Game 94: July 21, 1999 (W: 9-5)
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Commentary (by me)

Well, the big 6 run third inning is what did it for us last night.  We spanked Omar Olivares, who was charged with all 8 earned runs the Rangers got in the second and third innings.  5 singles, a double, and a triple did all the work in the third inning.  Was very nice to see.  

Again, however, we got our fifth win in a row without a home run.  We're scoring without the longball, and I like that, because I hate relying on the home run for runs.  The last couple of nights on the TV, John Rhadigan was talking to the fireworks operator, who sits out in center field right under the big red Coca-Cola sign.  They said that he's been waiting to shoot off fireworks, but it hasn't happened much - we've had only two home runs since the All-Star game, and they both came in in our lone loss of the second half so far.

Aaron Sele pitched OK - he wasn't dominating at all, but it was enough for the win, his 9th of the season.  He did give up two back to back home runs in the 4th, but that was about his worst stretch of pitching.   I don't think he's going to get to 19 again, but I think 15 is definitely within reach for him by the end of the year.  Munoz, Crabtree, & Zimmerman came on to finish up after Sele went 6.  Crabtree gave up a couple of singles, but no runs again by the bullpen.  Zim earned his second save, as Wetteland is having some back spasms, and is resting.

This win puts the Angels 11.5 games back of the Rangers in last place in the AL West - if we win tomorrow night too, I have a feeling Anaheim might "give up" on this season.  Surprisingly the A's are staying close to us, we're only 5 games up on them, and have been exactly that for a couple of weeks.  The A's beat the Mariners last night, dropping Seattle to 9 games out.  Did get a peek at Safeco Field on ESPN last night - looks REALLY gorgeous.  Damn, we won't get there till next season, and if this rumour about the Rangers going to the NL Central next season I heard two days ago is true, then we won't see Safeco at all, probably!

I'm headed out to the ballpark tomorrow night, but I won't be watching the game much.  You'll see what I mean shortly.  :)

Game Recap

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) -- Todd Zeile and Rafael Palmeiro each had two hits and two RBI as the Texas Rangers continued their second-half pounding of opposing pitching with a 9-5 victory over the struggling Anaheim Angels.

Zeile doubled and scored in the second inning and highlighted a six-run third with a two-run double. Palmeiro walked and scored in the second and contributed an RBI single in the third, when Texas sent 10 men to the plate.

Ivan Rodriguez contributed three of the 13 hits collected by the Rangers, who have scored 52 runs in winning six of seven games since the All-Star break. They have amassed 34 runs and 47 hits during their current four-game winning streak.

"We're putting good at-bats together," Palmeiro said. "If we have runners in scoring position, we are not going for the home run. We are just trying to get good pitches to hit."

"We are still being aggressive, swinging at first pitches, but we aren't getting ourselves out swinging at pitches that we cannot hit," said Texas manager Johnny Oates.

Aaron Sele (9-6) was the beneficiary of this latest offensive outburst, notching the win despite allowing five runs and eight hits in six innings. He is 2-0 in his last four starts despite getting tagged for 18 runs and 29 hits over 23 2/3 innings.

With closer John Wetteland bothered by a stiff back, All-Star setup man Jeff Zimmerman came on with one out and two on in the ninth. He struck out Salmon and got Garret Anderson, who homered earlier, to bounce into a force play for his second save of the season.

Texas torched Angels starter Omar Olivares (8-8) for eight runs and nine hits in just two innings, saddling the righthander with his shortest outing of the season. Entering the game with the American League's fourth-lowest ERA at 3.26, Olivares had surrendered just 12 runs and 32 hits over 38 1/3 innings in his last five starts. His ERA jumped to 3.78.

"Every ball I threw was up and flat. The result was a disaster for us," Olivares said. "They had good swings and found holes. I knew I had to get the ball down; I just couldn't do it."

Anaheim matched a season high with its sixth straight loss, scoring more than three runs for the first time during the skid.

The Rangers had six consecutive hits to open the third inning, sending Olivares to the showers. Mark McLemore, Rodriguez and Rusty Greer all singled to bring in the first run of the inning. After Juan Gonzalez blooped a single to right-center, Palmeiro singled home Rodriguez to make it 4-1.

"He (Olivares) has given us trouble in the past, but he was falling behind in the count tonight and we were able to get to him early," Palmeiro added.

Olivares got behind Zeile, 2-0, and the third baseman ripped a double down the left-field line, plating Greer and Gonzalez. Scott Schoeneweis came on to strike out Lee Stevens and Ruben Mateo but uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Palmeiro to score and surrendered an RBI triple to Royce Clayton that created an 8-1 cushion.

Anderson, who ran his hitting streak to 12 games, and Troy Glaus hit back-to-back homers to open the fourth as the Angels pulled within 8-3.

Texas got a run back in the fourth when Palmeiro singled home Rodriguez. Palmeiro is 4-for-8 in the last two games after managing only hit in his first 13 at-bats since making his fourth appearance at the All-Star Game.

Orlando Palmeiro had an RBI single and scored on a double by Matt Walbeck in the sixth, but Anaheim blew chances to score in each of the final three innings.

"We had a couple of opportunities," said Angels manager Terry Collins. "Sele gave up two home runs, but that doesn't hurt when you have a big lead."

Mike Munoz started the seventh for Sele and issued a one-out walk to Randy Velarde before hitting Mo Vaughn with a pitch. Tim Salmon bounced into a force play and Anderson flied out to end the threat.

Orlando Palmeiro was stranded at third when Jeff Huson flied out to end the eighth, and Zimmerman slammed the door fn the ninth after Velarde walked and Vaughn singled.

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

Randy Velarde backs out of the way of a pitch	Todd Zeile tries but doesn't get to a ball hit by Randy Velarde in the 3rd	Mark McLemore makes a throw to first in the 3rd	Angels catcher Matt Walbeck & Ruben Mateo - "It's a ball!"	Jeff Zimmerman in the 9th

Box Score

Line Score
AL  FINAL
                    1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9     R  H  E
                    -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -     -  -  -
ANAHEIM             0  0  1   2  0  2   0  0  0     5 10  1
TEXAS               0  2  6   1  0  0   0  0  x     9 13  0   (FINAL)

BATTERIES:  ANA - OMAR OLIVARES, SCOTT SCHOENEWEIS (3RD), MIKE
                  FYHRIE (5TH) AND MATT WALBECK
            TEX - AARON SELE, MIKE MUNOZ (7TH), TIM CRABTREE
                  (8TH), JEFF ZIMMERMAN (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

             WP - AARON SELE (9-6)
             LP - OMAR OLIVARES (8-8)
           SAVE - JEFF ZIMMERMAN (2)

HOME RUNS:  ANA - GARRET ANDERSON (15) OFF SELE IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
                  TROY GLAUS (16) OFF SELE IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
            TEX - NONE

     TIME:  2:58     ATT:  35,849

PROBABLES:  ANA - STEVE SPARKS (4-6, 5.17)
            TEX - JOHN BURKETT (2-4, 5.71)

Box Score
ANAHEIM (5) AT TEXAS (9) - FINAL

ANAHEIM                ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Erstad lf               5  0  0  0   0  1   1  .261
Velarde 2b              2  0  1  1   3  0   0  .309
Vaughn 1b               4  0  1  0   0  2   2  .280
Salmon rf               4  1  1  0   1  2   5  .310
G Anderson cf           5  1  1  1   0  0   7  .293
Glaus 3b                4  1  2  1   0  0   1  .236
O Palmeiro dh           4  1  2  1   0  0   1  .285
Walbeck c               4  0  1  1   0  1   0  .243
Disarcina ss            3  1  1  0   0  0   1  .234
 a-Huson ph-ss          1  0  0  0   0  0   1  .257

Totals                 36  5 10  5   4  6  19

a-flied to left for Disarcina in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - Velarde (14, Sele); Salmon (9, Sele); Walbeck (7, Sele).
HR - G Anderson (15, 4th inning off Sele 0 on, 0 out); Glaus
(16, 4th inning off Sele 0 on, 0 out). RBI - Velarde (43),
G Anderson (45), Glaus (42), O Palmeiro (17), Walbeck (15).
2-out RBI - O Palmeiro, Walbeck. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - G Anderson 3, Salmon 1, Disarcina 1, Huson 1.
Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: CS - O Palmeiro (5, 2nd base by Sele/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: E - Vaughn (3, drop foul). DP: 2 (Velarde-Disarcina-Vaughn,
Walbeck-Velarde-Walbeck).

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             4  1  1  0   0  1   1  .286
I Rodriguez c           4  2  3  0   0  0   0  .306
Greer lf                4  1  1  1   0  0   2  .277
J Gonzalez rf           4  1  2  0   0  0   0  .312
R Palmeiro dh           3  2  2  2   1  1   0  .348
Zeile 3b                4  2  2  2   0  1   2  .289
L Stevens 1b            4  0  0  1   0  1   2  .285
Mateo cf                4  0  1  1   0  1   2  .243
Clayton ss              4  0  1  1   0  1   1  .247

Totals                 35  9 13  8   1  6  10

BATTING: 2B - Zeile 2 (27, Olivares 2). 3B - Clayton (2, S Schoeneweis).
RBI - L Stevens (52), Mateo (12), Greer (58), R Palmeiro 2 (78),
Zeile 2 (54), Clayton (20). 2-out RBI - Mateo, Clayton. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - Mclemore 1. GIDP - Greer.
Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Gonzalez (2, home by S Schoeneweis/Walbeck).

ANAHEIM                      ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Olivares (L, 8-8)             2       9   8   8   1   0   0   3.78
S Schoeneweis                 2 1/3   4   1   1   0   3   0   5.49
Fyhrie                        3 2/3   0   0   0   0   3   0   7.16

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Sele (W, 9-6)                 6       8   5   5   2   5   2   5.56
M Munoz                       1       0   0   0   1   0   0   3.16
Crabtree                      1 1/3   2   0   0   1   0   0   3.41
Je Zimmerman (S, 2)             2/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   0.80

Olivares pitched to 6 batters in the 3rd.

WP - S Schoeneweis, Crabtree. HBP - Vaughn (by M Munoz).
Pitches-strikes: Sele 114-74; M Munoz 16-7; Crabtree 29-18;
Je Zimmerman 8-6; Olivares 48-29; S Schoeneweis 49-32; Fyhrie
45-31.  Ground balls-fly balls: Sele 6-6; M Munoz 1-2; Crabtree
3-1; Je Zimmerman 1-0; Olivares 5-1; S Schoeneweis 1-2; Fyhrie
2-6.  Batters faced: Sele 27; M Munoz 5; Crabtree 7; Je Zimmerman 2;
Olivares 15; S Schoeneweis 10; Fyhrie 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Mike Reilly. 1B--Mark Johnson. 2B--Brian Onora.
3B--Rich Garcia.
T--2:58.  Att--35,849.   Weather: 82 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 16 mph, right to left.

AL       ANAHEIM AT TEXAS
         NOTE:  WARMUPS RE-SENT TO REFLECT A CHANGE IN THE UMPIRE
                ROTATION. NO REASON HAS BEEN GIVEN FOR THE CHANGE.

AL       ANAHEIM AT TEXAS
         NOTE:  ANAHEIM'S GARRET ANDERSON EXTENDED HIS HITTING STREAK TO
                12 GAMES WITH A HOME RUN IN THE TOP OF THE FOURTH INNING.

AL       ANAHEIM AT TEXAS
         NOTE:  THE HOME RUNS BY ANAHEIM'S GARRET ANDERSON AND TROY GLAUS
                IN THE TOP OF THE FOURTH INNING WERE BACK-TO-BACK.

Game Log

Anaheim Starting Lineups -- Darin Erstad LF, Randy Velarde 2B, Mo Vaughn 1B, Tim Salmon RF, Garret Anderson CF, Troy Glaus 3B, Orlando Palmeiro DH, Matt Walbeck C, Gary Disarcina SS, Omar Olivares 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 -- Reilly (HP), Johnson (1B), Onora (2B), Garcia (3B).

Gametime Weather: 82 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind right to left at 16 mph.

ANAHEIM 1ST: Erstad grounded out to shortstop. Velarde walked. Vaughn flied out to left. Salmon walked, Velarde to second. G Anderson flied out to shallow left center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore flied out to deep right. I Rodriguez singled to center. Greer grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, I Rodriguez out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 0, TEXAS 0.

ANAHEIM 2ND: Glaus grounded out to third. O Palmeiro reached on infield single. O Palmeiro caught stealing, catcher to shortstop. Walbeck struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 2ND: J Gonzalez grounded out to shortstop. R Palmeiro walked. Zeile doubled to right, R Palmeiro to third. L Stevens grounded out to second, R Palmeiro scored, Zeile to third. Mateo singled to left, Zeile scored. Clayton grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Mateo out at second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 0, TEXAS 2.

ANAHEIM 3RD: Disarcina reached on infield single. Erstad struck out swinging. Velarde doubled to left, Disarcina scored. Vaughn struck out swinging. Salmon struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 1, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 3RD: Mclemore singled to right. I Rodriguez singled to left center, Mclemore to third. Greer singled to center, Mclemore scored, I Rodriguez to second. J Gonzalez singled to shallow right center, I Rodriguez to third, Greer to second. R Palmeiro singled to right, I Rodriguez scored, Greer to third, J Gonzalez to second. Zeile doubled to left, Greer and J Gonzalez scored, R Palmeiro to third. Scott Schoeneweis relieved Omar Olivares. L Stevens struck out swinging. Mateo struck out swinging. R Palmeiro scored, Zeile to third on S Schoeneweis wild pitch. Clayton tripled to right center, Zeile scored. Mclemore flied out to deep right. (6 Runs, 7 Hits, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 1, TEXAS 8.

ANAHEIM 4TH: G Anderson homered to right. Glaus homered to center. O Palmeiro flied out to right. Walbeck grounded out to pitcher. Disarcina flied out to deep center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 3, TEXAS 8.

TEXAS 4TH: I Rodriguez singled to center. Greer flied out to center. J Gonzalez singled to center, I Rodriguez to second. R Palmeiro singled to right, I Rodriguez scored, J Gonzalez to third. Zeile continued to bat after dropped foul ball by 1st baseman Vaughn. Zeile struck out swinging. J Gonzalez caught stealing, catcher to second to catcher. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 1 Error) ANAHEIM 3, TEXAS 9.

ANAHEIM 5TH: Erstad popped out to shallow right. Velarde grounded out to shortstop. Vaughn struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 3, TEXAS 9.

TEXAS 5TH: L Stevens grounded out to third. Mike Fyhrie relieved Scott Schoeneweis. Mateo popped out to third. Clayton flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 3, TEXAS 9.

ANAHEIM 6TH: Salmon doubled to left. G Anderson flied out to center. Glaus grounded out to third. O Palmeiro singled to center, Salmon scored. Walbeck doubled to left, O Palmeiro scored. Disarcina grounded out to pitcher. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 5, TEXAS 9.

TEXAS 6TH: Mclemore struck out swinging. I Rodriguez flied out to left center. Greer flied out to left center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 5, TEXAS 9.

ANAHEIM 7TH: Mike Munoz relieved Aaron Sele. Erstad flied out to right. Velarde walked. Vaughn hit by pitch, Velarde to second. Salmon grounded into fielder's choice to third, Velarde to third, Vaughn out at second. G Anderson flied out to right center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 5, TEXAS 9.

TEXAS 7TH: J Gonzalez lined out to second. R Palmeiro struck out looking. Zeile grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 5, TEXAS 9.

ANAHEIM 8TH: Tim Crabtree relieved Mike Munoz. Glaus singled to right. O Palmeiro grounded into fielder's choice to first, Glaus out at second. O Palmeiro to second on Crabtree wild pitch. Walbeck grounded out to second, O Palmeiro to third. Huson hit for Disarcina. Huson flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 5, TEXAS 9.

TEXAS 8TH: Huson at short. L Stevens grounded out to second. Mateo flied out to deep right center. Clayton struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 5, TEXAS 9.

ANAHEIM 9TH: Erstad grounded out to second. Velarde walked. Vaughn singled to left, Velarde to second. Jeff Zimmerman relieved Tim Crabtree. Salmon struck out swinging. G Anderson grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Vaughn out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ANAHEIM 5, TEXAS 9.