Game 98: July 25, 1999 (W: 4-3)
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Commentary (by me)

Not available, but we certainly seem to like to let Tampa Bay get back into things late in the game, don't we?  :)

I felt awful for Helling, as he was going so well, until the home run to McGriff in the bottom of the 9th.

Game Recap

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA (TICKER) -- Rick Helling blanked the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before stumbling in the ninth inning and the Texas Rangers hung on for their eighth straight victory, 4-3.

Helling (8-7) yielded only three hits over eight scoreless innings before surrendering a leadoff single to Dave Martinez in the ninth. One out later, Fred McGriff belted a 1-1 offering over the right-center field fence to pull Tampa Bay within 4-2.

"I made a mistake to McGriff in the ninth and he made the game interesting," Helling said. "Hopefully in the future, my mistakes will turn into singles instead of home runs."

John Wetteland came on and gave up a single to Bubba Trammell. Wade Boggs followed with a shot to the left-center field gap. Left fielder Rusty Greer and center fielder Ruben Mateo collided as they gave chase and the ball bounced to the wall, allowing Trammell to score and giving Boggs a triple that put him within 11 hits of 3,000.

With the tying run on third and only one out, Wetteland bore down to strike out Aaron Ledesma and Rob Butler, preserving the win and recording his major league-leading 29th save.

"Boggs hit a good pitch, but that's Wade Boggs. He's a good hitter," Wetteland said. "Ledesma committed to a high fastball, so I knew he would do it again. Butler was behind all day, so I just took it to him."

Helling (8-7) pushed his record above .500 for the first time since closing last season at 20-7. He allowed five hits and three walks over 8 1/3 innings, striking out three. The righthander improved to 4-0 lifetime against the Devil Rays.

"Helling has pitched well all year. If he had run support like last year, he could easily have 13 wins right now," said Texas manager Johnny Oates. "He's a guy I don't worry about on the mound with his mental approach. He doesn't get scared and he is very confident in his abilities."

Rafael Palmeiro and Todd Zeile hit solo homers for the Rangers, who can match their longest winning streak of the season with a victory Tuesday at Baltimore. They won nine in a row from May 24-June 2.

Zeile got Texas on the board in the second inning when he hit the longest homer by a visiting player at Tropicana Field. He crushed Rolando Arrojo's 1-2 pitch 436 feet over the fence in left-center.

Arrojo (2-6) pitched effectively but remained winless since May 18, when he defeated Texas. The native of Cuba allowed three runs and seven hits over seven innings, striking out three.

Arrojo, who spent nearly two months on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation before returning on July 15, is 0-2 in four starts since beating the Rangers.

"He's starting to get some strength back and it looks like he will get better and better," Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild said of Arrojo. "He's pitched well enough to win some games since he's been back, but he hasn't had any luck."

It was an overall dismal day for the Devil Rays. They endured their fifth straight loss and 10th in 12 games, Rothschild was ejected in the seventh for arguing a call at first base and second baseman Miguel Cairo left after four innings with tightness in his right hamstring.

The Rangers increased their lead in the American League West to eight games over second-place Oakland, while the last-place Devil Rays fell 20 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East.

Tampa Bay had a chance to tie the game in the third, with Butler drawing a one-out walk and Helling hitting Mike Difelice with a pitch. But Cairo hit a comebacker and Helling gunned down Difelice at second, starting an inning-ending double play.

"We're not getting opportunistic hits," Rothschild said. "There's been cases where one hit could have changed the game and we're just not doing it."

Texas increased the lead to 3-0 in the fourth. After Palmeiro hit his 24th homer with one out, Zeile singled and later scored on a triple by Gregg Zaun.

The Rangers added what proved to be a crucial insurance run in the eighth. Mark McLemore, who had two hits, drew a leadoff walk from reliever Alan Newman. Mateo doubled to right and Greer had an RBI groundout.

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

Ranger starter Rick Helling	Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild right before being ejected	Raffy watches his home run ball go	Todd Zeile rounds third base on his home run trot...	... and gets congrats from Big Lee.

John Wetteland & Mac celebrate

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  TEX - RICK HELLING, JOHN WETTELAND (9TH) AND GREGG
                  ZAUN
            TAM - ROLANDO ARROJO, ALAN NEWMAN (8TH), RICK WHITE
                  (8TH) AND MIKE DIFELICE

             WP - RICK HELLING (8-7)
             LP - ROLANDO ARROJO (2-6)
           SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (29)

HOME RUNS:  TEX - TODD ZEILE (14) OFF ARROJO IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
                  RAFAEL PALMEIRO (24) OFF ARROJO IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
            TAM - FRED MCGRIFF (23) OFF HELLING IN THE 9TH, 1 ON

     TIME:  2:31     ATT:  21,202

PROBABLES:  TEX - AARON SELE (9-6, 5.56)
            BAL - MIKE MUSSINA (13-4, 3.44)

            ANA - OMAR OLIVARES (8-8, 3.78)
            TAM - BOBBY WITT (5-6, 5.65)

Box Score
TEXAS (4) AT TAMPA BAY (3) - FINAL

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             3  1  2  0   1  0   0  .283
Mateo cf                4  0  1  0   0  1   1  .253
Greer lf                4  0  1  1   0  0   1  .275
J Gonzalez rf           4  0  0  0   0  0   2  .306
R Palmeiro dh           4  1  1  1   0  0   1  .351
Zeile 3b                4  1  2  1   0  1   0  .296
L Stevens 1b            4  1  0  0   0  1   1  .290
Zaun c                  4  0  1  1   0  0   0  .221
Shave ss                3  0  0  0   0  1   1  .211

Totals                 34  4  8  4   1  4   7

BATTING: 2B - Mclemore (14, Arrojo); Mateo (8, Newman).
3B - Zaun (1, Arrojo). HR - Zeile (14, 2nd inning off Arrojo 0 on,
1 out); R Palmeiro (24, 4th inning off Arrojo 0 on, 1 out). RBI -
Zeile (60), R Palmeiro (84), Zaun (7), Greer (60). 2-out RBI -
Zaun. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Greer 1, Shave 1,
R Palmeiro 1.  Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: CS - Mclemore (5, 2nd base by Arrojo/Difelice).

FIELDING: DP: 2 (Helling-Shave-L Stevens, Mclemore-Shave-L Stevens).

TAMPA BAY              ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Cairo 2b                2  0  0  0   0  0   2  .302
 Lamb ss                2  0  0  0   0  1   1  .205
Da Martinez cf          4  1  2  0   0  0   1  .294
B Smith 3b              4  0  0  0   0  2   2  .150
Mcgriff dh              4  1  1  2   0  0   0  .324
Trammell lf             3  1  2  0   1  0   0  .269
Boggs 1b                3  0  1  1   1  0   1  .295
Ledesma ss-2b           4  0  0  0   0  1   3  .254
R Butler rf             3  0  0  0   1  1   2  .167
Difelice c              2  0  1  0   0  0   0  .256

Totals                 31  3  7  3   3  5  12

BATTING: 2B - Trammell (8, Helling); Difelice (7, Helling).
3B - Boggs (1, Wetteland). HR - Mcgriff (23, 9th inning off Helling
1 on, 1 out). RBI - Mcgriff 2 (69), Boggs (22). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - R Butler 2, B Smith 1. GIDP - Cairo,
Ledesma.  Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: CS - Da Martinez (4, 2nd base by Helling/Zaun).

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Helling (W, 8-7)              8 1/3   5   2   2   3   3   1   4.33
Wetteland (S, 29)               2/3   2   1   1   0   2   0   4.79

TAMPA BAY                    ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Arrojo (L, 2-6)               7       7   3   3   0   3   2   6.34
Newman                          1/3   1   1   1   1   0   0  10.13
R White                       1 2/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   3.99

HBP - Difelice (by Helling).  Pitches-strikes: Arrojo 89-62;
Newman 17-9; R White 25-15; Helling 125-71; Wetteland 10-9.
Ground balls-fly balls: Arrojo 8-9; Newman 1-0; R White 2-2;
Helling 10-11; Wetteland 0-0.  Batters faced: Arrojo 27; Newman 3;
R White 5; Helling 31; Wetteland 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Tim
Mcclelland. 3B--Tim Welke.  EJECTIONS: TAMPA BAY Manager Rothschild
by Reynolds (7th).
T--2:31.  Att--21,202. Indoors.

AL       TEXAS AT TAMPA BAY
         NOTE:  TAMPA BAY'S MIGUEL CAIRO LEFT THE GAME AFTER FOUR INNINGS
                WITH TIGHTNESS IN HIS RIGHT HAMSTRING.

AL       TEXAS AT TAMPA BAY
         NOTE:  TAMPA BAY'S MANAGER LARRY ROTHSCHILD WAS EJECTED BY FIRST
                BASE UMPIRE JIM REYNOLDS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
                INNING FOR ARGUING A CLOSE CALL AT FIRST BASE.

Game Log

Texas Starting Lineups -- Mark Mclemore 2B, Ruben Mateo CF, Rusty Greer LF, Juan Gonzalez RF, Rafael Palmeiro DH, Todd Zeile 3B, Lee Stevens 1B, Gregg Zaun C, Jon Shave SS, Rick Helling RHP.

Tampa Bay Starting Lineups -- Miguel Cairo 2B, Dave Martinez CF, Bobby Smith 3B, Fred Mcgriff DH, Bubba Trammell LF, Wade Boggs 1B, Aaron Ledesma SS, Rich Butler RF, Mike Difelice C, Rolando Arrojo RHP.

Umpires -- Cederstrom (HP), Reynolds (1B), T Mcclelland (2B), T Welke (3B).

Gametime Weather: Indoors

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore grounded out to shortstop. Mateo struck out looking. Greer singled to left. J Gonzalez flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 1ST: Cairo grounded out to third. Da Martinez singled to right. Da Martinez caught stealing, catcher to shortstop. B Smith struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, TAMPA BAY 0.

TEXAS 2ND: R Palmeiro flied out to center. Zeile homered to left center. L Stevens struck out swinging. Zaun flied out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 2ND: Mcgriff flied out to left. Trammell flied out to right center. Boggs flied out to right center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, TAMPA BAY 0.

TEXAS 3RD: Shave struck out swinging. Mclemore doubled to right. Mateo flied out to right. Greer flied out to left center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 3RD: Ledesma grounded out to third. R Butler walked. Difelice hit by pitch, R Butler to second. Cairo grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, Difelice out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, TAMPA BAY 0.

TEXAS 4TH: J Gonzalez grounded out to second. R Palmeiro homered to right. Zeile singled to center. L Stevens grounded into fielder's choice to second, Zeile out at second. Zaun tripled to right center, L Stevens scored. Shave flied out to right. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 4TH: Da Martinez lined out to right. B Smith grounded out to shortstop. Mcgriff flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, TAMPA BAY 0.

TEXAS 5TH: Ledesma at second. Lamb at short. Mclemore singled to center. Mclemore caught stealing, catcher to second. Mateo grounded out to pitcher. Greer grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 5TH: Trammell doubled to left. Boggs walked. Ledesma grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Boggs out at second, Trammell to third. R Butler grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, TAMPA BAY 0.

TEXAS 6TH: J Gonzalez grounded out to shortstop. R Palmeiro flied out to center. Zeile popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 6TH: Difelice doubled to right center. Lamb struck out swinging. Da Martinez fouled out to third. B Smith struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, TAMPA BAY 0.

TEXAS 7TH: L Stevens grounded out to pitcher. Zaun grounded out to first. Shave flied out to right center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 7TH: Mcgriff grounded out to third. Tampa Bay's Manager Rothschild ejected by Reynolds. Trammell walked. Boggs flied out to left. Ledesma flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, TAMPA BAY 0.

TEXAS 8TH: Alan Newman relieved Rolando Arrojo. Mclemore walked. Mateo doubled to right, Mclemore to third. Greer grounded out to second, Mclemore scored, Mateo to third. Rick White relieved Alan Newman. J Gonzalez popped out to shortstop. R Palmeiro grounded out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 8TH: R Butler fouled out to catcher. Difelice grounded out to third. Lamb flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, TAMPA BAY 0.

TEXAS 9TH: Zeile struck out looking. L Stevens popped out to third. Zaun grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 9TH: Da Martinez singled to right. B Smith popped out to second. Mcgriff homered to right center, Da Martinez scored. John Wetteland relieved Rick Helling. Trammell singled to left. Boggs tripled to left center, Trammell scored. Ledesma struck out swinging. R Butler struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, TAMPA BAY 3.