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133: Aug 31, 1999 (L: 14-6)[ Previous Game | Next Game ]
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Game
133: Aug 31, 1999 (L: 14-6)
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Commentary
Ugh - This is not happening! This is not happening! (Hiding head in
sand)
-- Joe Siegler
Game Recap
DETROIT (TICKER) -- The first-place Texas Rangers and fourth-place Detroit Tigers reversed roles for a second straight night.
Tony Clark and Brad Ausmus delivered two-run doubles in an eight-run seventh inning that carried the Tigers to a 14-6 victory over Texas.
Ausmus and Bobby Higginson each had three RBI as part of the Tigers' 16-hit attack. Dean Palmer was the only Detroit starter without a hit, while Damion Easley had three and scored three times. Clark, Ausmus and Higginson were among six Tigers with two hits apiece.
One night after Detroit's 1-0 victory, the teams went to the seventh inning tied, 6-6, before the Tigers sent 12 men to plate.
Ausmus and Palmer started the inning with walks against rookie reliever Danny Kolb (1-1). Jeff Zimmerman relieved but failed to retire any of the four batters he faced. Clark's double off the right-field wall broke the deadlock and Easley followed with an infield hit.
Higginson came through with an RBI single and rookie Gabe Kapler delivered a run-scoring double to give Detroit a 10-6 lead and chase Zimmerman. Jeff Fassero fared no better, yielding a two-run single to Karim Garcia and a single to Deivi Cruz for the Tigers' sixth straight hit.
"I made two bad pitches that were pounded. I made two good pitches that just found holes," Zimmerman said. "I just got to keep doing what I'm doing. Usually I throw 15 pitches in an inning. Usually I'm going to throw four or five bad pitches. But this time the two bad ones I threw, I got punished for it."
Pinch-hitter Kimera Bartee bounced into a forceout, but Ausmus doubled into the left-field corner for a 14-6 cushion.
"Hopefully I'll say it one more time. This is how we hoped we'd be all year," Easley said. "We got out of a jam and then we came back and we didn't rely on the longball. We just got a lot of little hits. We got a couple of walks to start the inning and just found holes. We kept the pressure on by keeping the ball in play. It just snowballed."
The uprising was the Tigers' biggest since scoring 11 times in the seventh inning of a 16-1 rout at Milwaukee on August 22, 1997. It also gave Francisco Cordero (1-0) his first major league win after he pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh.
"I can't tell you how excited I am right now," he said. "First time and first win in the big leagues. I came in with the bases loaded, no outs, nobody scored. My team came in in the seventh inning, scored eight runs. I can't tell you how excited I am right now."
Ivan Rodriguez, Rusty Greer and Juan Gonzalez homered for the Rangers, who are 4-4 in their last eight games after winning seven of their previous eight.
"This is just one of those ugly ballgames. We've played probably 132 ballgames, probably played 120 nice ones, 12 like tonight," said Texas manager Johnny Oates. "We had a couple crucial double plays at the wrong time. We didn't make one defensive play, and then once we got into the bullpen we couldn't stop the bleeding."
Detroit has won four of its last five and improved to 4-4 against Texas this year.
Both starting pitchers were long gone by the time this game was decided. Mike Morgan of the Rangers was hammered for the sixth straight start, yielding six runs -- four earned -- and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. Since July 29, the veteran righthander has surrendered 30 earned runs and 48 hits in 25 innings.
"Obviously, I'm not pitching the way I'm capable of pitching," Morgan said. "It's not my stuff. It's not 'cause I'm tired, not 'cause I'm 40 years old. That has nothing to do with it. I still have good stuff, still have a good sinker, good curveball, slider, change. It's just execution. I didn't do my job tonight."
Tigers rookie David Borkowski lasted only two-plus innings after allowing four runs and four hits with four walks.
Higginson's three-run blast, his first home run since July 6, gave Detroit a 3-0 lead in the second. But Texas answered in the third as Rodriguez slugged a two-run shot, his 30th, and Greer followed with a solo blast.
Shortstop Royce Clayton's error enabled two runs to score in the bottom half as the Tigers grabbed a 5-4 lead. Gonzalez reached the 30-homer mark for the sixth time in his career when his two-run blast in the fourth put the Rangers in front, 6-5.
Ausmus tied it in the bottom half with an RBI double.
Gonzalez's bid for a 31st homer was snuffed by Luis Polonia, who leapt at the left-field wall to rob him in the sixth.
"When he got to the dugout, we said, `How'd the midget get up that high?'" Parrish said.
Recap #2
DETROIT (AP) -- Tony Clark wasn't thinking heroic thoughts. He just wanted to keep the inning going.
As it turned out, the inning did keep going, and going and going.
Clark broke a seventh-inning tie with a two-run double and the Detroit Tigers went on to score six more runs in the inning to beat the Texas Rangers 14-6 Tuesday night.
"I got something I could handle," Clark said after getting the key hit off Jeff Zimmerman. "I put a good swing on a ball that was down and in and got it to go."
Zimmerman, the third of five Texas pitchers, had gone in with a 1.16 ERA, lowest in the majors for a reliever. He had gone six straight appearances without allowing a run.
"Obviously, his numbers speak for themselves," Clark said. "He's an outstanding pitcher. So, I wasn't trying to put the ball out, especially with Damion (Easley) hitting behind me, as good as he's been going."
Opponents had been hitting just .122 off Zimmerman, also lowest among major league relievers. But the Tigers tagged him for four runs on four hits and Zimmerman left without getting a single out.
"It's just baseball," Zimmerman said. "I made two bad pitches that were pounded. I made two good pitches that just found holes. I've gotta keep doing what I'm doing."
Ivan Rodriguez, Rusty Greer and Juan Gonzalez homered for the Rangers, who lost for just the fifth time in 16 games.
Bobby Higginson hit a two-run homer for Detroit, which beat Texas for the second straight night.
Detroit rookie Francisco Cordero (1-0) got his first big league win, allowing one hit in his one inning. Cordero has not allowed an earned run in 10 innings.
Danny Kolb (1-1), the second of four Texas pitchers, gave up two runs, despite not giving up a hit over 2 2/3 innings, and took the loss.
Kolb walked Brad Ausmus and Dean Palmer to start the Detroit seventh and was relieved by Zimmerman, who was greeted by Clark's double -- one of seven Detroit doubles -- for an 8-6 lead. The Tigers picked up four more runs in the inning off Zimmerman and two off Jeff Fassero.
"I'm not going to lose any sleep over it," Zimmerman said. "It's just one of those things. I've been getting guys out with bad pitches all year. Tonight, I didn't get away with it. Call it the law of averages, tip your hat to their hitters."
Higginson had an RBI single, Gabe Kapler an RBI double, Karim Garcia a two-run single, and Ausmus a two-run double.
Higginson's homer, his 10th, gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead after two innings.
But the Rangers got to Dave Borkowski for four runs in the third.
Mark McLemore started the scoring with a single and scored on Rodriguez's 30th homer. Greer followed with a solo shot to tie it 3-3, then Borkowski walked Juan Gonzalez and Rafael Palmeiro before being relieved by Willie Blair with no outs.
Royce Clayton's sacrifice fly, following Blair's walk of Lee Stevens, drove in Gonzalez for a 4-3 Texas lead.
But Clayton's two-out error in the bottom of the inning enabled the Tigers to score two unearned runs and regain the lead 5-4. With bases loaded, Clayton fielded Kapler's routine grounder, but the Rangers shortstop dropped the ball as he attempted to tag Higginson for the third out sliding into second. Clark and Easley scored on the play.
"This was just one ugly ballgame," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. "That's all it was."
Texas reclaimed the lead 6-5 on a two-run shot by Gonzalez, his 30th, with two out in the fourth.
But the Tigers tied it 6 on Luis Polonia's triple and Ausmus's RBI double, chasing Texas starter Mike Morgan.
It appeared Gonzalez would break the game open with a three-run homer in the sixth, but the 5-foot-8 Polonia jumped about a foot above the left-field fence to pull the ball back in for the third out.
GAME NOTES: The win evened the season series at 4-4. ... Ausmus drove in his career-high 46th run. ... Higginson's homer was his first since July 6. ... Texas ended August with 55 homers, tying for second-most in major league history in a single month. It was the fifth time it has been done, including Oakland's 55 this August. The big league record is 58 by Baltimore in May of 1987 and Seattle in May of this season. ... Eight runs in the seventh and seven hits both were season-highs for the Tigers. ... There was a pregame salute to the Detroit Lions, who once called Tiger Stadium home. On hand were about 30 Lions players of that era including Lem Barney, Jimmy David, Gil Mains, Dorne Dibble, Leo Sugar and Wally Triplett. ... Richie Garcia, who was scheduled to be umpire at second base, was replaced by Doug Eddings. Garcia was in Philadelphia where umpires are trying to get an injunction to save their jobs.
Photos
(Click on any of them for
a larger image)
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| Umpires Doug Eddings & Laz Diaz | Umpires Mike Reilly & Doug Eddings | Ranger starter Mike Morgan after giving up a home run | Tony Clark & Damion Easley score in the 3rd | Deivi Cruz dives after a Rusty Greer hit ball in the 4th |
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| Juan after being robbed of a home run in the 6th | The Tigers celebrate the win |
Line Score
AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TEXAS 0 0 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 11 1
DETROIT 1 2 2 1 0 0 8 0 x 14 16 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: TEX - MIKE MORGAN, DANNY KOLB (4TH), JEFF ZIMMERMAN
(7TH), JEFF FASSERO (7TH), MIKE VENAFRO (8TH)
AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ
DET - DAVID BORKOWSKI, WILLIE BLAIR (3RD), FRANCISCO
CORDERO (7TH), MATT ANDERSON (8TH) AND BRAD
AUSMUS
WP - FRANCISCO CORDERO (1-0)
LP - DANNY KOLB (1-1)
SAVE - NONE
HOME RUNS: TEX - IVAN RODRIGUEZ (30) OFF BORKOWSKI IN THE 3RD, 1 ON
RUSTY GREER (17) OFF BORKOWSKI IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
JUAN GONZALEZ (30) OFF BLAIR IN THE 4TH, 1 ON
DET - BOBBY HIGGINSON (10) OFF MORGAN IN THE 2ND, 1 ON
TIME: 3:09 ATT: 17,439
PROBABLES: TEX - RICK HELLING (11-7, 4.19)
DET - JEFF WEAVER (8-9, 5.06)
Box Score
TEXAS (6) AT DETROIT (14) - FINAL
TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Mclemore 2b 6 1 2 0 0 0 2 .282
I Rodriguez c 5 1 2 2 0 0 0 .327
Greer lf 4 2 2 1 1 0 1 .300
J Gonzalez rf 3 2 1 2 2 0 1 .309
R Palmeiro dh 3 0 1 0 2 0 2 .337
Zeile 3b 4 0 1 0 1 1 3 .302
L Stevens 1b 3 0 2 0 2 0 0 .290
Clayton ss 2 0 0 1 2 1 5 .264
T Goodwin cf 5 0 0 0 0 1 10 .230
Totals 35 6 11 6 10 3 24
BATTING: 2B - Zeile (37, F Cordero). HR - I Rodriguez (30, 3rd
inning off Borkowski 1 on, 0 out); Greer (17, 3rd inning off
Borkowski 0 on, 0 out); J Gonzalez (30, 4th inning off Blair
1 on, 2 out). SF - Clayton. RBI - I Rodriguez 2 (91), Greer (87),
Clayton (35), J Gonzalez 2 (108). 2-out RBI - J Gonzalez 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Goodwin 3, J
Gonzalez 1, R Palmeiro 1, Mclemore 1. GIDP - Greer, T Goodwin.
Team LOB - 13.
FIELDING: E - Clayton (18, bobble).
DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Polonia lf 4 2 2 0 0 0 1 .327
a-K Bartee ph-cf 2 1 0 0 0 0 5 .208
Ausmus c 4 1 2 3 1 0 0 .280
Palmer 3b 3 1 0 1 1 1 2 .257
To Clark 1b 5 2 2 2 0 2 2 .276
Easley 2b 4 3 3 0 1 0 0 .270
Higginson dh 3 2 2 3 2 0 0 .243
Kapler cf-rf 5 1 2 1 0 0 3 .239
K Garcia rf-lf 5 1 1 2 0 0 5 .227
D Cruz ss 5 0 2 0 0 0 3 .268
Totals 40 14 16 12 5 3 21
a-hit into fielder's choice for Polonia in the 7th.
BATTING: 2B - Polonia (19, Morgan); Easley 2 (28, Morgan,
Venafro); Ausmus 2 (21, Morgan, Fassero); To Clark (20,
Je Zimmerman); Kapler (17, Je Zimmerman). 3B - Polonia (5, Morgan).
HR - Higginson (10, 2nd inning off Morgan 1 on, 0 out).
SF - Palmer. RBI - Palmer (82), Higginson 3 (44), Ausmus 3 (48),
To Clark 2 (77), Kapler (40), K Garcia 2 (21). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - K Garcia 1, To Clark 2, K Bartee 2.
Team LOB - 8.
FIELDING: DP: 2 (Easley-D Cruz-To Clark, F Cordero-Ausmus-To Clark).
TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
Morgan 3 1/3 7 6 4 2 1 1 6.23
Kolb (L, 1-1) 2 2/3 0 2 2 2 0 0 4.24
Je Zimmerman 0 4 4 4 0 0 0 1.63
Fassero 1 3 2 2 0 2 0 7.60
Venafro 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 3.41
DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
Borkowski 2 4 4 4 4 0 2 8.20
Blair 4 5 2 2 1 2 1 6.62
F Cordero (W, 1-0) 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 0.00
M Anderson 2 1 0 0 3 0 0 5.02
Borkowski pitched to 5 batters in the 3rd.
Kolb pitched to 2 batters in the 7th.
Je Zimmerman pitched to 4 batters in the 7th.
IBB - L Stevens (by F Cordero). Pitches-strikes: Borkowski 49-23;
Blair 60-36; F Cordero 17-8; M Anderson 47-23; Morgan 55-29; Kolb 41-24;
Je Zimmerman 16-9; Fassero 19-14; Venafro 25-16. Ground balls-fly
balls: Borkowski 3-3; Blair 7-3; F Cordero 2-0; M Anderson 3-3;
Morgan 8-1; Kolb 5-3; Je Zimmerman 0-0; Fassero 1-0; Venafro 3-0.
Batters faced: Borkowski 14; Blair 17; F Cordero 5; M Anderson 10;
Morgan 20; Kolb 10; Je Zimmerman 4; Fassero 6; Venafro 6.
UMPIRES: HP--Brian Onora. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--Doug Eddings.
3B--Mike Reilly.
T--3:09. Att--17,439. Weather: 76 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph,
in from right.
AL TEXAS AT DETROIT
NOTE: DOUG EDDINGS HAS REPLACED RICH GARCIA AS THE SECOND BASE
UMPIRE. NO REASON WAS GIVEN FOR THE CHANGE.
AL TEXAS AT DETROIT
NOTE: THE HOME RUNS BY TEXAS' IVAN RODRIGUEZ AND RUSTY GREER IN
THE THIRD INNING WERE BACK-TO-BACK.
AL TEXAS AT DETROIT
NOTE: THE SINGLE BY TONY CLARK IN THE THIRD INNING EXTENDED HIS
HITTING STREAK TO 10 GAMES.
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, Mike Morgan RHP.
Detroit Starting Lineups -- Luis Polonia LF, Brad Ausmus C, Dean Palmer 3B, Tony Clark 1B, Damion Easley 2B, Bobby Higginson DH, Gabe Kapler CF, Karim Garcia RF, Deivi Cruz SS, David Borkowski RHP.
Umpires -- Onora (HP), Diaz (1B), Eddings (2B), Reilly (3B).
Gametime Weather: 76 degrees, Clear, wind in from right at 9 mph.
TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore flied out to left. I Rodriguez grounded out to second. Greer grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 0.
DETROIT 1ST: Polonia doubled to left. Ausmus grounded out to second, Polonia to third. Palmer hit sacrifice fly to center, Polonia scored. To Clark struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 1.
TEXAS 2ND: J Gonzalez flied out to left. R Palmeiro popped out to shallow center. Zeile walked. L Stevens singled to center, Zeile to third. Clayton walked, L Stevens to second. T Goodwin grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 1.
DETROIT 2ND: Easley walked. Higginson homered to right, Easley scored. Kapler grounded out to first. K Garcia grounded out to shortstop. D Cruz reached on infield single. Polonia grounded out to second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 3.
TEXAS 3RD: Mclemore singled to center. I Rodriguez homered to left, Mclemore scored. Greer homered to right. J Gonzalez walked. R Palmeiro walked, J Gonzalez to second. Willie Blair relieved David Borkowski. Zeile struck out swinging. L Stevens walked, J Gonzalez to third, R Palmeiro to second. Clayton hit sacrifice fly to right, J Gonzalez scored. T Goodwin struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, DETROIT 3.
DETROIT 3RD: Ausmus grounded out to third. Palmer grounded out to third. To Clark singled to left center. Easley doubled to shallow right, To Clark to third. Higginson walked. Kapler grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, To Clark and Easley scored, Higginson safe at second on shortstop Clayton's fielding error. K Garcia grounded out to second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 4, DETROIT 5.
TEXAS 4TH: Mclemore grounded out to second. I Rodriguez grounded out to second. Greer singled to left. J Gonzalez homered to center, Greer scored. R Palmeiro singled to right. Zeile grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, R Palmeiro out at second. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 5.
DETROIT 4TH: D Cruz grounded out to third. Polonia tripled to deep right center. Ausmus doubled to deep right center, Polonia scored. Danny Kolb relieved Mike Morgan. Palmer grounded out to shortstop. To Clark lined out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 6.
TEXAS 5TH: L Stevens grounded out to second. Clayton grounded out to first. T Goodwin lined out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 6.
DETROIT 5TH: Easley grounded out to shortstop. Higginson grounded out to pitcher. Kapler grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 6.
TEXAS 6TH: Mclemore singled to center. I Rodriguez reached on infield single, Mclemore to second. Greer grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, I Rodriguez out at second, Mclemore to third. J Gonzalez flied out to deep left. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 6.
DETROIT 6TH: K Garcia flied out to left. D Cruz grounded out to pitcher. Polonia flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 6.
TEXAS 7TH: Francisco Cordero relieved Willie Blair. R Palmeiro walked. Zeile doubled to deep right center, R Palmeiro to third. L Stevens intentionally walked. Clayton struck out looking. T Goodwin grounded into double play, pitcher to catcher to first, R Palmeiro out at home. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 6.
DETROIT 7TH: Ausmus walked. Palmer walked, Ausmus to second. Jeff Zimmerman relieved Danny Kolb. To Clark doubled to deep right, Ausmus and Palmer scored. Easley reached on infield single, To Clark to third. Higginson singled to right, To Clark scored, Easley to third. Kapler doubled to left, Easley scored, Higginson to third. Jeff Fassero relieved Jeff Zimmerman. K Garcia singled to right, Higginson and Kapler scored. D Cruz singled to left, K Garcia to second. K Bartee hit for Polonia. K Bartee grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, K Garcia to third, D Cruz out at second. Ausmus doubled to left, K Garcia and K Bartee scored. Palmer struck out swinging. To Clark struck out swinging. (8 Runs, 7 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 14.
TEXAS 8TH: Matt Anderson relieved Francisco Cordero. K Garcia in left. K Bartee in center. Kapler in right. Mclemore grounded out to second. I Rodriguez grounded out to second. Greer walked. Greer to second on fielder indifference. J Gonzalez walked. R Palmeiro flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 14.
DETROIT 8TH: Mike Venafro relieved Jeff Fassero. Easley doubled to left. Higginson walked. Kapler singled to left, Easley to third, Higginson to second. K Garcia grounded into fielder's choice to third, Higginson to third, Kapler to second, Easley out at home. D Cruz grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, Kapler to third, K Garcia to second, Higginson out at home. K Bartee grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 14.
TEXAS 9TH: Zeile flied out to center. L Stevens singled to center. Clayton walked, L Stevens to second. T Goodwin lined out to center. Mclemore grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 14.