The Rangers are the 99 AL West Champions!

Game 155: Sep 26, 1999 (W: 10-3)
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My Commentary

Oh man - what a high!   I was at this game and we won.  We won big, we won at home, WE WON!

I'm running late at work, I won't have time to write my commentary right now, but I will tomorrow.   I'm actually going again tonight to the Mariners game (the final game of my 1999 Mini Plan package), so I'll do this tomorrow.

I took a bunch of pictures with the digital camera of the game and the celebration, I'll be posting them tomorrow, too.    In the meantime, here's one of me standing outside my car after the game was over.  What you can't see in this picture is that my car has a Texas Rangers license plate, and a window sticker on it, too.  :)

UPDATE:  As I sit down to write this on Tuesday afternoon, the game is a blur.  I don't remember much about the specifics of the game except for the Rafael Palmeiro grand slam that hit the foul pole.  After that, the buzz (at least I felt this) was that the game was over when they hit that slam.  Todd Zeile did have a home run earlier that felt good, but the Palmeiro slam was positively awesome.  That's the third Grand Slam I'd seen with my own eyes this year (the other two were another by Palmeiro and one by Roberto Kelly).  This was just awesome.

It was really cool that my wife and I were at the game to see the win in person.  What made this even sweeter was that we didn't have to pay for the game.  When Jim Lites took over as president of the Rangers, a package was sent out to all season ticket holders with a bunch of discount coupons and the like.  One thing in there was a voucher for two free tickets to a game in September (you got to pick from three).  We picked this game (back in August).  What a lucky break that was.  And to make matters even cooler, it was fan appreciation weekend, and we also got vouchers for two free tickets to a game in April or May of 2000!  What a deal!  

Thinking back to the game itself, Esteban Loaiza pitched really well, going 7 innings, allowing only four hits and one earned run.  Matter of fact, he retired mostly everyone except for one inning.  It was a nice bounce back from a few mediocre outings.  Jeff Zimmerman though, wasn't as dominating.  He allowed another home run, and has shown in the second half of the season that he's a "real person". :)  His ERA has gone up to 2.39, which is still awesome, but isn't the same way he was pitching in the first half of the season.   The rest of the game is a blur to me, I just remembered a few points, but the big deal here was the division title.

What was particularly cool about the post game celebration was that Chuck Morgan played Frank Sinatra's "New York New York" on the PA while "Bring on the Yankees" was flashed on the scoreboard.  They also played the locker room celebration that was shown on Fox Sports Southwest on the Jumbotron, which was very cool.  They invited folks to stay in the stands to watch (normally, you get chased out quickly, which I never like).  I was surprised more people didn't hang around to watch it.  It was very awesome.

I don't know what else to say.  It was totally awesome that we won this at home with a win, instead of backing into it like we did the previous two years.  Perhaps this is an omen for further success in the playoffs.  :)

UPDATE #2: The pictures I took at this game are now online.  Check 'em out here.

-- Joe Siegler

My Wife Lynn's Commentary

WOW! This game can be summed up with just that one word. After being a Ranger fan (and season ticket holder) for the past three seasons, clinching the AL West at home with a big win was so sweet.

The Rangers did something in their pre-game activities that I hadn't seen before. They played the video clip from the movie, "Rudy", where the Head Coach of Notre Dame gives the pre-game speech: "No one, I mean NO ONE comes into our house and pushes us around..." The scoreboard below the Jumbotron kept flashing "OUR HOUSE". I thought it was a great way to show the fans how big this game was to the Rangers. They also replayed the same video clip in the top of the 9th inning.

This was a long game, but the biggest offensive plays were Juan's triple, Todd's homerun, and Palmeiro's grand slam. Where we were sitting (upper deck section 329), I thought the ball was foul until Joe yelled, "It hit the foul pole, it's a grand slam!!!". The house went crazy, and what made it even better was that Palmeiro came back out and tipped his hat to the fans. That was the first time that I saw that in person. 

The Ranger's fans were so into this game, and they were so LOUD!!! Mostly everyone stayed until the last out of the ninth, and the Ranger's won the West. There were fireworks, and "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" was played. It was so great to see all the Rangers run out onto the field for such a big celebration. Then, it was announced that the clubhouse party would be shown on the Jumbotron for all the fans to enjoy. I do wish that the Rangers would have had some sort of ceremony on the field to include the fans more, but at least we could watch all the champagne flowing on the Jumbotron with thousands of other Ranger fans.

After the game, my voice was almost gone, and we were a bit sunburned, but it was so worth it. Let's go Rangers, and get to the World Series!!

Game Recap

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) -- There would be no backing in for the Texas Rangers this time.

After clinching their first two division titles with losses by their closest pursuer, the Rangers wrapped up the American League West with a 10-3 thumping of the Oakland Athletics as Todd Zeile hit a two-run homer and Rafael Palmeiro added his third grand slam of the season.

The Rangers clinched their first division crown in 1996 when the Seattle Mariners lost at Oakland. Last season, Texas wrapped up the title when Anaheim lost at Oakland.

Esteban Loaiza (9-5) won for the second time in six starts, giving up one run and four hits over seven innings with three walks and seven strikeouts.

Jeff Zimmerman allowed a two-run homer to Ben Grieve in the eighth and Mike Venafro worked the ninth, getting pinch-hitter Ryan Christenson to bounce to first for the final out.

"I want everyone to enjoy today and turn the page because tomorrow there is work to be done," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "Ever since the hit in the first game of this series got us tied, we've been moving. This was an exciting ballgame. The fans were in it, we played aggressively and Rusty (Greer) was back. It was a whale of a series."

Fireworks were set off upon the game's completion and a championship banner was unfurled below the center-field scoreboard while players took part in a reserved celebration at the mound.

"We've got a good shot. This is the first time we've opened the cork at home, and I love it," Rangers shortstop Royce Clayton said. "We've got to believe that we can play with anybody. The teams are much more evenly matched this year and we really believe in ourselves."

The Athletics' fifth loss in six games prevented them from picking up ground on Boston in the wild card race. Oakland remained 5 1/2 games behind the slumping Red Sox with only six to play.

The Rangers are 2 1/2 games behind Cleveland and two in back of the New York Yankees for the best record in the American League.

"I'm gonna enjoy this one and come tomorrow morning I'll prepare the team to win homefield," Oates said. "I'll rest some players and see that players hit individual milestones that they're close to. We had three straight losses coming into this series, but Rusty got back in the lineup and Raffy went back to No. 5, and it looked like we had scoring opportunities in every inning."

"All three teams in the American League are trying to win as many as possible," Zeile said. "It's a double-edged sword. If we get the second-best record, we face Pedro Martinez twice in a five-game series. If not, we face the Yankees again, but we'll take whoever."

Texas jumped on Kevin Jarvis in the first inning on RBI singles by Greer and Juan Gonzalez.

"We've got to play hard for the next seven games. We can enjoy this for a while but we've got some baseball left," said Greer, who missed time with an eye injury. "The pitching staff is throwing well. If we can get all aspects of our game going well, we'll have a chance to advance this year."

Jason Giambi singled home Rich Becker in the fourth to halve the deficit, but Texas chased Jarvis with four runs in the fifth.

Ivan Rodriguez led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Gonzalez's triple off the wall in right. Palmeiro walked and Gonzalez scored on second baseman Randy Velarde's throwing error. Zeile sent a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left for his 24th homer and a 6-1 lead.

Making his first major league start since August 16, 1997 for Detroit, Jarvis was reached for six runs and nine hits over 4 1/3 innings.

Mark McLemore led off the sixth with a walk against Tim Worrell, Rodriguez singled and Greer walked to load the bases before Gonzalez popped out. Lefthander Tim Kubinski came on and was greeted by Palmeiro's eighth career grand slam that barely stayed fair down the right-field line.

Palmeiro's 46th home run is one shy of Gonzalez's 1996 team record. His third grand slam this year tied him with Alex Rodriguez of Seattle and Jim Thome of Cleveland for the AL lead.

"We've worked for seven months for this. We can celebrate for a day, then we've got to get back to work," Palmeiro said. "We're going to have to play the best in the American League. So in the first round our opponent really doesn't matter."

Grieve's 26th homer was his eighth against the Rangers and sixth at the Ballpark in his two-year career.

Recap #2

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The Texas Rangers finally clinched the AL West on their own, and they did it in grand style.

Rafael Palmeiro hit Texas' second grand slam in as many games, powering the Rangers to a 10-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday that sealed their second straight division title and third in four years.

Texas finished off second-place Oakland with a weekend sweep that enabled the Rangers to celebrate on their own field for the first time. Another first was doing it with a victory; Texas learned it had clinched in 1996 and '98 during games they lost.

"This is probably the best way to do it," a soaking-wet Palmeiro said in the locker room as coach Bucky Dent handed him a victory cigar. "It's nice for the fans to see what it's like. Hopefully we can do it twice more."

The Rangers are on course for a first-round meeting with the New York Yankees, the only team they've ever played in the postseason. New York has won six of seven against Texas and gone on to win the World Series both times.

This time, though, the Rangers are prepared.

"Absolutely," said Juan Gonzalez, who had three hits and drove in two runs. "Because we're a better team."

The partying began as soon as pitcher Mike Venafro stepped on first base with the final out. Everyone from the dugout and bullpen rushed to the field and gathered near the mound as a flag reading: "Texas Rangers 1999 AL West Champions" was unfurled from the center-field scoreboard.

Behind second base, the three outfielders gathered with middle infielders Royce Clayton and Mark McLemore. Instead of their usual postgame handshakes, they spontaneously locked arms around each other's shoulders and began dancing in circles.

"You never like to see a celebration at your expense," Oakland's Randy Velarde said. "On the other hand, the Rangers deserve it. We made mistakes and they got after us pretty good."

The plastic-protected clubhouse was filled with the usual champagne showers and beer baths, even for manager Johnny Oates and team owner Tom Hicks, who slipped a Rangers AL West champions T-shirt over his shirt and tie. The team's video coaches ran around with video cameras to capture the fun.

It was a bit exuberant for a team that's won three division titles in four years but has just one playoff win.

But part of the joy was relief from a team that came into the series in an offensive funk and having lost four of five to teams with losing records.

The Rangers snapped out in a big way, outscoring the A's 32-11. They scored at least four runs in five innings and got victories from their starters in all three games.

"When you walked into this clubhouse Friday, you could feel the intensity and see it in the eyes of players," said Todd Zeile, who hit a grand slam Saturday and had a two-run homer Sunday that was the big blast until Palmeiro's slam. "We were anxious to take care of business."

Oakland's lost weekend also put it on the verge of being eliminated from the wild-card race. Boston's magic number dropped to two despite the Red Sox losing 8-5 to Baltimore.

"We had a good year," A's outfielder Matt Stairs said. "But the Rangers kicked our butts."

The A's, whose four-game losing skid is their longest since June, got behind 1-0 nine pitches into the bottom of the first when Rusty Greer singled between the legs of starter Kevin Jarvis (0-1). Gonzalez followed with an RBI single.

Zeile's homer capped a four-run fourth inning and knocked out Jarvis, who had been recalled from Triple-A Vancouver to make his first big-league start since August 1997.

The 6-1 lead was more than enough, but Palmeiro added the final touch an inning later when he his 46th homer drilled the right-field foul pole and ricocheted onto the field.

Palmeiro, who upped his RBI total to 146, calmly trotted the bases and accepted congratulations from teammates without much fuss after his third grand slam of the year. The crowd of 38,656 remained on their feet until he climbed to the top step of the dugout and waved his batting helmet.

Esteban Loiaza (9-5) worked out of his only jam in the third and lasted seven innings in his best outing in a month. Loiaza, who had lost four of his last five starts, allowed one run, four hits and struck out seven.

Jason Giambi had an RBI single off Loaiza and Ben Grieve hit a two-run homer off reliever Jeff Zimmerman in the eighth.

In 1996, the Rangers were in the 13th inning of a 15-inning loss to the Angels when they got word that second-place Seattle had lost. Because of the bizarre ending, there was no all-out, on-field party.

Last year, Texas came off the field after the eighth inning of a 15-4 loss in Seattle to learn that Anaheim had lost, sealing the division crown.

"This feels a lot better than coming into the clubhouse after a loss," Oates said.

GAME NOTES: This is the second time this season the Rangers have hit grand slam in consecutive games. They had never done it before this year. ... Oakland is on its biggest losing streak since dropping six straight June 23-29. ... Palmeiro's homer was Texas' 222nd, breaking the team record set in 1996. ... Vancouver, Oakland's top minor-league team, won the Triple-A World Series in five games over Charlotte.  

Photos
(Click on the ones with an outline for a larger image)

I took some 70 odd pictures at this game with a digital camera.  Check 'em out here.

Pudge scores in the first inning	Juan Gonzalez after being doubled off	The power stroke	Raffy watching his grand slam ball hit the foul pole	Raffy taking a bow for the slam.

Raffy taking a bow for the slam.	Todd Worrell is pulled from the game	Juan coming off the field after the win - "Yeah!"	A celebration dance	Pudge and Venafro after the win

Owner Tom Hicks & team doctor Tom Conway have a cigar	Roberto Kelly & (unknown) share some beer.	Johnny getting doused while on TV	Tom Hicks getting doused while on TV	Pudge gets drenched

Raffy taking some champagne during the celebration.

Box Score

Line Score
AL  FINAL
                    1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9     R  H  E
                    -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -     -  -  -
OAKLAND             0  0  0   1  0  0   0  2  0     3  7  1
TEXAS               2  0  0   0  4  4   0  0  x    10 12  2   (FINAL)

BATTERIES:  OAK - KEVIN JARVIS, TIM WORRELL (5TH), TIM KUBINSKI
                  (6TH), DOUG JONES (7TH), JASON ISRINGHAUSEN
                  (8TH) AND RAMON HERNANDEZ
            TEX - ESTEBAN LOAIZA, JEFF ZIMMERMAN (8TH), MIKE
                  VENAFRO (9TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

             WP - ESTEBAN LOAIZA (9-5)
             LP - KEVIN JARVIS (0-1)
           SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS:  OAK - BEN GRIEVE (26) OFF JE ZIMMERMAN IN THE 8TH, 1 ON
            TEX - TODD ZEILE (24) OFF JARVIS IN THE 5TH, 1 ON
                  RAFAEL PALMEIRO (46) OFF KUBINSKI IN THE 6TH, 3 ON

     TIME:  3:06     ATT:  38,656

PROBABLES:  OAK - TIM HUDSON (10-2, 3.15)
            ANA - JARROD WASHBURN (3-4, 5.92)

            SEA - FREDDY GARCIA (16-8, 4.17)
            TEX - RICK HELLING (13-10, 4.85)

Box Score
OAKLAND (3) AT TEXAS (10) - FINAL

OAKLAND                ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Becker cf-rf            3  1  1  0   1  0   1  .273
 b-R Christenson ph     1  0  0  0   0  0   0  .207
R Velarde 2b            4  0  1  0   0  0   4  .314
 Spiezio 2b             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .245
Ja Giambi 1b            3  0  1  1   0  0   0  .315
 Ja Mcdonald cf         1  0  0  0   0  1   0  .204
Jaha dh                 4  0  0  0   0  2   2  .269
Stairs rf               2  0  0  0   1  1   2  .258
 Saenz 1b               1  1  1  0   0  0   0  .279
Grieve lf               4  1  1  2   0  2   3  .266
Ra Hernandez c          4  0  0  0   0  0   0  .275
Chavez 3b               3  0  0  0   0  1   0  .251
 a-Menechino ph         1  0  1  0   0  0   0  .250
Tejada ss               3  0  1  0   1  1   1  .246

Totals                 34  3  7  3   3  8  13

a-singled for Chavez in the 9th; b-grounded to first for Becker
in the 9th.

BATTING: HR - Grieve (26, 8th inning off Je Zimmerman 1 on, 2 out).
RBI - Ja Giambi (120), Grieve 2 (83). 2-out RBI - Grieve 2. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - Grieve 1, R Velarde 2. GIDP - Tejada.
Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: CS - Chavez (1, 2nd base by Loaiza/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: E - R Velarde (14, throw). DP: 1 (R Velarde-Tejada-Ja Giambi).

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             3  2  0  0   2  1   3  .273
I Rodriguez c           5  3  3  0   0  1   0  .336
Greer lf                4  1  1  1   1  1   0  .300
J Gonzalez rf           4  1  3  2   1  0   3  .321
R Palmeiro dh           4  2  1  4   1  0   3  .331
Zeile 3b                4  1  2  2   0  0   1  .296
L Stevens 1b            4  0  0  0   0  3   1  .284
Clayton ss              4  0  1  0   0  1   0  .281
T Goodwin cf            3  0  1  0   1  0   1  .248

Totals                 35 10 12  9   6  7  12

BATTING: 2B - Zeile (41, Jarvis); I Rodriguez (28, Jarvis);
Clayton (20, Worrell). 3B - J Gonzalez (1, Jarvis). HR - Zeile
(24, 5th inning off Jarvis 1 on, 1 out); R Palmeiro (46, 6th inning
off Kubinski 3 on, 1 out). RBI - Greer (98), J Gonzalez 2 (123),
Zeile 2 (97), R Palmeiro 4 (146). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - Zeile 1, Mclemore 1, T Goodwin 1. GIDP - R Palmeiro.
Team LOB - 7.

FIELDING: E - Clayton (23, ground ball); Mclemore (10, ground ball).
DP: 1 (Zeile-Mclemore-L Stevens).

OAKLAND                      ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Jarvis (L, 0-1)               4 1/3   9   6   5   3   3   1  12.19
Worrell                       1       2   3   3   2   0   0   4.24
Kubinski                        2/3   1   1   1   0   1   1   6.10
D Jones                       1       0   0   0   0   1   0   3.59
Isringhausen                  1       0   0   0   1   2   0   1.93

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Loaiza (W, 9-5)               7       4   1   1   3   7   0   4.61
Je Zimmerman                  1       2   2   2   0   1   1   2.39
Venafro                       1       1   0   0   0   0   0   3.27

Pitches-strikes: Loaiza 120-78; Je Zimmerman 13-9; Venafro 11-8;
Jarvis 90-47; Worrell 27-17; Kubinski 11-7; D Jones 12-7;
Isringhausen 25-15.  Ground balls-fly balls: Loaiza 8-5;
Je Zimmerman 1-1; Venafro 3-0; Jarvis 7-3; Worrell 1-2; Kubinski
0-1; D Jones 1-1; Isringhausen 1-0.  Batters faced: Loaiza 29;
Je Zimmerman 5; Venafro 3; Jarvis 24; Worrell 7; Kubinski 3;
D Jones 3; Isringhausen 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Young. 1B--Marty Foster. 2B--Dan Morrison.
3B--Fieldin Culbreth.
T--3:06.  Att--38,656.   Weather: 84 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 18 mph, right to left.

Game Log

Oakland Starting Lineups -- Rich Becker CF, Randy Velarde 2B, Jason Giambi 1B, John Jaha DH, Matt Stairs RF, Ben Grieve LF, Ramon Hernandez C, Eric Chavez 3B, Miguel Tejada SS, Kevin Jarvis 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, Esteban Loaiza RHP.

Umpires -- Young (HP), Foster (1B), Morrison (2B), Culbreth (3B).

Gametime Weather: 84 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind right to left at 18 mph.

OAKLAND 1ST: Becker grounded out to shortstop. R Velarde grounded out to shortstop. Ja Giambi grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore walked. I Rodriguez singled to center, Mclemore to third. Greer singled to center, Mclemore scored, I Rodriguez to third. J Gonzalez singled to left, I Rodriguez scored, Greer to second. R Palmeiro grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Gonzalez out at second, Greer to third. Zeile grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 2.

OAKLAND 2ND: Jaha grounded out to third. Stairs struck out looking. Grieve struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 2ND: L Stevens struck out swinging. Clayton struck out swinging. T Goodwin reached on infield single. Mclemore fouled out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 2.

OAKLAND 3RD: Ra Hernandez grounded out to third. Chavez grounded out to first. Tejada struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 3RD: I Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. Greer flied out to right. J Gonzalez singled to left. R Palmeiro grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 2.

OAKLAND 4TH: Becker singled to right. R Velarde singled to left, Becker to second. Ja Giambi singled to left, Becker scored, R Velarde to second. Jaha struck out looking. Stairs grounded into fielder's choice to first, R Velarde to third, Ja Giambi out at second. Grieve struck out swinging. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 4TH: Zeile doubled to left. L Stevens struck out swinging. Clayton grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Zeile out at third. T Goodwin walked, Clayton to second. Mclemore popped out to shallow center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, TEXAS 2.

OAKLAND 5TH: Ra Hernandez fouled out to first. Chavez safe at first on shortstop Clayton's fielding error. Chavez caught stealing, catcher to shortstop to first. Tejada walked. Becker walked, Tejada to second. R Velarde popped out to shallow center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) OAKLAND 1, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 5TH: I Rodriguez doubled to left. Greer grounded out to first, I Rodriguez to third. J Gonzalez tripled to deep right, I Rodriguez scored. R Palmeiro walked. J Gonzalez scored, R Palmeiro to second on 2nd baseman R Velarde's throwing error. Zeile homered to left, R Palmeiro scored. Tim Worrell relieved Kevin Jarvis. L Stevens grounded out to second. Clayton doubled to left center. T Goodwin flied out to shallow center. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error) OAKLAND 1, TEXAS 6.

OAKLAND 6TH: Ja Giambi popped out to third. Jaha struck out swinging. Stairs walked. Grieve flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, TEXAS 6.

TEXAS 6TH: Mclemore walked. I Rodriguez singled to right, Mclemore to second. Greer walked, Mclemore to third, I Rodriguez to second. J Gonzalez popped out to first. Tim Kubinski relieved Tim Worrell. R Palmeiro homered to right, Mclemore, I Rodriguez and Greer scored. Zeile flied out to left. L Stevens struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, TEXAS 10.

OAKLAND 7TH: Ra Hernandez grounded out to first. Chavez struck out swinging. Tejada singled to center. Becker safe at first on 2nd baseman Mclemore's fielding error, Tejada to second. R Velarde flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) OAKLAND 1, TEXAS 10.

TEXAS 7TH: Doug Jones relieved Tim Kubinski. Becker in right. Ja Mcdonald in center. Saenz at first. Clayton flied out to center. T Goodwin grounded out to first. Mclemore struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, TEXAS 10.

OAKLAND 8TH: Jeff Zimmerman relieved Esteban Loaiza. Ja Mcdonald struck out looking. Jaha grounded out to shortstop. Saenz singled to left. Grieve homered to left, Saenz scored. Ra Hernandez flied out to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, TEXAS 10.

TEXAS 8TH: Spiezio at second. Jason Isringhausen relieved Doug Jones. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. Greer struck out swinging. J Gonzalez walked. R Palmeiro grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, TEXAS 10.

OAKLAND 9TH: Mike Venafro relieved Jeff Zimmerman. Menechino hit for Chavez. Menechino singled to center. Tejada grounded into double play, third to second to first, Menechino out at second. R Christenson hit for Becker. R Christenson grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, TEXAS 10.