Game 89: July 16, 1999 (W: 9-8)
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Commentary (by me)

With Johnny Oates away from the team attending his son's college graduation, we had the second in two straight games in a row with a way cool ending.

I thought we were far enough out in front with the 7 spot we got in the fifth inning, but the Diamondbucks had a 5 spot of their own in the top of the 7th, and they creeped back and tied the game in the ninth when Wetteland gave up a run to blow another save opportunity.  We ended up having a rather interesting bottom of the ninth.  I'll just copy the text from the game log here:

TEXAS 9TH: Greer singled to right. J Gonzalez singled to center, Greer to second. Dan Plesac relieved Bobby Chouinard. Greer to third, J Gonzalez to second on Stinnett passed ball. R Palmeiro intentionally walked. Zeile walked, Greer scored. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 8, TEXAS 9.

Walking in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th is about the worst possible way I can think of for a team to lose the game.  It wasn't pretty by any stretch of the imagination, but I'll definitely take this win.  I'm writing this on Monday the 19th, so I don't remember a whole lot about this game other than the bottom of the ninth finale, which makes two of these in a row.  :)   I'll take it.  This was the fifth time this season the Rangers have won in their final at bat at home this season, Palmeiro walked four times tonight (1 intentionally) - this tied a club record for walks by one player in a game.  Aaron Sele retired 10 straight batters to start the game, a record for this season.

Game Recap

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) -- For the second straight night, the Texas Rangers waited until their final at-bat to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Dan Plesac issued a bases-loaded walk to Todd Zeile with no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Rangers once again took advantage of the Diamondbacks' beleaguered bullpen in a 9-8 victory.

The Rangers, who rallied to win with three runs in the ninth on Thursday, came back to win tonight despite blowing the lead in the top of the inning when Matt Williams singled off closer All-Star closer John Wetteland to tie the score.

Rusty Greer started the bottom of the inning with a single off Bobby Chouinard (2-1) and went to second on Juan Gonzalez's single. Plesac relieved Chouniard and the runners moved up on catcher Kelly Stinnett's passed ball. Plesac went 3-0 on Rafael Palmeiro before issuing an intentional walk to load the bases.

Zeile followed by working a five-pitch walk, giving the Rangers their 50th win of the season.

"It was more anticlimatic tonight, winning with a walk instead of a double," Zeile said "But these guys are pleased with the win."

"It was a fastball and before that, all sliders," Plesac said. "The last thing you want to do is get a ball up in that situation."

Wetteland (3-3) got the win despite suffering his sixth blown save in 32 chances.

Texas was without manager Johnny Oates, who missed the game to attend his son's college graduation. Bench coach Bucky Dent ran the team in Oates' absence.

Steve Finley hit a solo homer for the struggling Diamondbacks, who lost for the 16th time in their last 23 games.

Trailing 2-0 in the fifth, the Rangers scored seven times in that inning to take a five-run lead, sending 11 batters to the plate and getting six hits, including two from rookie Ruben Mateo.

Mateo highlighted the inning with a two-run triple to the right-center field gap. Greer delivered a two-run double and Zeile and Mark McLemore had run-scoring singles in the inning. Ivan Rodriguez also knocked in a run with a double.

McLemore had three hits to pace the Rangers, who had hits from every starter except for Palmeiro. He made up for that by walking four times, tying Dean Palmer's team record for walks in game. Palmer accomplished the feat on June 12, 1993 against Cleveland.

However, the Rangers starter Aaron Sele could not hold the lead as Arizona rallied for five runs in the seventh.

Finley led off with his 18th homer and David Dellucci and Travis Lee singled to chase Sele. Mike Venafro came on and promptly surrendered run-scoring singles to pinch-hitter Bernard Gilkey and Stinnett.

After Tony Womack sacrifice the runners to second and third, the Rangers went to All-Star rookie Jeff Zimmerman. But pinch-hitter Jay Bell lofted a sacrifice fly and Luis Gonzalez followed with an RBI single, tying the score at 7-7.

No runs were charged to Zimmerman, who worked a scoreless eighth to extend his scoreless innings streak to 23 1/3 innings over his last 19 appearances. He has not been scored upon since allowing three runs in 1 1/3 innings at Baltimore on May 22.

On the season, Zimmerman has allowed five runs and 20 hits over 54 innings for a microscpic 0.83 ERA.

Following the Arizona's rally in the top of the inning, the Rangers took the lead right back in the bottom half of the frame on Lee Stevens' sacrifice fly.

"We were cruising along and things just started happening. I was just doing what my gut instinct said," commented Dent. "It's good to get a win for Johnny."

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

Pudge is called out on this play...	...and then complains about it...	.. and has to be taken away by Bucky Dent.	Luiz Gonzalez complains to Durwood Merrill	Zeile gets mobbed after getting the game winning walk

Box Score

Line Score
ML  FINAL
                    1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9     R  H  E
                    -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -     -  -  -
ARIZONA             0  0  0   2  0  0   5  0  1     8 10  0
TEXAS               0  0  0   0  7  0   1  0  1     9 14  1   (FINAL)

BATTERIES:  ARI - ARMANDO REYNOSO, GREG SWINDELL (5TH), GREGG
                  OLSON (7TH), BOBBY CHOUINARD (8TH), DAN PLESAC
                  (9TH) AND KELLY STINNETT
            TEX - AARON SELE, MIKE VENAFRO (7TH), JEFF ZIMMERMAN
                  (7TH), JOHN WETTELAND (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

             WP - JOHN WETTELAND (3-3)
             LP - BOBBY CHOUINARD (2-1)
           SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS:  ARI - STEVE FINLEY (18) OFF SELE IN THE 7TH, 0 ON
            TEX - NONE

     TIME:  3:21     ATT:  38,802

PROBABLES:  ARI - ANDY BENES (5-9, 5.51)
            TEX - JOHN BURKETT (2-4, 5.65)

Box Score
ARIZONA (8) AT TEXAS (9) - FINAL

ARIZONA                ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Womack rf-ss            4  1  1  0   0  1   0  .269
J Bell 2b               3  1  0  1   0  1   1  .284
L Gonzalez dh           5  1  2  2   0  2   1  .360
Ma Williams 3b          4  0  1  1   1  0   1  .318
S Finley cf             5  1  1  1   0  1   3  .265
Dellucci lf-rf          3  1  2  1   1  1   0  .368
T Lee 1b                4  1  1  0   0  1   3  .254
A Fox ss                2  0  0  0   0  1   0  .272
 a-Gilkey ph-lf         1  1  1  1   1  0   0  .313
Stinnett c              4  1  1  1   0  2   2  .213

Totals                 35  8 10  8   3 10  11

a-singled for A Fox in the 7th.

BATTING: HR - S Finley (18, 7th inning off Sele 0 on, 0 out).
S - Womack, J Bell. SF - J Bell. RBI - L Gonzalez 2 (59), Dellucci (15),
S Finley (64), Gilkey (15), Stinnett (17), J Bell (67), Ma Williams (84).
2-out RBI - Dellucci, L Gonzalez, Ma Williams. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - T Lee 1, Stinnett 1. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: SB - Dellucci (2, 2nd base off Je Zimmerman/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: PB - Stinnett. DP: 1 (J Bell-T Lee).

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             5  1  3  1   0  1   1  .281
I Rodriguez c           5  1  2  1   0  1   1  .299
Greer lf                5  2  2  2   0  1   1  .270
J Gonzalez rf           4  1  1  0   1  0   1  .312
R Palmeiro dh           1  1  0  0   4  0   0  .354
Zeile 3b                4  1  2  2   1  1   1  .284
L Stevens 1b            3  0  1  1   0  0   3  .286
Mateo cf                4  1  2  2   0  1   2  .208
Clayton ss              3  1  1  0   1  0   1  .244

Totals                 34  9 14  9   7  5  11

BATTING: 2B - I Rodriguez (14, Reynoso); Greer (27, Reynoso).
3B - Mateo (1, Swindell). SF - L Stevens. RBI - Mclemore (26),
I Rodriguez (50), Greer 2 (52), Zeile 2 (49), Mateo 2 (8),
L Stevens (49). 2-out RBI - Mateo 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Gonzalez 1, L Stevens 1, Clayton 1. GIDP -
Greer. Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: CS - Clayton (4, 2nd base by Reynoso/Stinnett);
Mclemore (3, 2nd base by Swindell).

FIELDING: E - Zeile (14, throw).

ARIZONA                      ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Reynoso                       4 1/3  10   7   7   3   2   0   3.93
Swindell                      1 2/3   2   0   0   0   1   0   3.62
Olson                         1       0   1   1   2   1   0   4.85
Chouinard (L, 2-1)            1       2   1   1   0   1   0   2.38
Plesac                        0       0   0   0   2   0   0   3.86

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Sele                          6       5   5   3   1   8   1   5.45
Venafro (H, 6)                  1/3   2   2   2   0   0   0   3.20
Je Zimmerman (BS, 1)          1 2/3   1   0   0   2   1   0   0.83
Wetteland (W, 3-3; BS, 6)     1       2   1   1   0   1   0   4.10

Sele pitched to 3 batters in the 7th.
Chouinard pitched to 2 batters in the 9th.

IBB - R Palmeiro 2 (by Reynoso,  (by Plesac).  Pitches-strikes:
Sele 100-65; Venafro 8-4; Je Zimmerman 30-15; Wetteland 18-13;
Reynoso 102-58; Swindell 15-14; Olson 22-9; Chouinard 16-11;
Plesac 9-1.  Ground balls-fly balls: Sele 3-7; Venafro 1-0;
Je Zimmerman 2-2; Wetteland 1-1; Reynoso 7-3; Swindell 3-0; Olson
0-2; Chouinard 1-1; Plesac 0-0.  Batters faced: Sele 25; Venafro 3;
Je Zimmerman 8; Wetteland 5; Reynoso 24; Swindell 6; Olson 5;
Chouinard 5; Plesac 2.

UMPIRES: HP--Durwood Merrill. 1B--Mark Johnson. 2B--Dale Ford.
3B--Eric Cooper.
T--3:21.  Att--38,802.   Weather: 92 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 13 mph, in from center.

Game Log

Arizona Starting Lineups -- Tony Womack RF, Jay Bell 2B, Luis Gonzalez DH, Matt Williams 3B, Steve Finley CF, Dave Dellucci LF, Travis Lee 1B, Andy Fox SS, Kelly Stinnett C, Armando Reynoso 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, Ruben Mateo CF, Royce Clayton SS, Aaron Sele RHP.

Umpires -- D Merrill (HP), Johnson (1B), Ford (2B), Cooper (3B).

Gametime Weather: 92 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind in from center at 13 mph.

ARIZONA 1ST: Womack struck out swinging. J Bell struck out looking. L Gonzalez flied out to shallow left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore singled to right. I Rodriguez singled to center, Mclemore to second. Greer grounded into double play, second to first, I Rodriguez out at second, Mclemore to third. J Gonzalez flied out to right. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, TEXAS 0.

ARIZONA 2ND: Ma Williams popped out to third. S Finley struck out swinging. Dellucci struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 2ND: R Palmeiro grounded out to shortstop. Zeile struck out looking. L Stevens singled to left. Mateo grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, TEXAS 0.

ARIZONA 3RD: T Lee flied out to left. A Fox struck out looking. Stinnett struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 3RD: Clayton reached on infield single. Mclemore lined out to center. Clayton caught stealing, catcher to shortstop. I Rodriguez lined out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, TEXAS 0.

ARIZONA 4TH: Womack popped out to first. J Bell safe at second on 3rd baseman Zeile's throwing error. L Gonzalez singled to left, J Bell scored. Ma Williams walked, L Gonzalez to second. S Finley flied out to left. Dellucci singled to left, L Gonzalez scored, Ma Williams to third. T Lee grounded out to second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) ARIZONA 2, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 4TH: Greer struck out looking. J Gonzalez grounded out to shortstop. R Palmeiro walked. Zeile reached on infield single, R Palmeiro to second. L Stevens grounded into fielder's choice to first, Zeile out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 2, TEXAS 0.

ARIZONA 5TH: A Fox grounded out to pitcher. Stinnett struck out looking. Womack grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 2, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 5TH: Mateo singled to left. Clayton walked, Mateo to second. Mclemore singled to right, Mateo scored, Clayton to second. I Rodriguez doubled to deep right, Clayton scored, Mclemore to third. Greer doubled to deep left center, Mclemore and I Rodriguez scored. J Gonzalez grounded out to pitcher, Greer to third. R Palmeiro intentionally walked. Zeile singled to left center, Greer scored, R Palmeiro to second. Greg Swindell relieved Armando Reynoso. L Stevens grounded out to second, R Palmeiro to third, Zeile to second. Mateo tripled to deep right center, R Palmeiro and Zeile scored. Clayton grounded out to second. (7 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 2, TEXAS 7.

ARIZONA 6TH: J Bell popped out to shallow right. L Gonzalez struck out swinging. Ma Williams flied out to deep right center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 2, TEXAS 7.

TEXAS 6TH: Mclemore singled to left. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. Mclemore caught stealing, pitcher to first to shortstop to second to first to shortstop. Greer grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 2, TEXAS 7.

ARIZONA 7TH: S Finley homered to right. Dellucci singled to right. T Lee singled to center, Dellucci to second. Mike Venafro relieved Aaron Sele. Gilkey hit for A Fox. Gilkey singled to left, Dellucci scored, T Lee to second. Stinnett singled to left, T Lee scored, Gilkey to second. Womack sacrificed Gilkey to third, Stinnett to second. Jeff Zimmerman relieved Mike Venafro. J Bell hit sacrifice fly to left, Gilkey scored. L Gonzalez singled to left, Stinnett scored. Ma Williams flied out to right. (5 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 7, TEXAS 7.

TEXAS 7TH: Gregg Olson relieved Greg Swindell. Womack at short. Gilkey in left. Dellucci in right. J Gonzalez walked. R Palmeiro walked, J Gonzalez to second. Zeile flied out to right, J Gonzalez to third. L Stevens hit sacrifice fly to right, J Gonzalez scored. Mateo struck out looking. (1 Run, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 7, TEXAS 8.

ARIZONA 8TH: S Finley grounded out to first. Dellucci walked. T Lee struck out swinging. Dellucci stole second. Gilkey walked. Stinnett grounded out to catcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 7, TEXAS 8.

TEXAS 8TH: Bobby Chouinard relieved Gregg Olson. Clayton grounded out to second. Mclemore struck out swinging. I Rodriguez lined out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 7, TEXAS 8.

ARIZONA 9TH: John Wetteland relieved Jeff Zimmerman. Womack singled to right. J Bell sacrificed Womack to second. L Gonzalez struck out looking. Ma Williams singled to center, Womack scored. S Finley flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 8, TEXAS 8.

TEXAS 9TH: Greer singled to right. J Gonzalez singled to center, Greer to second. Dan Plesac relieved Bobby Chouinard. Greer to third, J Gonzalez to second on Stinnett passed ball. R Palmeiro intentionally walked. Zeile walked, Greer scored. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 8, TEXAS 9.