Game 72: June 24, 1999 (W: 5-2)
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Commentary (by me)

After last night's fiasco, I was glad to come home, and not have to worry about getting to the game.  :)

Anyway, about the game.  When I heard Burkett was starting this game, I figured it'd be a slugfest.  Burkett has been really ineffective as a starter this season (he's done fairly decent in the pen), and I figured this would be no different.  Wow - he was such a surprise, pitching 6 totally solid innings.  He looked like the Burkett of old, when we first signed him a few years ago.  If he pitched like this all the time, we wouldn't need to be trading for a pitcher next month.  In fact, I felt really bad for Burkett, as he was out there at the start of the 7th, and there was a rain delay after he had worked an 0-2 count to the first batter.   When the rain came, the Rangers were running off the field, and the tarp guys were already at work.  Burkett was still standing there, like he didn't want to stop.  I genuinely felt bad for the guy, I wanted him to keep going.   Still, it was an awesome performance for a guy who quite possibly could be pitching in his final season.

Our offense got going early, scoring all five of our runs in the first two innings.  Surprisingly, the A pitcher stayed in there after that, and settled down.  After the second, we really didn't get much else going offensively, which always worries me.  We could have had more, though as Ben Grieve made a catch right against the left field wall, which appeared to have deflected off the wall first before he caught it when viewed on TV replay.  Raffy was all the way to third, and was an easy double play.  We should have had a few more there, but we got away with the same play in Boston last week when Ruben Mateo did more or less the same exact thing.

Our relief pitching continued it's dominance, and I have to say that with the one exception of the home run ball Burkett gave up in the 6th, our pitching was masterful.  I wish we had this kind of stuff every time out from Burkett, we'd be in much better shape than we already are in.

On to the Kingdome to shut that stupid thing down!

Commentary (by Jim Meeks)

Not available.

Game Recap

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) -- John Burkett made a successful return to the starting rotation and the Texas Rangers scored all of their runs in the first two innings and survived a rain delay en route to a 5-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

In his first start since May 29 at Minnesota, Burkett (1-3) gave up two runs and six hits over six-plus innings. He walked none and struck out five to earn his first victory since September 23.

Burkett was dismal in his first six starts, going 0-3 with a 12.00 ERA. He was banished to the bullpen after the Minnesota start and pitched better in relief, allowing two runs and 13 hits over 11 2/3 innings in four appearances.

"It was probably the best changeup I had all year and that allowed me to get my fastball in there," Burkett said. "I was throwing strikes, kept the ball down and had good action. I definitely have to keep the ball down and the defense did a great job tonight. I have one under my belt and have a lot more confidence."

He recognized the work of video coordinator Don Kalkstein.

"I've known him for a year now and trust in him," Burkett said. "He gave me the attitude to know I would be back in the rotation again."

Burkett was still in to start the seventh and threw four pitches to rookie Eric Chavez when the rains came. The game was halted for 37 minutes and Burkett did not return after the delay.

"That doesn't surprise me, looking back at some games he's pitched for us in the past," Texas manager Johnny Oates said of Burkett's performance. "I know it's late June and we have a long way to go. If we can get John turned around, that's one trade Doug (general manager Doug Melvin) doesn't have to make."

Tim Crabtree and rookie Jeff Zimmerman each worked a scoreless inning before closer John Wetteland retired the side in order in the ninth for his major league-leading 25th save in 27 chances.

Zimmerman's scoreless frame lowered his ERA to a microscopic 0.98. The 26-year-old righthander has surrendered only five runs and 16 hits with five walks in 46 innings over 30 games.

Juan Gonzalez lofted a sacrifice fly and Rafael Palmeiro had a two-run single in the first to give the Rangers a 3-0 lead. Ivan Rodriguez extended that margin with a two-run single in the following inning.

Oakland rookie Tim Hudson (2-1) suffered his first loss, allowing five runs and five hits in six innings. The righthander walked four and struck out four as the A's fell to 3-7 on a season-high 13-game road trip.

Hudson, who allowed just five earned runs and 23 hits in his first three big league starts, ran into immediate trouble in the opening inning.

Mark McLemore drew a leadoff walk, Rodriguez singled and Rusty Greer walked to load the bases. Gonzalez followed with his sacrifice fly and Palmeiro extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a looping single that plated two more runs.

Hudson, 23, continued to look like a youngster making just his fourth start in the next inning. Roberto Kelly walked with one out and Royce Clayton singled before McLemore grounded out. However, Hudson could not work his way out of the inning as Rodriguez laced a single to left, extending the lead to 5-0.

"Before I could turn around in the first inning it was 3-0," Hudson said. "I'm glad the coaching staff had enough confidence to let me battle through it. After the second inning, I felt I was in a groove and got a little confidence back."

Meanwhile, Burkett was rolling along, looking like a 10-year veteran. After allowing a single to A.J Hinch with two outs in the second, Burkett retired 11 straight batters until Miguel Tejada started the sixth with a bunt single.

It was the first time a Texas pitcher retired at least nine straight batters since rookie Ryan Glynn retired nine in a row against Kansas City on May 31.

Tejada's hit led to the only Oakland runs of the night as John Jaha launched his 15th homer over the left-center field wall with two outs.

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image)

Ranger starter John Burkett	Tony Phillips doesn't like the third strike call	Ben Grieve makes a questionable call off the wall	John Jaha sits in the dugout during the rain delay	Manager Johnny Oates congratulates his players after the win

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  OAK - TIM HUDSON, DOUG JONES (7TH) AND AJ HINCH
            TEX - JOHN BURKETT, TIM CRABTREE (7TH), JEFF
                  ZIMMERMAN (8TH), JOHN WETTELAND (9TH) AND IVAN
                  RODRIGUEZ

             WP - JOHN BURKETT (1-3)
             LP - TIM HUDSON (2-1)
           SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (25)

HOME RUNS:  OAK - JOHN JAHA (15) OFF BURKETT IN THE 6TH, 1 ON
            TEX - NONE

     TIME:  2:33     ATT:  39,683

PROBABLES:  OAK - JIMMY HAYNES (5-6, 5.13)
            ANA - OMAR OLIVARES (6-5, 3.45)

            TEX - RYAN GLYNN (0-2, 7.58)
            SEA - PAUL ABBOTT (NR)

Box Score
OAKLAND (2) AT TEXAS (5) - FINAL

OAKLAND                ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
T Phillips 2b           4  0  1  0   0  2   2  .246
Tejada ss               4  1  2  0   0  0   0  .278
Grieve lf               4  0  0  0   0  3   2  .237
Ja Giambi 1b            4  0  0  0   0  1   3  .264
Jaha dh                 4  1  1  2   0  1   2  .294
Stairs rf               4  0  1  0   0  0   0  .249
Chavez 3b               3  0  1  0   0  0   1  .228
R Christenson cf        3  0  0  0   0  1   2  .167
Hinch c                 3  0  1  0   0  1   0  .194

Totals                 33  2  7  2   0  9  12

BATTING: 2B - Tejada (19, Burkett). HR - Jaha (15, 6th inning
off Burkett 1 on, 2 out). RBI - Jaha 2 (45). 2-out RBI - Jaha 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Jaha 2, T Phillips 1.
GIDP - R Christenson. Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - Grieve (R Palmeiro at 1st base).
DP: 1 (Grieve-T Phillips-Ja Giambi).

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             3  1  1  0   1  0   0  .282
I Rodriguez c           4  1  2  2   0  0   1  .311
Greer lf                3  1  0  0   1  0   2  .272
J Gonzalez rf           2  0  0  1   1  1   0  .298
R Palmeiro dh           4  0  1  2   0  1   1  .356
Zeile 3b                4  0  1  0   0  0   1  .254
L Stevens 1b            3  0  0  0   0  2   1  .300
R Kelly cf              2  1  0  0   1  1   0  .325
Clayton ss              3  1  1  0   0  0   0  .247

Totals                 28  5  6  5   4  5   6

BATTING: 2B - Zeile (19, Hudson). SF - J Gonzalez. RBI - J Gonzalez (59),
R Palmeiro 2 (63), I Rodriguez 2 (41). 2-out RBI - I Rodriguez 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - L Stevens 1. Team LOB - 4.

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

OAKLAND                      ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Hudson (L, 2-1)               6       5   5   5   4   4   0   3.60
D Jones                       2       1   0   0   0   1   0   3.27

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Burkett (W, 1-3)              6       6   2   2   0   5   1   7.20
Crabtree (H, 7)               1       1   0   0   0   1   0   3.37
Je Zimmerman (H, 11)          1       0   0   0   0   1   0   0.98
Wetteland (S, 25)             1       0   0   0   0   2   0   4.13

Burkett pitched to 0 batters in the 7th.

Pitches-strikes: Burkett 81-56; Crabtree 15-11; Je Zimmerman 17-10;
Wetteland 19-13; Hudson 102-63; D Jones 25-18.  Ground balls-
fly balls: Burkett 9-4; Crabtree 2-0; Je Zimmerman 2-0; Wetteland
0-1; Hudson 6-7; D Jones 4-1.  Batters faced: Burkett 24; Crabtree 3;
Je Zimmerman 3; Wetteland 3; Hudson 26; D Jones 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Laz Diaz. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Fieldin Culbreth.
3B--Tim Welke.
T--2:33 (Plus rain delay for 37 minutes in the 7th).  Att--39,683.
Weather: 81 degrees, cloudy.   Wind: 5 mph, right to left.

AL       OAKLAND AT TEXAS
         NOTE:  THE GAME IS BEING DELAYED DUE TO RAIN WITH OAKLAND
                BATTING IN THE TOP OF THE 7TH INNING.  SITUATION: 0 RUNS
                IN, NONE ON, 0 OUT
                CURRENT SCORE - TEXAS 5, OAKLAND 2

AL       OAKLAND AT TEXAS
         NOTE:  THE GAME HAS RESUMED AFTER A RAIN DELAY.  OAKLAND IS
                BATTING IN THE TOP OF THE 7TH INNING.  SITUATION: 0 RUNS
                IN, NONE ON, 0 OUT
                CURRENT SCORE - TEXAS 5, OAKLAND 2

AL       OAKLAND AT TEXAS
         NOTE:  THE GAME RESUMED AFTER A 37 MINUTE RAIN DELAY.

Game Log

Oakland Starting Lineups -- Tony Phillips 2B, Miguel Tejada SS, Ben Grieve LF, Jason Giambi 1B, John Jaha DH, Matt Stairs RF, Eric Chavez 3B, Ryan Christenson CF, Aj Hinch C, Tim Hudson RHP.

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, John Burkett RHP.

Umpires -- Diaz (HP), Reynolds (1B), Culbreth (2B), T Welke (3B).

Gametime Weather: 81 degrees, Cloudy, wind right to left at 5 mph.

OAKLAND 1ST: T Phillips singled to center. Tejada doubled to left, T Phillips to third. Grieve struck out swinging. Ja Giambi fouled out to third. Jaha grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore walked. I Rodriguez singled to left, Mclemore to second. Greer walked, Mclemore to third, I Rodriguez to second. J Gonzalez hit sacrifice fly to left, Mclemore scored, I Rodriguez to third, Greer to second. R Palmeiro singled to right center, I Rodriguez and Greer scored. Zeile flied out to deep left, R Palmeiro doubled off first. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 3.

OAKLAND 2ND: Stairs reached on infield single. Chavez grounded into fielder's choice to first, Stairs out at second. R Christenson popped out to shortstop. Hinch singled to left, Chavez to second. T Phillips struck out looking. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 2ND: L Stevens grounded out to first. R Kelly walked. Clayton singled to right, R Kelly to second. Mclemore grounded out to pitcher, R Kelly to third, Clayton to second. I Rodriguez singled to left, R Kelly and Clayton scored. Greer popped out to third. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 5.

OAKLAND 3RD: Tejada grounded out to shortstop. Grieve struck out swinging. Ja Giambi lined out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 3RD: J Gonzalez struck out looking. R Palmeiro fouled out to left. Zeile doubled to right. L Stevens struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 5.

OAKLAND 4TH: Jaha grounded out to shortstop. Stairs grounded out to first. Chavez grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 4TH: R Kelly grounded out to second. Clayton grounded out to shortstop. Mclemore grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 5.

OAKLAND 5TH: R Christenson struck out looking. Hinch grounded out to second. T Phillips struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 5TH: I Rodriguez grounded out to second. Greer flied out to center. J Gonzalez walked. R Palmeiro flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 5.

OAKLAND 6TH: Tejada reached on bunt single to pitcher. Grieve grounded out to second, Tejada to second. Ja Giambi flied out to center. Jaha homered to left center, Tejada scored. Stairs grounded out to second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 6TH: Zeile popped out to second. L Stevens struck out swinging. R Kelly struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TEXAS 5.

OAKLAND 7TH: Tim Crabtree relieved John Burkett. Chavez reached on infield single. R Christenson grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Chavez out at second. Hinch struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 7TH: Doug Jones relieved Tim Hudson. Clayton grounded out to shortstop. Mclemore singled to center. I Rodriguez flied out to left. Greer grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TEXAS 5.

OAKLAND 8TH: Jeff Zimmerman relieved Tim Crabtree. T Phillips grounded out to pitcher. Tejada grounded out to third. Grieve struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 8TH: J Gonzalez grounded out to second. R Palmeiro struck out swinging. Zeile grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TEXAS 5.

OAKLAND 9TH: John Wetteland relieved Jeff Zimmerman. Ja Giambi struck out swinging. Jaha struck out swinging. Stairs fouled out to catcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TEXAS 5.