Game 157: Sep 28, 1999 (W: 10-0)
[ Previous Game | Next Game ]
[ Schedule Menu | Main Page ]

My Commentary

I got very busy at work today, I won't have time to sit down and write commentary.  Suffice it to say.. 10-0.  Sweet.  I was rather impressed with Jeff Fassero.  If he pitches like this more, we might actually keep him for 2000.  :)

Todd Zeile left the game hurt - I hope this doesn't extend to the post-season, or that will be a problem.

-- Joe Siegler

Game Recap

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) -- The milestones just keep on coming for the playoff-bound Texas Rangers.

Rafael Palmeiro tied a club record with his 47th home run and the Rangers matched another team mark with their 94th win, a 10-0 rout of the Seattle Mariners.

Palmeiro put Texas ahead for good with one out in the fourth inning when he hit John Halama's 2-2 pitch into the right-center field bleachers. It equaled the Rangers' record set by Juan Gonzalez in 1996.

"To me, No. 47 isn't important. The important thing is we're playing good ball, and hopefully we can continue it into the playoffs," Palmeiro said. "Individual records are nice. It says we had a good year. But you have to keep things in perspective."

One out later, Royce Clayton smacked a two-run shot as Texas scored three runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to build a 9-0 cushion.

Jeff Fassero did not last long enough for the win, leaving after four one-hit innings against his former team. Mike Morgan (13-8) scattered three hits over three innings for his first win since August 3.

"I knew that I'd only let Fassero throw 70-75 pitches at most, and I knew that Mo would come in because of all the righthanded hitters," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "If they started using lefthanded pinch hitters, I knew Morgan would still do OK."

Danny Patterson and Danny Kolb mopped up for the Rangers, who have won five straight and remained two games behind Cleveland for the American League's best record. The 94 wins equal the team record set in 1977.

"We'd like to win enough to get the homefield and it would be nice to win enough to win more than any other team in franchise history," Oates said. "We're finishing with a good, positive feeling. You can put together a nice streak at the end of the season if you do the right things and if you're playing for something. We've also got a lot of individual things driving these guys to perform."

Halama (11-9) suffered his fourth straight loss, allowing six runs and eight hits in four-plus innings. He has dropped seven of his last nine decisions and fell to 1-2 against Texas this year.

"He struggled his past few starts. Our younger pitchers haven't pitched this deep in the season before, but I think this is good experience for them," said Mariners manager Lou Piniella. "This was one we were not in at all. We didn't pitch well and we didn't hit very well."

Rusty Greer had run-scoring single in the fifth and a run-scoring double in the sixth, giving him 100 RBI and making him the fourth Ranger to reach that plateau this season.

The only negative for Texas occurred in the fifth, when third baseman Todd Zeile strained a muscle in his right lower chest wall on a check swing. He is listed as day-to-day.

"I think I pinched something in the lower right of my back," he said. "If I wake up tomorrow and it's not where I think it should be, I'm sure they'll run some tests."

Recap #2

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Individual milestones are coming easily for the Texas Rangers. Team goals, however, are still the top priority.

Rafael Palmeiro hit his 47th homer to tie a club record and Rusty Greer set another team mark by becoming the fourth Texas player with 100 RBI as the Rangers trounced Seattle 10-0 Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

"That's nothing I set out to do," said Palmeiro after tying the mark set by Juan Gonzalez is 1996. "What's important is that we're playing good baseball and we're keeping it up. What these records say is that we've had a good season as a team."

Greer joined Palmeiro, Gonzalez and Ivan Rodriguez with 100-RBI seasons, joining Cleveland as the only teams with four 100-RBI players. The 1936 New York Yankees hold the record with five.

The AL West champions won their 94th game, matching the club mark set in 1977. Texas trails New York by one game and Cleveland by two in the race for the best record in the league.

"We'd like to win enough for home-field advantage," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "We'd like this team to have the most wins in our history. Jerry Narron (Texas' third base coach) said when we were in San Diego (in early July), 'Let's win 95.' That's certainly reachable now."

"We'd like to win them all if possible," Palmeiro said.

Jeff Fassero, Mike Morgan, Danny Patterson and Danny Kolb combined on a five-hitter. Morgan (13-8) threw three innings of three-hit relief as Oates tries to fine-tune his pitching staff for the playoffs.

"I can only have 11 pitchers on my staff," said Oates, who has already slotted Aaron Sele, Rick Helling and Esteban Loaiza as his top three starters for the postseason. "So everybody was out there tonight for a reason."

Royce Clayton, who had three hits, also homered for Texas. Clayton, Gonzalez and Greer each drove in two runs.

Rangers third baseman Todd Zeile left the game in the fifth inning with a strained muscle in his chest suffered on a checked swing. After the game, Zeile said he expected to be back in the lineup on Wednesday night.

Texas took a 3-0 lead in the fourth against John Halama (11-9) on homers by Palmeiro and Clayton.

Fassero got his third start for the Rangers and allowed only one hit in four innings against his former teammates. But he struggled with his control and was replaced by Morgan to start the fifth despite the 3-0 lead.

Fassero, traded by the Mariners to the Rangers on Aug. 27, walked four and struck out three.

"Once the game started, I didn't think about it," Fassero said. "I took it as just another game."

Texas chased Halama in the fifth, pushing its lead to 6-0. Greer and Gonzalez had RBI singles and Greer scored the third run of the inning on Zeile's double-play grounder.

In the sixth, Clayton scored from third on Ken Cloude's wild pitch, then Greer and Gonzalez had RBI doubles.

Mariners manager Lou Piniella said his team did not play well.

"This is one we were not in at all," Piniella said. "We didn't pitch well and we didn't hit very well."

GAME NOTES: The Mariners had their club-record streak of 19 games with at least one homer snapped. ... Rodriguez grounded into his 31st double play, extending the team record. ... Seattle is 9-14 in Arlington the last two seasons after a 45-16 record there from 1993-97. ... Roberto Kelly of the Rangers was awarded first base in the second when Dan Wilson was called for catcher's interference. 

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

Rusty is tagged out in the first	Raffy hits a dinger in the fourth...	...and so does RC	Royce "RC" Clayton makes a play in the seventh

Box Score

Line Score
AL  FINAL
                    1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9     R  H  E
                    -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -     -  -  -
SEATTLE             0  0  0   0  0  0   0  0  0     0  5  1
TEXAS               0  0  0   3  3  3   1  0  x    10 15  0   (FINAL)

BATTERIES:  SEA - JOHN HALAMA, TODD WILLIAMS (5TH), KEN CLOUDE
                  (6TH), DENNIS STARK (8TH) AND DAN WILSON
            TEX - JEFF FASSERO, MIKE MORGAN (5TH), DANNY
                  PATTERSON (8TH), DANNY KOLB (9TH) AND IVAN
                  RODRIGUEZ, GREGG ZAUN (8TH)

             WP - MIKE MORGAN (13-8)
             LP - JOHN HALAMA (11-9)
           SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS:  SEA - NONE
            TEX - RAFAEL PALMEIRO (47) OFF HALAMA IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
                  ROYCE CLAYTON (13) OFF HALAMA IN THE 4TH, 1 ON

     TIME:  3:01     ATT:  30,292

PROBABLES:  SEA - GIL MECHE (7-4, 4.80)
            TEX - AARON SELE (18-8, 4.64)

Box Score
SEATTLE (0) AT TEXAS (10) - FINAL

SEATTLE                ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Gipson 3b               3  0  0  0   1  0   1  .230
A Rodriguez ss          3  0  0  0   1  0   1  .285
 Bournigal ss           0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .275
Griffey cf              4  0  0  0   0  2   2  .288
 S Monahan lf           0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .077
E Martinez dh           3  0  0  0   1  1   1  .342
Blowers 1b              4  0  1  0   0  0   0  .289
Buhner rf               3  0  1  0   1  1   2  .225
Da Bell 2b              3  0  1  0   1  1   3  .263
D Wilson c              4  0  1  0   0  1   5  .262
Bl Hunter lf-cf         4  0  1  0   0  0   3  .234

Totals                 31  0  5  0   5  6  18

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E Martinez 1,
D Wilson 1, Griffey 1, Bl Hunter 1. GIDP - Bl Hunter.
Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: SB - Bl Hunter (41, 2nd base off Morgan/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: E - D Wilson (4, catcher's interference).
DP: 3 (A Rodriguez-Da Bell-Blowers, Da Bell-A Rodriguez-Blowers,
Bournigal-Da Bell-Blowers).

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             3  2  2  0   1  0   1  .276
I Rodriguez c           4  1  1  0   0  0   3  .334
 Zaun c                 1  0  1  0   0  0   0  .256
Greer lf                5  2  2  2   0  0   2  .301
J Gonzalez dh           3  0  2  2   1  0   0  .324
 a-Simms ph             1  0  0  0   0  1   0  .500
R Palmeiro 1b           3  1  1  1   1  1   2  .332
Zeile 3b                3  0  1  0   0  0   1  .296
 Shave 3b               1  1  1  0   0  0   0  .275
R Kelly rf              3  1  0  0   0  1   3  .304
Clayton ss              4  2  3  2   0  0   2  .285
T Goodwin cf            4  0  1  1   0  0   1  .252

Totals                 35 10 15  8   3  3  15

a-struck out for J Gonzalez in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - Greer (40, Cloude); J Gonzalez (35, Cloude);
Clayton (21, Cloude). HR - R Palmeiro (47, 4th inning off Halama
0 on, 1 out); Clayton (13, 4th inning off Halama 1 on, 2 out).
S - Mclemore. RBI - R Palmeiro (147), Clayton 2 (51), Greer 2 (100),
J Gonzalez 2 (125), T Goodwin (28). 2-out RBI - Clayton 2, Greer,
J Gonzalez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Clayton 1,
Greer 1, R Kelly 1, R Palmeiro 1, Mclemore 1. GIDP - I Rodriguez,
Zeile, Greer. Reached via catcher's interference - R Kelly in the
2nd inning. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (Clayton-R Palmeiro).

SEATTLE                      ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Halama (L, 11-9)              4       8   6   6   1   0   2   4.29
T Williams                    1       1   0   0   1   1   0   4.66
Cloude                        2       5   4   4   1   1   0   8.07
Stark                         1       1   0   0   0   1   0  13.50

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Fassero                       4       1   0   0   4   3   0   7.24
Morgan (W, 13-8)              3       3   0   0   0   1   0   6.15
D Patterson                   1       0   0   0   0   2   0   4.97
Kolb                          1       1   0   0   1   0   0   4.65

Halama pitched to 3 batters in the 5th.

WP - Cloude.  Pitches-strikes: Fassero 73-40; Morgan 43-29;
D Patterson 15-12; Kolb 22-13; Halama 77-48; T Williams 21-12;
Cloude 40-25; Stark 13-7.  Ground balls-fly balls: Fassero 1-8;
Morgan 8-0; D Patterson 0-1; Kolb 3-0; Halama 8-4; T Williams
2-0; Cloude 2-3; Stark 2-0.  Batters faced: Fassero 17; Morgan 11;
D Patterson 3; Kolb 5; Halama 21; T Williams 4; Cloude 12; Stark 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Ted Barrett. 1B--Tim Mcclelland. 2B--Eric Cooper.
3B--Gary Cederstrom.
T--3:01.  Att--30,292.   Weather: 85 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 9 mph, out to center.

Game Log

Seattle Starting Lineups -- Charles Gipson 3B, Alex Rodriguez SS, Ken Griffey Jr CF, Edgar Martinez DH, Mike Blowers 1B, Jay Buhner RF, David Bell 2B, Dan Wilson C, Brian L Hunter LF, John Halama LHP.

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

Umpires -- T Barrett (HP), T Mcclelland (1B), E Cooper (2B), Cederstrom (3B).

Gametime Weather: 85 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind out to center at 9 mph.

SEATTLE 1ST: Gipson walked. A Rodriguez flied out to deep center, Gipson to second. Griffey grounded out to second, Gipson to third. E Martinez lined out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore singled to right. I Rodriguez grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Mclemore out at second. Greer grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 0.

SEATTLE 2ND: Blowers flied out to center. Buhner flied out to right. Da Bell walked. D Wilson struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 2ND: J Gonzalez walked. R Palmeiro flied out to left. Zeile grounded out to third, J Gonzalez to second. R Kelly reached first base on catcher's interference. Clayton flied out to shallow left center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 0.

SEATTLE 3RD: Bl Hunter flied out to deep left. Gipson lined out to second. A Rodriguez walked. Griffey lined out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 3RD: T Goodwin singled to right. Mclemore sacrificed T Goodwin to second. I Rodriguez grounded out to third. Greer flied out to deep left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 0.

SEATTLE 4TH: E Martinez walked. Blowers singled to left, E Martinez to second. Buhner struck out looking. Da Bell struck out looking. D Wilson flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 4TH: J Gonzalez flied out to left center. R Palmeiro homered to right center. Zeile singled to left. R Kelly grounded into fielder's choice to third, Zeile out at second. Clayton homered to left center, R Kelly scored. T Goodwin grounded out to first. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 3.

SEATTLE 5TH: Mike Morgan relieved Jeff Fassero. Bl Hunter singled to left. Bl Hunter stole second. Gipson grounded out to shortstop. A Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. Griffey struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 5TH: Mclemore singled to left. I Rodriguez singled to center, Mclemore to second. Greer singled to center, Mclemore scored, I Rodriguez to third. Todd Williams relieved John Halama. J Gonzalez singled to center, I Rodriguez scored, Greer to second. R Palmeiro walked, Greer to third, J Gonzalez to second. Zeile grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, R Palmeiro out at second, Greer scored, J Gonzalez to third. R Kelly struck out looking. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 6.

SEATTLE 6TH: Shave at third. E Martinez grounded out to pitcher. Blowers grounded out to second. Buhner singled to right center. Da Bell grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Buhner out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 6.

TEXAS 6TH: Ken Cloude relieved Todd Williams. Clayton reached on infield single. T Goodwin flied out to left center. Mclemore walked, Clayton to second. I Rodriguez flied out to deep right, Clayton to third. Clayton scored, Mclemore to second on Cloude wild pitch. Greer doubled to left, Mclemore scored. J Gonzalez doubled to deep center, Greer scored. R Palmeiro struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 9.

SEATTLE 7TH: D Wilson singled to right center. Bl Hunter grounded into double play, shortstop to first, D Wilson out at second. Gipson grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 9.

TEXAS 7TH: Shave singled to center. R Kelly flied out to right. Clayton doubled to right, Shave to third. T Goodwin grounded out to second, Shave scored, Clayton to third. Mclemore grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 10.

SEATTLE 8TH: Danny Patterson relieved Mike Morgan. Zaun catching. A Rodriguez flied out to right. Griffey struck out swinging. E Martinez struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 10.

TEXAS 8TH: Dennis Stark relieved Ken Cloude. Bl Hunter in center. Bournigal at short. S Monahan in left. Zaun singled to left. Greer grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Zaun out at second. Simms hit for J Gonzalez. Simms struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 10.

SEATTLE 9TH: Danny Kolb relieved Danny Patterson. Blowers grounded out to second. Buhner walked. Da Bell singled to center, Buhner to second. D Wilson grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Da Bell to second, Buhner out at third. Bl Hunter grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TEXAS 10.