OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

Moriarty9 · 12-12-2008, 10:18 PM

Wild walk off win
Johnson homer sinks Rangers
June 1, 1998

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Charles Johnson has just six RBI on the season, and none bigger than the one he picked up tonight.

Johnson hit a walk-off home run to lead off the last of the ninth inning to give the Tampa Bay Devil Rays a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers at Tropicana Field.

"I was just looking for solid contact, looking to get on base and hope the rest of the guys could push me around," Johnson said. "I knew I was getting a fastball on 3-1, and just wanted to pull it into left for a basehit but it carried enough to get into the stands."

Johnson's home run, his fourth of the season, landed just over the wall and leftfielder Rusty Greer's mitt, 325 feet from home plate. "They must've turned on the air conditioner to make up the difference," Johnson joked.

Will Clark also homered in the ballgame, hitting a solo home run off John Burkett in the sixth inning. Geoff Jenkins hit one for Texas, taking Pedro Martinez deep for a solo shot in the fourth inning.

Martinez did not factor in the decision, having been lifted after the eighth inning. He gave up four runs on 10 hits and one walk with eight strikeouts over eight innings. Vic Darensbourg picked up the win for Tampa Bay, walking one and giving up one hit in his one inning of work, striking out one.

Ed Vosberg fell to 2-2 with the loss, giving up the walk off home run to the only batter he faced. Burkett have up four runs, three earned, on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.

12-12-2008, 10:18 PM	#28 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,323 Thanked 1x in 1 post	Wild walk off win Johnson homer sinks Rangers June 1, 1998 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Charles Johnson has just six RBI on the season, and none bigger than the one he picked up tonight. Johnson hit a walk-off home run to lead off the last of the ninth inning to give the Tampa Bay Devil Rays a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers at Tropicana Field. "I was just looking for solid contact, looking to get on base and hope the rest of the guys could push me around," Johnson said. "I knew I was getting a fastball on 3-1, and just wanted to pull it into left for a basehit but it carried enough to get into the stands." Johnson's home run, his fourth of the season, landed just over the wall and leftfielder Rusty Greer's mitt, 325 feet from home plate. "They must've turned on the air conditioner to make up the difference," Johnson joked. Will Clark also homered in the ballgame, hitting a solo home run off John Burkett in the sixth inning. Geoff Jenkins hit one for Texas, taking Pedro Martinez deep for a solo shot in the fourth inning. Martinez did not factor in the decision, having been lifted after the eighth inning. He gave up four runs on 10 hits and one walk with eight strikeouts over eight innings. Vic Darensbourg picked up the win for Tampa Bay, walking one and giving up one hit in his one inning of work, striking out one. Ed Vosberg fell to 2-2 with the loss, giving up the walk off home run to the only batter he faced. Burkett have up four runs, three earned, on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.