marlins24 no offense but what the hell was that.

You didn't do anything pretty much

What was what?

 

I just asked KJC if he can say the pBp this last inning cause he stopped.

Absolutely amazing that it was so low scoring at that elevation, when the mets and dodgers played there, they were scoring 30 runs combined a game. Astros pitching must have been pretty good to only give up 6 runs, but to allow only one run is simply astounding. Oliver really likes it at high elevations.

great game,

 

Oliver was rolling,

 

big hits by our important hitters,

 

keep it going fellas!

Wow, great game for us. The pitching was fantastic and the hitting came through too. Great to see Choi heating up. Also good to see 9er (Steve) have a good game too he was in a little bit of a slump, and Castro keeps on hitting homers.

great to hear.

 

if this is a preview of the season, we're gonna be just fine....

Anyone find a box score for this one?

i am shocked that 7 runs were scored

 

and i am beyond shocked that we only gave up one

Florida Marlins beat Clemens in 6-1 win over Astros in Mexico City

 

 

Canadian Press

 

 

Saturday, March 13, 2004

 

 

 

 

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Roger Clemens couldn't beat the Florida Marlins this time, either.

 

The Rocket gave up two runs and seven hits in three innings Saturday, taking the loss in Florida's 6-1 victory over the Houston Astros.

 

The last time Clemens faced the Marlins he was wearing a New York Yankees uniform in the World Series. He got a no-decision in Game 4 last October and walked off the mound to a boisterous ovation in what was supposed to be his final appearance before retiring.

 

But Clemens came back to play for his hometown Astros, and he joined his new team in the Mexican capital for a two-game series with the Marlins.

 

He started the game with a strike, but leadoff hitter Juan Pierre smacked his second delivery just short of the 417-foot wall in straightaway centre for a double. Miguel Cabrera made it 1-0 with an RBI single two batters later.

 

In the bottom of the third, Cabrera fell behind Clemens 0-2, but battled back before driving a home run into the evergreens and palm trees beyond the right-field wall to make it 2-0.

 

Cabrera also homered off Clemens in the World Series last year.

 

The Rocket finished with three strikeouts and was relieved by Wade Miller in the fourth inning.

 

"Every time I go, and the longer I go, I feel better," said Clemens, who still characterized himself as "nowhere close right now" to 100 per cent.

 

"I'm not too worried about the result, I just want to get this arm stretched out, get this body stretched out a little bit each time," he said. "I did that. I felt better. My velocity picked up a little bit."

 

Clemens was the big draw for the fans who filled about half of 27,000-seat Foro Sol Stadium. When Clemens went out to warm up, many of those packed into the cheap seats near the left-field bullpen gave him a standing ovation and chanted his name.

 

The crowd also rooted for Clemens throughout his short outing, hissing and booing when the plate umpire didn't give him a called strike on close pitches.

 

"It was a great feeling. I walked out to warm up and the whole stands lit up and were chanting my nickname," Clemens said. "It was really heartfelt and just really nice. It was really special to come all the way down here and see how enthusiastic they were and how excited they were to be here."

 

The game was not the slugfest many anticipated. Mexico City's altitude of 7,200 feet is more than 2,000 feet higher than home run happy Coors Field in Denver, and last year the Dodgers and Mets combined for 57 runs, 74 hits and 14 homers in 20 innings during their two-game exhibition series at Foro Sol.

 

Marlins manager Jack McKeon said his players had no trouble adjusting to the altitude and the city's infamous smog, calling the two-game series "a little longer road trip, that's all."

 

"I'm here to play baseball, I'm not a pollution expert," McKeon said when asked about the local air quality. "I'm not in charge of environmental concerns."

 

Marlins starter Darren Oliver held Houston hitless through 3 1-3 innings before Jeff Kent homered to right-centre. The lefty went 3 2-3 innings and gave up one run and one hit while striking out two and walking two to get the win.

 

After a raucous start, the crowd quieted substantially and settled into its orange and green seats and grey bleachers as a hot and hazy afternoon gave way to a breezy and cool evening. The public address announcer was lost throughout much of the first inning, announcing the wrong batters at the wrong times. The scoreboard showed the incorrect score for more than an inning in the early going.

 

After Clemens left the game, the largest cheer came in the bottom of the eighth, when catcher Ramon Castro and first baseman Hee-Seop Choi hit back-to-back homers to stretch the Astros' lead to 6-1.

 

Houston manager Jimy Williams said the Astros brought 50 players to Mexico's capital so that "the Mexican people could get a look at almost our full team."

 

"My focus is on being here in Mexico City for these two games," he said. "We're going to try to take as best care of our team as we can and get ready for the championship season."

 

Neither club had a Mexican-born player on its roster. Cabrera, a Venezuelan, said he had "very little experience playing in Mexico," but that the crowd at Foro Sol still reminded him of home.

 

"Being here, I feel like being in any Latin country," Cabrera said. "The people here get so excited, so emotional for baseball games that it makes what we do on the field more fun."

That's weird that I can't find a box score anywhere.