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Thursday, Jul. 27 8:35pm ET
Gonzalez 1-for-3 with HR in return to Texas | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Two of the players Texas got for Juan Gonzalez beat the two-time MVP in his return to Arlington. Gabe Kapler and Bill Haselman, acquired by Texas in the Gonzalez trade last November, combined for two homers and four RBI Thursday night as the Rangers overcame a three-run homer by their former star to beat the Detroit Tigers 7-3. "I was pretty nervous before the game and I haven't felt like that in a while," said Kapler, who homered in his fourth straight game. "Once the game got going, it was a lot less nerve-wracking. I still have a lot of friends over there. It was a good win." Gonzalez homered in the fourth off Ryan Glynn (2-1) for a 3-0 lead but that was his only hit as he went 1-for-3 with an intentional walk. Texas tied it in the bottom of the fourth against Steve Sparks (0-2). David Segui doubled, Kapler homered for the fifth time in his last nine games, and Haselman homered with two outs, his first since July 4, 1999. Kapler doubled leading off the sixth, took third on a groundout and scored on Haselman's single for a 4-3 lead. "It's always nice to do well against your old team," Haselman said. Rafael Palmeiro added a three-run homer in the seventh off C.J. Nitkowski, Palmeiro's 27th of the season and 388th of his career. He's 36th on the all-time home run list, one behind Johnny Bench. Gonzalez, activated from the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday, drew a mixed reaction from the crowd of 37,748 in his first at-bat, leading off the second. The Rangers' career homers and RBI leader raised his batting helmet to acknowledge cheers, then flied out weakly to right field. Both before and after the game, Gonzalez refused to speak with reporters. Glynn retired his first nine batters, then walked Damion Easley and Rich Becker leading off the fourth and allowed Gonzalez's 14th homer, a liner into the left-field seats. Gonzalez slowly circled the bases, milking the cheers. "I hope we're learning some lessons," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said of his young pitchers. "We talked before the game about hitters like Juan Gonzalez. They make a living when you make a mistake. There are certain guys you can't let reach a ball, and Juan is one of them. I've seen him do that before, especially on a pitch like that." Gonzalez winked at Palmeiro as he rounded first base, and they had another friendly exchange at first when Gonzalez was walked intentionally in the sixth. "I asked him what he was doing hitting a three-run homer like that," Palmeiro said. "He said he didn't hit it good, but he's so big and strong that he's capable of that. But playing him was no big deal. I did it for five years (in Baltimore)." Asked about Gonzalez's slow circle around the bases, Palmeiro said, "You've got to remember he has a bad foot. Everybody has their own interpretation of a home run trot." Glynn got the final two outs of the fourth and retired a total of seven in a row while his offense took control of the game. "Juan has tremendous plate coverage," Glynn said. "Most hitters wouldn't reach that pitch, but he has such great power. The thing is, I didn't let it snowball." With runners on first and second with two outs in the eighth, Gonzalez flied out to right against Jeff Zimmerman, who pitched 1 1/3 innings for his fourth career save, his first since July 22, 1999. Glynn, pounded for nine runs and eight hits by Seattle on July 22, allowed three runs and four hits in 7 1/3 innings. Sparks gave up four runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. The knuckleballer said he should have stayed with his bread-and-butter pitch against Kapler in the fourth. "With a three-run lead, I really should stick with the knuckleball," Sparks said. "I felt I had him sitting back pretty good so I tried to run one by him. He got the bat on the ball and it went out." Game notesGonzalez has 98 career homers at The Ballpark in Arlington. ... Kapler extended his hitting streak to 11 games, tying his career best. ... A Rangers player has homered in four straight games five different times. Palmeiro had been the most recent, accomplishing the feat last August. ... Gonzalez's homer was Detroit's only hit off Glynn in the first five innings. ... Rangers closer John Wetteland was rested by manager Johnny Oates. Wetteland, the subject of multiple trade rumors, had pitched on four consecutive nights and had blown saves in three of six chances. ... Palmeiro has 35 homers against Detroit, matching his high against any team. He also has 35 against Anaheim. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Detroit Clubhouse Texas Clubhouse Gonzalez's Texas return goes smashingly with 3-run HR; Tigers lose
RECAPS Tampa Bay 8 Kansas City 5
Texas 7
NY Mets 4
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