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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DENVER (AP) -- John Wetteland is among the long list of closers who resemble flailing middle relievers at Coors Field.
|  | | Larry Walker tosses his bat after popping out in the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers on Friday night. |
Terry Shumpert hit a two-run single off Wetteland in the 12th
inning to give the Colorado Rockies a 3-2 victory over the Texas
Rangers on Friday night.
Wetteland (3-2) fell to 0-2 with a 20.25 ERA in six games at
Coors, joining the likes of hard-throwers Billy Wagner, Matt
Mantai, Ugueth Urbina, Robb Nen and even John Rocker who have seen
saves disappear into the thin air.
"He's human," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. "He had a
streak going for us before tonight. He's been very good for us.
Those things happen once in a while."
Ivan Rodriguez had given the Rangers a 2-1 lead in the top of
the inning with a run-scoring single, but Wetteland (3-2) couldn't
get an out and blew his first save in his last 15 chances.
"Everybody talks about the streak," Wetteland said. "What I
keep saying is Dimaggio's streak came to an end. Cal's came to an
end. Streak's come to an end. I'm not naive enough to think it
could go on forever."
Julian Tavarez (4-2) pitched two innings in relief as Colorado's
bullpen improved to 18-5 this season.
Jeff Cirillo started the game-winning rally with a leadoff walk,
and Todd Helton followed with a single to left. Cirillo moved to
third and Helton went to second when Rusty Greer bobbled the ball.
Wetteland intentionally walked Jeffrey Hammonds to load the
bases, but Shumpert foiled the strategy when he hit an 0-1 slider
into left-center field, scoring Cirillo and Helton without a play
at the plate.
"It's one of those things where you know it's been someone
different every night," Shumpert said. "I was thinking, 'This is
a perfect situation. Just get contact and you tie the score at
least."'
The Rockies, who have won 14 of 16 at home, missed an
opportunity in the eighth when Mike Lansing failed to get Tom
Goodwin home from third with one out and Larry Walker grounded out
sharply to third.
Walker, activated from the disabled list before the game, went
0-for-5 in his first career start in left field. The five-time Gold
Glove right fielder had been sidelined with an elbow injury since
May 10.
Shumpert made Walker's return a triumphant one, ending the game
with one swing nearly four hours after the first pitch.
"To sit around on the bench all game long and come up there and
get a knock, that's Shump, baby," Jeffrey Hammonds said. "Shump's
a baller. He don't complain. He just does his job and he does it
well."
The frenetic finish overshadowed the second pitcher's duel in
Denver this season. Pittsburgh's Francisco Cordova beat Masato
Yoshii and the Rockies 2-1 on May 26.
Texas starter Kenny Rogers, who has pitched into the seventh in
all 12 starts this season, retired 14 straight hitters before
Cirillo doubled with one out in the seventh.
Rogers escaped the threat by getting Helton to pop out and Scott
Servais to ground weakly to third. He gave up just one run and
three hits in seven innings.
Pedro Astacio matched Rogers inning for inning and was never in
much trouble after the second. He allowed one run in seven innings,
while walking three and striking out 10.
Texas took a 1-0 lead on Rafael Palmeiro's two-out homer, his
18th, in the first, and Colorado tied the game on Servais' double
in the second.
Game notes
Palmeiro's homer was the 379th of his career, moving him
into a tie with Orlando Cepeda and Tony Perez for 42nd on the
career list. ... OF Gabe Kapler returned from the 15-day DL and
went 2-for-5. ... Eight of Palmeiro's last 15 hits are homers. ...
Colorado plays 18 of its next 24 games at home. ... Astacio became
Colorado's career leader in innings pitched with 580. ... Texas SS Royce Clayton ended an 0-for-17 slide with a single in the 11th.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Texas Clubhouse
Colorado Clubhouse
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