A mixed bag for Pudge

Record for games caught achieved, but throwing errors hurt

By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle

June 18, 2009, 12:41AM

• Box score

ARLINGTON — With the most Gold Gloves ever collected by a catcher, Ivan Rodriguez was once one of the most feared men to run against. Yet the 13-time Gold Glove winner committed two costly throwing errors against his former Texas team Wednesday night, marring the game in which he broke Carlton Fisk’s all-time record for appearances behind the plate.

On the night Rodriguez caught his 2,227th game, the Rangers stole three bases, saw those three runners score, and had David Murphy hit a walk-off single in the 10th inning to beat the Astros 5-4.

“That happens,” Rodriguez said after going 1-for-5 with the two errors. “We tried to go there and do our best. I got a base hit. I didn’t go oh-for, so it wasn’t as bad game as what (one reporter was) saying. I’m a player who tries to do his job.

“They got three stolen bases, but one was a stolen base that could be out. Everybody’s human on the field. But the game overall was great. It went extra innings, and the best team won.”

Leading off the bottom of the 10th, Ian Kinsler reached on third baseman Jeff Keppinger’s error. Kinsler then swiped second off Rodriguez, who allowed three stolen bases for the 28th time in his career. Michael Young followed with a single, putting runners at the corners. Jeff Fulchino intentionally walked Hank Blalock to load the bases. One out later, Murphy followed with his game-winning single to left.

“We kicked the ball around,” Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. “We threw it around. I mean, that’s unacceptable.

“We’re a much better team than that. I’m totally not happy with that. Am I happy for Pudge? Yeah. I’m tickled for Pudge. It’s great that he was able to break the record, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen on a good night for us.”

‘Awesome’ experience

Rodriguez could only celebrate his record with a loss before an appreciative crowd of 32,425 at Rangers Ballpark.

“It was awesome,” Rodriguez said. “What happened today out there was unbelievable. A standing ovation my first time up — it was awesome. I got some goose bumps when that happened. The video that they did in the third inning was unbelievable.

Fisk sent his regards.

“Congratulations to the other Pudge on achieving this amazing milestone, as I know the endurance and strength it took to get there,” Fisk said in a statement.

The Astros, who are 0-5 this season against the Rangers, are left to avoid a season sweep in today’s finale of the three-game Arlington portion of the Lone Star Series.

Michael Bourn led off Wednesday’s game with a walk, stole second and reached third on Keppinger’s groundout to short. Miguel Tejada followed with an RBI groundout to second, giving the Astros a 1-0 lead. Kinsler led off the bottom of the first with a routine fly but reached safely for a double after Jason Michaels lost the ball in the sun’s glare. Kinsler then stole third and scored when Rodriguez’s throw sailed into the outfield.

Ortiz’s streak snapped

That run snapped Russ Ortiz’s scoreless streak at 172⁄3 innings. Rodriguez’s second error led to an unearned run against Ortiz, who allowed seven hits and four runs (three earned) with one walk and five strikeouts over six innings.

Moments after the Rangers offered a video tribute to Rodriguez in the middle of the third, Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove Ortiz’s 0-1 pitch over the right-field wall for a leadoff home run.

Carlos Lee tied it at 2 with a leadoff homer in the fourth. One out later, Hunter Pence, who was 4-for-5 with a home run and two doubles, hit a double. After Rodriguez popped out to short, Kaz Matsui gave the Astros a 3-2 lead with an RBI single.

Nelson Cruz tied the score at 3 with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth. Omar Vizquel hit a one-out single in the bottom of the fifth. He then stole second, reaching third on Rodriguez’s throw to Matsui, who had it knocked out by Vizquel at second. Kinsler followed with a sacrifice fly, giving Texas a 4-3 lead.

Pence tiedit at 4 with a solo home run in the eighth off Eddie Guardado.

“Every loss is tough,” Pence said, “but today is really about Pudge. We’re all really happy for him.”

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