The 50 Most Memorable Plays in Rangers history... No. 41-42

Continuing the countdown of most memorable plays in Rangers history

The Slaught beaning
41. The worst beaning in Rangers history occurred on May 17, 1986, a day game at Fenway Park in Boston.

Catcher Don Slaught was off to a great start on the season and was hitting .293 when he came to bat with two out in the top of the fourth against Red Sox pitcher Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd.

Boyd threw a fastball that hit Slaught on the left side of his face, breaking his cheek bone in three places and his nose. The whole left side of his face was caved in. Slaught did not return to the lineup until July 4 wearing a helmet with a face mask. He was never quite the same again.

"It was pretty bad," former Rangers public relations director John Blake said. "The worst I've ever seen."

Sierra beats Eckersley
42. Ruben Sierra was a great clutch hitter when he was with the Rangers. Over a period of time in 1989-91, he had a series of big ninth inning hits that allowed the Rangers to beat some of the best closers in the game.

One of them was future Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley and it happened on an afternoon game in Oakland, June 12, 1990, the day after Nolan Ryan had pitched his sixth no-hitter.

The Rangers trailed 5-2 going into the ninth but were kept alive by shortstop Walt Weirs' error. So the Rangers had a runner on first with two out when Eckersley, who had entered the game in the eighth inning gave up an RBI double to Gary Pettis and an RBI single to Rafael Palmeiro. After Cecil Espy replaced Palmeiro, Julio Franco drew a walk.

That brought up Sierra, who brought the rally to a climax with a double to deep right-center. That scored the tying and winning runs and the Rangers held on for a 6-5 victory. It was one of only two blown saves by Eckersley, who also gave up just nine runs the entire season.