Game 125: Aug 22, 1999 (W: 6-0)
[ Previous Game | Next Game ]
[ Schedule Menu | Main Page ]

My Commentary

My wife and I were at this game, and it was a most cool game to attend.  First off, it was against the Red Sox, a team my wife and I love to see the Rangers play, because it's usually good baseball.  However, the main reason for us going tonight was that we didn't have much else to do, so we decided to come here in the cheap seats.  Both of us in the door for a total of $10, plus we both got a giveaway baseball cap.  It was such an awesome deal, we couldn't pass it up. I have some pictures of the giveaway hat in the pictures section below, if you want to see it - it's a pretty well put together cap.  For some reason, the Fina giveaway hats seem to be "cheaper", but this is a good hat.

About the game...  Aaron Sele was great last night.  He wasn't overpowering, as he only had a 1-2-3 inning once.  However, the hits that the Red Sox got (8 in all) were scattered, and when they did manage to get more than one baserunner at a time, they couldn't do anything with it.  There was some nice defense in the field - Royce Clayton and Lee Stevens turned in some awesome plays.  We also were helped by two double plays that were well timed.  

On the flip side, our hits were scattered all over the place. Up until the end of the game, everyone had just a single hit, except B.B. Gonzalez who had nothing all night.  "Mr. August" (Raffy) had yet another home run, and Rusty Greer just barely missed one in one of the most bizarrely hit balls I've seen at the Ballpark.  Rusty hit the ball right in the corner of the black "New Dodge" sign in right center field.  It went off the top of the wall and came back into the Ballpark.  It certainly looked like a homer to me, until I saw the back back in play on the ground.  He ended up with a triple, but missed a home run by literally one inch!   

It was a great game, a pretty cool night, and my wife and I got in cheap, and came away with a hat.  The Texas Rangers swept the Red Sox on this night, and it felt really great.  I don't know what else to say, I totally enjoyed this trip.  I just wish I didn't have to drive 38 miles to get to the Ballpark (all on Rt. 30).  The Yankees are in town next.  I don't have a good feeling about this series, but then again, I didn't have a good feeling about the Cleveland series, and we know what happened there.  :)

-- Joe Siegler

Game Recap

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) -- Aaron Sele tossed an eight-hitter and Rafael Palmeiro continued his home run surge as the Texas Rangers completed a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox with a 6-0 victory.

Facing his former team, Sele (14-7) helped drop the Red Sox into second place in the American League wild card race with his fourth career shutout and second this season. He improved to 7-1 in his last eight decisions, walking two and striking out five.

"All I was trying to do was throw strikes," Sele said. "Pudgy (catcher Ivan Rodriguez) did a great job back there calling the game. (Shortstop) Royce (Clayton) made a nice defensive play out there and Lee (Stevens) made several great plays at first base. We're just playing real well as a team right now."

Sele tied Scott Erickson of Baltimore and Bobby Witt of Tampa Bay for the league shutout lead. He tossed a six-hitter in a 6-0 blanking of Toronto on August 6.

"I was really impressed with the way he pitched tonight," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. "He spread things out. The key for him was the defense."

"I'm staying focused and doing my work," Sele added. "You've got to make good pitches against these guys. If you don't, they will hurt you."

Palmeiro belted the first pitch from starter Tim Wakefield (4-9) over the the right-field fence in the sixth inning for his 37th homer of the season. It was Palmeiro's seventh homer in as many games and his 12th this month, tying teammate Juan Gonzalez's club record for August.

He briefly pulled into a tie for the American League lead with Seattle's Ken Griffey Jr., who smacked his 38th tonight against Cleveland.

"I am just enjoying this streak that I am on right now," Palmeiro said. "I just want to keep winning."

The Rangers' designated hitter is only 12-for-43 over his last 12 games, but eight of the hits have been homers. He tied Dick Allen for 53rd on the all-time list with his 351st career blast.

"He's in one of those streaks right now," Oates said "Knuckleball, curveball, fastball, it doesn't matter. It's a perfect time for him to be in a groove."

Palmeiro has 29 RBI in August, matching the team mark held by Jeff Burroughs (1974) and Gonzalez (1996). He also tied his own franchise mark for most homers in a season by a lefthanded batter.

Palmeiro drove in four runs, raising his season total to 117 and equaling another club standard for a lefthander. Al Oliver drove in 117 runs for Texas in 1980.

"Anytime you're putting up the numbers on the board like he is, believe me, I wouldn't want to be in the other dugout against this lineup," Oates added.

The Rangers have won seven of eight following a four-game losing streak and remained 6 1/2 games ahead of second-place Oakland in the AL West. Texas posted its first three-game sweep of Boston since August 11-13, 1997 at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox suffered their fourth straight loss and fell one game behind the Athletics.

"We had somebody on in almost every inning," Boston manager Jimy Williams said. "We just couldn't get anything going. Texas is playing very well right now. We just have to put this series behind us."

Texas grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on consecutive singles by Mark McLemore, Rodriguez and Rusty Greer and Palmeiro's sacrifice fly.

Royce Clayton delivered an RBI single in the third before Palmeiro made it 4-0 in the sixth. The Rangers tacked on two runs in the seventh as Rodriguez lifted a sacrifice fly and Greer delivered an RBI triple.

Wakefield allowed six runs and eight hits over seven innings in his first start since June 8. The knuckleballer has been pitching out of the bullpen for the past three months.

"I felt like I pitched well," Wakefield said. "It just seemed that all of their hits came in bunches."

Despite the eight hits, the fifth inning was the only time the Red Sox got more than one runner on as Jason Varitek and Darren Lewis led off with singles. Sele escaped the jam by getting Trot Nixon to ground into a double play and Jose Offerman to bounce out.

John Valentin led off the sixth and reached third with two outs but Sele stranded Valentin at third by striking out Troy O'Leary.

Recap #2

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) _ No question, Rafael Palmeiro is having a special year for the Texas Rangers. And the Rangers are going along for the ride.

Palmeiro homered and drove in two runs and Aaron Sele scattered eight hits as the Rangers beat the playoff-hopeful Boston Red Sox 6-0 Sunday night for the third straight time.

"I'm just enjoying the streak I'm in right now," said Palmeiro, who tied single-season club records for homers and RBI by a left-handed hitter. "I don't know anything about these records until you guys (reporters) tell me. I have no idea why (he's on such a streak). I just want to keep winning."

Palmeiro's sixth-inning solo homer was his 37th of the season, matching his Rangers record for a left-handed hitter set in 1993. His 117 RBI equals Al Oliver's team left-handed mark set in 1980.

Palmeiro also set a team record with 29 RBI in August, and tied Juan Gonzalez's 1992 team record with his 12th homer in August. His 351st homer, which extended the Rangers' lead to 4-0, tied him with Dick Allen for 53rd place on the all-time list.

In his last seven games, he has seven homers and 17 RBI. In the three-game series with Boston, Palmeiro finished with four homers and nine RBI.

"Good month?" commented Rangers manager Johnny Oates on Palmeiro's August. "How about a good year? He's right on everything, whether it's a knuckleball or a fastball. It's a great time for him to have it."

Meanwhile, Sele allowed eight hits, struck out five and walked two as the Rangers dropped the Red Sox one game behind Oakland in the AL wild-card race. Oakland beat Toronto 4-3.

Rusty Greer also drove in two runs for the Rangers, who finished the season series against the Red Sox with a 5-4 edge against a possible playoff opponent.

Oates said Sele's strong outing was the key to completing the three-game sweep.

"When you play good ballclubs, it's all about how well you pitch," Oates said.

Sele (14-7) beat his former team for the second time in five career decisions. Sele, traded from Boston to Texas before the 1998 season, pitched his second shutout of the season and fourth of his career.

He was supported by several outstanding defensive plays and the Rangers turned double plays in the fourth and fifth.

Sele said beating his former team was nothing special.

"I look at it like they're just another good hitting team," said Sele, 4-1 in August. "You've got to keep the ball down against them. I just try and take the personality out of it and just pitch to them."

The Red Sox were 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position in the series.

"Sometimes you can score runs easy," said Boston manager Jimy Williams. "And sometimes it's like pulling teeth out of a duck."

Boston lost its fourth in a row and fifth in six games as knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (4-9) came out of the bullpen to make his first start since June 8. Wakefield allowed six runs and eight hits over seven innings. He struck out four and walked two.

Texas (75-50) improved to 25 games over .500 for the first time since Oct. 1, 1977.

The Rangers took a 2-0 lead in the first on Greer's run-scoring single and Palmeiro's sacrifice fly.

Texas made it 3-0 in the fourth when Lee Stevens doubled and scored on Royce Clayton's single.

After Palmeiro's sixth-inning solo shot, Ivan Rodriguez added a sacrifice fly and Greer had an RBI triple in the seventh to extend Texas' lead to 6-0.

GAME NOTES: Sele has won seven of his last eight decisions. ... Red Sox designated hitter Reggie Jefferson was scratched from the starting lineup due to the flu. He was replaced by Butch Huskey. ...The Rangers are 27-11 since the All-Star break. ... Jeff Burroughs (1974) and Gonzalez (1996) previously had 28 RBIs in August for the Rangers. ... Tom Goodwin of the Rangers stole two bases in the seventh, his first steals since June 8. Goodwin appeared in one game between June 12 and Aug. 5 after straining his left hip flexor.

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

Ranger starter Aaron Sele	Pudge scores in the first...	... and is congratulated by Todd Zeile	Mac is out at first	"Mr. August" does it again

Jason Varitek & Brian Daubach sit in the dugout after their loss	The front view of the giveaway hat from this game	The back view of the giveaway hat from this game

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  BOS - TIM WAKEFIELD, MARK GUTHRIE (8TH) AND JASON VARITEK
            TEX - AARON SELE AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

             WP - AARON SELE (14-7)
             LP - TIM WAKEFIELD (4-9)
           SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS:  BOS - NONE
            TEX - RAFAEL PALMEIRO (37) OFF WAKEFIELD IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

     TIME:  2:17     ATT:  28,099

PROBABLES:  BOS - PAT RAPP (4-5, 4.51)
            MIN - LATROY HAWKINS (8-10, 6.70)

            NYY - ANDY PETTITTE (10-9, 4.52)
            TEX - JOHN BURKETT (4-6, 5.90)

Box Score
BOSTON (0) AT TEXAS (6) - FINAL

BOSTON                 ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Offerman 2b             4  0  1  0   0  0   3  .290
John Valentin 3b        4  0  1  0   0  1   1  .254
Daubach 1b              4  0  1  0   0  2   2  .328
N Garciaparra ss        4  0  0  0   0  0   1  .359
Oleary lf               4  0  1  0   0  1   1  .281
B Huskey dh             4  0  1  0   0  0   1  .296
Varitek c               3  0  1  0   1  1   1  .261
D Lewis cf              4  0  2  0   0  0   2  .264
T Nixon rf              2  0  0  0   1  0   1  .266

Totals                 33  0  8  0   2  5  13

BATTING: 2B - D Lewis (12, Sele). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - Offerman 2, Oleary 1. GIDP - B Huskey, T Nixon.
Team LOB - 8.

FIELDING: PB - Varitek.

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             4  2  1  0   1  0   3  .278
I Rodriguez c           3  1  1  1   0  1   0  .329
Greer lf                3  0  2  2   1  0   0  .296
J Gonzalez rf           4  0  0  0   0  2   4  .312
R Palmeiro dh           3  1  2  2   0  0   0  .340
Zeile 3b                4  0  1  0   0  0   1  .300
L Stevens 1b            4  1  1  0   0  1   2  .278
Clayton ss              3  0  1  1   1  0   0  .265
T Goodwin cf            4  1  1  0   0  0   4  .242

Totals                 32  6 10  6   3  4  14

BATTING: 2B - L Stevens (22, Wakefield); Zeile (32, Guthrie).
3B - Greer (2, Wakefield). HR - R Palmeiro (37, 6th inning off
Wakefield 0 on, 1 out). SF - R Palmeiro, I Rodriguez. RBI - Greer 2 (80),
R Palmeiro 2 (117), Clayton (32), I Rodriguez (87). 2-out RBI - Clayton,
Greer. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Zeile 1, J Gonzalez 1,
Mclemore 2.  Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - T Goodwin 2 (29, 2nd base off Wakefield/Varitek,
3rd base off Wakefield/Varitek).

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

BOSTON                       ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Wakefield (L, 4-9)            7       8   6   6   2   4   1   5.33
Guthrie                       1       2   0   0   1   0   0   5.96

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Sele (W, 14-7)                9       8   0   0   2   5   0   4.91

WP - Sele. IBB - Clayton (by Guthrie).  Pitches-strikes: Sele 125-73;
Wakefield 105-78; Guthrie 16-8.  Ground balls-fly balls: Sele 17-5;
Wakefield 3-14; Guthrie 3-0.  Batters faced: Sele 35; Wakefield 31;
Guthrie 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Eric Cooper. 1B--Dan Iassogna. 2B--Joe Brinkman.
3B--Tim Mcclelland.
T--2:17.  Att--28,099.   Weather: 95 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 8 mph, in from center.

Game Log

Boston Starting Lineups -- Jose Offerman 2B, John Valentin 3B, Brian Daubach 1B, Nomar Garciaparra SS, Troy Oleary LF, Butch Huskey DH, Jason Varitek C, Darren Lewis CF, Trot Nixon RF, Tim Wakefield 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, Royce Clayton SS, Tom Goodwin CF, Aaron Sele RHP.

Umpires -- Cooper (HP), Iassogna (1B), Brinkman (2B), T Mcclelland (3B).

Gametime Weather: 95 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind in from center at 8 mph.

BOSTON 1ST: Offerman grounded out to first. John Valentin grounded out to shortstop. Daubach singled to right. N Garciaparra grounded into fielder's choice to third, Daubach out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore singled to shallow left. I Rodriguez singled to center, Mclemore to third. Greer singled to right, Mclemore scored, I Rodriguez to third. J Gonzalez fouled out to catcher. R Palmeiro hit sacrifice fly to left, I Rodriguez scored, Greer to second. Zeile flied out to right. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 2.

BOSTON 2ND: Oleary grounded out to first. B Huskey singled to left center. Varitek struck out swinging. D Lewis grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 2ND: L Stevens struck out swinging. Clayton fouled out to third. T Goodwin lined out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 2.

BOSTON 3RD: T Nixon grounded out to second. Offerman singled to left. John Valentin flied out to shallow left. Daubach struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 3RD: Mclemore grounded out to pitcher. I Rodriguez flied out to right center. Greer walked. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 2.

BOSTON 4TH: N Garciaparra grounded out to third. Oleary singled to left. B Huskey grounded into double play, first to shortstop to first, Oleary out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 4TH: R Palmeiro flied out to center. Zeile flied out to deep center. L Stevens doubled to deep right center. Clayton singled to center, L Stevens scored. T Goodwin fouled out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 3.

BOSTON 5TH: Varitek singled to right. D Lewis singled to center, Varitek to second. T Nixon grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, D Lewis out at second, Varitek to third. Offerman grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 5TH: Mclemore lined out to center. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. Greer fouled out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 3.

BOSTON 6TH: John Valentin singled to right. Daubach grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, John Valentin out at second. N Garciaparra grounded out to first, Daubach to second. Daubach to third on Sele wild pitch. Oleary struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 6TH: J Gonzalez grounded out to shortstop. R Palmeiro homered to right. Zeile flied out to left. L Stevens popped out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 4.

BOSTON 7TH: B Huskey grounded out to pitcher. Varitek fouled out to third. D Lewis doubled to deep left. T Nixon walked. Offerman flied out to deep center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 4.

TEXAS 7TH: Clayton grounded out to third. T Goodwin singled to shallow right. T Goodwin stole second. Mclemore walked. T Goodwin stole third. Mclemore to second on Varitek passed ball. I Rodriguez hit sacrifice fly to deep right, T Goodwin scored, Mclemore to third. Greer tripled to deep right center, Mclemore scored. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 6.

BOSTON 8TH: John Valentin struck out swinging. Daubach struck out swinging. N Garciaparra flied out to shallow center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 6.

TEXAS 8TH: Mark Guthrie relieved Tim Wakefield. R Palmeiro singled to right. Zeile doubled to right, R Palmeiro to third. L Stevens grounded out to shortstop. Clayton intentionally walked. T Goodwin grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Zeile to third, Clayton to second, R Palmeiro out at home. Mclemore grounded into fielder's choice to second, T Goodwin out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 6.

BOSTON 9TH: Oleary grounded out to first. B Huskey flied out to left. Varitek walked. D Lewis grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) BOSTON 0, TEXAS 6.