Game 62: June 14, 1999 (L: 8-2)
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Commentary (by me)

None - don't feel like talking about the Yankee curse.  :)

Commentary (by Jim Meeks)

None available.

Game Recap

BRONX, NEW YORK (TICKER) -- It may be "the House that Ruth Built" to most, but for the Texas Rangers, Yankee Stadium remains their personal house of horrors.

Hideki Irabu pitched seven strong innings and Chili Davis homered and drove in four runs as the Yankees continued their home dominance of the Rangers with an 8-2 thumping.

Including the 1998 Division Series, the Rangers have lost five straight games at Yankee Stadium and are 6-17 there since the start of 1996, including a 1-3 mark in the postseason.

"I would like to say it's just another series, but every series is important now," said Rangers manager Johnny Oates. "I don't think it's imperative, but it's good for us to start winning. I don't attach special signifigance to playing New York."

"We've been lucky, we've been able to beat them a lot," said Yankees manager Joe Torre. "Sure it's important to beat the teams we may meet in the fall."

Irabu (3-3), who pitched well for the third straight start, allowed five hits and made only one mistake -- a two-run homer to Juan Gonzalez. Irabu walked one, struck out five and has given up seven runs over his last three starts, covering 17 2/3 innings.

"I feel I was able to keep a good pace," Irabu said through an interpreter. ""I didn't know when the rain would end so I didn't want to overwork myself. I'm just trying to maintain my consistency."

Davis belted a three-run homer in the third to give New York a 4-0 lead. After a 49-minute rain delay, the Yankees batted around in the bottom of the fifth inning and scored four more times, highlighted by a two-run single by Scott Brosius.

Davis, a switch-hitting designated hitter, made his first start since June 6 due to interleague play.

"It feels good to be back in the lineup. The last six games I came to the park knowing I wouldn't play," said Davis. "I just feel good to be playing. Maybe it was nice having a little time off, I'm 39 years old. When I got to the big leagues, 39-year-olds got Sunday off."

Mark Clark (3-6) again was shelled, allowing eight runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. He fell to 0-3 in five career outings against the Yankees. In his last three starts -- all losses -- Clark has been drilled for 22 runs and 19 hits over 11 innings.

Clark was lucky to escape the first inning down 1-0. Chuck Knoblauch singled before Derek Jeter and Paul O'Neill walked to load the bases with no outs. Tino Martinez lifted a sacrifice fly, but Clark walked Bernie Williams to re-load the bases. He recovered to strike out Davis and retire Jorge Posada on a groundout.

The Yankees continued to pound Clark in the third. Jeter singled but was thrown out trying to steal second. Martinez had a two-out walk and Williams extended the inning with an infield single before Davis jumped on a 2-1 offering and deposited it over the right-field fence.

"That was a changeup down. I thought it was a good pitch and he hit a home run," said Clark. "I throw good pitches, they hit it. I throw bad pitches, they hit it. Baseball is a game of peaks and valleys, and I'm in a valley."

Irabu allowed only three hits over the first five innings, and his teammates finished off Clark after the rain delay. Jeter had a leadoff single, and after Clark retired O'Neill and Martinez, Williams drew a walk. Davis and Posada followed with RBI singles, chasing Clark as the Yankees took a 6-0 lead.

Shane Spencer greeted Danny Patterson with an infield single before Brosius' two-run base hit to center field extended the lead to 8-0.

Gonzalez ended Irabu's shutout bid by hammering a 2-0 pitch over the center-field fence in the sixth. Irabu retired the last five batters he faced before giving way to Jason Grimsley, who teamed with Mike Stanton for two scoreless innings of relief.

"He was terrific again tonight," said Torre of Irabu. "To be able to come back after the rain delay and give us two innings, I was very impressed. He threw up into the hundred and teens. He was good, very consistent."

Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez left for a pinch-hitter in the second inning due to back spasms. He is listed as day-to-day.

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image

Mr. Twinkie scores in the first inning	Gregg Zaun is safe at first base	Hidecki Irabu fielding a ball	Hidecki Irabu	Hidecki Irabu

Chili Davis after his three run homer	A familiar sight	Rangers in the dugout during the rain delay

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  TEX - MARK CLARK, DANNY PATTERSON (5TH), JOHN
                  BURKETT (7TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ, GREGG ZAUN
                  (2ND)
            NYY - HIDEKI IRABU, JASON GRIMSLEY (8TH), MIKE
                  STANTON (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA

             WP - HIDEKI IRABU (3-3)
             LP - MARK CLARK (3-6)
           SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS:  TEX - JUAN GONZALEZ (18) OFF IRABU IN THE 6TH, 1 ON
            NYY - CHILI DAVIS (10) OFF M CLARK IN THE 3RD, 2 ON

     TIME:  3:06     ATT:  27,812

PROBABLES:  TEX - RYAN GLYNN (0-0, 8.19)
            NYY - DAVID CONE (6-2, 2.79)


Box Score
TEXAS (2) AT NY YANKEES (8) - FINAL

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             4  0  2  0   0  0   1  .303
Mateo cf                4  1  2  0   0  0   1  .250
Greer lf                4  0  0  0   0  3   3  .288
J Gonzalez rf           4  1  1  2   0  0   2  .313
R Palmeiro dh           4  0  1  0   0  0   0  .359
I Rodriguez c           0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .301
 a-Zaun ph-c            4  0  1  0   0  1   1  .225
Zeile 3b                3  0  1  0   1  1   2  .254
L Stevens 1b            3  0  0  0   0  0   3  .301
 b-R Kelly ph           1  0  0  0   0  1   2  .326
Clayton ss              4  0  0  0   0  0   3  .244

Totals                 35  2  8  2   1  6  18

a-reached on error for I Rodriguez in the 2nd; b-struck out for
L Stevens in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - Mclemore (10, Irabu); Mateo (1, Grimsley).
HR - J Gonzalez (18, 6th inning off Irabu 1 on, 1 out).
RBI - J Gonzalez 2 (55). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - J Gonzalez 2, Greer 1, Clayton 1. GIDP - L Stevens.
Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - Mclemore (5, 2nd base off Irabu/Posada).

FIELDING: DP: 2 (Clayton-Mclemore-L Stevens, L Stevens-Clayton-L Stevens).

NY YANKEES             ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Knoblauch 2b            5  1  1  0   0  2   4  .252
Jeter ss                4  1  2  0   1  1   1  .382
Oneill rf               4  0  2  0   1  1   1  .276
 Tarasco pr-rf          0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .167
T Martinez 1b           3  1  1  1   1  1   4  .251
B Williams cf           2  2  2  0   3  0   0  .331
C Davis dh              5  2  2  4   0  2   7  .327
Posada c                4  1  1  1   0  0   6  .193
Spencer lf              3  0  1  0   1  0   0  .208
Brosius 3b              4  0  2  2   0  0   1  .246

Totals                 34  8 14  8   7  7  24

BATTING: 2B - T Martinez (15, D Patterson). HR - C Davis (10,
3rd inning off M Clark 2 on, 2 out). SF - T Martinez. RBI -
T Martinez (36), C Davis 4 (41), Posada (26), Brosius 2 (29).
2-out RBI - C Davis 4, Posada, Brosius 2. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - Posada 4, Knoblauch 1. GIDP -
Knoblauch, T Martinez.  Team LOB - 10.

BASERUNNING: CS - Jeter (5, 2nd base by M Clark/Zaun).

FIELDING: E - Knoblauch (11, throw). DP: 1 (Knoblauch-T Martinez).

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
M Clark (L, 3-6)              4 2/3   8   8   8   5   4   1   8.38
D Patterson                   1 1/3   4   0   0   1   3   0   4.23
Burkett                       2       2   0   0   1   0   0   8.57

NY YANKEES                   ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Irabu (W, 3-3)                7       5   2   2   1   5   1   4.94
Grimsley                      1       1   0   0   0   0   0   3.82
Stanton                       1       2   0   0   0   1   0   4.07

IBB - B Williams (by D Patterson).  Pitches-strikes: Irabu 117-76;
Grimsley 14-9; Stanton 21-15; M Clark 97-55; D Patterson 39-21;
Burkett 23-13.  Ground balls-fly balls: Irabu 9-7; Grimsley 3-0;
Stanton 1-1; M Clark 5-4; D Patterson 1-0; Burkett 4-2.  Batters
faced: Irabu 27; Grimsley 4; Stanton 5; M Clark 25; D Patterson 9;
Burkett 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Onora. 1B--Terry Craft. 2B--Jim Joyce.
3B--Eric Cooper.
T--3:06 (Plus rain delay for 49 minutes in the 5th).  Att--27,812.
Weather: 75 degrees, cloudy.   Wind: 5 mph, out to left.

AL       TEXAS AT NY YANKEES
         NOTE:  TEXAS' IVAN RODRIGUEZ LEFT THE GAME IN THE SECOND INNING
                DUE TO MUSCLE SPASMS IN HIS MIDDLE AND LOWER BACK.  HE IS
                LISTED AS DAY-TO-DAY.

AL       TEXAS AT NY YANKEES
         NOTE:  TEXAS' RAFAEL PALMEIRO SINGLED IN THE SECOND INNING TO
                EXTEND HIS HITTING STREAK TO 10 GAMES.

AL       TEXAS AT NY YANKEES
         NOTE:  THE GAME IS BEING DELAYED DUE TO RAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF
                THE FIFTH INNING.  SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, 0 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
                CURRENT SCORE - NY YANKEES 4, TEXAS 0

AL       TEXAS AT NY YANKEES
         NOTE:  THE GAME HAS RESUMED AFTER A RAIN DELAY.  NY YANKEES IS
                BATTING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 5TH INNING.  SITUATION: 0
                RUNS IN, 0 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
                CURRENT SCORE - NY YANKEES 4, TEXAS 0

AL       TEXAS AT NY YANKEES
         NOTE:  THE GAME RESUMED AFTER A 49 MINUTE RAIN DELAY.

Game Log

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

Ny Yankees Starting Lineups -- Chuck Knoblauch 2B, Derek Jeter SS, Paul Oneill RF, Tino Martinez 1B, Bernie Williams CF, Chili Davis DH, Jorge Posada C, Shane Spencer LF, Scott Brosius 3B, Hideki Irabu RHP.

Umpires -- Onora (HP), T Craft (1B), Joyce (2B), Cooper (3B).

Gametime Weather: 75 degrees, Cloudy, wind out to left at 5 mph.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore doubled to right. Mateo grounded out to pitcher, Mclemore to third. Greer struck out swinging. J Gonzalez lined out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 1ST: Knoblauch singled to left. Jeter walked, Knoblauch to second. Oneill walked, Knoblauch to third, Jeter to second. T Martinez hit sacrifice fly to left, Knoblauch scored. B Williams walked, Jeter to third, Oneill to second. C Davis struck out looking. Posada grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 1.

TEXAS 2ND: R Palmeiro singled to center. Zaun hit for I Rodriguez. Zaun safe at first on 2nd baseman Knoblauch's throwing error, R Palmeiro to second. Zeile struck out swinging. L Stevens grounded into double play, second to first, Zaun out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 2ND: Zaun catching. Spencer flied out to deep center. Brosius popped out to shallow right. Knoblauch struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 1.

TEXAS 3RD: Clayton grounded out to second. Mclemore singled to center. Mclemore stole second. Mateo popped out to first. Greer struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 3RD: Jeter singled to center. Jeter caught stealing, catcher to shortstop. Oneill struck out looking. T Martinez walked. B Williams reached on infield single, T Martinez to second. C Davis homered to right, T Martinez and B Williams scored. Posada grounded out to shortstop. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 4.

TEXAS 4TH: J Gonzalez grounded out to third. R Palmeiro flied out to center. Zaun flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 4.

NY YANKEES 4TH: Spencer grounded out to third. Brosius singled to center. Knoblauch grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Brosius out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 4.

TEXAS 5TH: Zeile walked. L Stevens flied out to shallow left. Clayton flied out to right. Mclemore grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 4.

NY YANKEES 5TH: Jeter singled to center. Oneill flied out to left. T Martinez struck out swinging. B Williams walked, Jeter to second. C Davis singled to right, Jeter scored, B Williams to third. Posada singled to left, B Williams scored, C Davis to second. Danny Patterson relieved Mark Clark. Spencer reached on infield single, C Davis to third, Posada to second. Brosius singled to center, C Davis and Posada scored, Spencer to second. Knoblauch struck out looking. (4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 8.

TEXAS 6TH: Mateo singled to left. Greer struck out swinging. J Gonzalez homered to center, Mateo scored. R Palmeiro lined out to right. Zaun struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 8.

NY YANKEES 6TH: Jeter struck out swinging. Oneill singled to right. T Martinez doubled to right, Oneill to third. B Williams intentionally walked. C Davis struck out swinging. Posada grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 8.

TEXAS 7TH: Zeile grounded out to first. L Stevens grounded out to second. Clayton grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 8.

NY YANKEES 7TH: John Burkett relieved Danny Patterson. Spencer walked. Brosius flied out to center. Knoblauch flied out to deep right. Jeter grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 8.

TEXAS 8TH: Jason Grimsley relieved Hideki Irabu. Mclemore grounded out to pitcher. Mateo doubled to deep center. Greer grounded out to second, Mateo to third. J Gonzalez grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 8.

NY YANKEES 8TH: Oneill singled to left. Tarasco ran for Oneill. T Martinez grounded into double play, first to shortstop to first, Tarasco out at second. B Williams singled to center. C Davis grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, B Williams out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 8.

TEXAS 9TH: Mike Stanton relieved Jason Grimsley. Tarasco in right. R Palmeiro flied out to left center. Zaun singled to right. Zeile singled to right, Zaun to second. R Kelly hit for L Stevens. R Kelly struck out swinging. Clayton grounded into fielder's choice to third, Zeile out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 8.