillips. 1B--Rocky Roe. 2B--Durwood Merrill.
3B--John Hirschbeck.
T--2:23.  Att--39,651.   Weather: 87 degrees, cloudy.   Wind: 6 mph,
left to right.

ML       COLORADO AT TEXAS
         NOTE:  THE HOME RUNS BY TEXAS' JUAN GONZALEZ AND RAFAEL PALMEIRO
                IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH INNING WERE HIT BACK-TO-BACK.
                THE RUN BATTED IN BY GONZALEZ WAS THE 1,000TH OF HIS
                CAREER.

Game Log

Colorado Starting Lineups -- Darryl Hamilton CF, Neifi Perez SS, Larry Walker RF, Vinny Castilla 3B, Todd Helton 1B, Angel Echevarria LF, Lenny Harris DH, Kurt Abbott 2B, Henry Blanco C, Bobby M Jones LHP.

Texas Starting Lineups -- Mark Mclemore 2B, Ruben Mateo CF, Rusty Greer LF, Juan Gonzalez RF, Rafael Palmeiro DH, Todd Zeile 3B, Lee Stevens 1B, Royce Clayton SS, Gregg Zaun C, Mike Morgan RHP.

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

Gametime Weather: 87 degrees, Cloudy, wind left to right at 6 mph.

COLORADO 1ST: D Hamilton flied out to right. N Perez grounded out to shortstop. L Walker grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore flied out to center. Mateo walked. Greer singled to right, Mateo to second. J Gonzalez grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Mateo to third, Greer out at second. R Palmeiro fouled out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 0, TEXAS 0.

COLORADO 2ND: Castilla grounded out to second. Helton flied out to center. Echevarria singled to right. L Harris walked, Echevarria to second. K Abbott homered to left, Echevarria and L Harris scored. Blanco tripled to right center. D Hamilton singled to right center, Blanco scored. N Perez lined out to pitcher. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 2ND: Zeile singled to center. L Stevens flied out to left. Clayton struck out swinging. Zaun struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 0.

COLORADO 3RD: L Walker flied out to center. Castilla singled to left. Helton singled to left, Castilla to second. Echevarria grounded into double play, third to first, Castilla out at third. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 3RD: Mclemore fouled out to third. Mateo struck out looking. Greer struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 0.

COLORADO 4TH: L Harris grounded out to second. K Abbott struck out swinging. Blanco flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 4TH: J Gonzalez homered to left. R Palmeiro homered to right. Zeile popped out to shortstop. L Stevens struck out looking. Clayton hit by pitch. Zaun popped out to shallow center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 2.

COLORADO 5TH: D Hamilton lined out to first. N Perez singled to left. L Walker grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, N Perez out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 5TH: Mclemore flied out to center. Mateo fouled out to first. Greer walked. J Gonzalez walked, Greer to second. R Palmeiro struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 2.

COLORADO 6TH: Castilla struck out swinging. Helton walked. Echevarria grounded into double play, shortstop to first, Helton out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 6TH: Zeile grounded out to third. L Stevens singled to right. Clayton struck out swinging. Zaun grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 2.

COLORADO 7TH: L Harris grounded out to first. K Abbott grounded out to shortstop. Blanco grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 7TH: Mclemore flied out to right. Mike Dejean relieved Bobby M Jones. Mateo flied out to center. Greer grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 2.

COLORADO 8TH: Mike Venafro relieved Mike Morgan. D Hamilton flied out to left. N Perez fouled out to first. L Walker grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 8TH: J Gonzalez flied out to left. R Palmeiro grounded out to first. Zeile grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 2.

COLORADO 9TH: Tim Crabtree relieved Mike Venafro. Castilla grounded out to shortstop. Helton flied out to left. Echevarria singled to right. Clemente ran for Echevarria. L Harris flied out to left center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 9TH: Dave Veres relieved Mike Dejean. Clemente in left. L Stevens flied out to center. Clayton singled to center. I Rodriguez hit for Zaun. I Rodriguez singled to right center, Clayton to third. Mclemore struck out swinging. Mateo struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) COLORADO 4, TEXAS 2.