Game 162: Oct 3, 1999 (L: 1-0)
[ Previous Game | Next Game ]
[ Schedule Menu | Main Page ]

My Commentary

I'm sorry, but I won't be writing any commentary for the Angels series.  As I write this on Monday, I've come down with what feels like the flu, and my head is rather woozy.  I can't think straight for more than a few minutes at a time.  I just wanted to get the site updated before the games against the Yankees tomorrow. 

I did notice that of the six division winners, the Rangers had the fewest wins.  We SHOULD have had the best, since the Indians and the Yankees also fell apart in the final weekend, plus all the game we played against bottom feeders in September that we lost, cost us a serious shot at the best record in baseball (which was owned by Atlanta with a 103-59 record; we had 95-67).

-- Joe Siegler

Game Recap

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA (TICKER) -- Rookie Jarrod Washburn and Lou Pote combined on a five-hitter and Tim Salmon snapped a scoreless tie with a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh as the Anaheim Angels completed a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers, 1-0.

Washburn (4-5) came within one out of his first career complete game, allowing five hits over 8 2/3 innings with no walks and seven strikeouts. Pote recorded his third save by getting Ivan Rodriguez to ground to second for the final out.

"I'm upset at myself for giving up the hit (to Rodriguez)," Washburn said. "I would have liked to finish and get the complete game but it's just good to get a win and have a good end to the season."

With two outs in the ninth, Tom Goodwin singled to extend his hitting streak to 11 games and took second on a wild pitch but Pote got Rodriguez to bounce to second to end the game.

Anaheim needed just one hour and 56 minutes to finish the season with a six-game winning streak. The Angels went 19-10 under interim manager Joe Maddon.

"We'd like to play another month right now," Maddon said. "Some of the players are playing at the top of their games now. It's been a very emotional month and an emotional season. In that regard, it will be nice to step away from it."

The Angels have shown improvement under Maddon, who took over after Terry Collins resigned, but he does not know what his future with the club holds.

"There's absolutely a sense of uncertainty about the future for all of us," he said. "That's pretty obvious. I'm very gratified to see some of the ideas you formulate over the years put into practice and see that they can really work. Of course, I'd like to get the opportunity for more than a month."

Despite the winning streak, Anaheim finished last in the American League West with a 70-92 record despite a $51 million payroll and the addition of free agent Mo Vaughn.

"I do think had we had all the players healthy, we would have done a lot better," Angels left fielder Garret Anderson said. "I don't know who's going to come in here but I wouldn't make a lot of changes but they don't pay me for my opinions."

The Rangers closed the regular season with a three-game losing streak and head to New York to open the American League Division Series on Tuesday against the Yankees. Texas did not win after setting a franchise record with its 95th victory Thursday against Seattle.

"A game like today is a good one to have when you don't have any place to go but New York or fishing," Texas manager Johnny Oates said.

Mike Morgan (13-10) suffered the loss, surrendering the homer to Salmon, who had seven hits in his final 12 at-bats, including three homers in the last two games.

Texas starter Matt Perisho allowed just two hits over six innings, striking out a career-high 12.

"Today, both pitchers were just great," Oates added. "I wouldn't mind every game pitched like that but I wouldn't want to lose them all 1-0."

Rafael Palmeiro of the Rangers went 0-for-3 and finished second in the American League home run race with 47, one behind Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners.

Recap #2

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) _ The AL West champion Texas Rangers have a couple of days to put their game back together for the postseason.

And the Anaheim Angels have all winter to figure out how to put a whole season together.

Those were the postscripts of the Angels' 1-0 season-ending victory over the Rangers on Sunday, which sent Texas to New York on a three-game losing streak for Tuesday night's Game 1 of the Division Series against the Yankees.

Furthermore, the potent Rangers scored only three runs in the final 20 innings of the regular season.

``(It) doesn't matter,'' said Rafael Palmeiro, one of the Rangers' four 100-RBI men, ``When we have to play ball, this team will be ready. The whole team is looking forward to Tuesday.''

It was safe to assume everyone was looking beyond Sunday.

With starters Matt Perisho and Jarrod Washburn throwing strikes and batters freely swinging, the teams completed a game that featured 22 strikeouts in 1 hour, 56 minutes.

``A game like today is a good one to have,'' said Texas manager Johnny Oates. ``You don't want to hang around too long if you have to go to New York, or go fishing.''

The recreation-bound are the Angels (70-92), ironically. It is ironic because the season-ending sweep gave them a 19-10 record after Joe Maddon became interim manager in the wake of Terry Collins' Sept. 3 resignation.

Before going 3-0 in October, the Angels were 16-12 in September, their first winning record in the month since 1991.

Comparable Septembers in recent seasons would have left the Angels sitting atop an AL West dynasty. But they finished the season with a 10-16 month in 1995 (and finished one game out), 10-15 in 1997 (six games out), and 9-15 in 1998 (three games out).

``We'd like to keep playing another month now. The guys are playing real well,'' Maddon said.

Such as Tim Salmon, whose seventh-inning homer off reliever Mike Morgan (13-10) provided the game's only run.

Salmon finished with 17 homers and 69 RBIs.

``A lot of guys are going to beat themselves up over the winter over what happened this season,'' said Salmon, who himself missed two months of it after spraining he left wrist on May 3.

The Rangers, on the other hand, merely hope to beat up the Yankees over the next week. Or at least put up a better fight than a year ago, when they were held to one run while suffering a three-game Division Series sweep to New York.

``There is better balance, and a couple of additional elements. We have more confidence,'' Todd Zeile said. ``Usually, the team that comes hot into a five-game playoff situation can dominate and win.''

Well, that wouldn't be the Rangers, whose bats remained cool Sunday.

Washburn, who came within an out of the first complete game of his career, combined with Lou Pote on a five-hitter.

``Our offense is something I don't worry about,'' said Rick Helling, scheduled to pitch Game 2 Thursday. ``I'm as confident as I can be in our offense. The way we look at it, it doesn't matter who we play. We're one of eight teams with an opportunity to win the World Series. It just so happens we're matched up against the Yankees again.''

New York won six of its first seven games against Texas this year. But the Rangers won three of the final five, including the last two, at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 24-25.

``That's a factor, for our confidence,'' Zeile said.

Aaron Sele (18-9) starts the opener against Orlando Hernandez (17-9).

``We're not going in there with a crystal ball, but I feel this is our best shot,'' Oates said. ``This is the best team I've ever managed.''

The strength of the team _ a persistent offense _ wasn't apparent during Anaheim's quickest game since Sept. 29, 1992, when it took 1:44 for a game against Kansas City.

Perisho, whose previous career high was eight strikeouts, fanned 12 in six innings while blanking the Angels on two singles, both by Garret Anderson.

Anderson went 2-for-3 to boost his average from .301 to .303 for the season, and to .300 for his five-year career.

Making his 21st career start, Washburn (4-5) allowed five hits in 8 2-3 innings, struck out seven and walked none.

After Tom Goodwin's two-out single in the ninth, Pote relieved and threw a wild pitch. He then retired Ivan Rodriguez on a groundout for his third save.

GAME NOTES: Rodriguez went 0-for-4 and finished with 199 hits and 116 runs, both second-highest ever for catchers. Mike Piazza's 201 hits in 1997 and Mickey Cochrane's 118 runs in 1932 are the records. ... It was the Angels' first victory in a day game at home, following six losses. ... Anaheim 2B Trent Durrington went 0-for-3 and finished the season in an 0-for-21 slide and with two RBIs in 122 at-bats.

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

Ranger starter Matt Perisho	Anaheim starter Jarrod Washburn	Texas pitcher John Burkett talks with video guy Don Kalkstein	Luis Alicea turns a double play

Box Score

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

BATTERIES:  TEX - MATT PERISHO, MIKE MORGAN (7TH), JEFF FASSERO (8TH)
                  AND GREGG ZAUN
            ANA - JARROD WASHBURN, LOU POTE (9TH) AND BRET HEMPHILL

             WP - JARROD WASHBURN (4-5)
             LP - MIKE MORGAN (13-10)
           SAVE - LOU POTE (3)

HOME RUNS:  TEX - NONE
            ANA - TIM SALMON (17) OFF MORGAN IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

     TIME:  1:56     ATT:  23,556

Box Score
TEXAS (0) AT ANAHEIM (1) - FINAL

TEXAS                  ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
T Goodwin cf            4  0  1  0   0  1   1  .259
I Rodriguez dh          4  0  0  0   0  1   1  .332
R Palmeiro 1b           3  0  0  0   0  1   0  .324
J Gonzalez rf           3  0  1  0   0  1   0  .326
 Simms rf               0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .500
Zeile 3b                3  0  1  0   0  1   1  .293
Alicea 2b               3  0  0  0   0  0   2  .201
Sc Green lf             3  0  1  0   0  1   0  .308
Zaun c                  3  0  0  0   0  0   0  .247
Shave ss                3  0  1  0   0  1   0  .288

Totals                 29  0  5  0   0  7   5

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - I Rodriguez 1.
GIDP - Alicea 2.  Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: CS - Sc Green (1, 2nd base by Washburn).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (Shave-Alicea-R Palmeiro).

ANAHEIM                ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
Davanon dh              3  0  0  0   0  3   0  .200
Edmonds cf              3  0  0  0   0  1   0  .250
Vaughn 1b               3  0  0  0   0  2   0  .281
Salmon rf               3  1  1  1   0  2   0  .266
Glaus 3b                3  0  0  0   0  3   0  .240
G Anderson lf           3  0  2  0   0  0   0  .303
Hemphill c              3  0  0  0   0  2   2  .143
Durrington 2b           3  0  0  0   0  2   0  .180
Sheets ss               2  0  0  0   0  0   0  .197

Totals                 26  1  3  1   0 15   2

BATTING: HR - Salmon (17, 7th inning off Morgan 0 on, 2 out).
RBI - Salmon (69). 2-out RBI - Salmon. GIDP - Hemphill.  Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (Sheets-Durrington-Vaughn, Durrington-Sheets-Vaughn).

TEXAS                        ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Perisho                       6       2   0   0   0  12   0   2.61
Morgan (L, 13-10)             1       1   1   1   0   2   1   6.24
Fassero                       1       0   0   0   0   1   0   7.20

ANAHEIM                      ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
Washburn (W, 4-5)             8 2/3   5   0   0   0   7   0   5.25
Pote (S, 3)                     1/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   2.15

WP - Pote.  Pitches-strikes: Washburn 98-70; Pote 5-4; Perisho 78-53;
Morgan 14-11; Fassero 8-5.  Ground balls-fly balls: Washburn 8-10;
Pote 1-0; Perisho 3-3; Morgan 0-1; Fassero 1-1.  Batters faced:
Washburn 28; Pote 1; Perisho 19; Morgan 4; Fassero 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Mike Reilly. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Laz Diaz.
3B--Jim Mckean.
T--1:56.  Att--23,556.   Weather: 78 degrees, sunny.   Wind: 5 mph,
left to right.

AL       TEXAS AT ANAHEIM
         NOTE:  TEXAS CENTER FIELDER TOM GOODWIN EXTENDED HIS HITTING
                STREAK TO 11 GAMES WITH A SINGLE IN THE TOP OF THE NINTH
                INNING.

Game Log

Texas Starting Lineups -- Tom Goodwin CF, Ivan Rodriguez DH, Rafael Palmeiro 1B, Juan Gonzalez RF, Todd Zeile 3B, Luis Alicea 2B, Scarborough Green LF, Gregg Zaun C, Jon Shave SS, Matt Perisho LHP.

Anaheim Starting Lineups -- Jeff Davanon DH, Jim Edmonds CF, Mo Vaughn 1B, Tim Salmon RF, Troy Glaus 3B, Garret Anderson LF, Bret Hemphill C, Trent Durrington 2B, Andy Sheets SS, Jarrod Washburn LHP.

Umpires -- Reilly (HP), C Meriwether (1B), Diaz (2B), Mckean (3B).

Gametime Weather: 78 degrees, Sunny, wind left to right at 5 mph.

TEXAS 1ST: T Goodwin struck out swinging. I Rodriguez grounded out to first. R Palmeiro struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 0.

ANAHEIM 1ST: Davanon struck out looking. Edmonds flied out to shallow right center. Vaughn flied out to left center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 0.

TEXAS 2ND: J Gonzalez singled to right. Zeile struck out swinging. Alicea grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, J Gonzalez out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 0.

ANAHEIM 2ND: Salmon struck out swinging. Glaus struck out swinging. G Anderson singled to center. Hemphill struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 0.

TEXAS 3RD: Sc Green struck out swinging. Zaun flied out to right. Shave struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 0.

ANAHEIM 3RD: Durrington struck out swinging. Sheets flied out to right. Davanon struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 0.

TEXAS 4TH: T Goodwin popped out to shallow right center. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. R Palmeiro fouled out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 0.

ANAHEIM 4TH: Edmonds struck out swinging. Vaughn struck out swinging. Salmon struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 0.

TEXAS 5TH: J Gonzalez struck out swinging. Zeile flied out to left center. Alicea grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 0.

ANAHEIM 5TH: Glaus struck out swinging. G Anderson singled to center. Hemphill grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, G Anderson out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 0.

TEXAS 6TH: Sc Green flied out to right. Zaun flied out to right. Shave singled to left center. T Goodwin flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 0.

ANAHEIM 6TH: Durrington struck out swinging. Sheets grounded out to shortstop. Davanon struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 0.

TEXAS 7TH: I Rodriguez flied out to center. R Palmeiro grounded out to first. J Gonzalez flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 0.

ANAHEIM 7TH: Mike Morgan relieved Matt Perisho. Edmonds flied out to left. Vaughn struck out swinging. Salmon homered to right center. Glaus struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 1.

TEXAS 8TH: Zeile singled to left. Alicea grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Zeile out at second. Sc Green reached on infield single. Sc Green caught stealing, pitcher to first. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 1.

ANAHEIM 8TH: Jeff Fassero relieved Mike Morgan. Simms in right. G Anderson flied out to left center. Hemphill struck out swinging. Durrington grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 1.

TEXAS 9TH: Zaun grounded out to shortstop. Shave flied out to right. T Goodwin singled to right. Lou Pote relieved Jarrod Washburn. T Goodwin to second on Pote wild pitch. I Rodriguez grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, ANAHEIM 1.