Game 121: Aug 18, 1999 (W: 6-1)
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My Commentary

What a cool game.  First off, it was 70 degrees at game time!  Why can't we have that in Texas in August?  :)

Seriously, John Burkett involved in a 1-1 pitcher's due into the 7th inning?  Man, what a game!  He seemed to be pitching like he had his entire career to prove out there last night.  An extremely well pitched game.  John went 8 full innings, giving up a measly 5 hits with one run (RBI by who else - Manny Ramirez?) while striking out eight.   Brilliant pitching, reminded me of the game he pitched last September in Anaheim to help us clinch the division.  Wetteland came in just to get work, gave up a couple of hits, but no runs in the 9th.   If we can get this kind of pitching out of arguably our worst starter, it's a great plus for us.

These three games against Cleveland have certainly erased the ugly from last week's 4 game losing streak.  It's really stunned me the way we've come out and opened up the big can of whoop-ass on the Indians.  Before these games started, I figured we'd be lucky to leave The Jake with a split.  Now, we've won the series, and can go for a sweep tonight, which is something the Rangers haven't done in Cleveland in like forever.

Rafael Palmeiro came through again with a big three run blast to untie the game from 1-1.  We had another 5 spot inning last night to put the game away for us.  That's 34 runs against the Indians in 3 games.  44 in 4 games if you count the game before this against the White Sox.  Where was all this offense when we played the Yanks in October?  :)

-- Joe Siegler

Game Recap

CLEVELAND (TICKER) -- John Burkett shut down the best-hitting lineup in baseball and Rafael Palmeiro and Royce Clayton belted long balls as the homer-happy Texas Rangers defeated the Cleveland Indians, 6-1, for their fourth straight victory.

Burkett (4-6) posted season highs of eight innings and eight strikeouts as he held the Indians to five singles. Cleveland came in with a .293 batting average, best in the major leagues.

The veteran righthander walked two as he won for the first time in five starts since July 22. Both of his walks came in the second inning, when he got into some trouble with wildness but worked out of it.

"I think this is my best performance of the year and it's nice to go eight innings," Burkett said. "In the sixth and seventh innings, I got my rhythm. I was spotting my fastball and got my breaking ball in. The key was I got good location with my fastball."

John Wetteland allowed two more singles in a scoreless ninth.

Charles Nagy (13-8) evenly dueled Burkett for six innings before coming apart in the seventh, when Palmeiro and Clayton continued their hot streaks with homers. Palmeiro hit a three-run shot to snap a 1-1 tie and Clayton connected three batters later for a two-run homer that made it 6-1.

Texas has 17 homers in its last five games. It is second in the American League with 165 homers and has outscored foes 44-10 during its winning streak.

"Texas is swinging the bats well enough right now," said Indians manager Mike Hargrove said. "If you make mistakes, they make you pay."

In the season series between division leaders, the Rangers hold a 5-2 edge. Texas is 24-10 since the All-Star break and Cleveland has lost three in a row since a six-game winning streak.

After squandering a chance in the second, the Indians tied it in the sixth. Omar Vizquel, who earlier extended his hitting streak to 12 games, bunted for a hit and stole second. He took third on a groundout and scored on a single by Manny Ramirez, who collected his league-leading 123rd RBI.

But Texas exploded in the seventh. Rusty Greer singled and Juan Gonzalez doubled before Palmeiro belted an 0-1 pitch into the right-field seats for his 33rd homer and a 4-1 lead.

"I was looking at the defense and I saw the second baseman and first baseman back," Palmeiro said. "I wanted to pull the ball and move the runners up. I wasn't thinking home run. I figured if I hit it to the right side, they'd give me a nice RBI. But Nagy gave me a hanging split-finger (fastball)."

"I should have pitched around Palmeiro knowing that first base was open," Nagy said. "I got strike one and wanted to throw a splitter down and in but I hung it and he jumped all over it."

Todd Zeile singled and Ricky Rincon came on, getting Lee Stevens to bounce into a force play. But Clayton took a 2-0 pitch over the fence in right for his seventh homer, making it 6-1.

"I don't really know how far the ball went," Clayton said. "I just saw the ball well and swung. Some guys on this team can really swing the bat and that is a big help."

Palmeiro hasd nine homers and 23 RBI in his last 20 games and is batting .440 (11-for-25) with four homers and 12 RBI against the Indians this season. Clayton extended his hitting streak to seven games (11-for-29) and his last five homers have come on the road.

Bothered by the flu, Nagy allowed five runs and eight hits. He has given up at least four runs in five straight outings.

"I haven't eaten in a long time but I felt all right, just a little bit weak," Nagy said. "I threw well for six innings, but I made some bad pitches in the seventh."

The Rangers struck quickly. Mark McLemore led off with an infield hit, raced to third on Greer's one-out single and scored as Gonzalez bounced into a force play.

Burkett found trouble in the second, throwing 14 of 18 pitches for balls and loading the bases before getting rookie Dave Roberts to pop out on an 0-2 pitch.

"I threw eight borderline pitches in a row in that second inning and I got Roberts to end the inning with an off-speed pitch," Burkett said.

Recap #2

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Playing in the hot weather at home, the Texas Rangers looked sluggish. Now that they're in a cooler climate, they look slugger-ish.

Rafael Palmeiro hit a three-run homer and Royce Clayton had a two-run shot in a five-run seventh inning Wednesday night that powered the Rangers to a 6-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

The Rangers have scored 44 runs and gotten 60 hits during a four-game winning streak that has helped them to a 6½-game lead in the AL West.

"At the beginning of the road trip, we looked like a tired club coming out of a homestand with the Texas heat," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. "We seem to have more body life and are playing with more intensity in these cooler temperatures."

Texas has pounded Cleveland pitching, hitting 10 homers in winning the first three games of the four-game series by a combined 34-10 score.

John Burkett (4-6) pitched eight strong innings to get his first victory since July 22. He held Cleveland's powerful lineup to one run and five hits, and had a season-high eight strikeouts.

"This was my best outing of the year, definitely," Burkett said after lowering his ERA from 6.30 to 5.90. "When I get my fastball up to 86, 87, 88 mph like tonight, my changeup is 15 mph slower and makes me more effective."

Palmeiro snapped a 1-1 tie in the seventh with his 33rd homer of the season. Rusty Greer opened the inning with a single and went to third on a double by Juan Gonzalez before Palmeiro homered off Charles Nagy (13-8).

"I knew I had first base open and tried to throw a pitch down, but hung it up high," Nagy said. "Palmeiro is hot. He's a great hitter. And we keep making bad pitches to him."

It was Palmeiro's third homer in three games.

"I wasn't thinking about breaking up the game," Palmeiro said. "I was just trying to pull the ball and get the runner home from third and move the guy on second."

After Todd Zeile singled, Nagy was replaced by Ricardo Rincon, who was helped by two sensational fielding plays.

Roberto Alomar made a diving stop of a sharp grounder by Lee Stevens and flipped the ball over his back to shortstop Omar Vizquel to force Zeile. Clayton then hit his seventh homer for a 6-1 lead.

After Tom Goodwin walked, Mark McLemore hit a drive into the gap in right-center, but Manny Ramirez made a running, backhanded catch and doubled Goodwin off first base to end the inning.

Texas, which has 17 homers in its last five games, scratched out a first-inning run when McLemore singled, went to third on a one-out single by Greer and scored on a groundout by Gonzalez.

Cleveland tied it in the sixth. Vizquel got a bunt single, stole second and scored on Ramirez's one-out single to right.

Ramirez went to third on David Justice's single to right, but Burkett then struck out Jim Thome and Richie Sexson to end the rally.

Nagy said he had experienced flu-like symptoms all week and "maybe got a bit weak in the seventh. I made good pitches for six innings and then a lot of bad ones in the seventh."

GAME NOTES: Before the game, Cleveland put left-hander Mark Langston on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled left quadriceps, optioned lefty Tom Martin to Triple-A Buffalo and brought up right-hander Jason Rakers and lefty Chris Haney from Buffalo. ... Nagy's fourth strikeout of the game gave him 1,105 in his Indians career, passing Gary Bell for sixth place on the team's all-time list. ... Texas has 44 runs and 60 hits in its last four games. ... Palmeiro is 4-for-10 (.400) with three homers and eight RBI in the series. ... Cleveland's Dwight Gooden will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Akron on Thursday night. The right-hander, out with a strained shoulder since Aug. 3, will be on a pitch count of 60.

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

Indians starter Charles Nagy	Texas starter John Burkett	Texas starter John Burkett	Roberto Alomar turns a double play in the second	Raffy does it again - another 3 run home run to break a tie game

Juan Gonzalez scores on Raffy's home run	Umpire Rich Garcia with Jerry Narron before the game

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  TEX - JOHN BURKETT, JOHN WETTELAND (9TH) AND IVAN
                  RODRIGUEZ
            CLE - CHARLES NAGY, RICARDO RINCON (7TH), STEVE REED
                  (8TH), CHRIS HANEY (8TH) AND EINAR DIAZ

             WP - JOHN BURKETT (4-6)
             LP - CHARLES NAGY (13-8)
           SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS:  TEX - RAFAEL PALMEIRO (33) OFF NAGY IN THE 7TH, 2 ON
                  ROYCE CLAYTON (7) OFF RINCON IN THE 7TH, 1 ON
            CLE - NONE

     TIME:  2:38     ATT:  42,997

PROBABLES:  TEX - MIKE MORGAN (12-7, 5.63)
            CLE - STEVE KARSAY (9-1, 2.59)

Box Score
TEXAS (6) AT CLEVELAND (1) - FINAL

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             4  1  1  0   0  0   1  .279
I Rodriguez c           4  0  0  0   0  0   1  .331
Greer lf                3  1  2  0   1  0   0  .290
J Gonzalez rf           4  1  1  1   0  1   2  .306
R Palmeiro dh           4  1  1  3   0  1   2  .335
Zeile 3b                4  0  1  0   0  1   0  .306
L Stevens 1b            4  1  2  0   0  1   1  .284
Clayton ss              4  1  1  2   0  0   1  .267
T Goodwin cf            2  0  0  0   1  1   0  .243

Totals                 33  6  9  6   2  5   8

BATTING: 2B - J Gonzalez (22, Nagy). HR - R Palmeiro (33, 7th inning
off Nagy 2 on, 0 out); Clayton (7, 7th inning off Rincon 1 on, 1 out).
RBI - J Gonzalez (100), R Palmeiro 3 (108), Clayton 2 (31). GIDP -
Clayton. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: CS - L Stevens (2, 2nd base by Nagy/E Diaz).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (Wetteland-Clayton-L Stevens).

CLEVELAND              ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Roberts cf              4  0  0  0   0  0   3  .302
Vizquel ss              4  1  2  0   0  0   0  .342
R Alomar 2b             4  0  0  0   0  1   1  .322
M Ramirez rf            4  0  1  1   0  2   1  .323
Justice lf              4  0  2  0   0  0   0  .303
Thome 1b                4  0  1  0   0  2   2  .283
Sexson dh               4  0  1  0   0  2   4  .249
Baerga 3b               3  0  0  0   1  2   2  .273
E Diaz c                2  0  0  0   1  0   0  .266

Totals                 33  1  7  1   2  9  13

BATTING: RBI - M Ramirez (123). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - M Ramirez 1, Roberts 2, Sexson 1. GIDP - Baerga.
Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - Vizquel 2 (29, 2nd base off Burkett/I Rodriguez 2).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - M Ramirez (T Goodwin at 1st base).
DP: 2 (Vizquel-R Alomar-Thome, M Ramirez-R Alomar-Thome).

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Burkett (W, 4-6)              8       5   1   1   2   8   0   5.90
Wetteland                     1       2   0   0   0   1   0   4.37

CLEVELAND                    ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Nagy (L, 13-8)                6       8   5   5   0   4   1   5.00
Rincon                        1       1   1   1   1   0   1   5.58
Reed                            2/3   0   0   0   1   0   0   3.40
Haney                         1 1/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   2.84

Nagy pitched to 4 batters in the 7th.

Pitches-strikes: Nagy 87-52; Rincon 16-6; Reed 7-3; Haney 15-9;
Burkett 118-71; Wetteland 12-9.  Ground balls-fly balls: Nagy 9-4;
Rincon 1-1; Reed 1-1; Haney 3-0; Burkett 7-9; Wetteland 2-0.
Batters faced: Nagy 24; Rincon 4; Reed 3; Haney 4; Burkett 31;
Wetteland 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Laz Diaz. 1B--Rich Garcia. 2B--Jim Reynolds.
3B--Brian Onora.
T--2:38.  Att--42,997.   Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 5 mph, in from right.

AL       TEXAS AT CLEVELAND
         NOTE:  CLEVELAND'S OMAR VIZQUEL EXTENDED HIS HITTING STREAK TO
                12 GAMES WITH A SINGLE IN THE FIRST INNING.

Game Log

Texas Starting Lineups -- Mark Mclemore 2B, Ivan Rodriguez C, Rusty Greer LF, Juan Gonzalez RF, Rafael Palmeiro DH, Todd Zeile 3B, Lee Stevens 1B, Royce Clayton SS, Tom Goodwin CF, John Burkett RHP.

Cleveland Starting Lineups -- Dave Roberts CF, Omar Vizquel SS, Roberto Alomar 2B, Manny Ramirez RF, David Justice LF, Jim Thome 1B, Richie Sexson DH, Carlos Baerga 3B, Einar Diaz C, Charles Nagy RHP.

Umpires -- Diaz (HP), Garcia (1B), Reynolds (2B), Onora (3B).

Gametime Weather: 70 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind in from right at 5 mph.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore reached on infield single. I Rodriguez flied out to center. Greer singled to right, Mclemore to third. J Gonzalez grounded into fielder's choice to third, Mclemore scored, Greer out at second. R Palmeiro flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 1ST: Roberts grounded out to pitcher. Vizquel singled to right. Vizquel stole second. R Alomar struck out swinging. M Ramirez flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CLEVELAND 0.

TEXAS 2ND: Zeile struck out swinging. L Stevens singled to right. Clayton grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, L Stevens out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 2ND: Justice flied out to deep left. Thome grounded out to first. Sexson singled to left. Baerga walked, Sexson to second. E Diaz walked, Sexson to third, Baerga to second. Roberts popped out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CLEVELAND 0.

TEXAS 3RD: T Goodwin grounded out to pitcher. Mclemore grounded out to second. I Rodriguez grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 3RD: Vizquel grounded out to second. R Alomar flied out to deep left. M Ramirez struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CLEVELAND 0.

TEXAS 4TH: Greer grounded out to second. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. R Palmeiro struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 4TH: Justice flied out to deep right. Thome struck out swinging. Sexson flied out to shallow center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CLEVELAND 0.

TEXAS 5TH: Zeile grounded out to first. L Stevens singled to right. L Stevens caught stealing, catcher to shortstop. Clayton flied out to deep right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 5TH: Baerga struck out looking. E Diaz popped out to catcher. Roberts flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CLEVELAND 0.

TEXAS 6TH: T Goodwin struck out swinging. Mclemore fouled out to third. I Rodriguez grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 6TH: Vizquel reached on bunt single to third. Vizquel stole second. R Alomar grounded out to second, Vizquel to third. M Ramirez singled to right, Vizquel scored. Justice singled to right, M Ramirez to third. Thome struck out swinging. Sexson struck out swinging. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, CLEVELAND 1.

TEXAS 7TH: Greer singled to right. J Gonzalez doubled to left, Greer to third. R Palmeiro homered to right center, Greer and J Gonzalez scored. Zeile singled to center. Ricardo Rincon relieved Charles Nagy. L Stevens grounded into fielder's choice to second, Zeile out at second. Clayton homered to right center, L Stevens scored. T Goodwin walked. Mclemore flied out to right center, T Goodwin doubled off first. (5 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 7TH: Baerga struck out swinging. E Diaz grounded out to pitcher. Roberts fouled out to catcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, CLEVELAND 1.

TEXAS 8TH: Steve Reed relieved Ricardo Rincon. I Rodriguez grounded out to pitcher. Greer walked. J Gonzalez popped out to shortstop. Chris Haney relieved Steve Reed. R Palmeiro grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 8TH: Vizquel grounded out to shortstop. R Alomar grounded out to second. M Ramirez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, CLEVELAND 1.

TEXAS 9TH: Zeile grounded out to shortstop. L Stevens struck out swinging. Clayton grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 9TH: John Wetteland relieved John Burkett. Justice reached on infield single. Thome singled to deep right, Justice to third. Sexson struck out swinging. Baerga grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, Thome out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, CLEVELAND 1.