Game 65: June 17, 1999 (W: 4-2)
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Commentary (by me)

I didn't think we had it in us to pull off the split.  This game felt really good.  Got a long ball, had small ball, had some nice defense, we did just about everything last night.  Hell, we pulled off the first triple play in 22 years (only the second in Ranger history).

Roger Clemens was masterful early.  He struck out ten in the first four innings, including everyone in the first two innings.  However, we ended up getting to him (and the Yankees) in the latter part of the game. 

I was flipping back and forth between this game and the Stars game, so I didn't see everything, but I did see the triple play.  What was funny was that the guy who hit into it (Chili Davis) also hit into a double play later.  :)

I've been impressed with Gregg Zaun the last few days.   He's not the greatest catcher around, but he certainly did his part when called upon.  I was very disappointed when Bill Haselman signed somewhere else after last year, but I have to say...  Gregg Zaun has grown on me.

"It was a team effort" is so cliched, but here it meant something.  This game was won by the team, not by any one player.  This was spectacular baseball, the kind of stuff a hardcore baseball fan lives for.

We survived Yankee Stadium, breaking our 7 game losing streak there with a split.  Now it's on to Beantown for four more - I like playing Boston, we always seem to get good baseball playing them.

Commentary (by Jim Meeks)

Not available.

Game Recap

BRONX, NEW YORK (TICKER) -- The Texas Rangers overcame a blistering start by Roger Clemens and battled through the raindrops to post a 4-2 victory over New York and a winning streak at Yankee Stadium.

Clemens (6-2) struck out the first six Rangers he faced and fanned 10 through four innings, but Texas was able to scratch out three runs against the two-time defending American League Cy Young award winner.

"(Clemens) was dominant tonight," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Half the base hits he gave up were of the infield variety. It was just one of those games that we just weren't meant to win."

After losing seven straight at Yankee Stadium, a streak that included the first two games of last season's Division Series, the Rangers have posted back-to-back victories over the world champions to earn a split of the four-game series.

Texas had lost four in a row before winning the last two.

The Rangers also turned their second triple play in franchise history.

"We knew it was going to be tough to beat (Clemens)," said Rangers outfielder and former Yankee Roberto Kelly. "He started off the game pretty good, but we caught a break. When we got that triple play, we knew that things were going our way."

Clemens struck out 13 -- the 94th time in his career and the first time this season he has recorded at least 10 -- but was locked in a 2-2 tie entering the seventh.

Rangers catcher Gregg Zuan began the frame with an infield single and was sacrificed to second by Royce Clayton. Mark McLemore's groundout sent Zaun to third.

New York thought it was out of the inning moments later when it appeared Kelly struck out swinging. But Kelly was not called out and drove in the eventual winning run with a swinging bunt down the third-base line.

Paul O'Neill singled with one out in the bottom of the eighth for the Yankees but was erased when Chili Davis lined back to pitcher Mike Munoz, resulting in a double play.

Ironically, it was Davis who lined into the triple play in the second. Yankees manager Joe Torre called for a hit-and-run with Tino Martinez at second and O'Neill on first. McLemore caught the liner at second base, threw to second for the second out and watched as shortstop Clayton flipped to first.

"You look out there tonight and you see Chili hit two balls the way he did and end up with five outs on two swings," said Rangers manager Johnny Oates. "Then we score the winning run off Roger with a ball that didn't go 45 feet out of home plate. I guess that's the reason we play the game between the white lines."

"I hit both balls hard," Davis said. "I made good swings. We can't direct where it goes. If I could, I'd hit 1.000."

Texas recorded its first triple play since August 8, 1977 against Oakland. The Yankees had not hit into a triple play since June 15, 1989 versus the Milwaukee Brewers.

O'Neill misplayed Clayton's fly ball in the ninth into a triple and McLemore followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Rangers and closer John Wetteland an insurance run.

Wetteland, who closed out all four of New York's wins in the 1996 World Series, set down the side in order in the ninth for his 24th save in 26 chances, making a winner of Aaron Sele (7-5).

"You go out there and win the ballgame," Wetteland said. "If it's 3-2, fine. If it's 10-0, fine. The point is you need to win. That's what is going on. I'm not going to sit here and explain why we're winning games 3-2."

Sele, who improved to 4-8 in 16 career games against the Yankees, allowed just two runs and six hits over seven innings, striking out five with five walks.

"It's a combination of good pitching and good defense and timely hitting," Sele said. "That's the way you win any game."

Juan Gonzalez hit his 19th homer off Clemens in the sixth to force a 2-2 tie.

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image

Yankee starter Roger Clemens	Yankee starter Roger Clemens	Bernie Williams walks, forcing in the first run of the game	Here's Paul "Capt. Pissy" O'Neill after striking out - does this guy think every single pitch is supposed to be called a ball?  It certainly seems that way - damned whiner.	And here's Capt Pissy again becoming the third out in the triple play the Rangers turned in the second inning

Juan rounding third after his solo homer in the 6th	Yankee catcher Jorge Posada ran up the line to try and get a ball hit by Roberto Kelly....	... as Gregg Zaun scored running down the line at third.  Kelly was safe at first.	Royce Clayton scoring an insurance run in the 9th	"...do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight!"

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  TEX - AARON SELE, MIKE MUNOZ (8TH), JOHN WETTELAND
                  (9TH) AND GREGG ZAUN
            NYY - ROGER CLEMENS, RAMIRO MENDOZA (8TH) AND JORGE
                  POSADA

             WP - AARON SELE (7-5)
             LP - ROGER CLEMENS (6-2)
           SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (23)

HOME RUNS:  TEX - JUAN GONZALEZ (19) OFF CLEMENS IN THE 6TH, 0 ON
            NYY - NONE

     TIME:  3:01     ATT:  30,157

PROBABLES:  TEX - MIKE MORGAN (6-5, 6.34)
            BOS - MARK PORTUGAL (3-5, 5.89)

            ANA - CHUCK FINLEY (4-6, 4.31)
            NYY - ANDY PETTITTE (3-5, 5.90)


Box Score
TEXAS (4) AT NY YANKEES (2) - FINAL

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             4  0  1  2   0  1   0  .291
R Kelly lf              5  0  2  1   0  2   0  .330
R Palmeiro dh           4  0  2  0   0  1   1  .355
J Gonzalez rf           4  1  1  1   0  3   4  .302
L Stevens 1b            4  0  0  0   0  2   2  .304
Zeile 3b                3  0  1  0   1  0   0  .258
Mateo cf                4  0  0  0   0  4   4  .208
Zaun c                  4  1  1  0   0  1   0  .224
Clayton ss              3  2  2  0   0  1   0  .242

Totals                 35  4 10  4   1 15  11

BATTING: 2B - Zeile (17, Clemens); Clayton (4, Clemens). 3B - Clayton
(1, Mendoza). HR - J Gonzalez (19, 6th inning off Clemens 0 on, 0 out).
S - Clayton. SF - Mclemore. RBI - Mclemore 2 (17), J Gonzalez (56),
R Kelly (14). 2-out RBI - R Kelly. Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - Mateo 3, R Palmeiro 1, J Gonzalez 1. Team LOB - 7.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Munoz-L Stevens). TP: 1 (Mclemore-Clayton-L Stevens).

NY YANKEES             ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Knoblauch 2b            4  1  1  0   0  0   0  .249
Jeter ss                3  0  0  0   1  2   1  .373
B Williams cf           2  0  0  1   2  0   0  .318
T Martinez 1b           4  0  2  1   0  0   3  .255
Oneill rf               4  0  2  0   0  1   2  .271
C Davis dh              4  0  0  0   0  0   3  .319
Posada c                3  1  2  0   1  0   0  .199
Spencer lf              4  0  0  0   0  2   3  .203
Brosius 3b              3  0  0  0   1  1   1  .243

Totals                 31  2  7  2   5  6  13

BATTING: 2B - Posada (4, Sele). RBI - B Williams (40), T Martinez (37).
2-out RBI - B Williams, T Martinez. Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - T Martinez 2, Oneill 1. Team LOB - 7.

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Sele (W, 7-5)                 7       6   2   2   5   5   0   5.56
M Munoz (H, 5)                1       1   0   0   0   0   0   3.81
Wetteland (S, 23)             1       0   0   0   0   1   0   3.03

NY YANKEES                   ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Clemens (L, 6-2)              7       9   3   3   1  13   1   5.11
Mendoza                       2       1   1   1   0   2   0   4.57

Pitches-strikes: Clemens 124-78; Mendoza 25-15; Sele 120-66;
M Munoz 9-5; Wetteland 12-8.  Ground balls-fly balls: Clemens 7-1;
Mendoza 3-1; Sele 8-6; M Munoz 0-2; Wetteland 0-2.  Batters faced:
Clemens 31; Mendoza 7; Sele 30; M Munoz 3; Wetteland 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Eric Cooper. 1B--Brian Onora. 2B--Terry Craft.
3B--Jim Joyce.
T--3:01.  Att--30,157.   Weather: 63 degrees, drizzle.   Wind: 6 mph,
left to right.


AL       TEXAS AT NY YANKEES
         NOTE:  NEW YORK PITCHER ROGER CLEMENS HAS SIX STRIKEOUTS THROUGH
                TWO INNINGS, INCLUDING THE FIRST FIVE BATTERS OF THE GAME.

AL       TEXAS AT NY YANKEES
         NOTE:  THE TEXAS RANGERS TURNED A TRIPLE PLAY IN THE BOTTOM OF
                THE SECOND INNING.  NEW YORK'S CHILI DAVIS LINED OUT TO
                SECOND BASEMAN MARK MCLEMORE FOR THE FIRST OUT. MCLEMORE
                THREW TO SHORTSTOP ROYCE CLAYTON TO DOUBLE TINO MARTINEZ
                OFF SECOND BASE FOR THE SECOND OUT. CLAYTON THREW TO
                FIRST BASEMAN LEE STEVENS TO TRIPLE PAUL O'NEILL OFF
                FIRST BASE. IT IS THE SECOND TRIPLE PLAY IN TEAM HISTORY
                FOR TEXAS. THE FIRST WAS TURNED ON AUGUST 8, 1977 AGAINST
                OAKLAND. IT IS THE FIRST TRIPLE PLAY NEW YORK HAS HIT
                INTO SINCE JUNE 15, 1989 AGAINST BALTIMORE.

AL       TEXAS AT NY YANKEES
         NOTE:  NEW YORK PITCHER ROGER CLEMENS HAS SEVEN STRIKEOUTS
                THROUGH THREE INNINGS.

AL       TEXAS AT NY YANKEES
         NOTE:  NEW YORK PITCHER ROGER CLEMENS HAS 10 STRIKEOUTS THROUGH
                FOUR INNINGS. HE HAS STRUCK OUT THE SIDE IN EVERY INNING
                EXCEPT THE THIRD.

AL       TEXAS AT NY YANKEES
         NOTE:  NEW YORK'S ROGER CLEMENS HAS 11 STRIKEOUTS THROUGH FIVE
                INNINGS.

AL       TEXAS AT NY YANKEES
         NOTE:  NEW YORK'S ROGER CLEMENS HAS 12 STRIKEOUTS THROUGH SIX
                INNINGS.

AL       TEXAS AT NY YANKEES
         NOTE:  NEW YORK'S ROGER CLEMENS HAS 13 STRIKEOUTS THROUGH SEVEN
                INNINGS.

Game Log

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

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

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

Gametime Weather: 63 degrees, Drizzle, wind left to right at 6 mph.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore struck out swinging. R Kelly struck out swinging. R Palmeiro struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 1ST: Knoblauch grounded out to second. Jeter struck out looking. B Williams grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 0.

TEXAS 2ND: J Gonzalez struck out swinging. L Stevens struck out swinging. Zeile doubled to right. Mateo struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 2ND: T Martinez singled to left. Oneill singled to right, T Martinez to second. C Davis lined into triple play, second to shortstop to first, T Martinez doubled off second, Oneill tripled off first. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 0.

TEXAS 3RD: Zaun flied out to center. Clayton struck out swinging. Mclemore grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 0.

NY YANKEES 3RD: Posada doubled to deep left. Spencer grounded out to third. Brosius walked. Knoblauch grounded out to second, Posada to third, Brosius to second. Jeter walked. B Williams walked, Posada scored, Brosius to third, Jeter to second. T Martinez flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 1.

TEXAS 4TH: R Kelly reached on infield single. R Palmeiro reached on infield single, R Kelly to second. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. L Stevens struck out swinging. Zeile walked, R Kelly to third, R Palmeiro to second. Mateo struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 4TH: Oneill flied out to deep right center. C Davis flied out to left. Posada singled to center. Spencer struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, NY YANKEES 1.

TEXAS 5TH: Zaun struck out swinging. Clayton doubled to right. Mclemore singled to center, Clayton scored. R Kelly grounded out to shortstop, Mclemore to second. R Palmeiro grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 1.

NY YANKEES 5TH: Brosius grounded out to shortstop. Knoblauch singled to center. Jeter struck out looking. B Williams walked, Knoblauch to second. T Martinez singled to center, Knoblauch scored, B Williams to second. Oneill struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, NY YANKEES 2.

TEXAS 6TH: J Gonzalez homered to left. L Stevens grounded out to shortstop. Zeile grounded out to shortstop. Mateo struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 6TH: C Davis grounded out to first. Posada walked. Spencer flied out to center. Brosius struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, NY YANKEES 2.

TEXAS 7TH: Zaun reached on infield single. Clayton sacrificed Zaun to second. Mclemore grounded out to second, Zaun to third. R Kelly reached on infield single, Zaun scored. R Palmeiro singled to right, R Kelly to third. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 7TH: Knoblauch lined out to second. Jeter grounded out to second. B Williams grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, NY YANKEES 2.

TEXAS 8TH: Ramiro Mendoza relieved Roger Clemens. L Stevens grounded out to second. Zeile grounded out to shortstop. Mateo struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 8TH: Mike Munoz relieved Aaron Sele. T Martinez flied out to deep left. Oneill singled to left. C Davis lined into double play, pitcher to first, Oneill doubled off first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, NY YANKEES 2.

TEXAS 9TH: Zaun grounded out to second. Clayton tripled to right. Mclemore hit sacrifice fly to left, Clayton scored. R Kelly struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, NY YANKEES 2.

NY YANKEES 9TH: John Wetteland relieved Mike Munoz. Posada flied out to deep left center. Spencer struck out looking. Brosius flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, NY YANKEES 2.