The 50 Most Memorable Plays in Rangers History...No. 27-28

Ryan's last pitch
No. 27. Nolan Ryan had three starts left in his career when he walked to the mound at the Kingdome on Sept. 22, 1993 to face the Mariners. The Rangers, 41/2 games out, were trying to stay in the pennant race and need to win every game.

They didn't win this one. Ryan gave up a single to Omar Vizquel and then walked three straight batters. When he finally threw a strike, Dann Howitt hit it into the seats in left field for a grand slam.

That brought up Dave Magadan. Ryan threw a pitch and felt a sharp pain in his right elbow. He threw one more and that was it. His career was over. Ryan had torn a ligament in his elbow. He walked off the mound to a standing ovation and said afterwards, "There's no way I'll ever throw another pitch."

Said Hall of Fame reliever Dennis Eckersley, "It was almost like they had to rip his arm off to get him to stop pitching."

Thrilling comeback
No. 28 - The Rangers and the Angels were tied for first place in the American League West when they met on Wednesday, June 28, at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Kenny Rogers faced Mark Langston and through six innings the Angels had an 8-2 lead.

Luis Ortiz had a double in the seventh and the Rangers scored two runs. Esteban Beltre double home two more in the bottom of the eighth and the Angels brought in Lee Smith to pitch the ninth.

He walked Otis Nixon and Mark McLemore singled through the right side. That brought up Will "The Thrill" Clark, who ripped a double to deep center to bring home both runners in one of the biggest hits in his Rangers career. He went to third on a grounder by Juan Gonzalez and Mickey Tettleton was intentionally passed.

That brought up Ivan Rodriguez, who lined a single to center to give the Rangers a 9-8 victory and sole possession of first place in the American League West at the end of a dramatic comeback.