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Boy, does Fenway Park really play a part in the games played there. The stadium itself really changes the impact on the game played. There was a ball that would have been a home run in any other park except this one, a few doubles (possibly home runs) that were just singles here. Forced plays at second… Yeesh!
I always like playing the Red Sox, because the games themselves always seem to be good games. And this was. It was a good game that the Rangers came out on the short end of. And I’m getting tired of saying that. I want to win these things, not lose them.
I thought Sele was pitching well, but again the wheels fell apart in the middle innings. We just can’t seem to get by the middle innings. I only watched this game in pieces as I was flipping between the game and the regular NBC Thursday night TV stuff. :)
I also wanted to say that I agree with Jim below about Mark McLemore.
Commentary by Jim Meeks:
The Rangers just can’t seem to win back-to-back games anymore.
Since the Rangers swept the Twins (that last game of that series being April 25th), the Rangers have swapped wins and losses and are 4-5.
After winning Wednesday, Thursday became no exception to the recent win-loss rule. Aaron Sele pitched like it was May instead of April. He wasn’t terrible, but he wasn’t effective either. He gave up 3 runs in 5.1 innings against his old mates – and it could have been much worse. He allowed 12 base runners during that span – not including a couple of base runners who reached on Ranger errors.
Offensively, the Rangers didn’t do a whole lot. After I touted Gonzalez yesterday, he woefully struck out 3 times Thursday. The Rangers managed 10 hits and even a small rally in the 9th inning, but they just couldn’t get the job done and lost 3-2.
Something should be said about the play of Mark McLemore. Although he made an error Thursday, he has played pretty well in the field and has been decent with the bat. McLemore was a guy I thought would retire after last season yet he keeps surprising me with his health and talent.

Really busy day at work, didn’t get to this until 4:30PM. Was nice to get a big win, but again we bunched up in the first inning. Couple of homers over the green monster. Juan’s looked like it was going out of the ballpark completely! I thought Stevens played well at first base again.
Rick Helling pitched well, as did our relievers, although Venafro gave up his “out streak”. Nice to get a win.
Commentary from Jim Meeks:
Fenway Park is historically a favorite place for the Rangers to play. Wednesday, the Rangers began a road trip in Boston and seemed to enjoy themselves.
Although the team had some bad news before the ball game concerning Royce Clayton’s shoulder, the Rangers exploded for 5 runs in the first inning off Boston starter Pat Rapp. Pudge Rodriguez capped off the inning with a 3-run homer, his 5th of the year.
Rick Helling cruised, for once. In his 6.1 innings, he allowed no homers, the first time all year he’s accomplished that feat. The bullpen combo of Mike Venafro and Jeff Zimmerman held down the Sox to preserve an 8 to 3 win.
Juan Gonzalez homered for the 5th time Wednesday, in perhaps his favorite park to hit in. Expect a big series from him.

Very sloppy game, and our offense did the “get it all at once” theory which seems to be the norm so far this year. However, when the “all at once” is only 4, and you give up double digits, you can see what happened.
We committed four errors, and this was generally a rather bad played game overall. The Rangers historically always seem to be a rather bad team on a day game after a night game. Don’t know how much else to talk about this. To quote one of Jim’s earlier commentaries.. “Ugly, ugly, ugly!”. I had a more interesting time seeing “The Matrix” yesterday than I did listening to this game!
Commentary by Jim Meeks:
The Rangers played sloppily Monday in all stages and lost to the Cleveland Indians 10-4.
Kenny Lofton was the big stars for the Indians, gathering 4 hits and 4 RBI, including a homer.
The Rangers had only 6 hits, none for extra bases. Rafael Palmeiro had 2 of the hits, raising his average to .329. Lee Stevens bounced into 2 double plays, effectively stymying whatever chance the Rangers had. At one point in the 3rd inning, the Rangers rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game, but that was all the runs they would get.
The Red Shoes also committed 4 errors, leading to 2 unearned runs.
Starter Mike Morgan was unusually bad, perhaps bothered with the flu or perhaps he just a bad outing. His 5 runs in 3 innings was by far his worst outing of the year, raising his ERA to 4.05.

Well, I was over some friends’ house for dinner last night, so I didn’t get to see or hear much of any of this game. However, he did have a cable modem, and I got to see score updates from time to time. Naturally, since I wasn’t there, they started doing good again. Saw that Raffy got his 2,000th career hit, which was cool.
Mark Clark went into the 8th inning tonight – virtually uncharted territory for a Rangers pitcher this year. His ERA is still way up in the stratosphere – upper 7’s. Not good.
Commentary by Jim Meeks:
Pitcher Mark Clark, taking a rotation turn on 3 days’ rest for the first time this season, won the ballgame Sunday, with help from Tom Goodwin, Juan Gonzalez and Raffy Palmeiro.
Clark once again laboured through the middle innings but hung on until the 8th inning. The Rangers’ bullpen – which has been near-flawless since Jeff Zimmerman has arrived – once again stopped the opponents.
Clark was not spectacular – only adequate. But adequacy will win you 15 games as a starter for the Rangers, who have an offense capable of burying any opponent (except the Yankees).
Goodwin had a rare good game, getting two hits, stealing a base and being a general nuisciance for the Indians. He refused to comment to reporters after the game, which makes you wonder what bird got into his craw?
Gonzalez ripped another homer and drove in another couple of runs. He’s on a binge right now, so the opponents better not throw him strikes. Gonzo now has 20 RBI’s and is on a pace to drive in 154 runs. Just a week ago – we all wondered aloud as to what destination Gonzalez’ bat had vacationed to.
Palmeiro had 3 hits including his 2000th Major League hit. He also drove in 2 runs.
The Rangers played solid defense behind Clark, who threw 11 ground ball outs.

Well, I was at this game, and I’m starting to think I’m not a good luck charm for the Rangers. They lost again. :(
In the beginning, it looked like Sele was going to dazzle – the first inning was great! We then went one pitch into the second, and there was a rain delay. My season ticket seats are just one row behind where the rain comes when it rains – it’s quite cool, we’ve never had to move from here because of rain. Twice last season (July 4 and the one playoff game) we had to sit through 3 and a half hour rain delays, so this 20 minute one was something to scoff at. :) Anyway, first pitch back was a home run – cripes! Still, I thought Sele pitched fairly well, but the box score doesn’t reflect that.
Doc Gooden pitched really great – figures. Coming in he had a 0-0 9.00ERA record, and wasn’t pitching well this season. Naturally, he picks a night I’m there to step it up.
Ranger bats were virtually silent the whole night – only coming alive in the 8th inning, but a bit too late. Raffy hit a two run home run that was really sweet, as did Todd Zeile to lead off the 9th, but that was it. Pudge almost had a home run earlier in the game, but it went just foul of the right field foul pole. :(
One nice thing – Kelly Dransfeldt played really well. It was his first major league game, going 2-4 and playing well in the infield. The first Indian batter hit a hot smash right at him, and when the play was over he was shown smiling on the jumbotron. Kelly also got a single on his first ever major league at bat, and I saw the ball being taken out of play, which was nice. Kelly was here because Clayton got put on the 15 day DL.
I’m getting tired of saying we lost when I go to a game. :)
Commentary by Jim Meeks:
None this game.