Game 69: June 21, 1999 (L: 5-4)
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Commentary (by me)

Crap.  First losing road trip of the year.  I don't have time to write anything, as I've been obscenely busy at work today.

Commentary (by Jim Meeks)

Not available.

Game Recap

BOSTON (TICKER) -- The Boston Red Sox overcome a predictable error by exploiting an unusual one en route to a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Second baseman Jose Offerman had a hand in each miscue. His 10th error of the year in the sixth helped the Rangers score three times and take a 4-2 lead.

The Red Sox tied it in the bottom of the inning on Troy O'Leary's two-run homer.

They scored again in the seventh, when Offerman stole second, went to third on seven-time Gold Glove catcher Ivan Rodriguez's throwing error and scored on John Valentin's single.

Nomar Garciaparra finished Boston's 6-2 homestand by going 4-for-4, increasing his average to .350. He has 10 hits in his last 11 at-bats and has reached base in 12 of his last 13 plate appearances.

Red Sox manager Jimy Williams put him at the top of the list of star shortstops in the American League.

"Nomar is something special," Williams said. "He has four hits tonight, plays real well in the field. I'll tell you this much, he's at the top of the list for me."

Garciaparra, who doubled twice and scored a pair of runs, went 11-for-16 as the Red Sox won three of four games in the series. He is hitting .382 (39-for-102) lifetime against the Rangers.

"The hitting's fine, but I'm just happy we took three out four from Texas," Garciaparra said. "That's big, that's real big for us."

"Nomar is a very good hitter but the last time I checked he wasn't hitting 1.000," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "There are ways to pitch Nomar. There are ways to pitch anybody, but if you get the ball up to him, he's going to hurt you."

Offerman, signed for his offense, scored the decisive run in the seventh after stealing his team-leading 12th base. His error opened the door for a three-run sixth.

With one out and a runner at third, Rodriguez bounced a ball to Offerman, who had it deflect off his glove into shallow right field. Juan Gonzalez and Todd Zeile added RBI hits off rookie starter Brian Rose for a 4-2 Rangers lead.

"We made a few mistakes defensively tonight, but our pitching and hitting was great," Garciaparra said. "Lucky for us tonight, the fielding didn't cost us."

Garciaparra started the sixth with a single before O'Leary launched Rick Helling's 1-1 fastball over Boston's bullpen beyond the right-field wall for his 14th homer of the season, tying it, 4-4.

"I have no regrets about that pitch," Helling said. "It was the first time I came in on him all night, a fastball down in and right where I wanted it. He just turned and hit it hard."

Helling (6-7) gave up four earned runs over seven innings for the loss, Texas' seventh in 10 games.

Rose deserved a better fate, allowing four runs -- one earned -- and seven hits over six innings. He walked one, struck out three and remained unbeaten at 4-0.

"I feel bad for Brian Rose," Garciaparra added. "His mistakes didn't get him out, our mistakes did."

John Wasdin replaced Rose and pitched two scoreless innings for the win, becoming the first Red Sox pitcher to start a season 7-0 since Stan Belinda in 1995.

"It's really the guys behind me that have allowed me the opportunity to be where I am," Wasdin said. "The fact that I'm 7-0 is just a reflection of the opportunity I've been given, coming into games where we're either tied or we're ahead."

Tim Wakefield knuckled his way to his sixth save in as many chances as Boston moved into a first-place tie with the New York Yankees in the American League East.

The Sox opened the scoring in the second. Garciaparra and O'Leary started the inning with doubles off the "Green Monster" in left and after Mike Stanley walked, Darren Lewis bounced an RBI single to right.

Texas scored an unearned run in the fifth. Palmeiro led off with a double and went to third when right fielder Trot Nixon misplayed the ball. Zeile's RBI groundout cut Boston's lead in half.

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image

Boston starter Brian Rose	Roberto Kelly tries to tame the monster	Nomar is safe at second	Reliever Tim Wakefield after the save

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  TEX - RICK HELLING, JEFF ZIMMERMAN (8TH) AND IVAN
                  RODRIGUEZ
            BOS - BRIAN ROSE, JOHN WASDIN (7TH), TIM WAKEFIELD
                  (9TH) AND JASON VARITEK

             WP - JOHN WASDIN (7-0)
             LP - RICK HELLING (6-7)
           SAVE - TIM WAKEFIELD (6)

HOME RUNS:  TEX - NONE
            BOS - TROY OLEARY (14) OFF HELLING IN THE 6TH, 1 ON

     TIME:  2:35     ATT:  27,627

PROBABLES:  OAK - KENNY ROGERS (4-2, 3.79)
            TEX - AARON SELE (7-5, 5.56)

            BOS - PAT RAPP (2-5, 5.68)
            BAL - SIDNEY PONSON (7-4, 3.68)

Box Score
TEXAS (4) AT BOSTON (5) - FINAL

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             4  0  0  0   0  2   2  .281
I Rodriguez c           4  1  1  0   0  0   2  .300
Greer lf                4  0  0  0   0  1   0  .283
J Gonzalez rf           4  1  2  1   0  1   0  .299
R Palmeiro dh           3  1  2  0   1  1   1  .355
 Mateo pr-dh            0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .172
Zeile 3b                4  0  1  2   0  0   2  .250
L Stevens 1b            4  0  0  0   0  0   2  .300
R Kelly cf              4  0  1  0   0  0   0  .308
Clayton ss              3  1  2  0   0  0   0  .246

Totals                 34  4  9  3   1  5   9

BATTING: 2B - R Palmeiro 2 (14, Rose, J Wasdin); Clayton (5, Rose);
J Gonzalez (12, Rose). S - Clayton. RBI - Zeile 2 (39), J Gonzalez (57).
2-out RBI - J Gonzalez, Zeile. Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - L Stevens 1, I Rodriguez 1, Zeile 1. GIDP - Zeile.
Team LOB - 5.

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

FIELDING: E - I Rodriguez (3, throw). Outfield assists - Greer
(Daubach at 2nd base), J Gonzalez (John Valentin at 2nd base).

BOSTON                 ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Offerman 2b             3  1  0  0   1  0   3  .306
John Valentin 3b        4  0  1  1   0  2   1  .256
Daubach dh              4  0  1  0   0  2   1  .313
N Garciaparra ss        4  2  4  0   0  0   0  .350
Oleary lf               4  2  2  3   0  0   2  .297
Stanley 1b              3  0  0  0   1  2   1  .263
Varitek c               4  0  0  0   0  1   3  .239
D Lewis cf              3  0  1  0   0  1   0  .249
T Nixon rf              2  0  1  1   0  0   0  .245

Totals                 31  5 10  5   2  8  11

BATTING: 2B - N Garciaparra 2 (21, Helling, Je Zimmerman);
Oleary (15, Helling); T Nixon (9, Helling). HR - Oleary (14, 6th inning
off Helling 1 on, 0 out). SF - T Nixon. RBI - Oleary 3 (43), T Nixon (16),
John Valentin (42). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Offerman 2,
Oleary 1, Daubach 1, Varitek 1. Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: SB - N Garciaparra (10, 2nd base off Helling/I Rodriguez);
Offerman (12, 2nd base off Helling/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: E - T Nixon (2, bobble); Offerman (10, ground ball).
DP: 1 (Offerman-N Garciaparra-Stanley).

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Helling (L, 6-7)              7       9   5   4   2   7   1   4.24
Je Zimmerman                  1       1   0   0   0   1   0   1.01

BOSTON                       ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Rose                          6       7   4   1   1   3   0   1.80
J Wasdin (W, 7-0)             2       2   0   0   0   2   0   3.23
Wakefield (S, 6)              1       0   0   0   0   0   0   5.03

IBB - R Palmeiro (by Rose).  Pitches-strikes: Rose 97-63; J Wasdin
25-17; Wakefield 13-10; Helling 115-74; Je Zimmerman 10-8.  Ground balls-
fly balls: Rose 8-6; J Wasdin 4-0; Wakefield 1-2; Helling 3-9;
Je Zimmerman 0-2.  Batters faced: Rose 25; J Wasdin 8; Wakefield 3;
Helling 30; Je Zimmerman 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Barnett. 1B--Greg Kosc. 2B--Dan Morrison.
3B--Ed Hickox.
T--2:35.  Att--27,627.   Weather: 73 degrees, cloudy.   Wind: 12 mph,
out to center.

Game Log

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

Boston Starting Lineups -- Jose Offerman 2B, John Valentin 3B, Brian Daubach DH, Nomar Garciaparra SS, Troy Oleary LF, Mike Stanley 1B, Jason Varitek C, Darren Lewis CF, Trot Nixon RF, Brian Rose RHP.

Umpires -- L Barnett (HP), Kosc (1B), Morrison (2B), Hickox (3B).

Gametime Weather: 73 degrees, Cloudy, wind out to center at 12 mph.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore grounded out to pitcher. I Rodriguez singled to right. I Rodriguez picked off at first, pitcher to first. Greer grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 1ST: Offerman flied out to left. John Valentin struck out swinging. Daubach fouled out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 0.

TEXAS 2ND: J Gonzalez singled to left. R Palmeiro struck out swinging. Zeile grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Gonzalez out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 0.

BOSTON 2ND: N Garciaparra doubled to deep left center. Oleary doubled to deep left, N Garciaparra scored. Stanley walked. Varitek flied out to left. D Lewis singled to right, Oleary to third, Stanley to second. T Nixon hit sacrifice fly to right, Oleary scored, Stanley to third, D Lewis to second. Offerman flied out to left. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 2.

TEXAS 3RD: L Stevens flied out to center. R Kelly flied out to left center. Clayton singled to right. Mclemore struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 2.

BOSTON 3RD: John Valentin struck out looking. Daubach singled to deep left, Daubach out stretching at second. N Garciaparra singled to right center. N Garciaparra stole second. Oleary grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 2.

TEXAS 4TH: I Rodriguez grounded out to pitcher. Greer popped out to second. J Gonzalez struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 2.

BOSTON 4TH: Stanley struck out swinging. Varitek fouled out to third. D Lewis struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BOSTON 2.

TEXAS 5TH: R Palmeiro doubled to right. R Palmeiro to third on right fielder T Nixon's fielding error. Zeile grounded out to second, R Palmeiro scored. L Stevens flied out to left center. R Kelly flied out to deep center. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) TEXAS 1, BOSTON 2.

BOSTON 5TH: T Nixon doubled to right. Offerman grounded out to shortstop. John Valentin flied out to right. Daubach struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, BOSTON 2.

TEXAS 6TH: Clayton doubled to shallow right. Mclemore grounded out to pitcher, Clayton to third. I Rodriguez safe at second on 2nd baseman Offerman's fielding error, Clayton scored. Greer grounded out to first, I Rodriguez to third. J Gonzalez doubled to deep center, I Rodriguez scored. R Palmeiro intentionally walked. Zeile singled to left, J Gonzalez scored, R Palmeiro to third. L Stevens fouled out to catcher. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 4, BOSTON 2.

BOSTON 6TH: N Garciaparra singled to center. Oleary homered to right center, N Garciaparra scored. Stanley grounded out to third. Varitek struck out swinging. D Lewis lined out to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, BOSTON 4.

TEXAS 7TH: John Wasdin relieved Brian Rose. R Kelly singled to right. Clayton sacrificed R Kelly to second. Mclemore struck out swinging. I Rodriguez grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, BOSTON 4.

BOSTON 7TH: T Nixon flied out to center. Offerman walked. Offerman stole second. Offerman to third on catcher I Rodriguez's throwing error. John Valentin singled to right, Offerman scored. John Valentin out at second attempting to advance on throw. Daubach struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) TEXAS 4, BOSTON 5.

TEXAS 8TH: Greer struck out swinging. J Gonzalez grounded out to shortstop. R Palmeiro doubled to right. Mateo ran for R Palmeiro. Zeile grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, BOSTON 5.

BOSTON 8TH: Jeff Zimmerman relieved Rick Helling. N Garciaparra doubled to right. Oleary flied out to right. Stanley struck out looking. Varitek flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, BOSTON 5.

TEXAS 9TH: Tim Wakefield relieved John Wasdin. L Stevens flied out to left. R Kelly popped out to shallow left center. Clayton grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, BOSTON 5.