Monday, August 12, 1996

New Ranger Burkett feeling like a rookie again

By Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) - The move from Florida to Texas has John Burkett feeling like a rookie again.

"Today I was as excited as my first game in the big leagues," Burkett said Sunday after pitching a six-hitter in his American League debut as the Texas Rangers completed their first road sweep this season with a 6-0 win over the Blue Jays.

Burkett (1-0), acquired from the Marlins last Thursday, struck out eight and walked one in his second shutout this season and fourth of his career.

The Rangers have beaten the Blue Jays six straight times and are 8-1 against Toronto this year.
Burkett said his fastball's location was instrumental in pitching his first shutout since Aug. 11, 1993.
"I was able to throw it where I wanted to today," he said. "But that's what I have to do to be successful. I don't think there's any real difference between pitching this league or the other. If you throw strikes, you're going to win."

Rangers manager Johnny Oates called his newest pitcher's performance a masterpiece of sorts.
"I really didn't enjoy art appreciation class in college," Oates said. "But even Mr. Rembrandt would have been impressed. He painted with the best of them today."

Juan Gonzalez drove in two runs for AL West-leading Texas, which despite the win is still a sub-.500 road team (28-29).

"I wouldn't say we've struggled on the road this season," Oates said. "We certainly have not put together a good streak since the first month of the season. I'd like to get above .500 on the road and this was a good start."

Texas scored an unearned in the fourth off Erik Hanson (10-14). Blue Jays shortstop Alex Gonzalez deflected Darryl Hamilton's grounder into right-center for a two-base fielding error and Ivan Rodriguez followed with a single. Hamilton scored when Rusty Greer grounded into a double play.
Juan Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead in the seventh before Texas blew it open in the eighth with four runs.

David Valle had an RBI double, Rodriguez had a run-scoring single, and Greer was hit the bases loaded to force in a run before Gonzalez got his second sacrifice fly.

Hanson gave up six runs, five earned, and six hits in 7 1-3 innings.

"You can't let (the loss) get you down," Hanson said. "But at least it's better than going out there and getting clobbered."

The Blue Jays, who have lost six of their last seven, threatened in the third, putting runners at the corners with one out. But Burkett got Otis Nixon to fly to shallow left and struck out Domingo Cedeno looking.