Game 139: Sep 6, 1999 (W: 6-3)
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My Commentary

I have to say, I wasn't a big fan of Jeff Fassero coming here.  And I suppose I'm still not.  But, after last night, he didn't seem any worse than some of the pitching we've thrown out there.  Plus he's a lefty, so I guess that can help.   Jeff went 5 innings, giving up 6 hits and two earned runs.  Not all that bad, really.  He wasn't pitching poorly when he was pulled, so I was surprised that he was.  Read this morning in the DMN that Johnny Oates had him on a pitch count total, which was the reason he came out when he did.

Danny Kolb came on to relieve Fassero, and gave up just about as much as Fassero did, but in only 2/3 of an inning - not a good outing here.  After him came the forgotten man in the bullpen, Mike Muņoz.  Mike pitched very well, going 1 2/3, giving up just one hit, and nothing else.  Tim Crabtree also pitched, giving up nothing, and Wetteland got his second save of the day (For some reason, the box score doesn't list Wetteland as having pitched).  Overall a decently pitched (if not great) game by the Rangers.   Was a little surprised by Fassero, but given his history in '99, I'll save my excitement for later - like a shutout against the Yankees in the playoffs.  :)  

Our offense this game came from the longball.  A three run shot by Rusty in the third gave us the lead, and a huge shot by Juan with Rusty on in the 5th was all we needed.  There was another one in between these runs (a sac fly in the 4th), but game two seemed to be long ball offense.  Was nice to see Rusty get another, and Juan to hit one instead of his usual swing and miss on a slider low and away. :)

A long night of watching baseball - was slightly over 6.5 hours.  I would have sat through it at the Ballpark, but hey, I don't want to torture my wife that much.  It was enough she watched through most of it with me on TV.  She's great.  :)

-- Joe Siegler

Game Recap

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) -- Jeff Fassero won his first start in a Texas uniform and Rusty Greer smacked a three-run homer as the Rangers completed a doubleheader sweep of the Chicago White Sox with a 6-3 victory.

Acquired from the Seattle Mariners in August, Fassero (5-14) made two ineffective relief appearances for his new team. But the lefthander looked nothing like the pitcher tied for the league lead in losses as he allowed two runs and six hits in five-plus innings, walking two and striking out two to stop a personal six-game losing streak. It was his first win since July 5.

"Coming here is the best thing that could've happened," Fassero said. "This team has been strong all year and Seattle has struggled some. I'm happy to get the opportunity to start, and the chance to go the playoffs is a bonus."

Fassero had dropped his previous two starts against the White Sox this season, surrendering nine runs and 16 hits in 13 innings.

"I knew I was going to be on a pitch count but I didn't know how many," said Fassero, who threw 66 pitches. "I was pretty much able to keep the ball down and get ground balls. I wanted to get out of the fifth inning because I knew I would be on that pitch count."

Rookie Danny Kolb allowed one run while retiring two batters and Mike Munoz and Tim Crabtree combined for two scoreless innings to follow Fassero.

John Wetteland allowed a hit in the ninth before picking up his major league-leading 39th save in 46 chances. He also saved the Rangers' 8-6 victory in the opener.

Greer's 19th homer and sixth this season against the White Sox put the Rangers ahead for good, 3-1, in the third. Juan Gonzalez belted his 33rd homer two innings later for a five-run cushion.

"We've got some clutch hitters," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. "We're right there with Cleveland in batting average. We have five guys with a shot at 100 RBI. We're an impressive lineup when healthy."

The sweep was a measure of revenge for Texas, which dropped both ends of a doubleheader on August 13 at Comiskey Park.

White Sox starter John Snyder (9-11) suffered his fifth straight loss. He was ripped for six runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings, walking three without a strikeout.

Magglio Ordonez had three hits and Brook Fordyce drove in two runs for Chicago, which has dropped 10 of its last 12 games.

"I think our guys we have out there now are playing good," White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said. "We're just outmatched right now."

Fassero worked his way out of trouble in the first but was not as fortunate two innings later. Mike Caruso led off with a single and came home two outs later on Ordonez's double. Ordonez has knocked in 108 runs which ties him for fifth in the American League.

Texas took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning. Gregg Zaun drew a one-out walk and Tom Goodwin reached on an infield hit. After Mark McLemore grounded out, Greer launched a 1-1 pitch over the right-field wall to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead.

Snyders struggles continued in the next frame. Lee Stevens led off with a single, was sacrificed to second and scored on Zaun's run-scoring hit.

Another leadoff baserunner in the next inning led to some more trouble for the White Sox starter. Greer walked and Gonzalez followed with his homer for a 6-1 advantage.

Fordyce's two-run single in the sixth closed the scoring. Rookie Carlos Lee had a single earlier in the inning, extending his hitting streak to 15 games.

Recap #2

Not available. 

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

Ranger starter Jeff Fassero	Paul Konerko getting tired	Mac turns a double play - one of several this game	Royce Clayton makes a really awesome catch to end the 3rd inning	The throw to Royce bounces off Brook Fordyce's head

Box Score

Line Score
AL  FINAL   (2ND GAME)
                    1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9     R  H  E
                    -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -     -  -  -
CHI WHITE SOX       0  0  1   0  0  2   0  0  0     3 12  0
TEXAS               0  0  3   1  2  0   0  0  x     6  8  0   (FINAL)

BATTERIES:  CHA - JOHN SNYDER, CARLOS CASTILLO (5TH), JESUS PENA
                  (6TH), KEITH FOULKE (7TH) AND BROOK FORDYCE
            TEX - JEFF FASSERO, DANNY KOLB (6TH), MIKE MUNOZ
                  (6TH), TIM CRABTREE (8TH), JOHN WETTELAND
                  (9TH) AND GREGG ZAUN

             WP - JEFF FASSERO (5-14)
             LP - JOHN SNYDER (9-11)
           SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (39)

HOME RUNS:  CHA - NONE
            TEX - RUSTY GREER (19) OFF SNYDER IN THE 3RD, 2 ON
                  JUAN GONZALEZ (33) OFF SNYDER IN THE 5TH, 1 ON

     TIME:  2:56     ATT:  31,443

PROBABLES:  CHA - MIKE SIROTKA (8-12, 3.94)
            ANA - BRIAN COOPER (NR)

            CLE - CHARLES NAGY (15-9, 4.59)
            TEX - AARON SELE (15-7, 4.97)

Box Score
CHI WHITE SOX (3) AT TEXAS (6) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS (2ND GAME)

CHI WHITE SOX          ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
M Caruso ss             3  1  2  0   1  1   3  .261
L Rodriguez 2b          3  0  0  0   0  0   2  .234
Ca Lee dh               4  1  1  0   0  2   2  .313
M Ordonez rf            4  1  3  1   0  0   0  .305
Konerko 1b              3  0  0  0   1  1   3  .293
D Jackson lf            4  0  1  0   0  0   3  .276
B Fordyce c             4  0  2  2   0  0   1  .298
Br Simmons cf           4  0  1  0   0  0   2  .235
C Wilson 3b             3  0  1  0   0  0   0  .232

Totals                 32  3 11  3   2  4  16

BATTING: 2B - M Ordonez (30, Fassero). S - L Rodriguez. RBI - M
Ordonez (108), B Fordyce 2 (38). 2-out RBI - M Ordonez, B
Fordyce 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Jackson
2, Konerko 1, M Caruso 2. GIDP - Br Simmons, L Rodriguez.  Team
LOB - 8.

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
T Goodwin cf            3  1  1  1   0  1   1  .244
Mclemore 2b             5  0  0  0   0  0   1  .280
Greer lf                2  2  2  3   2  0   0  .303
J Gonzalez rf           3  1  1  2   1  0   3  .309
R Palmeiro dh           4  0  1  0   0  0   0  .337
Zeile 3b                4  0  1  0   0  0   2  .301
L Stevens 1b            3  1  1  0   1  0   1  .289
Clayton ss              3  0  0  0   0  1   2  .269
Zaun c                  2  1  1  0   2  0   0  .241

Totals                 29  6  8  6   6  2  10

BATTING: 2B - R Palmeiro (26, Snyder); Zeile (38, Snyder). HR -
Greer (19, 3rd inning off Snyder 2 on, 2 out); J Gonzalez (33,
5th inning off Snyder 1 on, 0 out). S - Clayton, T Goodwin. SF -
T Goodwin. RBI - Greer 3 (93), T Goodwin (22), J Gonzalez 2
(113). 2-out RBI - Greer 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - Zeile 2, Clayton 1, J Gonzalez 1.  Team LOB - 8.

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

CHI WHITE SOX                ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Snyder                        4 1/3   8   6   6   3   0   2   6.82
C Castillo                      2/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   6.39
J Pena                        1 2/3   0   0   0   3   0   0   2.03
Foulke                        1 1/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   2.41

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Fassero                       5       6   2   2   2   2   0   7.46
Kolb                            2/3   4   1   1   0   1   0   4.38
M Munoz                       1 2/3   1   0   0   0   1   0   3.70
Crabtree                        2/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   3.27

Fassero pitched to 1 batter in the 6th.

Pitches-strikes: Fassero 66-38; Kolb 23-15; M Munoz 25-18;
Crabtree 8-6; Snyder 92-59; C Castillo 8-5; J Pena 31-16; Foulke
10-9.  Ground balls-fly balls: Fassero 9-4; Kolb 1-0; M Munoz
3-1; Crabtree 2-0; Snyder 6-7; C Castillo 0-1; J Pena 3-2;
Foulke 1-2.  Batters faced: Fassero 21; Kolb 6; M Munoz 6;
Crabtree 2; Snyder 24; C Castillo 2; J Pena 8; Foulke 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Mike Dimuro. 1B--Terry Craft. 3B--Tim Welke.
Weather: 83 degrees, partly cloudy.   Wind: 10 mph, right to
left.

Game Log

Chi White Sox Starting Lineups -- Mike Caruso SS, Liu Rodriguez 2B, Carlos Lee DH, Magglio Ordonez RF, Paul Konerko 1B, Darrin Jackson LF, Brook Fordyce C, Brian Simmons CF, Craig Wilson 3B, John Snyder RHP.

Texas Starting Lineups -- Tom Goodwin CF, Mark Mclemore 2B, Rusty Greer LF, Juan Gonzalez RF, Rafael Palmeiro DH, Todd Zeile 3B, Lee Stevens 1B, Royce Clayton SS, Gregg Zaun C, Jeff Fassero LHP.

Umpires -- M Dimuro (HP), T Craft (1B), T Welke (3B).

Gametime Weather: 83 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind right to left at 10 mph.

CHI WHITE SOX 1ST: M Caruso singled to right. L Rodriguez flied out to left. Ca Lee struck out swinging. M Ordonez singled to right center, M Caruso to third. Konerko walked, M Ordonez to second. D Jackson grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Konerko out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: T Goodwin grounded out to third. Mclemore grounded out to first. Greer singled to center. J Gonzalez popped out to shallow right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 0, TEXAS 0.

CHI WHITE SOX 2ND: B Fordyce singled to center. Br Simmons grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, B Fordyce out at second. C Wilson grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 2ND: R Palmeiro popped out to shortstop. Zeile flied out to right. L Stevens grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 0, TEXAS 0.

CHI WHITE SOX 3RD: M Caruso singled to center. L Rodriguez sacrificed M Caruso to second. Ca Lee struck out swinging. M Ordonez doubled to right, M Caruso scored. Konerko lined out to shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 1, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 3RD: Clayton grounded out to pitcher. Zaun walked. T Goodwin reached on infield single, Zaun to second. Mclemore grounded out to first, Zaun to third, T Goodwin to second. Greer homered to right, Zaun and T Goodwin scored. J Gonzalez walked. R Palmeiro doubled to right, J Gonzalez to third. Zeile flied out to center. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 1, TEXAS 3.

CHI WHITE SOX 4TH: D Jackson grounded out to shortstop. B Fordyce lined out to right. Br Simmons popped out to shallow right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 1, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 4TH: L Stevens singled to left. Clayton sacrificed L Stevens to second. Zaun singled to right, L Stevens to third. T Goodwin hit sacrifice fly to right, L Stevens scored. Mclemore popped out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 1, TEXAS 4.

CHI WHITE SOX 5TH: C Wilson grounded out to shortstop. M Caruso walked. L Rodriguez grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, M Caruso out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 1, TEXAS 4.

TEXAS 5TH: Greer walked. J Gonzalez homered to left, Greer scored. R Palmeiro flied out to deep left. Zeile doubled to center. Carlos Castillo relieved John Snyder. L Stevens flied out to center. Clayton struck out looking. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 1, TEXAS 6.

CHI WHITE SOX 6TH: Ca Lee singled to left. Danny Kolb relieved Jeff Fassero. M Ordonez singled to right, Ca Lee to second. Konerko struck out swinging. D Jackson grounded out to shortstop, Ca Lee to third, M Ordonez to second. B Fordyce singled to center, Ca Lee and M Ordonez scored. Br Simmons singled to center, B Fordyce to second. C Wilson singled to right, B Fordyce to third, Br Simmons to second. Mike Munoz relieved Danny Kolb. M Caruso struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 3, TEXAS 6.

TEXAS 6TH: Jesus Pena relieved Carlos Castillo. Zaun walked. T Goodwin sacrificed Zaun to second. Mclemore grounded out to shortstop, Zaun to third. Greer walked. J Gonzalez flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 3, TEXAS 6.

CHI WHITE SOX 7TH: L Rodriguez grounded out to first. Ca Lee flied out to right. M Ordonez grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 3, TEXAS 6.

TEXAS 7TH: R Palmeiro flied out to left. Zeile grounded out to third. L Stevens walked. Keith Foulke relieved Jesus Pena. Clayton grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 3, TEXAS 6.

CHI WHITE SOX 8TH: Konerko grounded out to third. D Jackson reached on bunt single to pitcher. Tim Crabtree relieved Mike Munoz. B Fordyce grounded into fielder's choice to second, D Jackson out at second. Br Simmons grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 3, TEXAS 6.

TEXAS 8TH: Zaun fouled out to catcher. T Goodwin struck out looking. Mclemore flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 3, TEXAS 6.

CHI WHITE SOX 9TH: John Wetteland relieved Tim Crabtree. C Wilson doubled to right center. M Caruso popped out to shortstop. L Rodriguez struck out swinging. Ca Lee grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CHI WHITE SOX 3, TEXAS 6.