A very thrilling win. A game that we won clutch in the end, that we shouldn’t have had to win. We started off big, putting up a four spot in the first – it could have been more, but Arod was thrown out at the plate during the first. Pudge capped the four run inning with a two run home run. It felt good after the first. However, Tampa’s pitching shut us down for almost the entire rest of the game. We didn’t have any runs (or much else) after the first, and didn’t score again until the eighth. However, Tampa did. They picked away at the lead (including a couple of home runs – one from Ben Grieve), and in the top of the ninth, tied the game 5-5.
Then Pudge stepped up in the bottom of the ninth, and jacked a home run ball over the fence for the win. It was really nice to see the Rangers come out and mob him at home plate, all jubilant (except Carl Everett, who probably thought that was beneath him and was being Mr Slow ass even there).
A really nice win over Tampa Bay. Ismael Valdes had to come out of the game early, which is not a good sign. Especially if we’re trying to trade him. I don’t want to, but we may end up doing so.

Before the game started, I told my wife that this is a game we should win. By 2002 standards, we were tossing our best pitcher out there, and TB had their worst. Of course, whenever I say that, we usually lose. And given the way Tanyon Sturtze pitched, we should have lost. Sturtze pitched an 8 inning complete game loss, giving up just 9 hits (mostly scattered), and three earned runs. He really deserved better, and is probably a better pitcher than his 1-9 record says he is.
On the other hand, he did give up three, and Kenny Rogers gave up just one – a solo shot to David McCarty. Our pitching was better than theirs, and that combo will win you a lot of games – unfortunately we usually can’t say that. Even Rocker was good. :)
This was a game of solo home runs, mostly. McCarty had one for Tampa, and we got ones from Juan Gonzalez & Rafael Palmeiro. Arod also had an RBI elsewhere in the game. A nice game to watch – crisp, moved quickly, too. What a shock. :)

I was at this game. Sat there two hours and got rained out. Can I get my parking fee back?

Too busy at work – no time for summary.

Too busy at work – no time for summary.

Too busy at work – no time for summary.

Dammit! Don’t feel like writing about this. Too frustrating.

Well, when this game started, I wasn’t feeling good about the prospects of a win. We got down early (3-0), and with Valdes on the mound, I figured we wouldn’t score much. However, a few solo shots in the second (Raffy) and third (Ludwick – his first ever) gave me a little better feeling. OK, it’s now 4-2 (as Anaheim scored another in the third).
The game went on, and then we busted out bigtime for our first eight spot of the season in the fifth. It was helped majorly by the fact that the Angels walked five Rangers in that inning (all of whom which scored). There was a major home run by Todd Greene – into the second level of the ballpark right past the left field foul pole. Furthermore, the inning was capped off by a three run jack by Kevin Mench. We scored another in the 6th, as did Anaheim in the 8th, but the game was pretty put away after the 8 spot in the fifth.
Nice to get some runs for Valdes. We’re now at 8 in a row, and I’m feeling good. Unfortunately, we’re gonna start getting some players back from the DL that will definitely interfere with what’s happened. Specifically Carl Everett. I really wish we’d just eat his contract and cut him. The kids are playing far better than he had at any point in the season – and are a hell of a lot cheaper.
BTW, that catch in left field by a fan of Ryan Ludwick’s first ever home run got coverage nationally on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight. They showed the HR obviously, but replayed the fan’s catch on Baseball Tonight in slo-mo and got commentary from the guys doing the show, too. Hope that kid had someone taping it. :)