There were 35,000 plus tickets sold. The Rangers lost to the Twins 1-0 . The losing pitcher was John Dettmer who pitched 7 1/3 innings giving up one run. That winning run was scored in the first inning on a single by the late Kirby Puckett (driving in the always annoying Chuck Knoblauch).
Of course, everyone remembers the game the next day – July 28, 1994 – it’s chapter 14, on page 197 in the book “Perfect”.
Why do I bring this up?
Because I went to Frisco this weekend to watch a baseball game – not the one that's being written and talked about on Sunday – I was at Saturday night’s game. The one no-one, except me, will write about.
The game was interesting – Michael Schlact had another rough outing – 6 IP – 10 Hits – 5 ER 4 BB – 1 K. He left in the 7th without recording an out and San Antonio (Padres) leading 5-4. Brian Gordon came in got the Riders out of the inning without allowing any of inherited runners to score, and pitched well in the 8th and 9th (1 hit, 0BB, 3K) to earn the win. On the offensive side of things – Max Ramirez did not start the game – came in the bottom of the 8th as a pinch hitter (and promptly grounded into a double play) Chris Davis struck out twice and was intentionally waked in the 8th inning – and wound up scoring the winning run on LF Dustin Majewski’s single.
A few things I noticed: I knew it was going to be nice afternoon when Chris Davis took the time to smile and wave …. Ben Harrison has a really cheesy mustache (see the photo gallery)… since I published a picture of Steven Murphy in his fetching pink uniform top previously, I felt I had to publish a more “manly” picture of him in his regular uniform top (also in the very brief photo gallery for this game)…as I wrote on another blog – you’ve heard players say that the double play is a “pitcher's best friend” – I’m here to tell you that Elvis Augusto Andrus all by himself is “the pitcher's best friend”… Frisco turned four double plays during Saturday’s game – two of them started by Andrus – his defense definitely lives up to the hype - by the way Elvis is hitting .286 in his last 10 games…RHP Tommy Hunter was sitting a couple rows in front of me chartin
g pitches and definitely enjoying the change of venue from Bakersfield … C Tim Gradoville showed some real chutzpah by bunting with 2 strikes in the 2nd inning – and yes, he got the bunt down and was called safe at 1st – although some of us were under the impression that the 1st base umpire was being very generous to Riders all afternoon.But in the end, Saturday’s game was just a prelude to bigger things the next day….
P.S. Baseball Mom and I were at Kenny Rogers perfect game on July 28, 1994 – and I have the ticket stub to prove it -- Marla Hooch
5 comments:
I'm so jealous that you were at that perfect game. I'm beginning to wonder if I'll see one in my lifetime. Particularly one by a Rangers pitcher.
For now, however, I'm enjoying the complete games we're getting. Two this season. CRAZY!
I was lucky enough to see Mike Witt's perfect game against us, and Nolan's 7th no-hitter, the absolutely BEST, most exciting ballgame I've ever seen. The post-season losses were more intense (for me - hanging on every pitch), but Nolan's 7th was the best - and my wife's and my first official date.
Here's the funny part of the perfect game: I've never been a Kenny Rogers fan - ever - when we realized that he was throwing a no-hitter - I did my best to "jinx" it by talking about it with Baseball Mom and the fans sitting around us (who chided me for trying saying "no-hitter" and "perfect game" out loud more than once) ... obviously it didn't work.
A friend and I actually discussed whether or not to go to what turned out to be his perfect game, and decided no. In fact, that was one of very, very few games that I didn't watch or listen to any part of while it was happening.
Marla, a bit of trivia having to do with nothing you are writing about ... the Roger Maris Museum is in a nice shopping mall in Fargo, ND. (coldwater creek, talbots... nice!) Just thought you should know. And the local cable access in Brookings SD had polka music and dancing last night.
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