Helling Is Only Relief Texas Needs

After watching relievers waste two-run leads in consecutive games, Rick Helling pitched a three-hitter and Juan Gonzalez homered as the Texas Rangers defeated the Minnesota Twins, 6-0, on Monday.

“Before the game, the writers were asking me who was going to pitch the eighth today,” Ranger Manager Johnny Oates said. “Rick Helling took care of that in big style.”

Ranger relievers have lost four consecutive decisions and seven of eight, blowing three of their last five save opportunities.

Helling (18-7) struck out eight and walked three in his second shutout and third complete game of the season. He became the fourth 18-game winner in the AL this year, and helped Texas close to within three games of the first-place Angels in the AL West.

“You don’t expect it on a day when it’s 100 degrees, but they weren’t making me throw a lot of pitches,” Helling said. “But they were up there hacking and that helped me get some quick innings.”

Helling also credited off-season conditioning for increasing his ability to withstand the Texas heat.

“I pride myself on my durability,” said Helling, who has pitched eight innings or more in 22 of 30 starts. “That’s why I work out in the off-season and work out so hard between starts. I’ve always been healthy, and that goes back to keeping myself in shape.”

Juan Gonzalez’s 41st homer increased his major league-leading RBI total to 149, the most in the AL since Ted Williams and Vern Stephens of Boston each drove in 159 in 1949.

Mark McLemore added a two-run homer for Texas in the seventh.