Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Rangers continue streak, defeat Mariners 7-6

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Saturday, July 3, 1999

Rangers continue streak, defeat Mariners 7-6

Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas - Rusty Greer singled home the winning run with one out in the ninth inning and the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 7-6 Friday night for their fourth win in a row.
   Texas overcame a 5-2 deficit and won a game in which the lead changed four times.
   After Seattle scored the tying run in the ninth on Alex Rodriguez's sacrifice fly off John Wetteland (2-2), the Rangers came right back.
   Royce Clayton led off with a double against reliever Ken Cloude (3-4) and Mark McLemore was intentionally walked.
   Ivan Rodriguez lined out and Jordan Zimmerman, brother of Texas reliever Jeff Zimmerman, took over and gave up Greer's single.
   Jeff Zimmerman pitched a scoreless eighth, extending his shutout streak to 17 1-3 innings in 15 outings. It was the first time brothers had pitched against each other in the majors since May 27, 1998, when Greg and Mike Maddux did it.
   The Rangers took a 6-5 lead in the eighth when Roberto Kelly hit a solo homer off Cloude.
   Mariners starter Jamie Moyer had won his last seven decisions, but blew a 5-2 lead in the sixth.
   Greer led off with his league-leading 25th double and Juan Gonzalez followed with a run-scoring double to the same spot in left-center field. Todd Zeile and Lee Stevens hit RBI singles.
   Rangers starter Rick Helling had pitched at least six innings in 10 of his last 11 starts, but was chased with two outs in the sixth when he allowed three runs on four hits.
   Alex Rodriguez led off with a single to left field, then reached second on Greer's error. Edgar Martinez followed with a run-scoring single to give Seattle its first lead at 3-2.
   Russ Davis had a sacrifice fly to center and Brian Hunter chased Helling with a run-scoring single.
   Helling's exit ended a five-game streak in which Rangers starters had lasted at least six innings. The five runs allowed by Helling matched the staff's total in the previous 27 innings.
   Notes: Rangers manager Johnny Oates and second baseman Luis Alicea were both ejected at the end of the sixth inning when they argued a called third strike. Oates and Alicea complained about a called third strike to end the fifth inning, and they were ejected by plate umpire Marty Foster for arguing a simliar pitch to end the sixth. ... Zeile extended his hitting streak to 11 games. ... Texas OF Juan Gonzalez officially told the AL on Friday that he does not want to go to the All-Star game unless he's elected by fans to start. He was fifth in the latest vote totals. ... Moyer is 7-0 in his last 11 starts.

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