Game 159: Tigers End Season With a Whimper, 5-1

Milwaukee, WI (Sun., Sept. 28, 1975) - Larry Anderson pitched a complete-game five hitter and the Tigers dropped their season finale, 5-1, to the Milwaukee Brewers at County Stadium.

The Tigers (60-99) finished the season with six consecutive losses, during which they scored just six runs.

The Brewers scored all their runs in the first two innings---two in the first and three in the second off rookie lefty Ed Glynn, who was making his first career start. Glynn lasted just two innings before being replaced by Dave Lemanczyk, who pitched four perfect innings of relief.

Hank Aaron had a two-run double in the first, and George Scott hit a two-run homer in the next inning, his third home run in two games, to help stake Milwaukee to a 5-0 lead.

The Tigers scratched out their run in the fifth inning on three singles, culminating in Terry Humphrey's RBI hit.

Anderson earned his first career complete game as the Tigers bats continued to doze, as they have for much of the season, averaging just 3.5 runs per game.

Milwaukee second baseman Bob Sheldon had three hits, making him 7-for-9 over the past two games.

The Tigers finished the 1975 season in last place for the second year in a row. They won 12 fewer games than last year, though three games were rained out and never made up.

Willie Horton's bid to become the first Tiger since himself in 1966 to earn 100 RBI fell short. He slumped in the final week and remained stuck on 96 RBI.

The Major said: "We just weren't good enough. We deserve our record. It was a transitional year with lots of young players but we weren't good. Period. We knew this would be tough but now it's time to keep getting better. 1976 will be better, I promise. Who knows? Maybe some exciting things will happen in '76."

Tigers  000 010 000  1-5-0
Milw.   230 000 00x  5-8-1

WP: Anderson
LP: Glynn (0-1)

Tigers record: 60-99 (actual 57-102)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-50
Last 10: 3-7

Game 158: Brewers Top Tigers in 10, 3-2

Milwaukee, WI (Sat., Sept. 27, 1975) - Darrell Porter led off the 10th inning with a triple, and one out later scored on a sacrifice fly as the Milwaukee Brewers handed the Tigers their fifth straight loss in the second-to-last game of the season, 3-2, at County Stadium.

Mike Hegan's fly ball to right field was more than deep enough to score Porter, who arrived at home plate without a throw by Leon Roberts.

The Tigers (60-98) and Brewers finish the season Sunday. The Tigers long ago clinched their second straight last place finish after not finishing in the basement since 1952.

George Scott hit two solo homers for the Brewers, in the sixth and seventh innings.

The Tigers trailed 2-1 in the eighth, but tied the game on back-to-back doubles by Bill Freehan and Tom Veryzer.

First baseman Dan Meyer had to leave the game in the fourth inning when he collided with Hegan in a race to the bag, that Meyer won. TV replays seemed to indicate that Hegan's left knee caught Meyer in the jaw. Freehan moved from catcher to first base, and Terry Humphrey entered the game as the new backstop.

Porter started the 10th inning by driving Fernando Arroyo's first pitch up the alley in right-center, legging out a three-bagger ahead of Jerry Manuel's relay to Chuck Scrivener. Arroyo got Bobby Darwin to pop up, but Hegan ended the night with his fly ball.

Vern Ruhle started for Detroit and went eight innings. Arroyo took the loss, while Ed Rodriguez got the win in relief of young lefty Jerry Augustine, who also went eight innings.

The Major Said: "Someone asked me if I was relieved that we can't lose 100 games. I had to laugh, because if that's the standard we set this year, that shows you what kind of year we had. And, no I'm not relieved. I'm angry, to tell you the truth."

Tigers  000 010 010 0  2-9-1
Milw.   000 001 100 1  3-11-0

HR: Scott (MIL, [2])

WP: Rodriguez
LP: Arroyo

Tigers record: 60-98 (actual 57-101)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-49
Last 10: 3-7

Game 157: Broberg Handcuffs Tigers, 6-0

Milwaukee, WI (Fri., Sept. 26, 1975) - Darrell Porter's two-run homer in the first inning proved to be all the offense the Milwaukee Brewers needed, as they beat the Tigers, 6-0, at County Stadium.

The Tigers managed just six hits off starter Pete Broberg in 7.1 innings, and went hitless against reliever Bill Castro the rest of the way.

The Tigers loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning with Milwaukee ahead, 4-0, but Castro entered the game and retired Aurelio Rodriguez and Chuck Scrivener to squash the threat. The Brewers then added two more runs in their half of the eighth.

Porter drove a Ray Bare (7-11) fastball deep over the right field wall with Bob Sheldon on first base in the opening inning for a 2-0 Milwaukee lead. Porter finished with three hits.

The Brewers pounded out 14 hits.

The Major Said: "Too many shutouts. It's inexcusable to have so many games where we don't score a single run. We deserve everything we get these days."

Tigers  000 000 000  0-6-1
Milw.   200 020 02x  6-14-0

WP: Broberg
LP: Bare (7-11)

Tigers record: 60-97 (actual 57-100)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-48
Last 10: 4-6

Game 156: Desperate O's Outlast Tigers in 15, 3-2

Baltimore, MD (Wed., Sept. 24, 1975) - Light-hitting Mark Belanger lined a single into center field with two outs in the bottom of the 15th, scoring Elrod Hendricks from second base, and the Baltimore Orioles kept their East Division title hopes alive with a 3-2 win over the Tigers at Memorial Stadium.

The Orioles tied the game, 2-2, in the eighth inning after the Tigers moved ahead 2-1 in the top half of the inning. Then the teams rarely threatened to score from the ninth through 14th innings.

The Tigers put runners on second and third with one out in the 14th, but Dyar Miller struck out Bill Freehan and Aurelio Rodriguez to end the threat.

In the 15th for Baltimore, Don Baylor led off with a single. Bobby Grich walked, and Hendricks hit a ground ball to shortstop Tom Veryzer, who flipped the ball to Jerry Manuel at second, but Manuel's throw to first was late, putting runners on first and third with one out.

Brooks Robinson hit a chopper to Rodriguez at third base, who gunned out Baylor trying to score. That left things up to Belanger, who stroked a 2-1 fastball from rookie Steve Grilli (0-1) into center field to plate Hendricks from second.

The win kept the Orioles 2.5 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox. The Tigers (60-96) lost their third straight.

Rookie Bob Molinaro had two triples for the Tigers, both off starter Jim Palmer, who went 10 innings. Tigers starter Joe Coleman didn't add to his league-leading 20 losses, but he is still winless since May 19, and he has no remaining starts scheduled.

The Major Said: "This game kind of symbolizes our season. When you're going good, you win games like this. We had our shot in the 14th."

Tigers   000 100 010 000 000  2-9-0
Baltimore 000 001 010 000 001  3-15-1

WP: Garland
LP: Grilli (0-1)

Tigers record: 60-96 (actual 57-99)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-47
Last 10: 4-6

Game 155: Tigers Blow It in 9th, 2-1

Detroit (Sun., Sept. 21, 1975) - Vern Ruhle had the Boston Red Sox shutout through eight innings on four hits, but his lead was only 1-0. It would prove to not be enough.

Ruhle (8-15) struggled in the ninth, and the Red Sox scored twice to beat the Tigers, 2-1 at Tiger Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the home finale for the Bengals.

The Red Sox came back to win the final two games of the series after dropping Friday's opener.

With one out in the ninth and the bases empty, Fred Lynn singled for Boston. Jim Rice reached on Gary Sutherland's error, and Carlton Fisk followed with a single, scoring Lynn from second with the tying run.

That ended Ruhle's day, but rookie reliever Ed Glynn, a lefty, walked left-handed hitting Bernie Carbo to load the bases with one out. Rico Petrocelli was up next and he lined a single to left to score Rice with the go-ahead run.

Rick Burleson then hit into a 4-6-3 double play, but the damage was done.

Jim Willoughby survived a lead-off single in the ninth by Dan Meyer, thanks largely to Tom Veryzer's errant bunt, which was caught in the air by Fisk, who rifled a throw to Carl Yastrzemski at first base to double off Meyer.

Pinch-hitter Gates Brown, in perhaps his last at-bat at Tiger Stadium in his career, flied out to left for the final out. Brown has hinted strongly at retirement after this season, and the Tigers (60-95) finished their home schedule with a 31-49 record.

Detroit scored its run in the sixth when second baseman Denny Doyle bobbled Aurelio Rodriguez's potential double-play ground ball, scoring Willie Horton from third base.

The Major Said: "We've wasted a lot of good pitching this year, and today was an example. Felt horrible for Vern, but he was obviously losing gas out there. Had to get him out of there. Tommy's (Veryzer) bunt was unfortunate."

Boston 000 000 002  2-7-1
Tigers  000 001 000  1-6-1

WP: Willoughby
LP: Ruhle (8-15)

Tigers record: 60-95 (actual 57-98)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6

Game 154: Tiant, Red Sox Bats Too Much For Tigers, 7-0

Detroit (Sat., Sept. 20, 1975) - Carl Yastrzemski had three hits and scored three runs, Rico Petrocelli had four RBI, and Luis Tiant pitched a complete game shutout as the Boston Red Sox stymied the Tigers, 7-0, at Tiger Stadium.

The Red Sox squared the weekend series at a game apiece.

Tiant was masterful, scattering eight hits and walking one.

The Red Sox scored twice in the first inning, twice in the seventh, and three times in the ninth to hand the Tigers (60-94) their 30th loss in their past 43 games.

Tigers starter Mickey Lolich (14-16) went 8-plus innings, giving up 12 hits and five runs, three earned.

Petrocelli had a two-run single in the first, an RBI single in the seventh, and even drove in a run in the ninth by getting hit by a pitch.

Yastrzemski had three singles, walked, and reached base on an error.

Ron LeFlore had two singles for Detroit, but was caught stealing in the third with the score just 2-0, Boston. The caught stealing canceled an error by Rick Burleson that put LeFlore on first base.

Rookies Bob Molinaro (RF) and Jerry Manuel (2B) started, but went 0-for-7 between them.

The Major Said: "Tiant was as good as I've seen him. We got eight hits but nothing hit real hard and we couldn't really bunch them."

Boston 200 000 203  7-16-1
Tigers 000 000 000  0-8-1

WP: Tiant
LP: Lolich (14-16)

Tigers record: 60-94 (actual 57-97)
Home: 31-48
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6

Game 153: Tigers Edge Bosox, 2-1

Detroit (Fri., Sept. 19, 1975) - Ben Oglivie's single drove home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and the Tigers survived the first-place Boston Red Sox, 2-1, at Tiger Stadium.

Oglivie's line drive to right scored Dan Meyer, who had walked to lead off the inning.

The Tigers scored an unearned run in the third inning to lead, 1-0. Leon Roberts reached on a botched ground ball by third baseman Rico Petrocelli. He came around to score on a two-out single by Tom Veryzer, who was batting third in the lineup for the first time in his career.

The Red Sox tied the game in the fourth on a double from Denny Doyle and a single from Fred Lynn.

The loser was lefty Bill Lee, who pitched the whole game for Boston. Ray Bare (7-10) picked up the win, with rookie Steve Grilli registering his first career save with two scoreless innings of relief.

Bare kept the potent Boston lineup in check, giving up just six hits and one walk in seven innings.

The Major Said: "We tend to win low-scoring games, but against (the Red Sox), you're really not expecting that. But Ray (Bare) did a great job, and I felt great for the kid, Grilli. Two gutsy innings there."

Boston  000 100 000  1-6-2
Tigers  001 000 10x  2-7-1

WP: Bare (7-10)
SV: Grilli (1)
LP: Lee

Tigers record: 60-93 (actual 56-97)
Home: 31-47
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6

Game 152: Indians Score 4 in 1st, Hang On, 5-2

Detroit (Thu., Sept. 18, 1975) - The Cleveland Indians jumped on spot starter Dave Lemanczyk for a four-run first inning, then held on the rest of the way to beat the Tigers, 5-2, at Tiger Stadium.

Buddy Bell's two out, two-run single capped the four-run frame.

The Tigers trailed, 5-0, before scoring single runs in the sixth and seventh.

Lemanczyk lasted just 3.2 innings, giving up all five Boston runs, all earned.

Rookie Steve Grilli pitched well, going 3.1 innings and striking out three, walking none.

The game featured the big league debuts of Chuck Scrivener (SS, batted lead-off, went 1-5); Bob Molinaro (RF, batted fifth, went 1-3 with an RBI); and Jerry Manuel (2B, batted ninth, went 0-4).

The Tigers took two of three in the series and welcome the Boston Red Sox for a weekend series.

The Major Said: "Not a great start, but I was happy to see the kids in the lineup kind of settle down and they didn't look out of place. We had five of 'em (rookies) in the game tonight. I want to see as much of them as I can before the season ends next week."

Cleveland 400 100 000 5-9-1
Tigers    000 001 100  2-7-1

WP: Bibby
SV: Buskey
LP: Lemanczyk (1-5)

Tigers record: 59-93 (actual 56-96)
Home: 30-47
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6

Game 151: Coleman's Winless Streak Continues, But Tigers Triumph in 9th

Detroit (Wed., Sept. 17, 1975) - If any pitcher in the American League has had worse luck than Joe Coleman since May, it would be amazing.

Coleman, a 20-game loser this season (often due to lack of run support), hasn't won since May 19. And he was three outs away from ending that streak Wednesday night at Tiger Stadium but it still didn't happen.

The Tigers won, 4-3, in the bottom of the ninth on a single by Gary Sutherland, but not before blowing a 3-0 lead in the top of the frame, denying Coleman his fourth win of the year.

Coleman had pitched eight shutout innings, allowing just two singles, when he surrendered back-to-back singles to Duane Kuiper and Rick Manning to start the ninth. Manager Ralph Houk walked to the mound, and was met with some jeers when he signaled for reliever Tom Walker. Coleman left the field to a chorus of cheers for his effort.

But Walker's first pitch, to George Hendrick, was deposited over the left field wall for a three-run homer and a 3-3 tie. As Hendrick circled the bases, Tiger Stadium was filled with boos.

TV cameras caught Coleman in the dugout with a sheepish grin, shaking his head, after Hendrick's homer.

In the Tigers' half of the ninth, with two out and nobody on base, catcher Terry Humphrey blooped a single into right field. Billy Baldwin followed with an infield hit. Sutherland stepped up and drove a Jim Kern pitch into right field, a flare that enabled the slow-footed Humphrey to score. Houk couldn't pinch run for Humphrey because Bill Freehan wasn't available due to a sore knee.

The Tigers (59-92) had won their second straight game, but Coleman's winless streak continued. It was hard to pitch any better and not get a victory, but that's how Coleman's 1975 season has gone.

The Major Said: "I knew I'd catch heat for lifting Joe, but I thought he was running out of gas, and the tying run was at the plate. I feel bad for him but I'd do it again."

Cleveland  000 000 003  3-5-1
Tigers     001 200 001  4-12-2

HR: Hendrick (CLE)

WP: Walker (3-2)
LP: Kern

Tigers record: 59-92 (actual 56-95)
Home: 30-46
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6

Game 150: Tigers Debut Some Kids, Hang On 10-9

Detroit (Tue., Sept. 16, 1975) - The Tigers stormed out to a 10-3 lead then watched in horror as it almost was frittered away in holding off the Cleveland Indians, 10-9 at Tiger Stadium.

The Tigers debuted three rookie pitchers from Toledo, whose minor league season ended later than others because the Mud Hens made it to the International League's championship series.

Lefties Tom Makowski and Ed Glynn and right-hander Steve Grilli all pitched in their first big league games. Makowski and Grilli combined to give up six runs in the eighth and ninth innings, turning a rout into a nailbiter.

Glynn picked up his first save with the tying run at first base, coaxing a ground out from Duane Kuiper.

From Toledo, the Tigers also called up infielders Chuck Scrivener and Jerry Manuel, and outfielder Bob Molinaro, but none of them played Tuesday night.

Ben Oglivie had four hits and three RBI and another rookie, 2B John Knox, had three hits.

Detroit (58-92) scored six times in the fourth inning, and added three in the fifth for a 10-3 lead. The Tigers roughed up Cleveland starter Dennis Eckersley and reliever Fred Beene for all 10 runs.

The Tigers racked up 18 hits, overcoming three errors---two by SS Tom Veryzer.

Fernando Arroyo got the start for Detroit because scheduled starter Vern Ruhle had shoulder soreness when he arrived at the ballpark. Arroyo (4-2) pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs, earning the victory. He had pitched two innings in Sunday's loss to Baltimore.

Willie Horton picked up another RBI, giving him 96, edging him closer to being the first Tiger to drive in 100 runs since Horton himself did it in 1966.

The Tigers are 29-46 at home and 29-46 on the road.

The Major Said: "We don't have a lot of time to see the rookie pitchers but we do have some games left so may as well put them in there. They had a good season in Toledo as a team. But realistically we won't find out much about any of them until spring training."

Cleveland 000 210 042  9-13-2
Tigers    001 630 000  10-18-3

HR: LeFlore (DET, 7); Bell (CLE)

WP: Arroyo (4-2)
SV: Glynn (1)
LP: Eckersley

Tigers record: 58-92 (actual 55-95)
Home: 29-46
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6

Game 149: O's Frolick, 13-1

Detroit (Sun., Sept. 14, 1975) - Doug DeCinces had three hits and five RBI, including a three-run homer, and the Baltimore Orioles routed the Tigers, 13-1, at Tiger Stadium.

The Orioles turned a 2-1 game after four innings into a romp, scoring 11 runs from the fifth through eighth innings. DeCinces' home run provided the last of those runs on the night for Baltimore, who took the weekend series, 2-1.

Tigers starter Ray Bare (6-10) went five innings, giving up six runs on eight hits. After Bare left, the bullpen duo of Gene Pentz and Fernando Arroyo surrendered seven more runs between them in three innings of work.

The Orioles banged out 16 hits off Tigers pitching, including three hits each from DeCinces, Al Bumbry and Mark Belanger.

Baltimore starter Mike Cuellar pitched a complete game as the Tigers (57-92) managed just five hits. The loss was the 28th in the past 38 games for Detroit.

The Major Said: "The Orioles can do that at any time. They have been swinging the bats good for the past 10 years or so. Everyone talks about their pitching over the years, but they always have a strong lineup."

Baltimore  002 043 130  13-16-2
Tigers     001 000 000  1-5-1

HR: DeCinces (BAL); Hendricks (BAL)

WP: Cuellar
LP: Bare (6-10)

Tigers record: 57-92 (actual 55-94)
Home: 28-46
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 3-7

Game 148: Brown's First '75 Hit Upends Orioles, 5-3

Detroit (Sat., Sept. 13, 1975) - Gates Brown's first base hit of the season---a single to right field---drove in two runs in the eighth inning, lifting the Tigers to a 5-3 win over Baltimore Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.

The Tigers trailed 3-1 heading into the eighth. A single and two walks quickly loaded the bases with no outs. Ben Oglivie drove home one run with a sacrifice fly, and Tom Veryzer tied the game with a single with two outs. Leon Roberts walked, re-loading the bases. Brown was sent in to pinch-hit for Terry Humphrey, and Gates drove a bounding ball past first baseman Lee May for a two-run single.

It was Brown's first hit in 10 at-bats in a season marred by a bad back. It may be Brown's last hit; the 36-year-old pinch-hitting specialist has hinted at retirement after the season.

Brown's hit made a winner out of Mickey Lolich (14-15), who pitched his 12th complete game. Lolich gave up 10 hits, walked four and struck out seven. He lowered his ERA to 3.24. The O's tried to rally in the ninth, putting runners on first and second, but Lolich struck out Tommy Davis to end the game.

It was a game of veteran heroes; Lolich turned 35 on Friday, and 38-year-old Brooks Robinson had two hits and drove in all three Orioles runs.

The Tigers (57-91) snapped a four-game losing streak.

The Major Said: "If Gates does call it quits, I am proud to have managed him for two years. He's a pro's pro. He could have hung them up this year with his bad back, but he wouldn't think of doing that in the middle of the season."

Baltimore  010 002 000  3-10-1
Tigers     000 001 04x  5-11-0

WP: Lolich (14-15)
LP: Alexander

Tigers record: 57-91 (actual 55-93)
Home: 28-45
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 3-7

Game 147: Tigers Get 11 Hits But Only 1 Run as Coleman Loses 20th

Detroit (Fri., Sept. 12, 1975) - Mike Torrez pitched a complete game, despite giving up 11 hits, and the Baltimore Orioles used three first inning runs as their only offense in forging a 3-1 victory over the Tigers at Tiger Stadium, handing pitcher Joe Coleman a history-making loss.

Paul Blair (two-run) and Ken Singleton (solo) each hit home runs for the Orioles in the first off Coleman (3-20), who became the first Tigers pitcher since Art Houtteman in 1952 to lose 20 games in a season. Coleman has lost 16 straight decisions. His last win came on May 19.

The crowd of 14,546, realizing the gravity of Coleman's situation, tried exhorting the Tigers as the game went on, moaning and groaning at every Tigers out in the later innings.

But despite getting hits in every inning except the third and ninth, the Tigers couldn't score beyond the second inning, when Tom Veryzer's sacrifice fly plated Bill Freehan, who walked and went to third base on Aurelio Rodriguez's double.

Rodriguez had four hits for the Tigers (56-91), and Gary Sutherland had three, but Detroit left 10 men on base.

Coleman pitched well, limiting the Orioles to one hit after the second inning. But in a tough luck year, the right-hander fell victim to a lack of run support, as he has so often this season.

Coleman's 20 losses come just two years after he won 23 games.

The Major Said: "That's a shame that Joe lost 20 games. It's not all about how he's pitched. When this looked possible a couple weeks ago I asked him if he wanted to sit a couple starts out and he said no way. That's a testament to his competitiveness."

Baltimore  300 000 000  3-6-0
Tigers     010 000 000  1-11-3

HR: Blair (BAL); Singleton (BAL)

WP: Torrez
LP: Coleman (3-20)

Tigers record: 56-91 (actual 55-92)
Home: 27-45
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 2-8

Game 146: Six-Run Sixth Sinks Tigers, 8-5

Boston, MA (Thu., Sept. 11, 1975) - The Boston Red Sox scored six runs in the sixth inning, responding to the Tigers' four in the top of the inning, and the Red Sox beat the Tigers, 8-5 at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox exploded for seven hits, all singles, in the sixth inning, erasing a 5-2 deficit created when Detroit scored four runs in their half of the inning.

Trailing 2-1, the Tigers opened the sixth with three straight hits, the last of which was a two-run triple from Dan Meyer. Willie Horton made the score 4-2 with an RBI ground out, and Ben Oglivie added a solo homer to push the lead to 5-2.

But the lead evaporated under an onslaught of Red Sox singles, many that were seeing-eye hits through the infield. When the barrage ended against starter Dave Lemanczyk (1-4), the Red Sox led 8-5.

Boston swept the three-game series and finished 7-1 against the Tigers at Fenway this season.

Luis Tiant pitched seven sometimes shaky innings for Boston to get the victory.

Rookie outfielder Billy Baldwin hit a solo home run to start the game, but Boston answered with two runs in the first for a 2-1 lead.

Fred Lynn had three hits and two RBI for the first-place Red Sox, who are closing in on clinching the AL East.

The Major Said: "They had an answer for us every time we scored tonight. That's why they're so tough to beat here, and that's why they're going to win the division."

Tigers  100 004 000 5-13-1
Boston  200 006 00x  8-15-0

HR: Baldwin (DET, 2); Oglivie (DET, 12)

WP: Tiant
SV: Drago
LP: Lemanczyk (1-4)

Tigers record: 56-90 (actual 55-91)
Home: 27-44
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 3-7

Games 144 & 145: Tigers Come From Ahead Twice and Lose DH to Bosox

Boston, MA (Wed., Sept. 10, 1975) - The Tigers blew leads in both ends of a twi-night doubleheader and were swept by the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park Wednesday evening.

In Game 1, the Tigers scored five runs in the first inning but were shutout the rest of the way in losing, 6-5. In the nightcap, the Tigers held a 2-0 lead midway through the game but ended up on the short end of a 5-3 score.

In the opener, the Tigers pounced on Red Sox starter Roger Moret for five runs in the first inning, courtesy a three-run homer by hot-hitting Willie Horton and a two-run shot by Aurelio Rodriguez.

But Moret got stingy and went seven innings, giving up no more runs after the first frame. Meanwhile, the Red Sox chipped away against Tigers starter Vern Ruhle, tying the game in the eighth inning and winning it in the bottom of the ninth on a two-out single by Carl Yastrzemski, scoring Rick Burleson.

In Game 2, the Red Sox scored three runs in the seventh inning to erase a 2-1 deficit and they held on from there.

Horton hit another homer in the second game, no. 25 on the season to go with 92 RBI. In his past 41 at-bats, Horton has seven home runs and 19 RBI.

Tom Walker got a spot start for the Tigers (56-89) in the nightcap. He pitched six innings and only allowed one run. Rookie Ike Brookens (0-2) was tagged with the loss, surrendering the three runs in the seventh in just 1/3 inning.

Detroit has one more game left in Boston, where the Tigers are 1-6 this season.

Yastrzemski had three hits in each game, going 6-for-10 with three RBI.

The Major Said: "No lead is safe in this ballpark, and especially when you score five runs in the first and nothing afterward. That's a recipe for disaster against this team in this place. And they didn't hit the ball out of the ballpark in either game."

Game 1
Tigers 500 000 000  5-8-0
Boston 010 003 011  6-11-1

HR: Horton (DET, 24); Rodriguez (DET, 6)

WP: Drago
LP: Arroyo (3-2)

Game 2
Tigers 010 100 001  3-9-1
Boston 000 010 31x  5-12-0

HR: Horton (DET, 25)

WP: Pole
SV: Willoughby
LP: Brookens (0-2)

Tigers record: 56-89 (actual 55-90)
Home: 27-44
Away: 29-45
Last 10: 4-6

Game 143: Tigers Bats Come Alive, 10-5

Queens, NY (Tue., Sept. 9, 1975) - Ben Oglivie slammed two home runs and had four RBI, and rookie Billy Baldwin had two doubles and scored three runs as the Tigers broke free from a 4-4 tie to beat the New York Yankees, 10-5, at Shea Stadium.

Gary Sutherland also had four RBI for the Tigers, who finished their season series with the Yanks with an 11-7 record, including 6-3 in New York.

The Tigers rocked Yankees starter Doc Medich for seven runs and 10 hits in 5+ innings of work.

Tigers starter Ray Bare (6-9) was shaky (6 IP, 5 R, 8 H) but managed to get the victory.

In the sixth inning, with the game tied 4-4, the Tigers erupted for four runs. Oglivie led off with a home run, and the next three batters reached base, sending Medich to the showers. Sutherland, who had four hits on the night, added a two-run triple in the inning, off reliever Dick Tidrow.

Detroit, leading 8-5, then added two insurance runs in the eighth inning.

The Tigers (56-87) rapped out 13 hits, one night after getting shutout on six hits.

Tom Walker pitched three innings for his first save of the year.

The Major Said: "That's baseball. You score nothing one night, ten the next. You knew (the Yankees) would keep coming, so there's no such thing as feeling comfortable against them, even when we went up, 8-5."

Tigers   103 004 020  10-13-2
New York 100 211 000  5-9-0

HR: Oglivie (DET, [2] 11); Herrmann (NY); Bonds (NY)

WP: Bare (6-9)
SV: Walker (1)
LP: Medich

Tigers record: 56-87 (actual 54-89)
Home: 27-44
Away: 29-43
Last 10: 4-6

Game 142: Yanks Beat Tigers in 9th, 1-0

Queens, NY (Mon., Sept. 8, 1975) - Bobby Bonds looped a base hit into right field with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, and the New York Yankees beat the Tigers, 1-0, at Shea Stadium.

The hit eluded a diving Leon Roberts and plated Chris Chambliss, who had doubled.

The tough-luck loser was Mickey Lolich (13-15), who pitched the whole game for Detroit.

The hitter prior to Bonds, Fred Stanley, legged out an infield hit to keep the inning alive.

The Tigers (55-87) managed just six hits off Yankees starter Rudy May, two by Willie Horton. They only got two runners as far as second base.

In the ninth, with one out, Chambliss doubled. Rick Dempsey struck out, and Lolich was one out away from forcing the game into extra innings. But Lolich walked Rick Bladt on four pitches, then Stanley's chopper stayed fair down the third base line and there was no throw.

That brought up Bonds, who was jammed but managed a blooper that Roberts couldn't quite reach, setting off a celebration at home plate.

The Major Said: "1-0. It's happened to us before. Tough loss, what can you say? Mickey was terrific."

Tigers  000 000 000  0-6-0
New York 000 000 001  1-8-0

WP: May
LP: Lolich (13-15)

Tigers record: 55-87 (actual 54-88)
Home: 27-44
Away: 28-43
Last 10: 3-7

Games 140 & 141: Five-Run 8th Earns Tigers DH Split

Cleveland, OH (Sunday, Sept. 7, 1975) - The Tigers scored five runs in the eighth inning in Game Two of a Sunday doubleheader, overcoming a 3-2 deficit, and earned a DH split with a 7-3 win over the Cleveland Indians at Municipal Stadium.

The Tribe won the first game, 4-3.

In the nightcap, Bill Freehan hit two homers and knocked in five runs, and Willie Horton slammed his fifth homer in six games. Freehan's second homer was a grand slam in the five-run eighth. Horton and Freehan hit back-to-back solo homers in the seventh for a brief 2-0 lead before the Indians scored three runs in their half of the seventh.

In Game One, Joe Coleman suffered his 19th loss despite pitching eight innings. Cleveland jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the third inning and the Tigers' catch-up efforts fell short.

Aurelio Rodriguez hit his fifth homer in the first game.

The Tigers (55-86) avoided a four-game sweep with the nightcap win. Indians starter Fritz Peterson pitched six shutout innings in Game Two, but left with soreness in his left (pitching) elbow. The Tigers then roughed up relievers Roric Harrison and Tom Buskey for their seven runs.

The Major Said: "The big boys led us in the second game. We needed that. Too bad about Peterson but that happens. Good to get out of here with at least one win."

Game 1
Tigers  000 200 010  3-7-1
Cleve.  201 100 00x  4-7-0

HR: Hendrick (CLE); Rodriguez (DET, 5)

WP: Bibby
SV: LaRoche
LP: Coleman (3-19)

Game 2
Tigers  000 000 250  7-11-1
Cleve.  000 000 300  3-10-0

HR: Horton (DET, 23); Freehan (DET, [2] 15)

WP: Arroyo (3-1)
LP: Harrison

Tigers record: 55-86 (actual 54-87)
Home: 27-44
Away: 28-42
Last 10: 4-6

Game 139: Indians Slug Way Past Tigers, 9-7

Cleveland, OH (Sat., Sept. 6, 1975) - Rico Carty's single in the seventh inning broke a 5-5 tie, and the Cleveland Indians went on to beat the Tigers, 9-7, in a slugfest on Saturday afternoon.

Willie Horton clubbed two two-run home runs for the Tigers (54-85).

The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Ben Oglivie lofted a three-run homer over the right field wall. After Horton's first homer put Detroit ahead, 5-2 in the fifth inning, the Indians responded with three runs in their half, two scoring on a Boog Powell homer.

The Indians scored twice in the seventh and twice in the eighth for a 9-5 lead before Horton hit his second home run of the day with two out in the ninth to bring the Tigers to within 9-7. Jack Pierce walked but Jim Kern, who took over in the seventh inning from starter Dennis Eckersley, retired Aurelio Rodriguez on a force out to end the game.

Kern got the win while rookie reliever Ike Brookens (0-1) was tagged with the loss.

Rick Manning had three hits, an RBI and scored two runs for the Tribe.

Horton continued his tear; he has four homers and 12 RBI in his past four games, giving him 22 and 86 this season.

Dave Lemanczyk made a rare start for the Tigers and lasted just 4.1 innings, charged with five runs on four hits and five walks. He didn't strike out anyone.

Each team had 12 hits.

The Tigers committed three more errors, adding to their Major League-leading total, which stands at 121.

The Major Said: "Seven runs, 12 hits---you should win. But that's how it's gone for us. We'll keep battling to the end, though. I can promise you that. We owe that to the fans and the city of Detroit."

Tigers 300 020 002  7-12-3
Cleve. 020 030 22x  9-12-1

HR: Oglivie (DET, 9); Horton (DET, [2] 22); Powell (CLE)

WP: Kern
LP: Brookens (0-1)

Tigers record: 54-85 (actual 54-85)
Home: 27-44
Away: 27-41
Last 10: 3-7

Game 138: Rookie Waits Dominates, Tribe Win 4-1

Cleveland, OH (Fri., Sept. 5, 1975) - Boog Powell had a home run and two RBI, and rookie lefty Rick Waits pitched a complete game as the Cleveland Indians beat the Tigers, 4-1, at Municipal Stadium.

Waits, 23, limited the Tigers to six hits, and struck out a season and career-high 12 batters, walking only one.

The left-hander consistently got Tigers hitters to swing and miss at his slider, which he used as his out pitch all game long.

The only run Waits allowed happened in the seventh, and that made the score 2-1, but the Tigers couldn't come close to tying the game after that.

Tigers starter Vern Ruhle (8-14) pitched well (7+ IP, 3 R, 7 H), but he was no match for Waits' dominance.

The Tigers (54-84) saw their modest two-game winning streak end.

Rico Carty went 4-for-4 (all singles) for Cleveland. Bill Freehan had three hits for Detroit (2B, two 1B) and scored the Tigers' only run.

Powell launched a solo homer in the fourth for a 2-0 lead, and added an RBI single in the eighth for a 3-1 margin.

The Major Said: "What can you say about that kid, Waits? He had us all tied up in knots. I was very impressed. And he did that in a tight game, which showed his composure."

Tigers  000 000 100  1-6-0
Clev.   010 100 02x  4-11-2

HR: Powell (CLE)

WP: Waits
LP: Ruhle (8-14)

Tigers record: 54-84 (actual 54-84)
Home: 27-44
Away: 27-40
Last 10: 3-7

Game 137: Tigers Keep Yanks' Number, 11-4

Detroit (Thu., Sept. 4, 1975) - The Tigers have won 54 games this season. Almost 20 percent of those wins have come against the New York Yankees.

The Tigers blitzed the Yankees, 11-4 at Tiger Stadium on Thursday night, Detroit's 10th win over New York in 16 meetings in 1975.

In this win, the Tigers bats didn't get going until the fifth inning, when they scored three runs to erase a 2-0 deficit. Dan Meyer kept his hot and clutch hitting going with a two-run double in the inning.

But it was in the sixth where the Tigers blew the game open, knocking out starter Rudy May with a five-run explosion. Aurelio Rodriguez started the inning with a home run, and a walk and two singles to the next three batters sent May to the showers. Sparky Lyle entered the game and the lefty surrendered an RBI single to Gary Sutherland and Willie Horton knocked in two more with a double to cap the five-run frame.

The Yankees made the score 8-4 with two runs in the eighth, but the Tigers immediately responded with three runs of their own to put the game away.

Detroit (54-83) raked Yankees pitching for 18 hits for its second straight victory.

Ray Bare (5-9) broke a personal four-game losing streak by pitching 7.2 innings of six-hit ball.

Horton had four RBI, giving the previously struggling designated hitter nine ribbies in the two-game series. Horton's 82 RBI leads the Tigers by far.

The Major Said: "That's a good team (Yankees) and we have handled them, for whatever reason. I'm sure Billy (Martin, manager) is beside himself, but we've had a much tougher year than they have, I'll tell you that."

New York 110 000 020  4-8-1
Tigers   000 035 03x  11-18-0

HR: Rodriguez (DET, 4)

WP: Bare (5-9)
LP: May

Tigers record: 54-83 (actual 53-84)
Home: 27-44
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6

Game 136: Tigers Use Longball to Overcome Yanks, 9-6

Detroit (Wed., Sept. 3, 1975) - The Tigers hit four home runs, including two from Willie Horton, and were able to out slug the New York Yankees, 9-6 Wednesday night.

The Tigers fell behind 1-0 in the fourth but scored three times in their half of the frame, highlighted by Horton's first homer of the night, a two-run shot. Detroit added two more runs in the fifth, on a two-run homer from hot-hitting Dan Meyer.

After the Yankees pulled to within 5-3 in the top of the seventh on Bobby Bonds's two-run homer, the Tigers responded in their half with a four spot, three of those runs coming from Horton's second homer and 20th of the season. That outburst made the score 9-3, Detroit, and the Tigers held on from there.

The Yankees managed to get the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but rookie right-hander Ike Brookens got Walt Williams to fly out to left field to end the game.

Horton finished the night with five RBI, giving him a team-leading 78 for the season.

Ben Oglivie added a solo homer (8) for Detroit, his third four-bagger in two nights.

The Tigers (53-83) are 9-6 vs. New York this season.

Mickey Lolich (13-14) went eight innings for the victory.

The Tigers roughed up Yankees ace Jim Hunter, who was raked for eight runs and 12 hits in 6-plus innings. Hunter surrendered three of the four Tigers homers.

Detroit banged out 14 hits in winning just its sixth game of the past 25.

The Major Said: "I have no idea why we've had success against New York. That's baseball. Sometimes you have a team's number. Hunter leads the league in complete games, so to knock him out in the seventh inning is quite a feat."

New York  000 100 221  6-11-0
Tigers    000 320 40x  9-14-2

HR: Horton (DET [2], 20); Meyer (DET, 11); Oglivie (DET, 8); Bonds (NY)

WP: Lolich (13-14)
LP: Hunter

Tigers record: 53-83 (actual 53-83)
Home: 26-44
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6

Game 135: Brewers Break It Open Late, 7-3

Detroit (Tue., Sept. 2, 1975) - Mike Hegan's three-run homer in the eighth inning highlighted a five-run frame, and the Milwaukee Brewers tore open a 1-1 game to beat the Tigers, 7-3 at Tiger Stadium.

Tigers right-hander Joe Coleman (3-18), making his first start since August 18, was locked in a duel with Milwaukee's Jim Colborn until he tired in the eighth. Though most of the damage in the frame was done against reliever Fernando Arroyo, that fact didn't prevent Coleman from inching closer to becoming the first Tigers pitcher to lose 20 games in a single season since Art Houtteman in 1952.

Coleman left after the first two Brewers singled in the eighth. Arroyo retired Hank Aaron on a pop up, but the next four Milwaukee hitters reached base, including Hegan, who slammed a fastball deep into the upper deck in right field for a 5-1 lead.

Milwaukee added one more run, then tacked on another in the ninth. The Tigers (52-83) countered with single runs in the eighth and ninth but it was much too little, much too late.

Ben Oglivie hit two solo homers for Detroit, losers of 19 of their past 24 games.

Colborn pitched eight innings to get the victory. Bill Castro pitched the ninth.

In an effort to get a look at some of the kids for 1976, Tigers manager Ralph Houk sat Ron LeFlore and Gary Sutherland, his 1-2 hitters for most of the season, and started John Knox (2B) and Billy Baldwin (CF) in the 1-2 spots, respectively. Knox had three singles; Baldwin went 0-for-5.

The New York Yankees invade Tiger Stadium for games Wednesday and Thursday before the Tigers head to Cleveland for a four-game weekend series.

The Major Said: "Of course I would hate to see Joe (Coleman) lose 20 games. He just won 23 games a couple years ago. So it's obviously not a complete reflection of him as a pitcher. He hasn't pitched like we thought, but he's had a ton of bad luck, too."

Milw.  000 001 051  7-14-1
Tigers 000 100 011  3-11-0

HR: Oglivie (DET, [2] 7); Hegan (MIL)

WP: Colborn
LP: Coleman (3-18)

Tigers record: 52-83 (actual 53-82)
Home: 25-44
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6

Game 134: Brewers Out Slug Reeling Tigers, 11-8

Detroit (Mon., Sept. 1, 1975) - Darrell Porter hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a wild 11-8 win over the Tigers Monday night at Tiger Stadium.

The Brewers led, 8-5, after two innings.

Milwaukee scored five times in the first frame, punctuated by Porter's bases-loaded homer into the right field upper deck.

But the Tigers (52-82), losers of 18 of their past 23 games, struck back with four runs in the first inning.

Detroit used four singles, two walks and a sacrifice fly to score the four runs, making the score 5-4 before many fans were even in their seats.

The key was the middle relief job done by Milwaukee right-hander Tom Hausman, who pitched five scoreless innings after taking over for lefty starter Bill Travers in the third inning. Leon Roberts led off the third with his 11th home run of the season, prompting Milwaukee manager Del Crandall to lift Travers with the score 8-6, Brewers.

The Tigers didn't score again until the ninth, with Milwaukee leading 11-6. Dan Meyer, who had three hits, slugged a two-run homer off Eduardo Rodriguez. Crandall then summoned Tom Murphy to get the final three outs, 1-2-3.

Meyer is hitting .351 (13-for-37) since August 20.

Tigers starter Vern Ruhle (8-13) was rocked for nine runs (seven earned) in 3.1 innings. Hausman was credited for the win for Milwaukee.

The Tigers committed three errors---two by shortstop Tom Veryzer---in the first two innings. Ron LeFlore misplayed Bob Sheldon's lead-off single in the first inning for the other error.

It was the second straight game the Tigers gave up 11 runs.

The Major Said: "That's how it goes when you're losing. You get good pitching, you can't hit. The bats get going, the pitching falters."

Milw.  530 100 011  11-14-0
Tigers 411 000 002  8-11-3

HR: Porter (MIL); Roberts (DET, 11); Meyer (DET, 10)

WP: Hausman
SV: Murphy
LP: Ruhle (8-13)

Tigers record: 52-82 (actual 53-81)
Home: 25-43
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6

Game 133: Angels Clobber Tigers, 11-0

Detroit (Sat., Aug. 30, 1975) - The California Angels pounded out 18 hits and routed the Tigers, 11-0, Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

Bruce Bochte had a single, a double and a home run and four RBI. Adrian Garrett hit a solo home run and an RBI single.

Angels starter Chuck Hockenberry pitched six innings, and Don Kirkwood went the final three for the save as the pair limited the Tigers to five hits.

Dan Meyer had a one-out triple in the sixth, but Hockenberry retired the next two hitters to keep the shutout alive.

Tigers reliever Dave Lemanczyk was especially torched, surrendering seven runs and seven hits in one full inning of work. Starter Ray Bare (4-9) took the loss, his fourth straight.

The score was a respectable 4-0 until the eighth, when the Angels scored three times. They added four in the ninth. All seven runs were charged to Lemanczyk.

The Tigers (52-81) are 5-17 in their past 22 games.

The Major Said: "11-0. What can I say? Sometimes you get your (butt) kicked in this game. It happens."

Calif. 031 000 034  11-18-0
Tigers 000 000 000  0-5-0

HR: Garrett (CAL); Bochte (CAL)

WP: Hockenberry
SV: Kirkwood
LP: Bare (4-9)

Tigers record: 52-81 (actual 52-81)
Home: 25-42
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6

Game 132: Lolich Too Much for Angels, 3-0

Detroit (Fri., Aug. 29, 1975) - Mickey Lolich leads the Tigers in victories, and on Friday night he showed why, as the almost-35-year-old lefty pitched a complete-game, five-hit shutout as Detroit beat the California Angels, 3-0, at Tiger Stadium.

The win gave Lolich a team-high 12 victories, against 14 losses.

The Tigers scored twice in the second inning. Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, Dan Meyer and Ben Oglivie all singled, producing the runs.

Detroit added a run in the eighth as Lolich was keeping the Angels at arm's length throughout the game. California had base runners, but couldn't push across a run. Even Mickey Rivers' two-out triple in the third inning didn't help the Angels' cause.

The Angels left 10 men on base, including the bases loaded in the eighth inning.

But Lolich made the pitches he had to when he had to, despite walking five Angels, and the Tigers (52-80) won for just the fifth time in 21 games.

Leon Roberts had two hits and an RBI for the Tigers.

Frank Tanana (Catholic Central) took the loss for California.

The Major Said: "Mickey wasn't great but that's what veteran pitchers can do. They get into trouble, put runners on base, and wiggle out of it. I'm sure the Angels thought they had him on the ropes a few times tonight."

Calif.  000 000 000  0-5-1
Tigers  020 000 01x  3-10-1

WP: Lolich (12-14)
LP: Tanana

Tigers record: 52-80 (actual 51-81)
Home: 25-41
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6

Game 131: Jenkins Stymies Reeling Tigers, 7-0

Arlington, TEX (Wed., Aug. 27, 1975) - If it wasn't for the Minnesota Twins, the Tigers would be in even more dire shape than they are now.

Fergie Jenkins spun a complete-game, five-hit shutout as the Texas Rangers beat Detroit, 7-0 on Wednesday night.

The loss made the Tigers (51-80) 4-16 in their past 20 games, and all four wins came at the expense of the Twins. Detroit hasn't beaten a team that's not the Twins since August 6.

Detroit finished its road trip 3-9, and every series was a three-game sweep: at the hands of California, Oakland and Texas; and a sweep of the Twins.

The Rangers broke Wednesday's game open with a six-run fourth inning.

Texas got six hits , two walks and a wild pitch in chasing starter Lerrin LaGrow (7-16) before he retired a batter in the fourth. The first six Rangers hitters reached base before manager Ralph Houk brought out the hook.

Mike Cubbage had three RBI for the Rangers, who swept the Tigers in three games in Detroit two weeks ago.

Jenkins scattered five hits, including two, two-out doubles.

Tom Walker pitched four scoreless innings of relief, keeping the score somewhat respectable.

The Tigers return home to face the California Angels this weekend.

The Major Said: "Jenkins, like (Gaylord) Perry last night, got into a groove and when veteran guys like that get rolling, look out. We didn't hit too many balls very hard. I was very impressed."

Tigers   000 000 000 0-5-1
Texas    001 600 00x 7-10-1

WP: Jenkins
LP: LaGrow (7-16)

Tigers record: 51-80 (actual 51-80)
Home: 24-41
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 3-7

Game 130: 4-Run Second Inning Spurs Rangers, 5-2

Arlington, TX (Tue., Aug. 26, 1975) - Tom Grieve's three-run homer highlighted a four-run second inning, and the Texas Rangers cruised to a 5-2 win over the Tigers Tuesday night at Arlington Stadium.

Dan Meyer continued his hot hitting with a solo homer (9) in the first inning, staking Detroit to a 1-0 lead.

But the Rangers scored a run of their own in the bottom of the first before exploding the next inning to take a 5-1 lead.

Texas didn't score the rest of the night, but it didn't need to behind the pitching of Gaylord Perry, who went all nine innings for the win.

Lenny Randle had two triples (in the first and second innings), scored a run and had an RBI for Texas.

The Tigers (51-79) have lost the first two games of this series and are 3-8 on this road trip, which has one game remaining.

Vern Ruhle (8-11) took the loss for Detroit. Rookie Ike Brookens, recalled from Toledo yesterday after the team waived Bob Reynolds, pitched a scoreless inning and has an ERA of 0.69 in 13 innings with the Tigers this season.

The Major Said: "We had a good start but with a veteran like Perry, you can't let him get into a groove and that's exactly what happened tonight."

Tigers  100 010 000  2-7-1
Texas   140 000 00x  5-7-0

HR: Meyer (DET, 9); Grieve (TEX)

WP: Perry
LP: Ruhle (8-11)

Tigers record: 51-79 (actual 51-79)
Home: 24-41
Away: 27-38
Last 10: 3-7

Game 129: Tigers Get 10 Hits, But Lose, 2-1

Arlington, TX (Mon., Aug. 25, 1975) - The Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers each scored in just one inning, but the Rangers put up two runs, the Tigers one, and Texas won, 2-1, at Arlington Stadium Monday night.

The Rangers scored twice in the first inning on three singles and a force out, while the Tigers pushed across a run in the eighth when hot-hitting Dan Meyer doubled, plating Gary Sutherland.

In between, Tigers starter Ray Bare (4-8) and Texas lefty Jim Umbarger dueled. Umbarger was relieved by Steve Foucault, who picked up the save after taking over following Meyer's hit.

The Tigers (51-78) got a lead-off single from Aurelio Rodriguez in the ninth, but he was erased when Leon Roberts bounced into a double play. Undaunted, Ben Oglivie stroked a single before Foucault got pinch-hitter Gates Brown to ground into a 6-4 force out, ending the game.

The loss ended Detroit's modest three-game winning streak.

Meyer had two doubles, making him 7-for-16 in his last four games.

After the game, the Tigers placed right-handed reliever Bob Reynolds, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning, on waivers and recalled rookie righty Ike Brookens from Toledo. Reynolds, 28, struggled since being acquired from Baltimore in late-May, posting a 5.94 ERA in 36.1 innings and giving up six home runs.

Brookens, 26, will be making his second tour of duty with the Tigers this season. He has pitched 12 innings for Detroit in 1975, yielding just one earned run.

The Major Said: "You get 10 hits, you should score more than one run. That's all I have to say, really. Ray (Bare) pitched his butt off. Umbarger was just a little better, I suppose."

Tigers  000 000 010  1-10-1
Texas   200 000 00x  2-9-0

WP: Umbarger
SV: Foucault
LP: Bare (4-8)

Tigers record: 51-78 (actual 51-78)
Home: 24-41
Away: 27-37
Last 10: 3-7

Game 128: Tigers Win, Sweep Twins

Bloomington, MN (Sun., Aug. 24, 1975) - Dan Meyer stroked a two-run triple in the sixth inning, highlighting a three-run rally, leading the Tigers from a 3-1 deficit and a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

The Tigers (51-77) completed a three-game sweep after a 10-game losing streak.

Meyer's hit into the right center field gap scored Ron LeFlore and Gary Sutherland, tying the game. One out later, Bill Freehan singled home Meyer to put the Tigers ahead, 4-3.

The winner was Mickey Lolich (11-14), who picked up his 10th complete game of the season despite surrendering 10 hits.

A two-run fifth inning put the Twins ahead, 2-1, but the Tigers bounced back with their three-run sixth.

Meyer had a sacrifice fly in the first inning for a three-RBI afternoon. He is in a 15-for-48 stretch, lifting his average to .244.

LeFlore also tripled in the sixth inning, his team-leading ninth three-bagger.

The Twins got a lead off single from Steve Braun (three hits, including a home run) in the ninth, but Lolich bore down and after Glenn Borgmann bunted Braun to second, Lolich retired Jerry Terrell (fly out) and Lyman Bostock (pop out) to seal the win.

The Major Said: "Good win. Good series. Good weekend. Just what we needed to pick everyone's spirits up a little bit, including mine. Now this road trip doesn't seem so disastrous."

Tigers  100 003 000  4-8-0
Minn.   001 020 000  3-10-2

HR: Braun (MIN)

WP: Lolich (11-14)
LP: Hughes

Tigers record: 51-77 (actual 51-77)
Home: 24-41
Away: 27-36
Last 10: 3-7

Game 127: Horton Homers, Tigers Survive Late Scare, 5-3

Bloomington, MN (Sat., Aug. 23, 1975) - Willie Horton slammed a two-run homer, his first home run in three weeks, and the Tigers staved off a ninth inning rally to beat the Minnesota Twins, 5-3, Saturday.

The Tigers (50-77) won their second straight game on the heels of a 10-game losing streak. They won consecutive games for the first time since August 6.

Horton's homer, his 18th, gave the Tigers a seemingly comfortable 5-1 lead in the eighth inning. But the Twins kicked up their heels in the ninth, scoring twice and getting runners on first and third with one out. Then Fernando Arroyo, after giving up hits to the first two Twins batters he faced, quelled the uprising by striking out Lyman Bostock and getting Jerry Terrell to ground into a fielder's choice.

The Tigers opened a 3-0 lead in the fourth. Ahead 1-0, Dan Meyer, Ben Oglivie and Aurelio Rodriguez singled, loading the bases with two outs. John Wockenfuss walked, scoring Meyer, and a passed ball charged to Twins catcher Phil Roof scored Oglivie and it was 3-0 Detroit.

Lerrin LaGrow (7-14) went 8.1 innings for the win. Arroyo picked up his fifth save.

The Major Said: "I know Willie (Horton) is a very proud man and that streak of no home runs had been bothering him. Maybe he can get hot and hit some more. He tends to hit them in bunches."

Tigers  100 200 020  5-10-0
Minn.  000 001 002  3-9-0

HR: Horton (DET, 18)

WP: LaGrow (7-14)
SV: Arroyo (5)
LP: Blyleven

Game 126: Tigers Rout Twins, End Losing Skid

Bloomington, MN (Fri., Aug. 22, 1975) - Dan Meyer hit a grand slam as part of a five-run fourth inning, and the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins, 8-3, on Friday night to snap their 10-game losing streak.

Meyer connected off Twins starter Dave Goltz, who was roughed up for seven runs and nine hits in four innings.

Vern Ruhle picked up the win for Detroit with six-plus innings of solid work.

The win was the Tigers' first since beating Minnesota 1-0 on August 9 in Detroit.

Trailing 3-2 heading into the fourth, the Tigers loaded the bases with nobody out. After a force out at the plate, Ron LeFlore delivered a run-scoring single to tie the game. Gary Sutherland grounded into another force out at home, bringing Meyer to the plate. On a 1-1 pitch, Meyer drilled a Goltz fastball over the right field wall.

The Tigers (49-77) pounded out 15 hits off four Twins pitchers.

Rod Carew had an RBI double and a run-scoring single in the first two innings as the Twins built a 3-2 lead. The Tigers had gone ahead 2-1 in the top of the second on a Bill Freehan triple, a Ben Oglivie double and an Aurelio Rodriguez sacrifice fly.

The Major Said: "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz. Isn't that the commercial? We were due, that's for sure. That was a pretty good pitcher (Goltz) we got to, too."

Tigers  020 500 100  8-15-1
Minn.   120 000 000  3-9-1

HR: Meyer (DET, 8)

WP: Ruhle (8-11)
LP: Goltz

Tigers record: 49-77 (actual 50-76)
Home: 24-41
Away: 25-36
Last 10: 1-9

Game 125: Tigers Shutout Again, Drop 10th Straight

Oakland, CA (Wed., Aug. 20, 1975) - Sonny Siebert and Jim Todd combined to shutout the Tigers on three hits, and the Oakland A's beat Detroit, 4-0 on Wednesday afternoon, the Tigers' 10th straight loss and 13th in their past 14 games.

Siebert went seven innings, surrendering just two hits, and Todd pitched the eighth and ninth.

Ray Bare (4-7) was the latest hard-luck loser for the Tigers (48-77), pitching all eight innings and only giving up four hits. A three-run first inning doomed Bare, despite recovering and finishing the game.

The Tigers managed to get just two base runners to second base the entire game in suffering their third straight three-game sweep. Two of the losses in Oakland were shutouts.

Gene Tenace was again poison to the Tigers, with three RBI, all on his first inning, bases-loaded double. Tenace drove in the game-winning run in the eighth inning on Tuesday night.

The Major Said: "Three hits. You're not going to win very many games with three hits. What else can I say?"

Tigers  000 000 000  0-3-2
Oakland 300 100 00x  4-4-0

WP: Siebert
LP: Bare (4-7)

Tigers record: 48-77 (actual 50-75)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-36
Last 10: 0-10

Game 124: A's Nip Tigers Late; Losing Streak is 9

Oakland, CA (Tue., Aug. 19, 1975) - Gene Tenace singled in Sal Bando in the eighth inning, breaking a 2-2 tie, and the Oakland A's beat the Tigers, 3-2 Tuesday night at the Coliseum, extending Detroit's losing streak to a season-high nine games.

The Tigers (48-76) had a brief 2-1 lead after scoring twice in the fourth, but Bando's double in the fifth inning scored Bert Campaneris with the tying run.

Ben Oglivie led off the Tigers' ninth with a single, but he was cut down trying to steal moments later by Tenace. Rollie Fingers pitched the ninth and retired the next two hitters in order after Oglivie's aborted steal attempt.

The Tigers trailed 1-0 when, with two outs and nobody on, they started a two-run rally in the fourth. Willie Horton singled, as did Bill Freehan. Oglivie doubled home Horton, and Leon Roberts followed with an RBI single.

The Tigers have lost 12 of their past 13 games and are in danger of finishing in last place for the first time since 1952. They currently trail fifth place Milwaukee by eight games.

Tigers starter Mickey Lolich (10-14) pitched the whole game---something Tigers starters have done a lot lately but haven't been rewarded. Dick Bosman pitched the first eight innings for Oakland before giving way to Fingers, who the Tigers roughed up in Detroit a couple weeks back.

The Major Said: "When things are going bad these are the kinds of games you lose. When you're going good, you get the late runs, not the other guys."

Tigers  000 200 000  2-8-0
Oakland  001 010 01x  3-8-0

WP: Blue
SV: Fingers
LP: Lolich (10-14)

Tigers record: 48-76 (actual 50-74)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-35
Last 10: 1-9

Game 123: Tigers Shutout, Loss Streak at Eight

Oakland, CA (Mon., Aug. 18, 1975) - Vida Blue quieted the Tigers on six hits, pitching a complete-game shutout as the Oakland A's beat Detroit, 2-0, Monday night at the Coliseum.

Only two Tigers base runners got past second base as Blue walked three and struck out five in the victory.

The Tigers (48-75) have lost eight straight and 11 of 12.

The A's scored both their runs in the seventh inning. Sal Bando opened the inning with a double. One out later, Claudell Washington walked. With two outs, Gene Tenace walked, loading the bases. Then first baseman Jim Holt delivered a single into center field to score Bando and Washington.

Hard-luck and struggling Joe Coleman (3-17) took the loss for the Tigers, going seven innings and only surrendering three hits. The A's only other hit came in the first inning, but once again the Tigers' MLB-worst offense couldn't support their starting pitcher.

Willie Horton and Ben Oglivie each had two hits, all singles, for Detroit.

The Major Said: "I'm sounding like a broken record to you guys (media). How many different ways can I say that our offense is a mess? Coleman has 17 losses but I bet at least half are due to lack of support."

Tigers   000 000 000  0-6-0
Oakland  000 000 20x  2-3-1

WP: Blue
LP: Coleman (3-17)

Tigers record: 48-75 (actual 49-74)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-34
Last 10: 1-9

Game 122: Tigers Get Swept By Angels, Lose 7th Straight

Anaheim, CA (Sun., Aug. 17, 1975) - The California Angels struck for four runs in the first inning and went on to beat the Tigers, 5-3 Sunday to extend Detroit's losing streak to seven games and complete a three-game sweep.

Tigers starter Vern Ruhle struggled early, as five straight Angels hitters reached base at one point in the opening inning.

Down 5-0, the Tigers tried to come back, scoring single runs in the fourth, sixth and eighth innings. But fireman Don Kirkwood, who saved all three Angels victories, came on and retired the final five Tigers hitters in order.

Even three Angels errors couldn't help the Tigers' cause.

Bill Freehan had two hits, including his 13th home run, and two RBI to lead the Tigers' attack. Freehan's homer was the only four-bagger by either team in the entire series.

After the first inning, Ruhle settled down and pitched the whole game for Detroit, shutting out the Angels from the third inning on.

But the damage was done, and the Tigers have now lost 10 of their past 11 games.

The Major Said: "We've had a lot of slow starts lately. The pattern is that we fall behind and spend the rest of the game trying to catch up. It's not working, obviously."

Tigers  000 101 010  3-7-1
Calif.  410 000 00x  5-8-3

HR: Freehan (DET, 13)

WP: Figueroa
SV: Kirkwood
LP: Ruhle

Tigers record: 48-74 (actual 48-74)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-33
Last 10: 1-9

Game 121: Tigers' 9th-Inning Rally Falls Short, 6-5

Anaheim, CA (Sat., Aug. 16, 1975) - Bill Freehan hit into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded, snuffing out a potential go-ahead rally as the Tigers lost to the California Angels, 6-5 at Anaheim Stadium Saturday night.

The Tigers trailed 6-2 heading into the ninth, then kicked up their heels off reliever Dick Lange.

A double, a single and a hit batsman loaded the bases with no outs. Ron LeFlore walked to force in a run, driving Lange out of the game in favor of Don Kirkwood. Gary Sutherland then lofted a sacrifice fly to left field. Dan Meyer singled, re-loading the bases, and Willie Horton singled, scoring Gates Brown to make the score 6-5 as the crowd grew restless.

But then Freehan bounced into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat and the game.

The Angels scored a pair of runs in the second, third and seventh innings to build their 6-2 lead.

Bruce Bochte had three hits and three RBI for California, who have won the first two games of the weekend series. The Tigers (48-73) have lost six straight games.

Tigers starter Ray Bare (4-6) was roughed up for 12 hits and five runs in six-plus innings.

Detroit scored twice in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead, but that was short-lived as the Angels answered with two runs in their half of the inning.

The Major Said: "The irony is that Bill (Freehan) has been one of our best hitters in recent weeks. When you saw him up there in that situation, it was hard not to think that maybe tonight was our night."

Tigers 020 000 003  5-12-1
Calif.  022 000 20x  6-13-0

WP: Hockenberry
SV: Kirkwood
LP: Bare (4-6)

Tigers record: 48-73 (actual 47-74)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-32
Last 10: 1-9

Game 120: Five-Run 1st Powers Angels, 6-4

Anaheim, CA (Fri., Aug. 15, 1975) - The California Angels jumped on Tigers starter Mickey Lolich for five runs in the first inning, and cruised to a 6-4 victory Friday night at Anaheim Stadium.

The first five Angels hitters reached base in the opening inning as they quickly erased an early 1-0 deficit.

The Tigers didn't score again until plating three runners in the eighth inning, but Angels fireman Don Kirkwood retired the last four Detroit hitters in order to save the win for starter Frank Tanana (Catholic Central HS).

An error by shortstop Mike Miley to open the eighth inning started the Tigers' three-run rally. With two outs, Gary Sutherland (double), pinch-hitter John Wockenfuss (single) and Bill Freehan (single) all had RBI hits.

But it was too little, too late as the Tigers (48-72) lost their fifth straight game and eighth of their last nine.

In the first inning, Lolich was victimized by a stream of seeing-eye base hits through the infield and a soft liner into the outfield as the Angels came out swinging. All nine Angels hitters batted in the first inning. Lolich recovered for a 1-2-3 second inning, and the Angels added an unearned run in the third. Lolich, though, survived and pitched the whole game.

The Major Said: "The only good thing about giving up five runs that quick is that you have the whole game to make it up, if your pitchers keep you in the game. Mickey kept us in it but we just came up a little short."

Tigers    100 000 030  4-9-1
California 501 000 00x 6-9-1

WP: Tanana
SV: Kirkwood
LP: Lolich (10-13)

Tigers record: 48-72 (actual 46-74)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-31
Last 10: 2-8

Game 119: Rangers Batter Coleman, Tigers for Series Sweep, 11-5

Detroit (Wed., Aug. 13, 1975) - The Texas Rangers jumped all over Tigers starter Joe Coleman to the tune of eight runs in less than two innings of work, and completed a three-game sweep over slumping Detroit, 11-5 at Tiger Stadium Wednesday night.

Coleman (3-16) was battered for eight runs, all earned, in 1.2 innings. He gave up eight hits and threw two wild pitches while walking two batters. His ERA rose from 4.72 to 5.12. This came after he pitched his first complete game of 1975 in his last start.

Toby Harrah had two two-run doubles off Coleman, who gave up most of the damage after two were out.

The Tigers, losers of four straight and seven of their past eight, tried to claw back.

They scored twice in the second inning on consecutive homers by Bill Freehan (12) and Ben Oglivie (5), then added three more scores in the third on four singles and a hit batsman.

The score stayed 8-5 until the seventh, when the Rangers piled on three more runs, two off a double from Lenny Randle.

The key was the job Texas starter Fergie Jenkins did after the Tigers crept to within three runs, as the right-hander shut the Bengals down from the fourth through seventh innings on no runs and one hit.

Harrah led the Rangers' attack with two doubles, two walks and four RBI.

Oddly, Tigers pitchers surrendered 11 walks but none of those walks came around to score, yet Texas scored 11 runs.

Dave Lemanczyk walked six batters in four innings of scoreless relief for Detroit, but he only gave up one hit.

Gene Pentz continued his struggles, being tagged for three runs and five hits in 1.1 innings of relief.

The Major Said: "Glad we didn't pack it in but this was an ugly game. Not the best way to leave town for a West Coast trip but we haven't played very good in Detroit, so how the heck can the road be much worse?"

Texas  440 000 300 11-15-1
Tigers 023 000 000  5-12-0

HR: Freehan (DET, 12); Oglivie (DET, 5)

WP: Jenkins
LP: Coleman (3-16)

Tigers record: 48-71 (actual 46-73)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 3-7

Game 118: Tigers Bats Awaken Too Late, 4-2

Detroit (Tue., Aug. 12, 1975) - The Texas Rangers rode an early 3-0 lead and held off a couple late Tigers rallies as they beat Detroit, 4-2, at Tiger Stadium Tuesday night.

Jeff Burroughs, who slammed two home runs Monday, hit another in the first inning, a two-run shot, to stake Texas to an early 2-0 lead.

The Rangers added a run in the second inning and tacked on another one in the seventh on a homer by Roy Howell.

Meanwhile, Texas starter Stan Perzanowski handcuffed the Tigers on no runs and six hits thru seven innings.

The Tigers (48-70) finally broke through in the eighth, thanks partially to two errors by second baseman Lenny Randle. That made the score 4-1, and in the ninth off Perzanowski and reliever Mike Kekich, Detroit cobbled together another run and had runners on first and second before fireman Steve Foucault came on to strike out pinch hitter John Wockenfuss to end the threat and the game.

Tigers starter Vern Ruhle (7-10) went seven innings in a losing effort.

It was the Tigers' third straight loss and sixth in their past seven games.

The Major Said: "A hitting slump is like a common cold. There really is no cure other than waiting it out and letting it ride its course. And we've had plenty of colds this year, that's for sure."

Texas  210 000 100  4-11-2
Tigers 000 000 011  2-8-0

HR: Burroughs (TEX); Howell (TEX)

WP: Perzanowski
SV: Foucault
LP: Ruhle (7-10)

Tigers record: 48-70 (actual 46-72)
Home: 24-40
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 4-6

Game 117: Burroughs Hurts Tigers Early, Late, 5-3

Detroit (Mon., Aug. 11, 1975) - Jeff Burroughs clubbed two home runs, including a go-ahead, three-run shot in the eighth inning, and the Texas Rangers beat the Tigers, 5-3, at Tiger Stadium Monday night.

Burroughs also hit a solo homer in the second to put the Rangers ahead, 1-0. He finished with four RBI.

The backbreaking homer in the eighth came off reliever Fernando Arroyo, who was facing his first batter in relief of starter Lerrin LaGrow. Two were out and nobody on when LaGrow ran into trouble: back-to-back singles by Lenny Randle and Mike Hargrove.

LaGrow was then lifted, and Burroughs greeted Arroyo with a moonshot to deep left center on the second pitch. As Burroughs rounded the bases, boos were clearly heard from the crowd of 11,246.

The Rangers added an insurance run in the ninth.

The Tigers (48-69) got a leadoff single from Ben Oglivie in their half of the ninth, but starter Gaylord Perry (complete game) retired the next three batters without the ball leaving the infield.

Gene Michael hit a two-run homer (2) for the Tigers in the second inning for a 2-1 lead. Detroit added a run in the seventh to go ahead 3-1 and set up Burroughs' heroics.

After a four-game winning streak, the Tigers have lost five of six.

The Major Said: "That's why he (Burroughs) won the MVP last year. Big time players come up with big time hits, and he's a big time player."

Texas   010 000 031  5-9-0
Tigers  002 000 100  3-5-0

HR: Burroughs (TEX [2]); Michael (DET, 2)

WP: Perry
LP: Arroyo (2-4)

Tigers record: 48-69 (actual 46-71)
Home: 24-39
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 5-5

Game 116: Tigers Bats Remain Cold in 6-2 Loss

Detroit (Sun., Aug. 10, 1975) - The Tigers' hitting slump continued as the Minnesota Twins broke open a tie game in the eighth inning and beat Detroit, 6-2, at Tiger Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Twins took the weekend series, 2-1.

The score was tied 2-2 when the Twins erupted for four runs in the eighth inning, punctuated by Johnny Briggs' three-run homer.

Tigers starter Ray Bare (3-5) pitched into the eighth inning and only allowed four hits and one walk, but the Tigers' offense continued to slumber. Detroit (48-68) has scored just three runs in their past four games.

Bill Freehan had two hits and scored both Tigers runs. Tom Veryzer had both RBI.

Minnesota starter Bert Blyleven pitched eight innings, giving up one earned run and six hits. He walked two and struck out six.

In the eighth, Jerry Terrell led off with a double, knocking Bare out of the game. Danny Thompson bunted, but reliever Tom Walker fumbled the ball for an error, placing runners on the corners with nobody out. Glenn Borgmann followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Terrell. Lyman Bostock singled, and after Dan Ford struck out, Briggs drove a Walker fastball deep into the right field upper deck.

The Major Said: "We're just not swinging the bats. There isn't much to say. You aren't going to win very many games scoring zero, one or two runs, as we tend to do. We have pitched pretty good this year but it hasn't really mattered."

Minnesota 000 200 040  6-9-2
Tigers    000 010 100  2-6-1

HR: Briggs (MIN)

WP: Blyleven
LP: Bare (3-5)

Tigers record: 48-68 (actual 46-70)
Home: 24-38
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 5-5

Game 115: Lolich Calms Twins, 1-0

Detroit (Sat., Aug. 9, 1975) - Mickey Lolich fired a complete-game, six-hitter, and the Tigers returned the favor of a 1-0 victory Saturday at Tiger Stadium, one day after losing by the same score.

Lolich (10-12) scattered his hits, all singles, and was able to get key outs whenever he had runners on base. He walked one and struck out four in his ninth complete-game of the year.

Lolich was also the beneficiary of some good defense in the fifth inning. Glenn Borgmann singled but was cut down at third base by left fielder Ben Oglivie after Luis Gomez singled. That play ended the inning.

The Tigers' run came off the bat of Bill Freehan in the second inning, who slugged his 11th home run of the year. Freehan has five homers in his last 84 at-bats.

Twins starter Dave Goltz pitched all eight innings and took the tough loss.

The Tigers (48-67) have scored one run in their past three games.

The Major Said: "We've been on the short end of these kinds of games more often than not. Mickey was tremendous. You need a start like that when you're not swinging the bats well, which we aren't."

Minnesota  000 000 000  0-6-0
Tigers     010 000 00x  1-6-0

HR: Freehan (DET, 11)

WP: Lolich (10-12)
LP: Goltz

Tigers record: 48-67 (actual 46-69)
Home: 24-37
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 5-5

Game 114: Tigers Shutout Second Night in Row, 1-0

Detroit (Fri., Aug. 8, 1975) - Thursday night, the Tigers were shutout and routed. Friday night, they were shutout but the game came down to the final pitch.

Leon Roberts bounced into a game-ending, 1-6-3 double play---pitcher to shortstop to first base---and the Minnesota Twins rode a first inning home run to beat the Tigers, 1-0, at Tiger Stadium.

After a Willie Horton double and a Ben Oglivie single, the Tigers had runners on first and third in the ninth inning with one out, but lefty fireman Tom Burgmeier induced Roberts, pinch-hitting for Billy Baldwin, to try pulling an outside pitch, which resulted in a weak tapper right back to Burgmeier.

Ironically, Tigers starter Joe Coleman (3-15), who's struggled all season, pitched his first complete game of the year---in a loss.

Dan Ford took Coleman deep in the first inning and the Twins had a 1-0 lead two batters into the game. That lead would hold up for the whole game, as the Tigers (47-67) have now gone 20 straight innings without scoring.

Burgmeier got the final two outs for starter Jim Hughes, who walked one and struck out four for the victory.

The Major Said: "How many times have we wasted a good pitching performance? It's a shame for Joe. He's had a rough year and this doesn't help."

Minnesota  100 000 000  1-9-1
Tigers     000 000 000  0-7-0

HR: Ford (MIN)

WP: Hughes
SV: Burgmeier
LP: Coleman (3-15)

Tigers record: 47-67 (actual 46-68)
Home: 23-37
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 4-6

Game 113: Baylor, Cuellar Too Much For Tigers, 11-0

Detroit (Thu., Aug. 7, 1975) - Don Baylor slugged two home runs and had six RBI, and the Baltimore Orioles used an eight-run second inning to more than back up the pitching of Mike Cuellar, beating the Tigers 11-0 at Tiger Stadium Thursday night.

The Orioles sent 13 men to the plate in the second inning, plating eight runs on seven hits. Strangely, that was the only inning Baltimore scored or got a hit until the seventh.

But it was more than enough for Cuellar, the 38-year-old lefty. Cuellar limited the Tigers to six base hits, walking one and striking out four in the complete game shutout.

Baylor lofted a three-run homer into the left field upper deck in the second off Detroit starter Vern Ruhle, then added an RBI single later in the same inning. Baylor then registered his fifth and sixth RBI of the night with a two-rum homer in the seventh that went even further than the first four-bagger he hit.

Seven of the nine Orioles in the starting lineup scored at least one run.

The Tigers (47-66) have lost two straight on the heels of a four-game winning streak.

The Major Said: "In the course of 162 games, you're going to get your (butt) kicked from time to time. Tonight it was our turn, apparently. That's just the way it is."

Baltimore 080 000 210  11-12-1
Tigers      000 000 000    0-6-1

HR: Baylor ([2] BAL)

WP: Cuellar
LP: Ruhle (7-9)

Tigers record: 47-66 (actual 46-67)
Home: 23-36
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 4-6
Recent games

Game 112 (8-6-75, DH #2)
Baltimore 000 002 010  3-4-1
Tigers      001 000 100  2-8-0

HR: Hendricks (BAL); Wockenfuss ([2] DET, 3)

WP: Grimsley
SV: Miller
LP: Lemanczyk (0-3)

Game 111 (8-6-75; DH #1)
Baltimore 200 000 000  2-5-0
Tigers      201 000 02x  5-9-0

HR: May (BAL); Baldwin (DET, 1); Oglivie (DET, 4); Freehan (DET, 10)

WP: LaGrow (6-13)
SV: Arroyo (3)
LP: Torrez

Game 110 (8-5-75)
Tigers        102 010 001  5-10-0
Cleveland  000 000 010  1-10-0

HR: Sutherland (DET, 6)

WP: Bare (4-4)
LP: Raich

Game 109: Tigers Prevail In 10 Wacky, Sloppy Innings, 11-8

Cleveland (Mon., Aug. 4, 1975) - The Cleveland Indians committed seven errors, the most in modern history for the franchise, and the final of those miscues opened the floodgates as the Tigers beat the Tribe, 11-8, in 10 innings at Municipal Stadium Monday night. It was the Tigers' second straight win.

Third baseman Buddy Bell made three errors by himself. But it was second baseman Jack Brohamer's fumbling of a ground ball in the tenth that started the Tigers' game-winning rally off reliever Jim Kern.

Jack Pierce singled, Aurelio Rodriguez doubled for a run, then rookie Art James came through with a two-out single that plated two more runs as the Tigers broke away from a 8-8 tie.

There were 19 runs and 27 hits, but only two home runs hit (Brohamer for Cleveland, a three-run shot; and Pierce for the Tigers, a solo blast).

The Tigers (45-64) jumped on Cleveland starter Dennis Eckersley for five runs in the first inning as the first six batters singled to start the game.

The Indians got a four spot in the fourth to make the score 5-4. Brohamer's drive over the right field wall off Detroit starter Mickey Lolich was the big blow.

Cleveland scored three times in the seventh inning to take a 7-6 lead but the Tigers answered with two in the eighth to regain the lead, 8-7. Rookie John Knox's double scored both runs. Knox had three RBI on the night.

The Indians bounced right back to score a run in their half of the eighth to tie the game once again. A bases loaded walk to Rick Manning scored the run.

Despite all the fireworks offensively, Tigers reliever (and winner) Dave Lemanczyk set down the final eight Indians hitters in a row to earn the victory, his first of the year.

The Major Said: "It wasn't pretty by any stretch but we'll take it. I didn't like the eight runs we gave up but I liked how we kept coming at them with the bats."

Tigers   500 000 120 3  11-16-0
Cleveland 000 400 310 0 8-11-7

HR: Brohamer (CLE); Pierce (DET, 4)

WP: Lemanczyk (1-2)
LP: Kern

Tigers record: 45-64 (actual 46-63)
Home: 22-34
Away: 23-30
Last 10: 5-5

Game 108: Tigers Score Late, Avoid 5-Game Sweep, 4-3

Boston (Sun., Aug. 3, 1975) - John Wockenfuss blooped a single into short right field, scoring Aurelio Rodriguez in the ninth inning to break a 3-3 tie, and the Tigers beat the Boston Red Sox, 4-3, at Fenway Park Sunday afternoon.

With the win, the Tigers (44-64) avoided a rare five-game sweep at the hands of Boston.

The Red Sox led, 3-2, after seven innings but the Tigers rallied to tie the game in the eighth. Again it was Wockenfuss with the big hit---a run-scoring double.

Boston scored twice in the first inning on a home run by Carl Yastrzemski that scored Bernie Carbo in front of him. That blast erased an early 1-0 Tigers lead, which was forged by Ron LeFlore's leadoff home run.

Tom Walker (2-2) earned the victory with three scoreless innings of relief. Fernando Arroyo pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.

Jack Pierce singled in the fifth to snap a hitless streak of 32 at-bats.

Reliever Dick Drago took the loss for Boston. He took over after Leon Roberts led off the eighth with a double off starter Reggie Cleveland. Drago then promptly surrendered Wockenfuss's double to tie the game, then was again victimized by the Tigers catcher in the ninth after giving up a double to Rodriguez and intentionally walking pinch-hitter Gates Brown.

The Major Said: "No one wants to be swept five games. This was a gutsy win. Very proud of the fellas."

Tigers  100 010 011  4-7-0
Boston 200 010 000  3-8-0

HR: LeFlore (DET, 6); Yastrzemski (BOS)

WP: Walker (2-2)
SV: Arroyo (3)
LP: Drago

Tigers record: 44-64 (actual 46-62)
Home: 22-34
Away: 22-30
Last 10: 4-6

Game 107: Bosox Break Away Late, 9-4

Boston (Sat., Aug. 2, 1975) - The Boston Red Sox broke open a 2-2 game with seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings and went on to beat the Tigers, 9-4, Saturday at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox have a chance at a rare five-game series sweep on Sunday.

Carl Yastrzemski clubbed a two-run homer into the right field corner to highlight a three-run seventh inning as the Red Sox broke the tie. Then they added four runs in the eighth, the big blow being another two-run homer, this one by Bernie Carbo.

Willie Horton had an RBI triple and a two-run home run for Detroit (43-64). Horton tried for an inside-the-park home run in the first inning, but was gunned down at the plate after his drive bounced around in right center field before Fred Lynn grabbed the baseball and hit cutoff man Rick Burleson, who threw a strike to catcher Tim Blackwell to nail the Tigers' DH.

Reliever Bob Reynolds bore the brunt of Boston's late-inning assault, giving up five runs (four earned) in 1.2 innings.

Burleson had three singles and a run scored for the first-place Red Sox.

Gene Michael had a solo homer for Detroit.

Rick Wise started and went 8.1 innings for the win for Boston. Vern Ruhle (7-8) took the loss.

The Major Said: "Again, that's what happens here (Fenway Park). Runs happen in a hurry. Unfortunately we have been on the receiving end instead of the other way around so far."

Tigers   100 001 002  4-5-2
Boston  010 100 34x  9-15-0

HR: Yastrzemski (BOS); Carbo (BOS); Michael (DET, 2); Horton (DET, 17)

WP: Wise
LP: Ruhle (7-8)

Tigers record: 43-64 (actual 46-61)
Home: 22-34
Away: 21-30
Last 10: 4-6

Game 106: Five-Run Third KOs Tigers, 8-3

Boston (Fri., Aug. 1, 1975) - The Boston Red Sox erupted for five runs in the third inning, and cruised to an 8-3 victory over the Tigers at Fenway Park on Friday night.

The Red Sox have taken the first three games of this five-game weekend series.

Lerrin LaGrow (5-13) allowed the first five Red Sox hitters to reach base in the third inning, and he was removed after just 2.1 innings of work. Boston catcher Carlton Fisk stroked a two-run triple in the frame. Fisk homered in the second inning for a 1-0 Boston lead.

The Tigers (43-63) chipped away at the 6-0 deficit, as Gary Sutherland lofted a fly ball over the Green Monster in left for a two-run homer (5) in the fifth make the score 6-3. But the Red Sox added two runs in the eighth to salt away the win.

Bill Freehan hit a solo homer (9) in the fourth for Detroit.

Red Sox starter Luis Tiant went 8.1 innings for the win.

Tigers first baseman Jack Pierce went 0-for-3, extending his hitless slump to 29 at-bats in a row.

The Major Said: "You saw how quickly you can score runs in this ballpark. You blink and they're up 6-0. But that's how it goes here."

Tigers  000 120 000 3-10-0
Boston 015 000 02x 8-14-0

HR: Fisk (BOS); Freehan (DET, 9); Sutherland (DET, 5)

WP: Tiant
LP: LaGrow (5-13)

Tigers record: 43-63 (actual 46-60)
Home: 22-34
Away: 21-29
Last 10: 4-6

Games 104 & 105: Tigers Drop Twinbill in Boston

Boston (Thu., July 31, 1975) - The Tigers racked up 12 hits but failed to score, and Roger Moret pitched 8.1 innings of shutout ball as the Boston Red Sox won Game 2 of a twi-night doubleheader, 4-0, to complete a sweep of the twinbill.

Boston won Game 1, 5-4, despite blowing a 4-0 lead.

In the nightcap, the Tigers (43-62) constantly had runners on base, but couldn't plate any against lefty Moret. They left 12 runners on base, including the bases loaded twice.

Dwight Evans hit a two-run homer for Boston in Game 2.

In the first game, the Red Sox stormed to a 4-0 lead off Tigers starter Ray Bare by the third inning, but the Tigers erased that lead with three in the fourth and one in the fifth off Bill Lee.

The Red Sox scored the eventual game-winning run in the sixth on a force out by Denny Doyle, which scored Rico Petrocelli.

Bare (3-4) took the loss in the first game, and Dave Lemanczyk (0-2) was roughed up in Game 2 in a spot start.

The Major Said: "I can't remember the last time I've seen a team get 12 hits and not score. But that's kind of how our season has gone this year."

Game 1
Tigers    000 310 000  4-6-1
Boston   022 001 00x  5-14-2

WP: Lee
SV: Drago
LP: Bare (3-4)

Game 2
Tigers   000 000 000  0-12-2
Boston  002 020 00x  4-9-0

HR: Evans (BOS)
WP: Moret
SV: Segui
LP: Lemanczyk (0-2)

Tigers record: 43-62 (actual 46-59)
Home: 22-34
Away: 21-28
Last 10: 4-6

Game 103: Lolich Goes All the Way Again; Tigers Win, 4-3

New York (Wed., July 30, 1975) - Mickey Lolich fired his ninth complete game of the season, and despite giving up 13 hits, he only allowed three runs as the Tigers beat the New York Yankees, 4-3, Wednesday night at Shea Stadium.

Lolich (9-12) frequently had runners on base but was able to limit the damage as the Tigers (43-60) took two of three from the Yankees.

The Tigers scored three runs in the first inning off Yankees starter Rudy May. The first four Tigers and six of the first eight reached base.

The Yankees pecked away against the Tigers left-hander, scoring single runs in the second, seventh and eighth innings. But Lolich set down the final five Yankees hitters in a row to end the ballgame.

Rookie catcher John Wockenfuss had two hits, including a triple, and three RBI for Detroit.

In the first inning, the Tigers used a mix of five singles and a hit batsman to cobble together three runs. They could have had more, but Gene Michael, the ninth man to bat in the inning, flied out with the bases loaded.

The Tigers, who took three of four from the Yankees last month in Detroit, are 8-6 against New York this season, with four more matchups to play. They are now off to Boston for a big five-game series against the Red Sox, necessitated by a slew of April rainouts.

In their last 14 games, the Tigers are 9-5.

The Major Said: "What can you say about (Lolich)? He has a rubber arm, like they say. With (John) Hiller out, I figure that the way he was going, Mickey was the best option in the ninth inning."

Tigers   300 010 000  4-11-1
NY       010 000 110 3-13-1

WP: Lolich (9-12)
LP: May

Tigers record: 43-60 (actual 46-57)
Home: 22-34
Away: 21-26
Last 10: 6-4

Game 102: Medich Cures Yanks, 4-0

New York (Tue., July 29, 1975) - Doc Medich twirled 7.1 innings of shutout ball, Sparky Lyle finished it up, and the New York Yankees beat the Tigers, 4-0, at Shea Stadium Tuesday night.

Medich scattered seven hits, walked three and struck out two.

The Yankees scored a single run in the first inning and added three insurance runs in the eighth.

Thurman Munson, who was 4-for-4 on Monday, had two hits and two RBI for New York.

The Tigers (42-60) got just one runner to second base all evening.

Rookie Billy Baldwin made his big league debut for Detroit, batting third and playing right field. He went 1-for-3.

Jack Pierce went 0-for-3 and his hitless streak has extended to 26 at-bats.

Joe Coleman (3-14) started and went seven-plus innings for the Tigers.

The three-game series is squared at a victory each and will conclude Wednesday night. Two lefties are scheduled to start: Mickey Lolich for Detroit and Rudy May for New York.

The Major Said: "Couldn't do much with Doc, though we had some base runners. It was a 1-0 game most of the night so a big hit or two, and the result might have been different."

Tigers    000 000 000  0-7-1
NY    100 000 03x  4-9-0

WP: Medich
SV: Lyle
LP: Coleman (3-14)

Tigers record: 42-60 (actual 46-56)
Home: 22-34
Away: 20-26
Last 10: 6-4