Game 101: July 29, 1999 (W: 3-1)
[ Previous Game | Next Game ]
[ Schedule Menu | Main Page ]

Commentary (by me)

This game my wife and I did not go to.  The main reason why we didn't was because it was a day game, and quite frankly, this was our one big day to explore the Inner Harbor.  Besides, I don't generally like day games in the summer anyway.  We had a wonderful time exploring several things in Baltimore - the highlight was definitely the Aquarium there.

We were in the Aquarium when the Ranger game was happening, so we didn't get to see or hear any of it.  I did catch some highlights on SportsCenter on ESPN later in the evening.  WOW - what a home run by Royce Clayton (423 feet; into the Rangers bullpen in Baltimore).   In fact, all three of our runs were solo home runs (Clayton, Pudge, & Kelly).  I had a bad feeling about this game going in, as Mike Morgan doesn't seem to pitch well in the heat - and it was hot.  Add to that the fact that he still had that bruise from being wailed by a batted ball in his last start, and I wasn't expecting what he gave us (6 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned run).  Our bullpen gave up donut, and it was a really nice 3-1 win by the Rangers.  Would have liked to have seen it, but I had such a wonderful time seeing the sights in Baltimore that day that it really didn't matter.

Game Recap

BALTIMORE (TICKER) -- Mike Morgan bounced back from an injury to post his first victory in Baltimore in nearly 14 years and the Texas Rangers received three solo homers in a 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Morgan (11-6), who was forced to leave his last start with a bruised right forearm, allowed one run, three hits and two walks over six innings. The righthander struck out a pair in his 400th career start and continued his strong pitching of late.

The 39-year-old Morgan has won five of his last six decisions and surrendered more than three runs just once in his last eight starts. His 11 wins are his most since 1992, when he was a member of the Chicago Cubs. He also posted his first win in Baltimore since September 6, 1985, when he was with Seattle, the fourth of his 11 teams.

"I just go out every five days and give it my best," Morgan said. "It's more fun on a first-place team. ... I was lucky to be ready for this one. I spent a week in the training room."

"Mike is not 22 years old anymore but he gives us six strong innings," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "He was sucking air after that."

Mike Venafro tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Jeff Zimmerman extended his club record scoreless innings streak to 29 by getting the final two outs in the eighth.

John Wetteland threw a hitless ninth for his major league-leading 31st save in 38 opportunities as Texas took two of three from Baltimore and opened a 6-4 lead in the season series.

Roberto Kelly, Royce Clayton and Ivan Rodriguez all homered for the Rangers, who had their nine-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday.

Despite surrendering all three homers, Baltimore starter Juan Guzman (5-9) lasted 7 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and two walks. Guzman's outing came on the heels of trade rumors involving the veteran righthander.

"I'd like to stay here. I haven't had any problems here," said Guzman. "They treat me first class. I'm here to help the team. ... If I have to go someplace else, I have to be professional."

"Guzman battled," said Orioles manager Ray Miller. "For the most part, he pitched good."

Baltimore shortstop Cal Ripken nearly hit his 400th career homer in the third but the ball hit just below the line on the left-field wall and was ruled a double. The hit was Ripken's 2,964th, tying him with Sam Crawford for 25th place all-time.

"That ball hit the corner on the top of the wall," said Rangers left fielder Rusty Greer. "It was close, real close."

Texas took a 1-0 lead in the third on Kelly's fifth homer. The Rangers loaded the bases later in the inning but Guzman got Rafael Palmeiro to fly to shallow right.

Ripken led off the bottom of the third with a double but Morgan struck out Delino DeShields and got Mike Figga to ground out. The veteran pitcher then helped himself by picking Ripken off second.

"Mike and I made eye contact, but he made a perfect throw," said Clayton, the Rangers' shortstop. "You don't expect to get runners all the time, but this was one that worked."

Baltimore knotted the contest in the fourth. Kelly lost Mike Bordick's fly ball to right for a triple. B.J. Surhoff followed with a single up the middle for his 80th RBI of the season.

Clayton put the Rangers on top for good in the fifth when he crushed his fifth homer, ripping a 3-1 pitch from Guzman 423 feet over the wall in left-center field.

Baltimore put two aboard with one out in the sixth but Morgan induced Bordick to bounce into a double play.

After Venafro got the side in order in the seventh, Rodriguez gave Texas a 3-1 lead in the eighth with his 18th homer.

Baltimore brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth after Jeff Conine walked with two outs. But Wetteland retired Surhoff on a flyout to shallow center.

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

Orioles Manager Ray Miller	Rangers starter Mike Morgan	Cal Ripken hits a single	Cal is picked off second	The Orioles dugout when Cal gets his single

Ray Miller pulls Juan Guzman	Congrats for Royce on his homer	1 is for sugar, 2 is for.. Aw the hell with it, it's too hot!	Pudge congratulates Wetteland on the save

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  TEX - MIKE MORGAN, MIKE VENAFRO (7TH), JEFF
                  ZIMMERMAN (8TH), JOHN WETTELAND (9TH) AND IVAN
                  RODRIGUEZ
            BAL - JUAN GUZMAN, JESSE OROSCO (8TH), SCOTT
                  KAMIENIECKI (9TH) AND MIKE FIGGA

             WP - MIKE MORGAN (11-6)
             LP - JUAN GUZMAN (5-9)
           SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (31)

HOME RUNS:  TEX - ROBERTO KELLY (5) OFF JU GUZMAN IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
                  ROYCE CLAYTON (5) OFF JU GUZMAN IN THE 5TH, 0 ON
                  IVAN RODRIGUEZ (18) OFF JU GUZMAN IN THE 8TH, 0 ON
            BAL - NONE

     TIME:  2:26     ATT:  43,711

PROBABLES:  KAN - JAY WITASICK (4-7, 6.67)
            TEX - ESTEBAN LOAIZA (2-1, 6.98)

            BAL - JASON JOHNSON (2-4, 5.34)
            SEA - GIL MECHE (1-1, 6.75)

Box Score
TEXAS (3) AT BALTIMORE (1) - FINAL

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             4  0  0  0   0  0   1  .278
I Rodriguez c           4  1  2  1   0  1   0  .311
Greer lf                3  0  0  0   1  1   0  .277
R Palmeiro dh           3  0  0  0   1  0   3  .343
Zeile 3b                4  0  1  0   0  0   0  .305
L Stevens 1b            4  0  0  0   0  2   1  .282
R Kelly rf              4  1  1  1   0  0   1  .311
Mateo cf                3  0  0  0   0  0   1  .235
Clayton ss              3  1  2  1   0  1   0  .252

Totals                 32  3  6  3   2  5   7

BATTING: HR - R Kelly (5, 3rd inning off Ju Guzman 0 on, 0 out);
Clayton (5, 5th inning off Ju Guzman 0 on, 0 out); I Rodriguez
(18, 8th inning off Ju Guzman 0 on, 1 out). RBI - R Kelly (26),
Clayton (23), I Rodriguez (59). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - R Palmeiro 2.  Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: CS - R Palmeiro (2, 2nd base by Ju Guzman/Figga).

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

BALTIMORE              ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
B Anderson cf           3  0  0  0   1  0   0  .282
Bordick ss              3  1  1  0   0  0   2  .277
 b-Conine ph            0  0  0  0   1  0   0  .299
Surhoff lf              4  0  1  1   0  1   1  .333
Belle rf                3  0  0  0   0  1   1  .278
Baines dh               3  0  0  0   0  1   0  .335
W Clark 1b              3  0  0  0   0  0   0  .306
C Ripken 3b             3  0  1  0   0  0   0  .330
Deshields 2b            2  0  0  0   1  1   1  .275
Figga c                 1  0  0  0   0  0   1  .200
 a-Amaral ph            1  0  0  0   0  1   0  .302

Totals                 26  1  3  1   3  5   6

a-struck out for Figga in the 9th; b-walked for Bordick in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - C Ripken (22, Morgan). 3B - Bordick (3, Morgan).
S - Figga. RBI - Surhoff (80). GIDP - Belle, Bordick.  Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: Picked off - C Ripken (2nd base, Morgan).

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Morgan (W, 11-6)              6       3   1   1   2   2   0   5.14
Venafro (H, 12)               1 1/3   0   0   0   0   2   0   2.83
Je Zimmerman (H, 17)            2/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   0.75
Wetteland (S, 31)             1       0   0   0   1   1   0   4.78

BALTIMORE                    ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Ju Guzman (L, 5-9)            7 1/3   6   3   3   2   3   3   4.18
Orosco                          2/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   6.85
Kamieniecki                   1       0   0   0   0   1   0   7.09

Pitches-strikes: Ju Guzman 117-69; Orosco 8-5; Kamieniecki 11-8;
Morgan 70-41; Venafro 17-11; Je Zimmerman 6-6; Wetteland 24-16.
Ground balls-fly balls: Ju Guzman 7-11; Orosco 0-1; Kamieniecki 2-0;
Morgan 11-4; Venafro 1-1; Je Zimmerman 1-1; Wetteland 0-2.  Batters
faced: Ju Guzman 29; Orosco 2; Kamieniecki 3; Morgan 20; Venafro 4;
Je Zimmerman 2; Wetteland 4.

UMPIRES: HP--John Shulock. 1B--Dale Scott. 2B--Derryl Cousins.
3B--Joe Brinkman.
T--2:26.  Att--43,711.   Weather: 95 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 10 mph, left to right.

Game Log

(OFFICIAL SCORING CHANGE -- CREDIT BALTIMORE'S MIKE BORDICK WITH A TRIPLE IN THE FOURTH INNING, DELETE ERROR FROM TEXAS' ROBERTO KELLY)

Texas Starting Lineups -- Mark Mclemore 2B, Ivan Rodriguez C, Rusty Greer LF, Rafael Palmeiro DH, Todd Zeile 3B, Lee Stevens 1B, Roberto Kelly RF, Ruben Mateo CF, Royce Clayton SS, Mike Morgan RHP.

Baltimore Starting Lineups -- Brady Anderson CF, Mike Bordick SS, Bj Surhoff LF, Albert Belle RF, Harold Baines DH, Will Clark 1B, Cal Ripken Jr 3B, Delino Deshields 2B, Mike Figga C, Juan Guzman RHP.

Umpires -- Shulock (HP), Scott (1B), Cousins (2B), Brinkman (3B).

Gametime Weather: 95 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind left to right at 10 mph.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore popped out to shallow center. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. Greer flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BALTIMORE 0.

BALTIMORE 1ST: B Anderson fouled out to catcher. Bordick flied out to shallow right. Surhoff grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BALTIMORE 0.

TEXAS 2ND: R Palmeiro grounded out to first. Zeile popped out to shallow center. L Stevens grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BALTIMORE 0.

BALTIMORE 2ND: Belle struck out swinging. Baines flied out to deep center. W Clark grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, BALTIMORE 0.

TEXAS 3RD: R Kelly homered to center. Mateo flied out to left. Clayton singled to left. Mclemore fouled out to third. I Rodriguez singled to shallow right, Clayton to third. Greer walked, I Rodriguez to second. R Palmeiro popped out to shallow right. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, BALTIMORE 0.

BALTIMORE 3RD: C Ripken doubled to left. Deshields struck out looking. Figga grounded out to third. C Ripken picked off at second, pitcher to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, BALTIMORE 0.

TEXAS 4TH: Zeile reached on infield single. L Stevens grounded into fielder's choice to first, Zeile out at second. R Kelly grounded into fielder's choice to third, L Stevens out at second. Mateo popped out to shallow right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, BALTIMORE 0.

BALTIMORE 4TH: B Anderson lined out to right. Bordick tripled to right. Surhoff singled to center, Bordick scored. Belle grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Surhoff out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, BALTIMORE 1.

TEXAS 5TH: Clayton homered to left center. Mclemore grounded out to third. I Rodriguez grounded out to second. Greer grounded out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, BALTIMORE 1.

BALTIMORE 5TH: Baines grounded out to first. W Clark grounded out to second. C Ripken grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, BALTIMORE 1.

TEXAS 6TH: R Palmeiro walked. R Palmeiro caught stealing, catcher to second. Zeile popped out to shallow right. L Stevens struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, BALTIMORE 1.

BALTIMORE 6TH: Deshields walked. Figga sacrificed Deshields to second. B Anderson walked. Bordick grounded into double play, shortstop to first, B Anderson out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, BALTIMORE 1.

TEXAS 7TH: R Kelly flied out to deep center. Mateo flied out to right. Clayton struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, BALTIMORE 1.

BALTIMORE 7TH: Mike Venafro relieved Mike Morgan. Surhoff struck out swinging. Belle lined out to second. Baines struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, BALTIMORE 1.

TEXAS 8TH: Mclemore lined out to first. I Rodriguez homered to left. Jesse Orosco relieved Juan Guzman. Greer struck out swinging. R Palmeiro popped out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, BALTIMORE 1.

BALTIMORE 8TH: W Clark grounded out to second. Jeff Zimmerman relieved Mike Venafro. C Ripken popped out to shallow right. Deshields grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, BALTIMORE 1.

TEXAS 9TH: Scott Kamieniecki relieved Jesse Orosco. Zeile grounded out to first. L Stevens struck out looking. R Kelly grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, BALTIMORE 1.

BALTIMORE 9TH: Amaral hit for Figga. John Wetteland relieved Jeff Zimmerman. Amaral struck out looking. B Anderson popped out to shortstop. Conine hit for Bordick. Conine walked. Surhoff flied out to shallow center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, BALTIMORE 1.