Game 158: Sep 29, 1999 (L: 7-3)
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My Commentary

No commentary, as last night was my bowling league, and the game was on during that, and I couldn't see it.   However, it was nice to see that Todd Zeile wasn't really hurt.  However, we have lost Danny Kolb for the rest of the season, and could be losing Mike Munoz for the rest of the season.

In looking at the box score, Aaron Sele had an uncommon off night (especially in the second half of the season).  

-- Joe Siegler

Game Recap

ARLINGTON, TEXAS (TICKER) -- Rookie Gil Meche held the American League West champions in check over five innings, helping deny the Texas Rangers a club record for wins in a season as the Seattle Mariners posted a 7-3 victory.

Meche (8-4), who turned 21 earlier this month, again provided an effective performance. He surrendered two runs and five hits over five innings, walking two and striking out five in his first career start against the hard-hitting Rangers.

"I felt like I threw the ball well," Meche said. "I just tried to get ahead. This is the type of team you don't want to walk."

A 1996 first-round pick of the Mariners, Meche is unbeaten in his last six starts. The righthander has won four times in that span and has allowed more than three runs only once.

"It was a nice season for him," Seattle manager Lou Piniella said. "He's pitched well, very consistent in all of his starts. With more starts, this kid is going to be pretty good."

Meche was helped by a 4-0 lead before taking the mound. Edgar Martinez sparked the first-inning outburst with an RBI single. Jay Buhner was hit by a pitch from Aaron Sele (18-9) with the bases loaded to force home Alex Rodriguez and Charles Gipson stroked a two-run single.

"That's a big key," Meche added. "The team gave me a lead and it really helped."

Texas had a five-game winning streak snapped and failed in its first attempt to set a franchise record with 95 wins.

Sele (18-9) had been outstanding recently but endured another rough outing against the Mariners. The righthander was tagged for six runs and 10 hits over five innings after posting an 0.60 ERA in winning his last two starts. He fell to 0-2 in three outings against Seattle this season, getting shelled for 17 runs and 25 hits in just 17 innings.

"Aaron was having trouble with his command early. He hit two guys, then he got a breaking ball up to (Gipson) and there's two runs," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "Usually he gets ahead in the count, but tonight he was 3-and-1 after 3-and-1."

"I was a little stiff out there," Sele said. "A lot of my pitches were up. Both guys I hit in the first inning were on chest-high fastballs."

Juan Gonzalez led off the fourth with his 38th home run, and Texas pulled within 4-2 an inning later when Rusty Greer tripled home Ivan Rodriguez.

Seattle answered in the sixth as David Bell delivered an RBI double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Martinez. Dan Wilson extended the lead to 7-2 in the seventh with his seventh homer.

"It was good to get off to a good start like we did," Bell said. "That big first inning got us going."

Wilson went 3-for-4 after replacing Buhner, who was hit on the left wrist by Sele's pitch and had to leave following the first inning.

Rodriguez contributed an RBI double for the Rangers, who remained two games behind the Cleveland Indians for the AL's best record.

Recap #2

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- In his last start before opening the playoffs against New York or Boston, Aaron Sele struggled against Seattle.

Sele allowed six runs and 10 hits in five-plus innings as the Seattle Mariners ended the Rangers five-game winning streak, 7-3 Wednesday night.

Sele (18-9) wasn't able to get loose on a chilly, 60 degree night, walking three and hitting two batters in a four-run first inning

"Aaron was doing toe-touches behind the mound, which is uncharacteristic for him," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "His legs felt tight. I don't know, maybe it was the coolness tonight."

Oates he wasn't concerned about Sele, who had won 11 of his previous 13 decisions.

"The guy has given us seven, eight innings almost every time out," Oates said. "He just couldn't get the ball where he wanted to tonight."

Sele still is confident going into the playoffs despite his shortest outing since a five-inning stint July 3 -- also against Seattle.

"I can't be disappointed in the way the season has gone," said Sele, who had gone 15 straight starts of six or more innings. "Tonight was an anomaly with the way the season has gone."

Edgar Martinez and Charles Gipson drove in two runs each for Seattle.

Juan Gonzalez hit his 38th homer and Royce Clayton got his 1,000th career hit for the Rangers, one victory shy of the franchise record of 95 wins The Rangers are two games behind Cleveland and 1½ behind the New York Yankees in the race for home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs.

Seattle's Ken Griffey Jr. had two doubles and struck out three times, remaining two homers shy of becoming the youngest player ever to hit 400 home runs.

Mariners rookie Gil Meche (8-4) took advantage of a four-run lead in the first inning and won his fourth straight decision, allowing two runs and five hits in five-plus innings.

"It was a nice season for him," Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. "He's pitched very well, very consistent in all his starts. With more starts, this kid is going to be pretty good."

In the first, Gipson had a two-run single and Martinez an RBI single, and another run scored when Jay Buhner was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Gonzalez's solo homer in the fourth and Rusty Greer's RBI triple in the fifth made it 4-2.

Seattle made it 6-2 the sixth as the Mariners knocked out Sele. David Bell had an RBI double off Sele and Martinez added a sacrifice fly off reliever Mike Venafro.

Seattle went in front 7-2 in the seventh on Dan Wilson's seventh homer, and Ivan Rodriguez's run-scoring double in the seventh made it 7-3.

GAME NOTES: The Rangers recalled LHP Doug Davis from Triple-A Oklahoma in case Munoz is unable to pitch effectively. Oates said he wants Munoz to pitch this weekend. ... Buhner left in the second with a bruised left wrist after he was hit by a pitch from Sele. ... Gonzalez has received permission from the club to miss Friday's game at Anaheim. Gonzalez will remain in Arlington to be available to give blood to his 3-year-old daughter, Gabriela, who will have surgery. Gonzalez is expected to rejoin the team Saturday. ... Texas 3B Todd Zeile was back in the lineup after missing the final four innings of Tuesday night's game with a strained muscle in his chest.

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

Charles Gipson watches his hit	Pudge looks frustrated with Aaron Sele in the first.	Mighty Griffey strikes out	Royce doesn't make the tag on ARod in time.

Box Score

Line Score
AL  FINAL
                    1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9     R  H  E
                    -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -     -  -  -
SEATTLE             4  0  0   0  0  2   1  0  0     7 13  0
TEXAS               0  0  0   1  1  0   1  0  0     3  9  1   (FINAL)

BATTERIES:  SEA - GIL MECHE, FRANK RODRIGUEZ (6TH), JOSE MESA (9TH)
                  AND TOM LAMPKIN, DAN WILSON (8TH)
            TEX - AARON SELE, MIKE VENAFRO (6TH), DANNY PATTERSON (7TH),
                  MATT PERISHO (8TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

             WP - GIL MECHE (8-4)
             LP - AARON SELE (18-9)
           SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS:  SEA - DAN WILSON (7) OFF D PATTERSON IN THE 7TH, 0 ON
            TEX - JUAN GONZALEZ (38) OFF MECHE IN THE 4TH, 0 ON

     TIME:  2:55     ATT:  39,474

PROBABLES:  SEA - BRETT HINCHLIFFE (0-3, 9.47)
            TEX - JOHN BURKETT (8-8, 5.86)



Box Score
SEATTLE (7) AT TEXAS (3) - FINAL

SEATTLE                ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Da Bell 2b              5  2  2  1   0  1   0  .264
A Rodriguez ss          3  1  1  0   2  2   0  .285
Griffey cf              5  0  2  0   0  3   5  .289
E Martinez dh           2  1  1  2   2  1   2  .342
Lampkin c               3  1  1  0   0  0   3  .297
 a-Blowers ph-1b        1  0  0  0   0  0   2  .282
Buhner rf               0  0  0  1   0  0   0  .225
 D Wilson 1b-c          4  1  3  1   0  1   0  .267
Ibanez 1b-rf            5  0  1  0   0  1   6  .264
Gipson 3b               5  0  1  2   0  0   3  .227
Bl Hunter lf            5  1  1  0   0  2   4  .233

Totals                 38  7 13  7   4 11  25

a-grounded to pitcher for Lampkin in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - Griffey 2 (26, Sele, Perisho); Da Bell (30, Sele);
Ibanez (7, Perisho). HR - D Wilson (7, 7th inning off D Patterson
0 on, 0 out). SF - E Martinez. RBI - E Martinez 2 (86), Buhner (38),
Gipson 2 (8), Da Bell (76), D Wilson (38). 2-out RBI - Gipson 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Bl Hunter 2, Lampkin 1,
E Martinez 1, Blowers 1. GIDP - Gipson.  Team LOB - 11.

BASERUNNING: SB - A Rodriguez (20, 2nd base off Sele/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Rodriguez-D Wilson).

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Mclemore 2b             3  1  2  0   2  1   0  .278
I Rodriguez c           5  1  1  1   0  1   4  .333
Greer lf                5  0  2  1   0  0   5  .302
J Gonzalez rf           4  1  1  1   0  0   2  .324
R Palmeiro dh           3  0  0  0   1  0   0  .330
Zeile 3b                3  0  0  0   1  1   1  .294
L Stevens 1b            4  0  0  0   0  2   2  .280
Clayton ss              4  0  2  0   0  2   1  .287
T Goodwin cf            4  0  1  0   0  0   2  .252

Totals                 35  3  9  3   4  7  17

BATTING: 2B - I Rodriguez (29, Fr Rodriguez). 3B - Greer (3, Meche).
HR - J Gonzalez (38, 4th inning off Meche 0 on, 0 out).
RBI - J Gonzalez (126), Greer (101), I Rodriguez (109).
2-out RBI - Greer, I Rodriguez. Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - Greer 4, J Gonzalez 1. GIDP - T Goodwin.  Team LOB - 9.

FIELDING: E - Zeile (24, throw). DP: 1 (Clayton-Mclemore-L Stevens).

SEATTLE                      ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Meche (W, 8-4)                5       5   2   2   2   5   1   4.73
Fr Rodriguez                  3       3   1   1   1   1   0   5.75
Mesa                          1       1   0   0   1   1   0   5.05

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Sele (L, 18-9)                5      10   6   6   3   6   0   4.79
Venafro                       1       0   0   0   0   1   0   3.22
D Patterson                   1 2/3   1   1   1   0   2   1   4.98
Perisho                       1 1/3   2   0   0   1   2   0   6.23

Sele pitched to 3 batters in the 6th.

IBB - E Martinez (by Perisho). HBP - Lampkin (by Sele); Buhner (by Sele).
Pitches-strikes: Sele 99-59; Venafro 7-5; D Patterson 21-16; Perisho 27-16;
Meche 86-49; Fr Rodriguez 36-22; Mesa 31-18.  Ground balls-fly balls:
Sele 4-5; Venafro 1-1; D Patterson 2-1; Perisho 2-0; Meche 3-7;
Fr Rodriguez 6-2; Mesa 2-0.  Batters faced: Sele 29; Venafro 3;
D Patterson 6; Perisho 7; Meche 22; Fr Rodriguez 12; Mesa 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Tim Mcclelland. 1B--Eric Cooper. 2B--Gary Cederstrom.
3B--Ted Barrett.
T--2:55.  Att--39,474.   Weather: 70 degrees, clear.   Wind: 8 mph,
out to right.

Game Log

Seattle Starting Lineups -- David Bell 2B, Alex Rodriguez SS, Ken Griffey Jr CF, Edgar Martinez DH, Tom Lampkin C, Jay Buhner RF, Raul Ibanez 1B, Charles Gipson 3B, Brian L Hunter LF, Gil Meche 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, Aaron Sele RHP.

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

Gametime Weather: 70 degrees, Clear, wind out to right at 8 mph.

SEATTLE 1ST: Da Bell singled to center. A Rodriguez walked, Da Bell to second. Griffey struck out swinging. E Martinez singled to left, Da Bell scored, A Rodriguez to third. Lampkin hit by pitch, E Martinez to second. Buhner hit by pitch, A Rodriguez scored, E Martinez to third, Lampkin to second. Ibanez struck out swinging. Gipson singled to left, E Martinez and Lampkin scored, Buhner to second. Bl Hunter struck out looking. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: Mclemore struck out swinging. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. Greer singled to left. J Gonzalez flied out to deep center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TEXAS 0.

SEATTLE 2ND: Da Bell grounded out to first. A Rodriguez walked. A Rodriguez stole second. Griffey struck out swinging. E Martinez walked. Lampkin popped out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 2ND: Ibanez in right. D Wilson at first. R Palmeiro lined out to center. Zeile flied out to shallow right. L Stevens struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TEXAS 0.

SEATTLE 3RD: D Wilson singled to center. Ibanez flied out to shallow left. Gipson lined out to right. Bl Hunter lined out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 3RD: Clayton singled to right. T Goodwin flied out to center. Mclemore singled to center, Clayton to second. I Rodriguez flied out to deep right, Clayton to third. Greer lined out to center. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TEXAS 0.

SEATTLE 4TH: Da Bell lined out to second. A Rodriguez struck out looking. Griffey doubled to left center. E Martinez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 4TH: J Gonzalez homered to left. R Palmeiro grounded out to first. Zeile walked. L Stevens struck out swinging. Clayton struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TEXAS 1.

SEATTLE 5TH: Lampkin singled to center. D Wilson singled to center, Lampkin to second. Ibanez grounded into fielder's choice to second, Lampkin to third, D Wilson out at second. Gipson grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Ibanez out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TEXAS 1.

TEXAS 5TH: T Goodwin grounded out to first. Mclemore walked. I Rodriguez grounded into fielder's choice to third, Mclemore out at second. Greer tripled to deep left, I Rodriguez scored. J Gonzalez popped out to first. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TEXAS 2.

SEATTLE 6TH: Bl Hunter reached on bunt single to third. Bl Hunter to second on 3rd baseman Zeile's throwing error. Da Bell doubled to right, Bl Hunter scored. A Rodriguez singled to left, Da Bell to third. Mike Venafro relieved Aaron Sele. Griffey struck out swinging. E Martinez hit sacrifice fly to center, Da Bell scored. Lampkin grounded out to second. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error) SEATTLE 6, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 6TH: Frank Rodriguez relieved Gil Meche. R Palmeiro popped out to third. Zeile struck out swinging. L Stevens grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 6, TEXAS 2.

SEATTLE 7TH: Danny Patterson relieved Mike Venafro. D Wilson homered to left. Ibanez lined out to left. Gipson grounded out to shortstop. Bl Hunter grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 7TH: Clayton reached on infield single. T Goodwin grounded into double play, shortstop to first, Clayton out at second. Mclemore singled to left. I Rodriguez doubled to right, Mclemore scored. Greer grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, TEXAS 3.

SEATTLE 8TH: Da Bell struck out swinging. A Rodriguez struck out swinging. Matt Perisho relieved Danny Patterson. Griffey doubled to right center. E Martinez intentionally walked. Blowers hit for Lampkin. Blowers grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 8TH: D Wilson catching. Blowers at first. J Gonzalez grounded out to third. R Palmeiro walked. Zeile flied out to shallow center. L Stevens grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, R Palmeiro out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, TEXAS 3.

SEATTLE 9TH: D Wilson struck out swinging. Ibanez doubled to left. Gipson grounded out to shortstop, Ibanez to third. Bl Hunter struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 9TH: Jose Mesa relieved Frank Rodriguez. Clayton struck out swinging. T Goodwin singled to right. Mclemore walked, T Goodwin to second. I Rodriguez grounded into fielder's choice to third, T Goodwin to third, Mclemore out at second. I Rodriguez to second on fielder indifference. Greer grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, TEXAS 3.