Game 64: June 16, 1999 (W: 3-0)
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Commentary (by me)

Oh my - we had some pitching!  If I didn't watch the game on TV, I would have thought it was a misprint!!

Rick Helling was totally masterful, going 7 innings, giving up no runs on just three hits.  This is what we needed - let's just hope it continues over past today.  I didn't feel like writing the last two nights, as what can you say?  The Yankees beat us almost all the time in Yankee stadium.  What was there to write about?

We won last night, which was really great.  Our pitching was totally masterful, and is the kind of thing we'd need if we're going to advance in the playoffs.  Speaking of pitching, this morning's (Thursday's) Dallas Morning News seemed to imply that we might be going after Darren Oliver again in July.  Ugh.   While he's pitching OK, he's not totally what we need.

Honestly, there isn't much to talk about with this game.   Lee Stevens belted a two run home run, but other than that, we didn't do much until Ruben Mateo batted in a run late.  We ourselves only had 5 hits for the game, and if it wasn't for the Stevens blast, this game would have been a complete and total pitcher's duel (more than it already was).

Was really nice to see the Rangers pick up the win.

Commentary (by Jim Meeks)

Not available.

Game Recap

BRONX, NEW YORK (TICKER) -- Rick Helling allowed just four hits over seven scoreless innings and Lee Stevens belted a two-run homer as the Texas Rangers snapped a season-high four-game losing skid with a 3-0 victory over the New York Yankees.

The Rangers snapped a seven-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium and beat the world champions for just the 13th time in 48 games since the start of the 1996 season, including the 1996 and 1998 Division Series.

"We're going to get more (wins against the Yankees)," said Rangers manager Johnny Oates. "This is not the first and its not going to be the last. We're in first place and 10 games above .500. This is a very good ball club."

Helling (6-6) allowed a season low in hits and lowered his ERA to 4.18. A 20-game winner last year, Helling fanned five while walking just two.

"I made good pitches when I had to," Helling said. "I got into a couple of jams but was able to work my way out. Whoever was starting tonight's game needed to come out and give the team a chance to win. It just happened to be my turn. Its nice that we finally got over the hump and won a close game against these guys."

Jeff Zimmerman pitched in and out of trouble in the eighth and former Yankee John Wetteland fired a perfect ninth for his major league-best 22nd save in 24 opportunities.

Orlando Hernandez (7-6) breezed threw the first inning and threw two strikes to Juan Gonzalez, leading off the second. But he walked Gonzalez before Stevens drove the first pitch he saw 419 feet over the right-center field fence to make it 2-0.

"I was just trying to get good swings and be aggressive," Stevens said. "I was trying to get him early in the count before he could get ahead and throw some tough pitches."

"Sometimes (Hernandez) tries to make the perfect pitch and that is when he gets into trouble," Yankees catcher Jorge Posada said of the walk to Gonzalez. "The home run was a mistake up in the zone. You'd like to have that pitch back."

In their 6-2 victory on Tuesday night, the Yankees scored all of their runs off rookie Ryan Glynn in the second. But tonight, they were unable to get to Helling, who improved to 2-3 lifetime against New York.

Helling's only 1-2-3 inning was the seventh, but he was able to pitch out of any trouble. Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez both flied out in the first with runners on first and second to end the inning.

Scott Brosius, batting in the leadoff spot for the first time in two years with the Yankees, began the third with a double but Derek Jeter, O'Neill and Williams all struck out to choke the threat.

"(Helling) threw really well tonight when we needed a good game," said Oates. "The two-run homer gave him a cushion and he made pitches until we got to the 8th. The third inning was really important for him. Brosius gets a leadoff double and he came back to strike out Jeter, O'Neill and Williams."

"(Helling) was spotting his pitches," said Jeter. "He's the type of pitcher that comes right at you. He doesn't try to trick you. When he is hitting his spots he's tough. You just tip your hat to him today."

Texas scored the game's final run in the seventh as Stevens singled with one out and came around to score on prized rookie Ruben Mateo's double to left. Until that hit, the Rangers were 0-for-26 with runners in scoring position and 0-for-32 in the situation at Yankee Stadium.

Helling yielded to Zimmerman in the eighth but the Canadian walked Brosius and second baseman Mark McLemore booted Jeter's grounder, putting runners on first and second. However, the Yankees could not pushed across any runs as O'Neill flied out, Williams went down swinging and Martinez grounded to McLemore.

Rangers designated hitter Rafael Palmeiro went 0-for-4 and had his hitting streak halted at 11 games.

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image

Yankee starer Orlando Hernandez	Ranger starter Rick Helling	Ranger starter Rick Helling	Lee Stevens gets congrats from Todd Zeile on his HR	Derek Jeter makes a weird catch

Derek Jeter dives to try and make a catch on a batted ball...	... and fails	Mark McLemore tries to tag out Scott Brosius...	...but doesn't quite make it	John Wetteland

John Wetteland & Gregg Zaun congratulate the win

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  TEX - RICK HELLING, JEFF ZIMMERMAN (8TH), JOHN
                  WETTELAND (9TH) AND GREGG ZAUN
            NYY - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ, MIKE STANTON (8TH), JASON
                  GRIMSLEY (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA

             WP - RICK HELLING (6-6)
             LP - ORLANDO HERNANDEZ (7-6)
           SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (22)

HOME RUNS:  TEX - LEE STEVENS (11) OFF O HERNANDEZ IN THE 2ND, 1 ON
            NYY - NONE

     TIME:  2:59     ATT:  28,555

PROBABLES:  TEX - AARON SELE (6-5, 5.86)
            NYY - ROGER CLEMENS (6-1, 5.27)



Box Score
TEXAS (3) AT NY YANKEES (0) - FINAL

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             4  0  0  0   0  0   0  .292
Greer lf                4  0  0  0   0  0   0  .278
R Palmeiro dh           4  0  0  0   0  0   0  .353
J Gonzalez rf           3  1  0  0   1  2   0  .303
L Stevens 1b            4  2  2  2   0  1   0  .310
Zeile 3b                2  0  1  0   2  0   0  .257
Mateo cf                4  0  1  1   0  0   2  .250
Zaun c                  3  0  1  0   0  0   2  .222
Clayton ss              3  0  0  0   0  1   3  .233

Totals                 31  3  5  3   3  4   7

BATTING: 2B - Mateo (3, O Hernandez). HR - L Stevens (11, 2nd inning
off O Hernandez 1 on, 0 out). RBI - L Stevens 2 (34), Mateo (3).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Clayton 2. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: CS - Zeile (2, 2nd base by O Hernandez/Posada).

FIELDING: E - Clayton (8, throw); Mclemore (6, ground ball).

NY YANKEES             ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Brosius 3b              3  0  1  0   1  0   0  .247
Jeter ss                4  0  1  0   0  1   2  .378
Oneill rf               3  0  0  0   1  1   4  .267
B Williams cf           4  0  0  0   0  3   5  .321
T Martinez 1b           4  0  1  0   0  0   4  .251
C Davis dh              4  0  0  0   0  2   1  .325
Posada c                3  0  0  0   1  0   0  .189
Spencer lf              4  0  1  0   0  0   1  .217
Sojo 2b                 3  0  0  0   0  0   1  .190

Totals                 32  0  4  0   3  7  18

BATTING: 2B - Brosius (9, Helling). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - T Martinez 2, B Williams 1, Oneill 1. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: SB - Jeter (10, 2nd base off Helling/Zaun).
CS - T Martinez (3, 2nd base by Helling).

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Helling (W, 6-6)              7       4   0   0   2   5   0   4.18
Je Zimmerman (H, 9)           1       0   0   0   1   1   0   1.10
Wetteland (S, 22)             1       0   0   0   0   1   0   3.14

NY YANKEES                   ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
O Hernandez (L, 7-6)          7       5   3   3   2   3   1   4.43
Stanton                       1       0   0   0   0   0   0   3.91
Grimsley                      1       0   0   0   1   1   0   3.72

Pitches-strikes: O Hernandez 117-72; Stanton 6-3; Grimsley 21-13;
Helling 123-75; Je Zimmerman 24-15; Wetteland 13-7. Ground balls-
fly balls: O Hernandez 8-9; Stanton 0-3; Grimsley 2-0; Helling
4-11; Je Zimmerman 1-1; Wetteland 0-2.  Batters faced: O Hernandez 27;
Stanton 3; Grimsley 4; Helling 27; Je Zimmerman 5; Wetteland 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Jim Joyce. 1B--Eric Cooper. 2B--Brian Onora.
3B--Terry Craft.
T--2:59.  Att--28,555.   Weather: 71 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 6 mph, in from left.

Game Log

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

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

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

Gametime Weather: 71 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind in from left at 6 mph.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore grounded out to second. Greer flied out to right center. R Palmeiro grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 1ST: Brosius popped out to second. Jeter singled to center. Oneill walked, Jeter to second. B Williams flied out to left center. T Martinez flied out to left center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 0.

TEXAS 2ND: J Gonzalez walked. L Stevens homered to right center, J Gonzalez scored. Zeile flied out to left center. Mateo fouled out to catcher. Zaun grounded out to first. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 2ND: C Davis struck out swinging. Posada grounded out to pitcher. Spencer singled to left. Sojo grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 0.

TEXAS 3RD: Clayton struck out looking. Mclemore grounded out to second. Greer grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 3RD: Brosius doubled to right. Jeter struck out looking. Oneill struck out looking. B Williams struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 0.

TEXAS 4TH: R Palmeiro lined out to first. J Gonzalez flied out to left. L Stevens struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 4TH: T Martinez grounded out to shortstop. C Davis flied out to shallow left center. Posada walked. Spencer fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 0.

TEXAS 5TH: Zeile singled to center. Mateo flied out to shallow right. Zeile caught stealing, catcher to shortstop. Zaun singled to left. Clayton grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 5TH: Sojo grounded out to pitcher. Brosius flied out to left center. Jeter safe at first on shortstop Clayton's throwing error. Jeter stole second. Oneill flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 0.

TEXAS 6TH: Mclemore flied out to right center. Greer popped out to shortstop. R Palmeiro popped out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 6TH: B Williams struck out swinging. T Martinez singled to right. C Davis flied out to deep left center. T Martinez caught stealing, pitcher to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 0.

TEXAS 7TH: J Gonzalez struck out swinging. L Stevens singled to center. Zeile walked, L Stevens to second. Mateo doubled to left, L Stevens scored, Zeile to third. Zaun grounded out to first. Clayton grounded out to third. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 7TH: Posada flied out to center. Spencer lined out to left. Sojo popped out to shallow center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, NY YANKEES 0.

TEXAS 8TH: Mike Stanton relieved Orlando Hernandez. Mclemore popped out to shallow right. Greer lined out to shortstop. R Palmeiro popped out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 8TH: Jeff Zimmerman relieved Rick Helling. Brosius walked. Jeter safe at first on 2nd baseman Mclemore's fielding error, Brosius to second. Oneill flied out to left. B Williams struck out swinging. T Martinez grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 3, NY YANKEES 0.

TEXAS 9TH: Jason Grimsley relieved Mike Stanton. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. L Stevens grounded out to first. Zeile walked. Mateo grounded into fielder's choice to third, Zeile out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 9TH: John Wetteland relieved Jeff Zimmerman. C Davis struck out swinging. Posada flied out to center. Spencer flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, NY YANKEES 0.