April 21, 1999 Yankees Diary: Jeets’ home run propels Clemens to victory

With a three-run fifth inning, the Yanks defeated Texas 4-2.

Through Kevin Winterhalt at TheOneKevinW. 21 April 2024, 9:00 a.m. EDT 0 New / 0 Comments

Set Number: TK2 R14 F25 X57692

The defending World Champions, the 99 Yankees, had just defeated Baltimore to improve to 7-1 on the season when I last checked in. But the club hasn’t had much success since then. They had only won once in their previous five games, falling behind Texas 8–5 going into this evening’s match.

In an attempt to turn things around, “Rocket” Roger Clemens accepted the ball for New York. His 1999 campaign got off to a decent start as he pitched well on Opening Day and then shut out Detroit in 7.2 innings the next time out. However, Baltimore blasted him for seven runs on eleven hits in three innings during his most recent performance. Even so, going into this one, he had won 16 straight decisions. Clemens was playing well tonight, and the offense delivered when it counted most.

April 21: Box score: Yankees 4, Rangers 2.

Record: 1.5 GB, 9-5,.643.

The proverb “Leadoff walks aways come around to score” is as ageless as it is full of mathematical jargon. Unfortunately for Clemens, the proverb came to pass this evening. Tom Goodwin, the leadoff player for the Rangers, stole second after taking his free pass to begin. Goodwin broke for third with Rusty Greer at the dish. After backstop Joe Girardi’s throw to left field went deep, Goodwin raced home. The opposition leads 1-0.

Up until DH Chili Davis went up to bat in the bottom half of the second, the Rangers’ one-run lead held firm. Davis, facing Texas starter Rick Helling, attacked the first pitch he saw and tied the score at one with a solo blast to right center field.

Todd Zeile responded in the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run of his own, regaining the Texas lead. But Clemens shut them down entirely from that point on, and it was all the damage the Ranger offense could muster against him.

The Yanks gave Clemens all the offensive he would need to win this one in the bottom of the fifth. Derek Jeter faced Helling at the plate with Chuck Knoblauch stationed at second. In the count of 2-1, Jeets took the lead, just beginning what was probably the best season of his career. Helling hurled a heated ball over the plate for Jeter. After one Jeterian swing, the ball found its way into the right field seats, giving the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

Tino Martinez provided the insurance run later in the period. The Bam-Tino grounded into a fielder’s choice with runners on the corners, scoring Paul O’Neill to double the Yankee lead.

There were opportunities for the Rangers to make progress, as they managed to put runners in scoring position in the seventh and eighth innings. Clemens and the bullpen, however, survived both frames unscathed, advancing the game to the ninth, where the GOAT was waiting to face off. After a difficult week, Mo and the Yankees secured a much-needed victory three batters later.

After two seasons, Clemens had won 17 straight games when everything was said and done. As Jack Curry described it in the New York Times the following day, Clemens was “more bullish than dominant,” and his ability to shut down Texas as soon as a man reached base was crucial to his success that evening. Against The Rocket, the Rangers were 0-for-14 with runners on base, including 0-for-9 when using RISP.

Still, there were some indications that Clemens was in trouble. Since his previous start, Roger has allowed four home runs in seven innings against Zeile. He only gave up four home runs in his remaining 123 innings in 1998. But on this particular night, he persevered and firmly led New York to victory.