May 13, 2008

Ramon Vazquez hit a game-winning walk-off home run in the 10th inning to give the Texas Rangers a 13-12 victory over Seattle on Monday night.

Former Missouri pitcher Doug Mathis threw a perfect 10th inning in his major league debut and picked up his first career MLB victory.

"It's the coolest thing I've ever been a part of," said the 24-year-old Mathis, who was called up Sunday after the Rangers put starter Kevin Millwood on the disabled list.

Mathis entered in the top of the 10th and got Yuniesky Bentancourt to ground out, Ichiro Suzuki to line out and Jose Vidro to fly out.

Also in the game, Ian Kinsler, another former Tiger, was 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored.

Vazquez's homer came on a 1-0 pitch with one out in the 10th off Brandon Morrow (0-1), who struck out the only other four batters he faced after Seattle tied it with four runs in the ninth off closer C.J. Wilson. Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley hit back-to-back towering homers to start the third against Erik Bedard, who had a five-run lead before even throwing a pitch. Those homers ignited a four-run inning that put Texas up 6-5 and chased Bedard.

"What a game!" Rangers manager Ron Washington said when entering his postgame session with reporters, then repeating that statement when he left. "I guess y'all didn't think we had a chance when we fell behind 5-0 to Bedard. We fooled y'all and Bedard."