Game
134: Sep 1, 1999 (W: 14-7)[ Previous Game | Next Game ]
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Game
134: Sep 1, 1999 (W: 14-7)
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TX Rangers Media Notes |
My
Commentary
Much better - this is what we should be doing to the Tigers. The power
stroke was working for us today. Gregg Zaun hit his first
"official" home run as a Ranger, too (not counting his "called
shot"). Not going to say much about this one, don't have time.
-- Joe Siegler
Game Recap
DETROIT (TICKER) -- The Texas Rangers did not miss a beat after setting a club record for home runs in August.
Juan Gonzalez and Luis Alicea hit solo shots and Gregg Zaun added a three-run blast as the Rangers avoided an embarrassing third straight loss with a 14-7 rout of the Detroit Tigers.
Although separated 25 games, the fourth-place Tigers took the first two contests from the first-place Rangers. But Texas broke open a tight game by scoring eight times in the final two innings.
Rusty Greer was the only Ranger without an RBI and Royce Clayton was the only one without a hit as Texas collected 15 hits off three pitchers.
"There's a great deal of confidence on our ballclub in the way they can score runs," said Texas manager Johnny Oates. "We felt that if we could keep it close, we would have a chance to win. We did stay close, we were able to get the lead and then we were able to put it away in the ninth."
The American League West leaders smacked a club-record 55 home runs last month and Gonzalez kept up the pace in the fifth inning. His 31st homer came off rookie starter Jeff Weaver (8-10) and lifted Texas into a 5-5 tie.
Alicea's third of the season came off reliever Doug Brocail and extended the lead to 7-5. Zaun capped Texas' six-run ninth with his first home run since August 3, 1998.
"It's nice to play and it's even nice to be a contributor to a winning ballgame," Zaun said.
Rick Helling (12-7) benefited from the power display and won his sixth straight decision. In his worst outing in nearly two months, he surrendered six runs and eight hits in seven-plus innings with a walk and seven strikeouts.
"I think (Oates) saw on the bench what I felt like on the mound. I was really pitching pretty well," Helling said. "I just made some mistakes and they got hit out of the park. That's gonna happen. It's not like I was out there struggling. I felt great out there."
Tim Crabtree retired one batter before John Wetteland bailed him out and got the last five outs for his 37th save in 44 chances.
Dean Palmer put the Tigers ahead in the first with a solo shot, becoming the first AL third baseman to record consecutive 30-homer seasons since Gary Gaetti with Minnesota in 1986-87.
Karim Garcia's sacrifice fly made it 2-0 in the second and Tony Clark and Damion Easley hit back-to-back homers in the third to stretch Detroit's lead to 5-1.
But the Rangers answered quickly, getting three runs in the fourth. Gonzalez and Rafael Palmeiro started the inning with doubles and Clayton drew a two-out walk before Tom Goodwin came through with a two-run single.
Gonzalez homered in the fifth and Texas grabbed the lead one inning later on an RBI triple by Goodwin, who entered the game in a 2-for-21 funk.
"It's too bad because we put runs on the scoreboard early," said Weaver, who was reached for six runs and nine hits in six innings. "I usually know how to handle a lead, but tonight I just didn't do my job. I just got balls up. It's easy to fix, but I blew my opportunity in this game to help us win tonight. Two-out runs killed me, and Royce Clayton killed me. And he's a guy I should get out every time."
Alicea homered to lead off the eighth and Mark McLemore had an RBI single later in the inning for an 8-5 cushion.
The Tigers got back a run in the bottom half on Gabe Kapler's sacrifice fly but left runners at first and second as pinch-hitter Frank Catalanotto flied out against Wetteland.
Zaun's three-run homer capped the ninth-inning explosion that was aided by Palmer's throwing error.
"There was a momentum shift in the middle of the game. I think our hitters went flat for a couple of innings while their guys picked it up," Detroit manager Larry Parrish said. "Give Texas credit, that's a good offensive ballclub. If we could've just held it to two runs going to the ninth, we might have made it interesting."
Recap #2
DETROIT (AP) -- Texas right-hander Rick Helling was getting knocked around. Still, he knew he wouldn't get the hook because the Rangers' bullpen was just about wiped out.
Helling also knew he had good stuff. He just needed to pitch better, and he did, holding off Detroit until the Texas offense came around for a 14-7 victory over the Tigers on Wednesday night.
"Whew!" Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "We didn't have a long relief man tonight. I was glad to see our offense come alive, but the key to me was Rick getting past the fifth inning, because we were short of pitchers."
Juan Gonzalez, Luis Alicea and Gregg Zaun homered to help Helling stretch his winning streak to six decisions.
Dean Palmer, Tony Clark and Damion Easley homered for Detroit.
Helling (12-7) was in trouble early, falling behind 5-1 after three innings. But he allowed just two hits over the next four innings, retiring the Tigers in order in the fifth and sixth.
"Even in the early innings, I felt good," Helling said. "I told myself to stay with it and maybe I'd quit making mistakes -- or maybe they'd quit hitting my mistakes."
Over his seven-plus innings, Helling allowed six runs and eight hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
"I wasn't struggling," Helling said. "It wasn't like I was getting singled to death. It's just that every time I made a mistake they were unloading on it."
John Wetteland got the last five outs for his 37th save in 44 opportunities.
Helling, who was relieved by Tim Crabtree after Palmer's single leading off the eighth, hasn't lost since June 21 at Boston, going 6-0 with seven no-decisions over his last 13 starts.
"Rick changed some things around," Clark said. "He started throwing more breaking balls, and kept it away from the middle of the plate."
Detroit starter Jeff Weaver (8-10) was tagged for six runs and nine hits with one walk and four strikeouts in six innings.
Tom Goodwin's triple broke a tie, driving in Royce Clayton for a 6-5 Texas lead in the sixth.
Palmer's 30th homer gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the first and Detroit went up 2-0 in the second when Easley, who had singled, scored on Karim Garcia's sacrifice fly.
Goodwin, who doubled, scored on Mark McLemore's RBI single to make it 2-1.
A two-run homer by Clark, followed by Easley's solo shot gave Detroit a 5-1 lead in their half of the third, but the Rangers drew within one again with a three-run fourth.
Rafael Palmeiro had an RBI double while Zaun and Goodwin each had RBI singles in the Rangers' outburst. Gonzalez tied it at 5 in the fifth with his 31st homer, a solo shot off the facing of the second deck in left.
Alicea hit a solo homer off Doug Brocail and McLemore had an RBI single to make it 8-5 in the eighth.
"When you play a club like Texas, you know you aren't going to be in too many low-scoring ballgames," Clark said. "They brought it to us tonight."
The Rangers touched reliever Maseo Kida for six runs in the ninth, three on Zaun's first home run of the year.
GAME NOTES: Palmer is the first AL third baseman since Gary Gaetti in 1986 and 1987 to hit 30 homers in successive seasons. ... Scarborough Green, recalled from the Rangers' Triple-A Oklahoma farm club, was in uniform for the game. This is Green's fourth stint with Texas this season. He had one hit in three at-bats during his other visits. ... Weaver, the Tigers' No. 1 draft pick in 1998, is six strikeouts shy of Detroit's club record for a rookie right-hander. Hookey Dauss had 107 in 1913. . ... Easley has homered in four of his past six games, hitting five over that span. He extended his hitting streak to a season-high seven games. ... Zaun tied his career-best with four RBIs, accomplished last Aug. 3, 1998, against Houston.
Photos
(Click on any of them for
a larger image)
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| Umpire Mike Reilly in the dugout before the game. | Umpires Doug Eddings & Laz Diaz | Umpire Laz Diaz | Deivi Cruz watches a foul ball with umpire Mike Reilly in the background | Deano gets congrats for his 1st inning home run... |
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| ...but then commits a couple of errors later in the game. | Juan gets congrats from Jerry Narron for his 5th inning home run. | An "artsy" shot of Mark McLemore | Masado Kida after giving up a 3 run home run to Gregg Zaun |
Line Score
AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TEXAS 0 0 1 3 1 1 0 2 6 14 15 1
DETROIT 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 7 12 2 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: TEX - RICK HELLING, TIM CRABTREE (8TH), JOHN
WETTELAND (8TH) AND GREGG ZAUN
DET - JEFF WEAVER, DOUG BROCAIL (7TH), MASAO KIDA
(9TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS
WP - RICK HELLING (12-7)
LP - JEFF WEAVER (8-10)
SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (37)
HOME RUNS: TEX - JUAN GONZALEZ (31) OFF J WEAVER IN THE 5TH, 0 ON
LUIS ALICEA (3) OFF BROCAIL IN THE 8TH, 0 ON
GREGG ZAUN (1) OFF KIDA IN THE 9TH, 2 ON
DET - DEAN PALMER (30) OFF HELLING IN THE 1ST, 0 ON
TONY CLARK (24) OFF HELLING IN THE 3RD, 1 ON
DAMION EASLEY (19) OFF HELLING IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
TIME: 3:09 ATT: 18,544
PROBABLES: TEX - AARON SELE (15-7, 4.95)
DET - DAVE MLICKI (10-10, 4.73)
Box Score
TEXAS (14) AT DETROIT (7) - FINAL
TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Goodwin cf 6 1 3 2 0 2 1 .235
Mclemore 2b 6 0 2 2 0 0 3 .282
Greer lf 5 1 1 0 0 0 1 .299
J Gonzalez rf 5 3 3 1 0 2 0 .312
R Palmeiro 1b 4 2 2 1 1 0 0 .338
L Stevens dh 4 1 1 1 1 1 2 .290
Alicea 3b 5 2 1 2 0 1 4 .190
Clayton ss 1 3 0 1 2 0 1 .263
Zaun c 4 1 2 4 0 0 1 .235
Totals 40 14 15 14 4 6 13
BATTING: 2B - L Stevens (25, J Weaver); T Goodwin (10, J Weaver);
J Gonzalez (27, J Weaver); R Palmeiro (25, J Weaver). 3B - T Goodwin
(5, J Weaver). HR - J Gonzalez (31, 5th inning off J Weaver 0 on,
1 out); Alicea (3, 8th inning off Brocail 0 on, 0 out); Zaun
(1, 9th inning off Kida 2 on, 1 out). S - Zaun. SF - Clayton.
RBI - Mclemore 2 (38), R Palmeiro (128), Zaun 4 (12), T Goodwin 2 (21),
J Gonzalez (109), Alicea 2 (16), L Stevens (73), Clayton (36).
2-out RBI - Mclemore 2, Zaun, T Goodwin 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - Alicea 1, Mclemore 2. Team LOB - 6.
BASERUNNING: CS - Mclemore (8, 2nd base by Brocail/Ausmus).
FIELDING: E - Greer (5, bobble).
DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
Polonia lf-rf 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 .320
Ausmus c 4 1 1 0 1 1 1 .280
Palmer 3b 5 2 3 2 0 1 1 .261
To Clark 1b 5 1 2 2 0 3 2 .278
Easley 2b 5 2 2 1 0 2 4 .271
Higginson dh 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .244
Nitkowski pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Kapler cf-rf-cf 3 0 0 1 0 1 4 .237
K Garcia rf 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .230
K Bartee pr-cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208
a-Catalanotto ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .285
J Encarnacion lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
D Cruz ss 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 .270
Totals 37 7 12 7 2 9 18
a-flied to center for K Bartee in the 8th.
BATTING: HR - Palmer (30, 1st inning off Helling 0 on, 2 out);
To Clark (24, 3rd inning off Helling 1 on, 2 out); Easley (19, 3rd inning
off Helling 0 on, 2 out). SF - K Garcia, Kapler. RBI - Palmer 2 (84),
K Garcia (22), To Clark 2 (79), Easley (60), Kapler (41). 2-out RBI -
Palmer, To Clark 2, Easley. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
Polonia 1, Ausmus 1, Catalanotto 1, Easley 1. Team LOB - 7.
BASERUNNING: SB - Easley (10, 2nd base off Helling/Zaun);
Ausmus (9, 2nd base off Helling/Zaun).
FIELDING: E - Palmer 2 (17, throw, bobble).
--------------------------------------------------
Texas - 001 311 026 -- 14
Detroit - 113 000 011 -- 7
--------------------------------------------------
TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
Helling (W, 12-7) 7 8 6 6 1 7 3 4.32
Crabtree (H, 15) 1/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.65
Wetteland (S, 37) 1 2/3 3 1 1 0 1 0 4.09
DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Weaver (L, 8-10) 6 9 6 6 1 4 1 5.23
Brocail 2 3 2 2 1 2 1 2.80
Kida 1 3 6 5 2 0 1 5.81
Helling pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.
IBB - R Palmeiro (by Kida). HBP - Clayton (by J Weaver).
Pitches-strikes: J Weaver 101-67; Brocail 31-19; Kida 25-13;
Helling 108-70; Crabtree 16-8; Wetteland 27-20. Ground balls-
fly balls: J Weaver 7-7; Brocail 3-0; Kida 1-2; Helling 6-8;
Crabtree 0-0; Wetteland 0-4. Batters faced: J Weaver 29; Brocail 9;
Kida 9; Helling 30; Crabtree 3; Wetteland 8.
UMPIRES: HP--Laz Diaz. 1B--Doug Eddings. 2B--Mike Reilly.
3B--Brian Onora.
T--3:09. Att--18,544. Weather: 81 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph,
out to left.
AL TEXAS AT DETROIT
NOTE: THE HOME RUNS BY DETROIT'S TONY CLARK AND DAMION EASLEY
IN THE BOTTOM OF THE THIRD INNING WERE HIT BACK-TO-BACK.
THE HOMER BY CLARK EXTENDED HIS HITTING STREAK TO 11
GAMES.
Texas Starting Lineups -- Tom Goodwin CF, Mark Mclemore 2B, Rusty Greer LF, Juan Gonzalez RF, Rafael Palmeiro 1B, Lee Stevens DH, Luis Alicea 3B, Royce Clayton SS, Gregg Zaun C, Rick Helling 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, Jeff Weaver RHP.
Umpires -- Diaz (HP), Eddings (1B), Reilly (2B), Onora (3B).
Gametime Weather: 81 degrees, Clear, wind out to left at 8 mph.
TEXAS 1ST: T Goodwin struck out looking. Mclemore grounded out to shortstop. Greer flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 0.
DETROIT 1ST: Polonia fouled out to left. Ausmus struck out swinging. Palmer homered to left center. To Clark struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 1.
TEXAS 2ND: J Gonzalez struck out swinging. R Palmeiro grounded out to second. L Stevens doubled to left. Alicea struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 1.
DETROIT 2ND: Easley singled to left. Easley stole second. Higginson singled to right, Easley to third. Kapler struck out swinging. K Garcia hit sacrifice fly to center, Easley scored. D Cruz struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, DETROIT 2.
TEXAS 3RD: Clayton flied out to left. Zaun grounded out to first. T Goodwin doubled to right. Mclemore singled to center, T Goodwin scored. Greer grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, DETROIT 2.
DETROIT 3RD: Polonia popped out to shallow center. Ausmus walked. Ausmus stole second. Palmer grounded out to shortstop. To Clark homered to right center, Ausmus scored. Easley homered to left. Higginson grounded out to second. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, DETROIT 5.
TEXAS 4TH: J Gonzalez doubled to left. R Palmeiro doubled to right center, J Gonzalez scored. L Stevens struck out swinging. Alicea grounded out to first, R Palmeiro to third. Clayton walked. Zaun singled to left, R Palmeiro scored, Clayton to second. T Goodwin singled to right center, Clayton scored, Zaun to third. Mclemore flied out to left. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, DETROIT 5.
DETROIT 4TH: Kapler popped out to third. K Garcia flied out to left. D Cruz singled to left. D Cruz to second on left fielder Greer's fielding error. Polonia flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) TEXAS 4, DETROIT 5.
TEXAS 5TH: Greer popped out to shallow left. J Gonzalez homered to left. R Palmeiro flied out to left. L Stevens grounded out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, DETROIT 5.
DETROIT 5TH: Ausmus flied out to center. Palmer struck out swinging. To Clark struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, DETROIT 5.
TEXAS 6TH: Alicea fouled out to left. Clayton hit by pitch. Zaun flied out to left. T Goodwin tripled to right center, Clayton scored. Mclemore grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 5.
DETROIT 6TH: Easley struck out looking. Higginson grounded out to second. Kapler grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 5.
TEXAS 7TH: Doug Brocail relieved Jeff Weaver. Greer grounded out to first. J Gonzalez struck out swinging. R Palmeiro singled to right. L Stevens grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 5.
DETROIT 7TH: K Garcia singled to center. K Bartee ran for K Garcia. D Cruz grounded out to shortstop, K Bartee to second. Polonia grounded out to second, K Bartee to third. Ausmus flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, DETROIT 5.
TEXAS 8TH: K Bartee in center. Kapler in right. Alicea homered to right. Clayton walked. Zaun sacrificed Clayton to second. T Goodwin struck out swinging. Mclemore singled to right, Clayton scored. Mclemore caught stealing, catcher to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 8, DETROIT 5.
DETROIT 8TH: Palmer singled to right. Tim Crabtree relieved Rick Helling. To Clark singled to right, Palmer to second. Easley struck out swinging. Higginson walked, Palmer to third, To Clark to second. Nitkowski ran for Higginson. John Wetteland relieved Tim Crabtree. Kapler hit sacrifice fly to center, Palmer scored. Catalanotto hit for K Bartee. Catalanotto flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 8, DETROIT 6.
TEXAS 9TH: Masao Kida relieved Doug Brocail. Kapler in center. Polonia in right. J Encarnacion in left. Greer singled to left. J Gonzalez reached on infield single, Greer to second. Greer to third, J Gonzalez to second on 3rd baseman Palmer's throwing error. R Palmeiro intentionally walked. L Stevens walked, Greer scored, J Gonzalez to third, R Palmeiro to second. Alicea safe at first on 3rd baseman Palmer's fielding error, J Gonzalez scored, R Palmeiro to third, L Stevens to second. Clayton hit sacrifice fly to center, R Palmeiro scored, L Stevens to third. Zaun homered to right, L Stevens and Alicea scored. T Goodwin grounded out to first. Mclemore flied out to right. (6 Runs, 3 Hits, 2 Errors) TEXAS 14, DETROIT 6.
DETROIT 9TH: D Cruz singled to center. Polonia flied out to center. Ausmus singled to center, D Cruz to second. Palmer singled to right, D Cruz scored, Ausmus to third. To Clark struck out looking. Easley flied out to left. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 14, DETROIT 7.