Wednesday, September 11, 2002
Rangers 3, Mariners 2
The Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers abandoned the long ball for one night, and still beat the Seattle Mariners. Texas' record streak of 27 games with a home run came to an end, but pinch-hitter Todd Greene drove in the go-ahead run with an infield chopper in Tuesday night's 3-2 win over the Mariners.
“We didn't get one, but the home run record is already ours,” said catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who went 2-for-3. “It's good to beat a contending team by doing the little things. We've got a chance to do some damage in our division.”
The Rangers had gone 50 straight games with at least one homer at The Ballpark in Arlington.
Herbert Perry, who went 2-for-3, led off the eighth inning with a double off Joel Pineiro (13-6), and pinch-runner Donnie Sadler went to third on Kevin Mench's sacrifice.
Greene's grounder against Arthur Rhodes with the infield in was chopped so high that third baseman Desi Relaford had to take the out at first.
Greene is a home run threat who has posted high strikeout totals throughout his career, but he turned into a situational hitter with the game on the line.
“Sometimes you just can't catch a break,” Relaford said. “It was a decent pitch, but you've got a fast runner on third. You've got a guy known for hitting flyballs and striking out and he chops one. But he did his job.”
Rich Rodriguez (3-1) needed just one pitch to get the final out of the eighth. Francisco Cordero struck out the side in the ninth for his eighth save in nine chances.
Cordero ended the game with a fastball to Bret Boone that nipped the outside corner.
“It was unhittable, 98 mph on the black,” Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez said. “I'm glad I wasn't in there.”
Seattle wasted another opportunity to help itself in the AL wild-card race, leaving 11 runners on base.
Texas stranded only one and beat Seattle for the second straight night, scoring two runs on grounders.
“The story of that game was the last column on the scoreboard (left on base),” Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. “We've lost two (of the four-game series) here so let's try to win a ballgame and get back to the positive things.”
Alex Rodriguez, who leads the majors with 53 homers, went 0-for-3 after going 4-for-9 with three homers and seven RBIs in his two previous games.
But A-Rod was smiling after beating his former team for the second consecutive night, doing so with pitching, defense and smart hitting.
“Home runs are nice, but pitching and defense win championships,” he said. “We played fundamental baseball like the Mariners do. It's nice to win that way.”
Seattle had seven baserunners over the first three innings, but the Mariners managed only one run during that span.
The Mariners scored a run in the second with the help of a throwing error by Rangers starter Kenny Rogers.
Singles by Dan Wilson and Jeff Cirillo put runners on first and second, then Ichiro Suzuki got down a perfect bunt. Rogers' off-balance throw to third got past Perry and Wilson scored.
Rogers settled down to retire 12 of the next 15 Mariners from the third through the sixth innings.
Texas tied it at 1 in the second on Carl Everett's RBI groundout.
The Rangers went in front 2-1 in the fourth on Ivan Rodriguez's RBI double.
Rogers allowed one run and six hits over six innings. He struck out five and walked three.
Rudy Seanez started the seventh for the Rangers and Seattle got even at 2. Suzuki led off with a walk, went to second on Carlos Guillen's single and both runners advanced on Seanez's wild pitch.
Suzuki raced home on Edgar Martinez's groundout.
Notes: The Rangers will mark the Sept. 11 one-year anniversary with a series of events Wednesday starting at 5:45 p.m. and continuing until the first pitch at 7:12 p.m. for the game against the Mariners. Rangers players will distribute T-shirts and American flags at the gates, bands will perform patriotic songs on the field, and area police and firefighters will be honored. ... Ivan Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to 13 games, longest for the Rangers this season. ... Texas has won five of six.
Reds Stories
Bengals stick with Frerotte
AFC North goes winless
Bengals Q&A: Fans have plenty of advice, gripes
Texans' coach excited, cautious
Sports looks for its place after 9/11
Buckeyes get real test from Wash. St.
UK excited by chance for 4-0 start
West Virginia wary of Guidugli
Xavier women land Lexington star
Moeller cracks Ohio football top 10
Ohio statewide football polls
Cincinnati dominates state volleyball polls
Bacon soccer team puts bad season behind
Highlands (14-0) seeks volleyball respect
Boys soccer polls & honor roll
Girls soccer polls & honor roll
Cross country honor rolls
Cross country results
Boys golf results
Boys soccer results
Girls golf results
Girls soccer results
Girls tennis results
Girls volleyball results
Water polo results
Ohio Football Notebook
• Return to Reds front page...
Rangers 3, Mariners 2 
