Game 105: Aug 2, 1999 (W: 5-4)
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My Commentary

Well, I got to see this one (see last night's commentary) because it was on KXTX.  :)

Jeff Zimmerman (am I the only one besides Jeff that thinks "The Zimmenator" is a stupid nickname?) tied a 73 year old record for consecutive wins by a reliever to start a career by going to 9-0.  Unfortunately, his scoreless streak was broken at 29 2/3 innings.  However, the way he's pitching this year, it's hardly noticeable (his ERA is now 0.88 after that run).

However, the story of this game was Pudge.  He hit two home runs, driving in 4 of our 5 runs (Raffy had the other) with a solo shot and a three run home run.  He also picked off a runner at third - his sixth pure pickoff of the season, the first at third.  There's no doubt that Pudge was the star of this game, it was quite cool to watch him play last night.  Pudge also now has 20 home runs for three years in a row, tying a record for catchers.  If Pudge gets one more steal between now and the end of the season (I think that's a safe bet), he'll be the first catcher in all of MLB history to have 20 steals and 20 home runs in a season.  In fact, given there's about 57 games left or something like that, I think there's a good shot of Pudge getting to 30/30 providing he stays healthy.

Speaking of Pudge, I used to like Juan better than Pudge, but lately that opinion has changed a lot given the way Juan's been behaving - I read an article about him verbally abusing Johnny and attacking a water cooler.  I also saw the cooler last night (before I read about Juan's battering of it) with the sign "Please don't hit me, I'm a nice cooler".  It looked funny on the TV.  :)

Burkett pitched OK - he's definitely our fifth starter, but for him, it was a decent outing - I didn't think he pitched bad at all, caught a few bad breaks, and was hit, but not lit up.   I hope he can keep it going at least at this level for the rest of the season.

Attendance was pathetic for The Ballpark.  Was only 24,720.  I know it's Monday, and it's the Twins, but that seems really low for us!

-- Joe Siegler

Game Recap

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) -- Rookie Jeff Zimmerman tied a 73-year-old American League record for consecutive wins by a reliever to start a career as the Texas Rangers remained perfect against the Minnesota Twins with a 5-4 victory.

Zimmerman (9-0) allowed one run in 1 2/3 innings and is the first AL relief pitcher to win his first nine decisions at the start of a career since Joe Pate of the Philadelphia A's in 1926. The major league record is 12, shared by three National League pitchers.

Zimmerman did have his scoreless innings streak stopped at 29 2/3 innings with one out in the eighth when Matt Lawton singled home a run to bring the Twins within 5-4.

Texas had taken the lead with two outs in the seventh on Ivan Rodriguez's second homer of the game, a three-run shot off Eddie Guardado (2-3) which gave the Rangers a 5-3 advantage.

Rodriguez, who smacked a solo homer in the third, is batting .520 (26-of-50) with six home runs and 18 RBI during an 11-game hitting streak.

"I feel great, I've got good timing at the plate," he said. "I'm feeling strong and have been working with my trainer and I want to have a big second half."

Rodriguez has 21 homers, becoming the third catcher in AL history to hit at least 20 homers in three straight seasons. Lance Parrish of Detroit accomplished the feat from 1982-85 and Carlton Fisk of Chicago from 1983 to 1985.

"For three years in a row, 20 homers, that's pretty good," Rodriguez said. "The season is not over yet. I just have to keep playing hard."

Texas improved to 8-0 against the Twins this season and has won nine straight between the teams dating to last year. The Rangers have won 15 of 18 games overall since the All-Star break.

John Wetteland allowed a hit in the ninth before recording his major league-leading 32nd save in 39 chances.

Javier Valentin hit a solo homer for the Twins, who have lost consecutive games following a season-high four-game winning streak.

Trailing 2-1 entering the seventh, the Twins scored twice in the inning to take the lead. Marty Cordova led off with a double, Lawton walked and rookie Chad Allen delivered a run-scoring single to chase starter John Burkett.

Mike Venafro relieved Burkett and struck out pinch-hitter Brent Gates. Lawton and Allen pulled off a double-steal and Valentin produced a run with a single to give the Twins the lead.

Zimmerman came on and walked Ron Coomer before getting rookie Jacque Jones to hit a slow bouncer in front of the plate. Allen raced for the plate but Rodriguez got back in time and tagged him out for the second out. Zimmerman retired Cristian Guzman on a grounder to get out of the inning.

However, the Twins' lead was short-lived as Texas rallied in the bottom of the inning. Royce Clayton tripled with one out to chase starter LaTroy Hawkins. Guardado came on and walked McLemore before Rodriguez belted a 1-1 pitch over the left-field wall to put Texas ahead for good.

"I take nothing way from Rodriguez or the Rangers," Guardado said. "The ball was high and he did what he was supposed to do."

After Rodriguez's homer in the third, the Twins tied the score two innings later on Valentin's fourth homer.

Rafael Palmeiro's 26th homer in the sixth gave the lead back to Texas.

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

Pudge steps to the plate...	...and then gets congrats for his first home run	Jacque Jones makes a spectacular catch, robbing Zeile (I think) of a double	Pudge smacks a home run

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  MIN - LATROY HAWKINS, EDDIE GUARDADO (7TH), HECTOR
                  CARRASCO (8TH) AND JAVIER VALENTIN
            TEX - JOHN BURKETT, MIKE VENAFRO (7TH), JEFF
                  ZIMMERMAN (7TH), JOHN WETTELAND (9TH) AND IVAN
                  RODRIGUEZ

             WP - JEFF ZIMMERMAN (9-0)
             LP - EDDIE GUARDADO (2-3)
           SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (32)

HOME RUNS:  MIN - JAVIER VALENTIN (4) OFF BURKETT IN THE 5TH, 0 ON
            TEX - IVAN RODRIGUEZ (20) OFF HAWKINS IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
                  RAFAEL PALMEIRO (26) OFF HAWKINS IN THE 6TH, 0 ON
                  IVAN RODRIGUEZ (21) OFF GUARDADO IN THE 7TH, 2 ON

     TIME:  2:46     ATT:  24,720

PROBABLES:  MIN - BENJ SAMPSON (3-1, 7.08)
            TEX - MIKE MORGAN (11-6, 5.14)

Box Score
MINNESOTA (4) AT TEXAS (5) - FINAL

MINNESOTA              ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
J Jones cf              5  0  1  0   0  1   3  .309
C Guzman ss             4  0  1  0   0  0   3  .235
 c-Steinbach ph         1  0  0  0   0  0   1  .314
T Walker 2b             4  0  1  0   0  1   0  .290
M Cordova dh            3  2  2  0   1  0   0  .294
Lawton rf               3  1  1  1   1  0   2  .267
Allen lf                4  0  1  1   0  1   1  .287
Koskie 3b               2  0  0  0   0  0   0  .296
 a-Gates ph-3b          2  0  0  0   0  2   3  .279
Javier Valentin c       4  1  2  2   0  0   0  .270
Mientkiewicz 1b         2  0  0  0   0  0   0  .226
 b-Coomer ph-1b         1  0  0  0   1  0   0  .273

Totals                 35  4  9  4   3  5  13

a-struck out for Koskie in the 7th; b-walked for Mientkiewicz in
the 7th; c-hit into fielder's choice for C Guzman in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - T Walker (31, Burkett); M Cordova 2 (20, Burkett,
Je Zimmerman). 3B - C Guzman (2, Burkett). HR - Javier Valentin
(4, 5th inning off Burkett 0 on, 2 out). RBI - Javier Valentin 2 (25),
Allen (35), Lawton (33). 2-out RBI - Javier Valentin. Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - Lawton 1, C Guzman 2, Gates 1.  Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - Allen (13, 2nd base off Venafro/I Rodriguez);
Lawton 2 (13, 3rd base off Venafro/I Rodriguez, 2nd base off
Je Zimmerman/I Rodriguez). Picked off - C Guzman (3rd base, I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (Coomer-C Guzman).

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             3  1  0  0   1  0   0  .282
I Rodriguez c           4  2  2  4   0  0   0  .330
Greer lf                3  0  1  0   1  0   0  .277
J Gonzalez rf           4  0  2  0   0  1   0  .305
R Palmeiro dh           4  1  1  1   0  1   4  .345
Zeile 3b                4  0  0  0   0  0   0  .305
L Stevens 1b            3  0  1  0   0  2   0  .281
Mateo cf                3  0  0  0   0  1   1  .228
Clayton ss              3  1  1  0   0  1   0  .254

Totals                 31  5  8  5   2  6   5

BATTING: 3B - Clayton (4, Hawkins). HR - I Rodriguez 2 (21, 3rd
inning off Hawkins 0 on, 2 out, 7th inning off Guardado 2 on, 2 out);
R Palmeiro (26, 6th inning off Hawkins 0 on, 2 out). RBI -
I Rodriguez 4 (71), R Palmeiro (89). 2-out RBI - I Rodriguez 4,
R Palmeiro. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Palmeiro 2.
GIDP - Mateo.  Team LOB - 4.

MINNESOTA                    ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Hawkins                       6 2/3   7   3   3   1   4   2   6.77
Guardado (L, 2-3; BS, 1)        1/3   1   2   2   1   0   1   4.94
Carrasco                      1       0   0   0   0   2   0   9.72

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Burkett                       6       5   3   3   2   3   1   6.05
Venafro                         1/3   1   0   0   0   1   0   2.81
Je Zimmerman (W, 9-0)         1 2/3   2   1   1   1   1   0   0.88
Wetteland (S, 32)             1       1   0   0   0   0   0   4.67

Burkett pitched to 3 batters in the 7th.

WP - Je Zimmerman.  Pitches-strikes: Burkett 94-54; Venafro 9-7;
Je Zimmerman 29-16; Wetteland 12-9; Hawkins 93-52; Guardado 10-5;
Carrasco 13-8.  Ground balls-fly balls: Burkett 8-6; Venafro 0-0;
Je Zimmerman 2-2; Wetteland 2-1; Hawkins 9-7; Guardado 1-0;
Carrasco 0-1.  Batters faced: Burkett 24; Venafro 2; Je Zimmerman 8;
Wetteland 4; Hawkins 27; Guardado 3; Carrasco 3.

UMPIRES: HP--John Shulock. 1B--Dale Scott. 2B--Derryl Cousins.
3B--Joe Brinkman.
T--2:46.  Att--24,720.   Weather: 95 degrees, clear.   Wind: 7 mph,
in from center.

Game Log

Minnesota Starting Lineups -- Jacque Jones CF, Cristian Guzman SS, Todd Walker 2B, Marty Cordova DH, Matt Lawton RF, Chad Allen LF, Corey Koskie 3B, Javier Valentin C, Doug Mientkiewicz 1B, Latroy Hawkins 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, John Burkett RHP.

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

Gametime Weather: 95 degrees, Clear, wind in from center at 7 mph.

MINNESOTA 1ST: J Jones struck out swinging. C Guzman grounded out to catcher. T Walker doubled to right center. M Cordova walked. Lawton grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore flied out to center. I Rodriguez grounded out to first. Greer walked. J Gonzalez singled to left, Greer to second. R Palmeiro flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, TEXAS 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: Allen struck out looking. Koskie flied out to center. Javier Valentin grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 2ND: Zeile flied out to left center. L Stevens struck out looking. Mateo grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, TEXAS 0.

MINNESOTA 3RD: Mientkiewicz grounded out to first. J Jones lined out to third. C Guzman tripled to right center. C Guzman picked off at third, catcher to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 3RD: Clayton struck out swinging. Mclemore grounded out to second. I Rodriguez homered to right. Greer singled to center. J Gonzalez singled to center, Greer to second. R Palmeiro flied out to right center. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, TEXAS 1.

MINNESOTA 4TH: T Walker grounded out to second. M Cordova grounded out to third. Lawton flied out to deep center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 4TH: Zeile grounded out to shortstop. L Stevens struck out swinging. Mateo struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, TEXAS 1.

MINNESOTA 5TH: Allen lined out to second. Koskie lined out to center. Javier Valentin homered to right. Mientkiewicz grounded out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 5TH: Clayton flied out to center. Mclemore flied out to left center. I Rodriguez grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, TEXAS 1.

MINNESOTA 6TH: J Jones flied out to left. C Guzman grounded out to shortstop. T Walker struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 6TH: Greer grounded out to second. J Gonzalez flied out to deep center. R Palmeiro homered to right. Zeile grounded out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, TEXAS 2.

MINNESOTA 7TH: M Cordova doubled to right. Lawton walked. Allen singled to left, M Cordova scored, Lawton to second. Mike Venafro relieved John Burkett. Gates hit for Koskie. Gates struck out looking. Lawton stole third, Allen stole second. Javier Valentin singled to left, Lawton scored, Allen to third. Jeff Zimmerman relieved Mike Venafro. Coomer hit for Mientkiewicz. Coomer walked, Javier Valentin to second. J Jones grounded into fielder's choice to catcher, Javier Valentin to third, Coomer to second, Allen out at home. C Guzman grounded out to pitcher. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 3, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 7TH: Coomer at first. Gates at third. L Stevens singled to left. Mateo grounded into double play, first to shortstop, L Stevens out at second. Clayton tripled to right center. Eddie Guardado relieved Latroy Hawkins. Mclemore walked. I Rodriguez homered to left, Clayton and Mclemore scored. Greer grounded out to third. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 3, TEXAS 5.

MINNESOTA 8TH: T Walker flied out to left. M Cordova doubled to left center. Lawton singled to center, M Cordova scored. Allen flied out to right. Lawton stole second. Lawton to third on Je Zimmerman wild pitch. Gates struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 4, TEXAS 5.

TEXAS 8TH: Hector Carrasco relieved Eddie Guardado. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. R Palmeiro struck out swinging. Zeile popped out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 4, TEXAS 5.

MINNESOTA 9TH: John Wetteland relieved Jeff Zimmerman. Javier Valentin flied out to center. Coomer grounded out to second. J Jones reached on infield single. Steinbach hit for C Guzman. Steinbach grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Jones out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 4, TEXAS 5.