Game 141: Sep 8, 1999 (W: 3-0)
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My Commentary

The name of this game was John Burkett.  I read in the news reports that Burkett was booed when he came on at the start of the game - I didn't see it, as I was at my bowling league for the start of the game. When I came home, the game was already 3-0.  When Burkett was pulled, it was really, really nice to see him get a standing ovation - made me feel really good.  Teared up a bit.  <g>

Tim Crabtree got the pitch of the game when he struck out Manny Ramirez with the bases loaded to preserve our shutout.  That was the biggest single moment of the game, although Burkett's pitching was stellar. 

We're 29 games over 500, and going further into uncharted territory.  We did spoil the Indians clinching their division.  They won it after they had left the Ballpark already and had packed up their champagne - HAHA!  :)

The AP story says that two fans were married in the stands - I wonder who they were.  :)

It was announced that Mark Clark will not be activated for the rest of the year - hopefully he can get it together next year, and contribute.

-- Joe Siegler

Game Recap

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) -- John Burkett and three relievers made sure the Cleveland Indians' celebration would occur at their hotel and not on the field.

The Texas Rangers delayed the Indians from clinching their fifth straight American League Central title with a 3-0 blanking as Burkett combined with Mike Venafro, Tim Crabtree and John Wetteland on an eight-hitter.

Cleveland secured another division crown just over three hours later when the second-place Chicago White Sox lost at Anaheim.

Burkett (7-7) won his third straight decision, scattering seven hits over 6 2/3 innings with two walks and seven strikeouts. In two starts against the Indians this season, he has given up just one run and 12 hits over 14 2/3 innings.

"I didn't throw a lot of fastballs tonight. I decided to go with my sinker and just focus on trying to keep it down and I was successful," Burkett said. "I left a few pitches up, but not many."

"He's pitched back-to-back games as well as you can aginst this team with two different styles and almost identical results," added Rangers manager Johnny Oates.

Venafro walked the only batter he faced, but Crabtree struck out pinch-hitter Manny Ramirez -- the major league RBI leader -- with the bases loaded to end the seventh before breezing through the eighth.

"With the bases loaded, I thought he might be swinging," Crabtree said. "I threw him a slider and then another slider and then just went after him with my best pitch (the sinker). I was fortunate to locate my 1-2 pitch where I wanted it. I couldn't have located it any better and he swung at it and missed."

"Manny's a good hitter. I thought Manny vs. Crabtree was a better matchup for us than (Jim) Thome versus Venafro," Indians manager Mike Hargrove said. "Manny is a guy who has 38 home runs and 143 RBI. He's done it often enough this season that we believed Manny will come through. It just wasn't his turn today."

Wetteland allowed a leadoff single in the ninth but retired the next three batters for his major league-leading 41st save in 48 chances.

The Indians were shut out for only the third time this season after entering with the league's top batting average at .291 and leading the majors with 864 runs.

Cleveland starter Chris Haney (0-2) retired the first nine batters he faced, but did not survive the fifth inning.

"We just couldn't get anything going against Burkett," Hargrove said.

Luis Alicea got Texas' first hit, leading off the fourth with an infield single and taking second on Haney's throwing error. After Ivan Rodriguez walked, Rusty Greer flied to left-center, moving up both runners. Alicea came around to score when catcher Einar Diaz mishandled the relay for an error.

The Rangers chased Haney in the fifth. Singles by Roberto Kelly, Lee Stevens and Royce Clayton produced a run. Clayton was thrown out at second trying to advance, but Tom Goodwin walked and Alicea singled for a 3-0 lead.

Haney gave up three runs -- two earned -- and five hits in 4 1/3 innings with two walks and a strikeout.

"If I give up three runs in eight innings, then I would be pleased. But I'm not pleased with three in 4 1/3 innings," he said. "It was tough to give up three hits and a walk all in a row. But regardless, as a starting pitcher, I have to go deeper than that."

Recap #2

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The Cleveland Indians clinched their fifth straight AL Central title Wednesday night despite a 3-0 loss to the Texas Rangers.

Hours after the Indians left the ballpark, they clinched the title when second-place Chicago was eliminated with a 6-5, 10-inning loss to the Angels at Anaheim.

"I guess you could say that is a strange scenario to be in second place and to be eliminated at this time," White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said.

"They're playing good baseball, and they're 22 games better than a lot of teams," Manuel said. "I guess you have to put your stamp on them after the playoffs and the World Series. That's a real test of how good a team is -- one that endures the playoffs and the World Series."

Cleveland could have clinched on the field, but John Burkett humbled the highest-scoring team in the majors for the second time in three weeks, then got some clutch relief from Tim Crabtree.

Burkett heard some boos when his name was announced before the game. That's why he took extra satisfaction in the standing ovation fans gave him when he left.

Burkett (7-7) used a variety of slow but well-located pitches to baffle the Indians for 6 2/3 innings. He retired the first batter in every inning and wasn't in trouble until Cleveland put runners on second and third in the seventh. That's when he left to a chorus of cheers.

"When I was warming up and they announced the battery, I happened to hear the boos. It was a nice feeling to be able to change that around when I went into the dugout at the end," said Burkett, who has rebounded from a horrible first half to win three straight and four of five.

After Mike Venafro walked Roberto Alomar, loading the bases, Crabtree ended the threat by striking out pinch-hitter Manny Ramirez on a 98 mph fastball.

"I couldn't have located it any better and he swung and missed," said Crabtree, who retired all four batters he faced.

The Rangers are 7-3 against the Indians this season with victories in four straight and five of six.

"They can beat us all year long," Cleveland's Richie Sexson said. "But if they don't beat us in the playoffs, it doesn't matter."

If the teams meet in October, Burkett would likely start considering his recent mastery of the Indians.

On Aug. 18, Burkett held Cleveland to five hits during eight innings in a 6-1 victory by getting them to chase high pitches, leading to a season-high eight strikeouts.

This time, he fooled them with offspeed pitches that danced around the plate and stayed below the knees. He allowed seven hits, struck out seven and walked two.

"The last two times he has thrown strikes and gotten ahead of our hitters," Indians manager Mike Hargrove said. "He's a good pitcher who changes speeds well. You can't stay in one pattern or wait for one pitch against him."

Cleveland's first five hits all came with two outs, three of them by Roberto Alomar. The Indians finished with just eight hits while being shut out for the third time.

John Wetteland pitched the ninth for his major league-leading 41st save. Four of them have come in the last three days.

Luis Alicea took advantage of errors by Cleveland starter Chris Haney (0-2) and catcher Einar Diaz to turn a swinging bunt and a routine fly to left field into Texas' first run.

Haney fielded Alicea's hit, but his wild throw to first allowed Alicea to reach second. Alicea took third on a deep fly to left by Rusty Greer and scored when Dave Justice's throw to the base bounced past third baseman Travis Fryman and Haney and was bobbled by Diaz.

Alicea hesitated twice on his way home and needed a headfirst slide to beat Diaz's throw.

The Rangers scored two more in the fifth on on RBI singles by Royce Clayton and Alicea. The inning ended when Ivan Rodriguez, who has grounded into a major league-high 27 double plays, lined into a double play.

Haney gave up three runs, two earned, on five hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings. He is winless in the majors since Aug. 30, 1998. 

GAME NOTES: The Rangers (85-56) are 29 games over .500 for the first time in franchise history. ... Texas' Rafael Palmeiro missed a second straight game with a bruised left wrist. ... Cleveland activated outfielder Wil Cordero from the 60-day disabled list before the game. He'd been out since breaking two bones in his left wrist June 8. ... Juan Gonzalez easily stole his third base of the year when Diaz missed a pitch while jumping out of his crouch. Gonzalez might have reached third had the ball not hit home plate umpire Travis Katzenmeier. ... Two fans were married in the stands in the bottom of the seventh inning. ... With a crowd of 29,889, the two-game series between potential playoff foes drew only 55,900 fans. 

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

Ranger starter John Burkett	Cleveland starter Chris Haney	Cleveland catcher Einar Diaz	Luis Alicea scores in the bottom of the 4th	Carlos Baerga in the dugout after the loss

Nope - not tonight.  The Indians' champagne is loaded on the truck with their equipment.  It was supposed to be for their celebration, but they left before they clinched the division.  :)

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  CLE - CHRIS HANEY, JIM BROWER (5TH), PAUL ASSENMACHER (8TH)
                  AND EINAR DIAZ
            TEX - JOHN BURKETT, MIKE VENAFRO (7TH), TIM CRABTREE (7TH),
                  JOHN WETTELAND (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

             WP - JOHN BURKETT (7-7)
             LP - CHRIS HANEY (0-2)
           SAVE - JOHN WETTELAND (41)

HOME RUNS:  CLE - NONE
            TEX - NONE

     TIME:  2:48     ATT:  29,889

PROBABLES:  CLE - BARTOLO COLON (15-5, 4.12)
            CHA - KIP WELLS (2-0, 1.74)

            TEX - ESTEBAN LOAIZA (7-3, 4.55)
            KAN - BLAKE STEIN (0-1, 3.97)

Box Score
CLEVELAND (0) AT TEXAS (3) - FINAL

CLEVELAND              ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Roberts cf              5  0  0  0   0  1   2  .252
Vizquel ss              5  0  1  0   0  1   1  .331
R Alomar 2b             3  0  3  0   1  0   0  .331
Thome 1b                2  0  0  0   1  0   2  .281
 a-M Ramirez ph-rf      1  0  0  0   0  1   3  .335
Baines dh               4  0  0  0   0  1   2  .310
Sexson rf-1b            4  0  0  0   0  3   0  .262
Justice lf              4  0  1  0   0  0   0  .296
Fryman 3b               2  0  1  0   1  0   0  .251
 b-E Wilson ph          1  0  1  0   0  0   0  .263
E Diaz c                3  0  1  0   0  1   3  .266
 c-Houston ph           1  0  0  0   0  1   1  .000

Totals                 35  0  8  0   3  9  14

a-struck out for Thome in the 7th; b-singled for Fryman in the
9th; c-struck out for E Diaz in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - Vizquel (29, Burkett). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - Baines 1, E Diaz 1, M Ramirez 2.  Team LOB - 11.

FIELDING: E - Haney (1, throw); E Diaz (10, catch). Outfield
assists - Justice (Clayton at 2nd base). DP: 1 (R Alomar-Thome).

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Alicea 2b               4  1  2  1   0  1   0  .206
I Rodriguez c           3  0  1  0   1  0   2  .328
Greer lf                4  0  0  0   0  0   0  .301
J Gonzalez dh           3  0  1  0   0  0   1  .311
Zeile 3b                3  0  0  0   0  1   1  .299
R Kelly rf              3  1  1  0   0  0   1  .317
L Stevens 1b            3  1  1  0   0  0   0  .289
Clayton ss              3  0  1  1   0  1   0  .271
T Goodwin cf            2  0  0  0   1  1   0  .240

Totals                 28  3  7  2   2  4   5

BATTING: 2B - I Rodriguez (25, J Brower). RBI - Clayton (42),
Alicea (17). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Zeile 1,
R Kelly 1.  Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Gonzalez (3, 2nd base off J Brower/E Diaz).
CS - I Rodriguez (11, 3rd base by Assenmacher/E Diaz).

CLEVELAND                    ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Haney (L, 0-2)                4 1/3   5   3   2   2   1   0   5.03
J Brower                      3       2   0   0   0   3   0   0.00
Assenmacher                     2/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   8.28

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Burkett (W, 7-7)              6 2/3   7   0   0   2   7   0   5.80
Venafro (H, 17)               0       0   0   0   1   0   0   3.41
Crabtree (H, 17)              1 1/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   3.20
Wetteland (S, 41)             1       1   0   0   0   1   0   3.81

Venafro pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

Pitches-strikes: Burkett 105-66; Venafro 7-3; Crabtree 16-12;
Wetteland 14-11; Haney 65-40; J Brower 41-25; Assenmacher 9-6.
Ground balls-fly balls: Burkett 5-8; Venafro 0-0; Crabtree 2-1;
Wetteland 0-2; Haney 6-5; J Brower 2-3; Assenmacher 1-0.
Batters faced: Burkett 29; Venafro 1; Crabtree 4; Wetteland 4;
Haney 19; J Brower 10; Assenmacher 1.

UMPIRES: HP--Travis Katzenmeier. 1B--Jim Joyce. 2B--Mike Dimuro.
3B--Tim Welke.
T--2:48.  Att--29,889.   Weather: 84 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 10 mph, left to right.

AL       CLEVELAND AT TEXAS
         NOTE:  UMPIRE ROTATION CHANGE--THE CORRECT ROTATION IS ANDY
                KATZENMIER AT HOME PLATE, JIM JOYCE IS AT FIRST BASE,
                MIKE DIMURO IS AT SECOND BASE AND TIM WELKE IS AT THIRD
                BASE.  TERRY CRAFT IS NOT PART OF THE CREW AS PREVIOUSLY
                REPORTED.

Game Log

Cleveland Starting Lineups -- Dave Roberts CF, Omar Vizquel SS, Roberto Alomar 2B, Jim Thome 1B, Harold Baines DH, Richie Sexson RF, David Justice LF, Travis Fryman 3B, Einar Diaz C, Chris Haney LHP.

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

Umpires -- Katzenmeier (HP), Joyce (1B), M Dimuro (2B), T Welke (3B).

Gametime Weather: 84 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind left to right at 10 mph.

CLEVELAND 1ST: Roberts flied out to left. Vizquel flied out to right. R Alomar singled to left. Thome walked, R Alomar to second. Baines lined out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: Alicea grounded out to shortstop. I Rodriguez grounded out to first. Greer flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 0.

CLEVELAND 2ND: Sexson struck out swinging. Justice grounded out to shortstop. Fryman reached on infield single. E Diaz struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 2ND: J Gonzalez popped out to second. Zeile struck out swinging. R Kelly grounded out to catcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 0.

CLEVELAND 3RD: Roberts grounded out to shortstop. Vizquel struck out looking. R Alomar singled to center. Thome grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 3RD: L Stevens flied out to right. Clayton lined out to second. T Goodwin grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 0.

CLEVELAND 4TH: Baines flied out to left. Sexson struck out looking. Justice singled to right. Fryman walked, Justice to second. E Diaz flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 4TH: Alicea reached on infield single. Alicea to second on pitcher Haney's throwing error. I Rodriguez walked. Greer flied out to left center, Alicea to third, I Rodriguez to second. Alicea scored, I Rodriguez to third on catcher E Diaz's fielding error. J Gonzalez grounded out to third. Zeile grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 2 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 1.

CLEVELAND 5TH: Roberts struck out swinging. Vizquel flied out to left. R Alomar reached on bunt single to pitcher. Thome grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 5TH: R Kelly singled to left. L Stevens singled to left, R Kelly to second. Clayton singled to left center, R Kelly scored, L Stevens to third, Clayton out stretching at second. T Goodwin walked. Alicea singled to right, L Stevens scored, T Goodwin to third. Jim Brower relieved Chris Haney. I Rodriguez lined into double play, second to first, Alicea doubled off first. (2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 3.

CLEVELAND 6TH: Baines struck out looking. Sexson struck out swinging. Justice grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 6TH: Greer grounded out to shortstop. J Gonzalez singled to shallow right center. J Gonzalez stole second. Zeile grounded out to shortstop, J Gonzalez to third. R Kelly flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 3.

CLEVELAND 7TH: Fryman flied out to right. E Diaz singled to center. Roberts flied out to center. Vizquel doubled to right, E Diaz to third. Mike Venafro relieved John Burkett. R Alomar walked. M Ramirez hit for Thome. Tim Crabtree relieved Mike Venafro. M Ramirez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 7TH: Sexson at first. M Ramirez in right. L Stevens popped out to first. Clayton struck out swinging. T Goodwin struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 3.

CLEVELAND 8TH: Baines flied out to left. Sexson grounded out to shortstop. Justice grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 8TH: Alicea struck out swinging. I Rodriguez doubled to left. Paul Assenmacher relieved Jim Brower. I Rodriguez caught stealing, catcher to third. Greer grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 3.

CLEVELAND 9TH: John Wetteland relieved Tim Crabtree. E Wilson hit for Fryman. E Wilson singled to center. Houston hit for E Diaz. Houston struck out swinging. Roberts fouled out to first. Vizquel flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) CLEVELAND 0, TEXAS 3.