Article:Home Runs of May 12, 2008

See Ya, To Morrow!
It was a fair night in Arlington when 18,509 people took their seats unaware they were about to witness what bad pitching, horrible defense, and fourteen mile per hour winds blowing out from home plate can do in a hitter's ballpark. More simply put, this night would host a slugfest...

The Seattle Mariners were in Texas for the first of this three game series against the Texas Rangers. Erik Bedard took the hill against Vincente Padilla. Neither pitcher would last very long into the night, but everyone else was in for a long game...

The Mariners started off quickly; capitalizing on a Ramon Vazquez error. With a runner on base, Raul Ibanez became the first player to trot around the bases; blasting a home run down the right field line. The scoring wouldn't be over. After a few more singles, Padilla was able to strikeout Wladimir Balentien to end the inning. The damage was done as five runs strolled across the plate in the top half of the first inning...

After being down early, the Rangers knew this one was far from over. Ian Kinsler would double to lead off the game. Michael Young would follow with a single to center, bringing Kinsler around to score. That would be the only run the Rangers would muster that inning. On the other end, Padilla would retire the Mariners on ten pitches in the top of the second inning. German Duran would then cut the deficit for the Rangers by one more on his sacrifice fly to left field. Padilla took the mound again in the third, needing only eleven pitches against four batters to set down the suddenly struggling Mariners. That is when things got really ugly...

Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley go back-to-back to lead off the bottom of the third. After another walk, double, and RBI single, Erik Bedard's night would come to a quick end. After two innings, sixteen batter, and 94 pitches, Bedard had six earned runs and an early shower. Texas, now with a one run lead, stayed strong behind the arm of Padilla. A run would not cross the plate on Vincente through the fifth inning. The Mariners were just as fortunate to have a solid arm out on the mound. After coming in as relief in the third, Cha-Seung Baek pitched three whole innings without Texas crossing the plate...

Padilla grew tired after one batter in the sixth inning. Frank Francisco came on in relief, inheriting a runner on second base. Francisco couldn't stop Jeff Clement from scoring that inning, but he ‘’did’’ make sure to escape with the game tied. That is how the score would remain until the bottom of the seventh inning...

Veteran leader Michael Young stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in what was a tied ballgame. He hit a ground ball to second baseman Jose Lopez. Lopez fielded the ball and went for a force out of Ian Kinsler instead of simply throwing out Young. His attempt was not of success, as everyone was safe. A run scored and the dangerous Josh Hamilton was up with the bases loaded. He would knock in two more runs, adding to his league leading total. Frank Catalanotto (replacing Milton Bradley) would follow with a single, bringing Young in to score. Four runs and a late lead let the Rangers sit a little more comfortably, but it wouldn't be for long...

Texas pitcher Joaquin Benoit gave up a two run home run to Wladimir Balentien in the eighth. Texas' lead was slimmer, but Seattle's pitching could not hold the Rangers down. Four walks in the inning by Arthur Rhodes and Mark Lowe gave Texas two more runs. It became a four run game again going into the ninth...

With C.J. Wilson on the hill to close this out, the Rangers were sitting pretty. That was until Raul Ibanez drove a ball to center field, scoring a run, and Jose Lopez singled to bring the tying run to the plate. With one out, Jeff Clement stepped up in the box. With a 2-2 count, he watched strike three go right on by him. Kenji Johjima followed. His at-bat would end with C.J. Wilson headed to the dugout; as Johjima trotted around the bases to tie the ballgame.

"He's been good up to this point," Texas’ Ron Washington said about Wilson. "I don't think there's a closer out there that hasn't blown one. He just blew one tonight. What are you going to do? We had our two best guys [Benoit and Wilson] out there. You just have to tip your cap to them.”

So the game was tied. The Rangers would have an opportunity to walk-off in the ninth, but not a chance. Brandon Morrow would strike out the side on twelve pitches. Seattle was unable to generate any offense of their own in the first of extra innings. In the bottom of the inning, fourteen minutes after midnight, Ramon Vazquez would take the second pitch he sees versus Morrow and send it over the right field fence. He would then follow this feat by trotting around the bases in celebration as both teams walked off the field. Unfortunately for Seattle, it was Texas walking-off with the victory...

“Fantastic,” was how Kinsler felt. “We’re an emotional team and we thrive off emotions. When we got down, 5-0, everybody in that dugout still felt we could come back and win that game. Obviously, with Bedard on the mound, we had to battle, but we did it.”

"Awesome," catcher Gerald Laird said. "We're on a roll. We feel like we're playing great baseball and are tough to beat. Sometimes you win good, sometimes you win ugly. This was an ugly win but it's all about W's."

"That's a great feeling," Vazquez said. "That's all the power I had."

Twelve pitchers, three errors, seven unearned runs, ten innings, fourteen walks, and six home runs later, the game was finally over. Ramon Vazquez, who cost his three runs in the first inning, became the hero.

Does he also take home Homer of the Day honors? You decide...

On Another Note:

 * This game was only the third occurrence in Rangers’ franchise history they had at least 13 walks, and the first since April 1996.


 * Josh Hamilton’s home run in the 3rd inning was measured at 447 feet. What power!


 * Rookie right-hander Doug Mathis earned his first Major League victory in his Major League debut. His words after the game were, “This is the coolest thing I’ve ever experienced.”

Homer of the Day (May 11, 2008)
And the Homer of the Day for May 11, 2008 goes to...

…

On Another Matter:
Thanks to everyone who has been voting, especially those who have since the very beginning (you know who you are). Like I said, the more votes we have in these articles, the better. It makes it more interesting, and makes me feel better when I post these articles.

I would like to thank Falcon02520 for writing the recap of the Mariners/Rangers game for me. It was a great recap, and I couldn’t have done better. I really appreciate your help in an effort for me to try and catch up.