Game
87: July 11, 1999 (L: 6-2)[ Previous Game | Next Game ]
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Game
87: July 11, 1999 (L: 6-2)
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Commentary Game Recap Game Photos Box/Line Score Game Log |
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Commentary (by me)
What's surprising the last several outings by John Burkett is how GOOD
he's pitched. I wonder where all this stuff has been hiding the last
several years? He's definitely looked to me the best he's ever looked in
Texas these last four games he's pitched. He didn't get a win today, but
six innings, giving up one run and six hits is pretty good to me. Not
godlike, but certainly way better than our pitching has been overall. He
would have gone further if we weren't in a National League game, too.
Speaking of that, this was our final game in a National League Park this season - our pitchers were terrible batting this year, after a great year in 97 and an OK year in 98. Mike Morgan had a single yesterday, but that's the lone hit by Ranger pitchers this year - Burkett looked weird up there, even more so than some of the others.
Anyway, this game was a great pitchers duel until the bottom of the 8th when Loaiza & Venafro just blew it, giving up 5 runs in the 8th. San Diego pitcher Matt Clement pitched excellent, going 7 innings, giving up one run and only 3 hits - the other Ranger run was a solo home run by Raffy in the 9th.
Juan Gonzalez wasn't in the game, as he and his wife were at the hospital as their youngest daughter had an asthma attack in the morning, and had to be rushed there. During the radio post game show, they said that the group were still at the hospital, and tests were still going on. As I write this at 1:20AM on Monday morning, I still had not heard anything new here.
We end the "half" in first place, with a five game lead over Oakland, a six game lead over Seattle, and a 6.5 game lead over Anaheim. We should have been around 8 on the second place team, but I'll take the lead - this is the largest lead we've had at an All-Star Break ever. Speaking of that, Manny Ramirez ended up with 96 (or 98, I'm not sure right now) RBI's going into the break, a couple short of Juan last year. However, Juan had a really slow second half last year, and my gut feeling says that Manny won't this year - I think he might take a stab at Hack Wilson, and he'll probably get the MVP.
Hey, I like Manny Ramirez - I'm 33, and in all my years of going to baseball games, he's the only person I've ever caught a foul ball from (May of 98 at the Ballpark). OK, it's a geeky reason to like someone, but what the hell, it's my reason. :)
Hopefully when the second half starts, we can put some distance between us and the rest of the division - our focus needs to be on the best record we can get, because if things end up the way they are now, we're playing the Yankees again in the first round of the playoffs - UGH!!!
Game Recap
SAN DIEGO (TICKER) -- Reaching the .500 mark at the All-Star break is usually nothing to write home about. Considering where the San Diego Padres were less than a month ago, it's quite an accomplishment.
Pinch-hitter Phil Nevin triggered a five-run eighth inning with a two-run single and Matt Clement combined with two relievers on a four-hitter as the Padres posted a 6-2 victory over the Texas Rangers in the rubber game of their interleague series.
After working a scoreless seventh in a 1-1 game, Rangers reliever Esteban Loazia (0-1) quickly ran into trouble in the eighth. Pinch-hitter Dave Magadan began the inning with a single and was replaced by Ed Giovanola. Quilvio Veras' sacrifice was fielded by catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who threw into center field.
"I thought I had a chance to get him at second base because the bunt was short," Rodriguez said. "The throw just sailed, it's going to happen."
After Eric Owens fouled out, Reggie Sanders walked to load the bases and rookie Mike Venafro relieved. Nevin singled up the middle to score Giovanola and Veras for a 3-1 lead.
"I've been fortunate enough to come up with guys on base," said Nevin, who has three hits and six RBI in his last four pinch-hit appearances. "When you're not starting, you want to come into a situation when the game is on the line and help your team win. I love to be in that situation."
"The pitch wasn't the greatest but I got the ground ball I wanted," Venafro said. "It just didn't happen to go at anyone. When you're a ground-ball pitcher, you live with the ground ball and die with the ground ball. Today I died with it."
Wally Joyner brought home Sanders with a flare to left and Carlos Baerga followed with a single to score pinch-runner Ruben Rivera. Danny Patterson replaced Venafro and was greeted by rookie Ben Davis' single that made it 6-1.
Clement had the best start of his major league career but did not receive a decision. He limited Texas to an unearned run and three hits over seven innings with a walk and seven strikeouts.
Dan Miceli (3-2) pitched a perfect eighth for the victory and Trevor Hoffman surrendered a solo homer to Rafael Palmeiro in the ninth.
San Diego was a season-worst 13 games under .500 at 25-38 on June 17 before reeling off a team-record 14-game winning streak. The Padres followed that by losing five of nine games and head into the break 43-43.
"It's great to be going into the break at .500. I think the guys have done a heck of a job," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "We've had a lot of struggles and injuries. We've battled back this year. We're back in the race. If we play this type of ball, hopefully we'll stay in it."
"It's huge coming from where we were two months ago," Nevin said. "If you told us then we'd be at .500, we would've jumped all over it. That 14-game winnng streak really helped. We've really played well the last few weeks."
Royce Clayton had three hits for the Rangers, who have lost six of eight but own a five-game lead over second-place Oakland in the American League West. The five-game cushion is the largest at the All-Star break in franchise history.
Rangers starter John Burkett gave up his only run in the first inniing. Owens singled with one out and scored on Sanders' double off the wall in left-center.
Burkett allowed one run and six hits over six innings, walking one and fanning four. In four starts since moving back into the rotation, the righthander has surrendered just six runs and 19 hits in 24 2/3 innings with two walks and 20 strikeouts (2.23 ERA).
The Rangers drew even in the sixth. Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and moved to third when third baseman Baerga threw wildly on Rusty Greer's ground ball. Palmeiro followed with a sacrifice fly.
Palmeiro capped the scoring with his 22nd home run.
Rangers third baseman Todd Zeile went 0-for-4, snapping his career-high 17-game hitting streak.
Texas was without star outfielder Juan Gonzalez due to personal reasons.
Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image)
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| Ranger pitcher John Burkett | San Diego pitcher Matt Clement | Ranger pitcher Mike Venafro | Ranger pitcher Mike Venafro | Royce Clayton watches Pudge's throw sail into center field. |
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| Ruben Mateo misses a ball in center field | Pudge shows umpire Brian Runge that he was hit with a pitch | Wally Joyner (R) scores | Quilvio Veras (R) scores | A little post game celebration head butting |
Line Score
ML FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TEXAS 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 4 1
SAN DIEGO 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 x 6 11 2 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: TEX - JOHN BURKETT, ESTEBAN LOAIZA (7TH), MIKE
VENAFRO (8TH), DANNY PATTERSON (8TH) AND IVAN
RODRIGUEZ
SDG - MATT CLEMENT, DAN MICELI (8TH), TREVOR HOFFMAN
(9TH) AND BEN DAVIS
WP - DAN MICELI (3-2)
LP - ESTEBAN LOAIZA (0-1)
SAVE - NONE
HOME RUNS: TEX - RAFAEL PALMEIRO (22) OFF HOFFMAN IN THE 9TH, 0 ON
SDG - NONE
TIME: 2:40 ATT: 31,301
PROBABLES: ARI - UNDECIDED
TEX - RICK HELLING (6-7, 4.64)
SDG - UNDECIDED
SEA - JAMIE MOYER (8-5, 5.05)
Box Score
TEXAS (2) AT SAN DIEGO (6) - FINAL
TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Mclemore rf 4 0 0 0 0 3 1 .273
I Rodriguez c 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 .295
Greer lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268
R Palmeiro 1b 3 1 1 2 0 0 1 .355
Zeile 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .285
Mateo cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .178
Alicea 2b 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 .165
Clayton ss 4 0 3 0 0 1 1 .245
Burkett p 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 .000
a-L Stevens ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .285
Loaiza p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Venafro p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Patterson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 31 2 4 2 2 9 10
a-grounded to second for Burkett in the 7th.
BATTING: HR - R Palmeiro (22, 9th inning off Hoffman 0 on,
0 out). SF - R Palmeiro. RBI - R Palmeiro 2 (76). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - Burkett 1, Zeile 1. GIDP - L Stevens.
Team LOB - 6.
FIELDING: E - I Rodriguez (4, throw). DP: 1 (Alicea-R Palmeiro).
SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Veras 2b 4 1 0 0 0 2 2 .275
Owens cf-lf 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 .289
R Sanders rf 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .315
Vander Wal lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .307
b-Nevin ph 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .250
Ru Rivera pr-cf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .221
Joyner 1b 4 1 2 1 0 0 2 .252
Baerga 3b 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .269
B Davis c 4 0 2 1 0 1 0 .290
D Jackson ss 3 0 0 0 1 0 3 .254
Clement p 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .107
Miceli p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-Magadan ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .295
Giovanola pr 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 .250
Hoffman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 34 6 11 6 2 4 16
a-singled for Miceli in the 8th; b-singled for Vander Wal in the
8th.
BATTING: 2B - R Sanders (12, Burkett); Owens (15, Burkett).
RBI - R Sanders (37), Nevin 2 (33), Joyner (27), Baerga (2), B Davis (8).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Joyner 2, Veras 1, Giovanola 1.
GIDP - Baerga. Team LOB - 6.
BASERUNNING: CS - R Sanders (7, 2nd base by Burkett/I Rodriguez).
FIELDING: E - Baerga (1, throw); D Jackson (18, throw).
DP: 1 (Baerga-Veras-Joyner).
TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
Burkett 6 6 1 1 1 4 0 5.65
Loaiza (L, 0-1) 1 1/3 1 3 2 1 0 0 7.62
Venafro 0 3 2 2 0 0 0 2.84
D Patterson 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.38
SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
Clement 7 3 1 0 1 7 0 4.78
Miceli (W, 3-2) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.75
Hoffman 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3.08
Venafro pitched to 3 batters in the 8th.
WP - Clement. HBP - I Rodriguez (by Clement). Pitches-strikes:
Clement 95-63; Miceli 13-8; Hoffman 26-14; Burkett 77-49; Loaiza 21-10;
Venafro 8-5; D Patterson 7-5. Ground balls-fly balls: Clement 7-7;
Miceli 0-2; Hoffman 0-2; Burkett 9-4; Loaiza 0-4; Venafro 0-0;
D Patterson 1-1. Batters faced: Clement 27; Miceli 3; Hoffman 5;
Burkett 23; Loaiza 7; Venafro 3; D Patterson 3.
UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Joe West.
3B--Paul Schrieber.
T--2:40. Att--31,301. Weather: 81 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph,
out to right.
ML TEXAS AT SAN DIEGO
NOTE: TEXAS' JUAN GONZALEZ IS NOT IN THE STARTING LINEUP DUE TO
PERSONAL REASONS.
Texas Starting Lineups -- Mark Mclemore RF, Ivan Rodriguez C, Rusty Greer LF, Rafael Palmeiro 1B, Todd Zeile 3B, Ruben Mateo CF, Luis Alicea 2B, Royce Clayton SS, John Burkett RHP.
San Diego Starting Lineups -- Quilvio Veras 2B, Eric Owens CF, Reggie Sanders RF, John Vander Wal LF, Wally Joyner 1B, Carlos Baerga 3B, Ben Davis C, Damian Jackson SS, Matt Clement RHP.
Umpires -- Runge (HP), Marsh (1B), West (2B), Schrieber (3B).
Gametime Weather: 81 degrees, Clear, wind out to right at 7 mph.
TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore grounded out to second. I Rodriguez flied out to left. Greer flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, SAN DIEGO 0.
SAN DIEGO 1ST: Veras struck out swinging. Owens singled to center. R Sanders doubled to deep left center, Owens scored. Vander Wal flied out to left. Joyner flied out to shallow right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, SAN DIEGO 1.
TEXAS 2ND: R Palmeiro grounded out to shortstop. Zeile struck out swinging. Mateo flied out to deep left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, SAN DIEGO 1.
SAN DIEGO 2ND: Baerga grounded out to second. B Davis reached on infield single. D Jackson grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, B Davis out at second. Clement grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, SAN DIEGO 1.
TEXAS 3RD: Alicea grounded out to second. Clayton reached on infield single. Burkett struck out swinging. Mclemore struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, SAN DIEGO 1.
SAN DIEGO 3RD: Veras grounded out to second. Owens grounded out to pitcher. R Sanders grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, SAN DIEGO 1.
TEXAS 4TH: I Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. Greer grounded out to pitcher. R Palmeiro flied out to deep right center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, SAN DIEGO 1.
SAN DIEGO 4TH: Vander Wal flied out to center. Joyner singled to center. Baerga grounded into double play, second to first, Joyner out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, SAN DIEGO 1.
TEXAS 5TH: Zeile flied out to deep left. Mateo struck out swinging. Alicea walked. Clayton singled to left, Alicea to second. Burkett struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, SAN DIEGO 1.
SAN DIEGO 5TH: B Davis struck out swinging. D Jackson walked. Clement grounded out to third, D Jackson to second. Veras struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, SAN DIEGO 1.
TEXAS 6TH: Mclemore struck out looking. I Rodriguez hit by pitch. Greer safe at first on 3rd baseman Baerga's throwing error, I Rodriguez to third. Greer to second on Clement wild pitch. R Palmeiro hit sacrifice fly to left, I Rodriguez scored. Zeile lined out to center. (1 Run, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 1, SAN DIEGO 1.
SAN DIEGO 6TH: Owens doubled to deep center. R Sanders singled to left, Owens to third. Vander Wal struck out swinging. R Sanders caught stealing, catcher to shortstop. Joyner flied out to left center. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, SAN DIEGO 1.
TEXAS 7TH: Mateo struck out swinging. Alicea safe at first on shortstop D Jackson's throwing error. Clayton singled to center, Alicea to third. L Stevens hit for Burkett. L Stevens grounded into double play, third to second to first, Clayton out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) TEXAS 1, SAN DIEGO 1.
SAN DIEGO 7TH: Esteban Loaiza relieved John Burkett. Baerga flied out to right center. B Davis fouled out to third. D Jackson flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, SAN DIEGO 1.
TEXAS 8TH: Dan Miceli relieved Matt Clement. Mclemore struck out swinging. I Rodriguez flied out to deep left. Greer flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, SAN DIEGO 1.
SAN DIEGO 8TH: Magadan hit for Miceli. Magadan singled to shallow left. Giovanola ran for Magadan. Veras bunted into fielder's choice to catcher, Giovanola safe at second on catcher I Rodriguez's throwing error. Owens fouled out to third. R Sanders walked, Giovanola to third, Veras to second. Mike Venafro relieved Esteban Loaiza. Nevin hit for Vander Wal. Nevin singled to center, Giovanola and Veras scored, R Sanders to third. Joyner singled to shallow left, R Sanders scored, Nevin to second. Ru Rivera ran for Nevin. Baerga singled to left, Ru Rivera scored, Joyner to second. Danny Patterson relieved Mike Venafro. B Davis singled to right, Joyner scored, Baerga to third. D Jackson flied out to shallow left. Giovanola grounded out to first. (5 Runs, 5 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 1, SAN DIEGO 6.
TEXAS 9TH: Owens in left. Ru Rivera in center. Trevor Hoffman relieved Dan Miceli. R Palmeiro homered to right. Zeile flied out to center. Mateo flied out to right. Alicea walked. Clayton struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, SAN DIEGO 6.