John Burkett allowed the first four Blue Jays to reach base, and Danny Kolb was up and warming in the bullpen before there was even an out recorded – I thought Burkett was headed for the quickest exit of the season for him. However, he got it together, and escaped the first inning allowing only one run to score. In fact, that was the only run allowed by him all day. He pitched rather well after the first four batters of the game, going 6 2/3 innings, allowing only one run on seven hits. When he was pulled, we were up 3-1, and it took Tim Crabtree all of one pitch to get out of the 7th. A pretty well pitched game by us, although Wetteland allowed another run in the 9th – he’s getting the saves, but doesn’t seem as dominating as he was the last two years – I wonder if he’s still bothered by the injury that slowed him down at the start of this season.
Our offense was in the 4th inning. We had more than that, but all we needed came in the third. Raffy had another RBI, and Todd Zeile had a two run home run. We did get a fourth run on a Royce Clayton RBI single in the 8th, but that was icing – Raffy & Todd gave us all we needed in the third.
Our pitching kept us in the lead (once we got it), and it was a very cool game to watch. I hope to someday go to that hotel in Toronto and watch the Rangers play. :)
Another road sweep for us, and we’re 27 games over 500 for the first time in club history (not sure if that includes the Senators or not, but I would think it wouldn’t). On to Detroit – would be nice to sweep there, too.
Roster Transaction
- Activated Jeff Fassero before game time.
- Optioned Corey Lee to AAA Oklahoma.
G130: Rangers lose to Toronto, 9-7
Not available – didn’t catch enough of the game. However, I did catch Jeff Fassero’s Ranger debut. That’s about what I expected – he allowed the Blue Jays to get back into the game at the end and make the score much closer than the game seemed to be going.
Rangers acquire Jeff Fassero
TORONTO (TICKER) — Seeking another quality starter, the Texas Rangers hope they landed one today by acquiring lefthander Jeff Fassero from the Seattle Mariners for a minor league player to be named.
The Rangers own a relatively comfortable lead in the American League West, sitting 6 1/2 games in front of the second-place Oakland Athletics. But Texas surely could use a boost in its rotation, with no starter owning an ERA under 4.30.
If nothing else, the 36-year-old Fassero fills the Rangers’ need for a lefthanded starter. Lefthanded batters are hitting .252 against him this season.
Aaron Sele, Rick Helling, Mike Morgan, John Burkett and Esteban Loaiza, who currently make up the rotation, all throw righthanded.
A change of scenery may be just what the doctor ordered for Fassero, who lost his last six decisions with Seattle. He is 4-14 with a 7.38 ERA in 30 games, including 24 starts, and has walked 73 while striking out 101 over 139 innings.
Fassero posted a winning record and an ERA under 4.00 in each of the previous three seasons, the last two with Seattle. He went 44-32 in that span.
The nine-year veteran owns a 91-83 lifetime record with a 3.79 ERA in 359 games, including 191 starts. He pitched his first six major league seasons with Montreal before being traded to Seattle in a five-player deal in October 1996.
To make room for Fassero on the 40-man roster, Texas transferred pitcher Eric Gunderson from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list. Gunderson has been sidelined since May with left shoulder problems and had surgery July 17 to repair a partial cartilage and rotator cuff tear.
The Rangers will make a roster move to accommodate Fassero tonight when he arrives in Toronto for the opener of his new team’s three-game series against the Blue Jays.
From Joe: The decision has not been made as of gametime Friday night – the radio announcers said he is not here yet, but is on the way.
Roster Transaction
- Acquired Pitcher Jeff Fassero off the waiver
wire for a minor league PTBNL. - Moved Eric Gunderson from the 15 day to the 60
day disabled list.
G129: Rangers beat Blue Jays, 8-2
Not available – didn’t catch the game.
G128: Rangers top Yankees, 7-3
This was better. A rather well pitched game by Loaiza (7innings, 3 earned runs), and against the Yankees. Some nice defense behind him, especially by Mark McLemore, who seemed to be playing the best I can ever remember seeing him play lately.
Rafael Palmeiro got yet another home run – he’s about to set offensive records for everything it seems by a Ranger, except probably Juan’s RBI record from last year – I don’t think Raffy will get to 158 there.
Was nice to see a win, although I would have rather have seen this more than once in the last three games. :( The Yankees don’t bother me in principle, but they bother me in the respect that we have that mental block with them still, it seems.
Patterson sent down, Corey Lee called up
The Texas Rangers announced today that lefthanded pitcher Corey Lee has been recalled from Oklahoma of the Pacific Coast Lee. Lee will be in uniform for tonight’s game with New York (#37) and will be making his major league debut.
To make room for Lee, righthanded pitcher Danny Patterson has been optioned to Oklahoma.
Lee, 24, has won both of his starts since being promoted to Oklahoma on August 12 with a 1.29 earned run average. He spent the majority of the season at Tulsa, going 8-5, 4.44 in 22 starts and still ranks 5th in the Texas League in strikeouts with 121 in 127.2 innings. Lee was selected by Texas in the 1st round of the June, 1996 draft and is 36-23 in his 4 pro seasons. His last outing was a win versus Las Vegas on August 19 (8 ip, 8 h, 2 r-er, 2 bb, 9 so).
Patterson is 2-0 with a 5.44 era in 43 relief appearances this season. He allowed 5 runs and 5 hits in one inning of work in Monday’s 21-3 loss to New York.
G127: Rangers lose to Yankees again, 10-7
What a disappointment. :( We battled great in this game, overcome some great bullpen pitching by the Yankees to tie it up, and go to extra innings. However, Corey Lee making his major league debut gave up a three run home run in the top of the 11th. That was too bad, he didn’t look that bad for a kid making his first appearance under pressure against the Yankees.
We try and salvage the third game, which honestly, was the only game I thought we’d win coming into this anyway.
Rafael Palmeiro named AL Player of the Week
NEW YORK (TICKER) — Texas Rangers first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, who had seven homers in as many games and drove in 17 runs, today was named American League Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday.
Palmeiro batted .458 (11-for-24) during the week and led the league with a 1.375 slugging percentage.
The four-time All-Star belted his 349th and 350th career homers on Saturday in a 9-2 win over Boston. He hit his 37th home run of the year on Sunday, tying the club mark for a left-handed hitter.
Baltimore’s Jeff Conine, Seattle designated hitter Edgar Martinez and Tampa Bay pitcher Rolando Arrojo were also considered for the award.
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