Game 27: Freehan's Power Sparks Tigers, 4-2

Detroit (May 14) -- Bill Freehan had been grumbling about his lack of production over the past several days. Tonight, he did something about it.

The Tigers' catcher slammed two solo home runs---his first of the season---and they were the difference as the Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals, 4-2, to salvage the final game of the three-game series.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak and gave the Tigers (12-15) a 5-4 record on their now-completed homestand.

Veteran shortstop Gene Michael, starting for the second straight game in relief of Tom Veryzer, who's nursing a sore ankle, also hit a solo shot.

The power outburst made a winner of Joe Coleman (2-4), who pitched 7.1 strong innings. John Hiller picked up his sixth save, though he had to squirm out of an eighth inning, bases loaded jam to do it.


Freehan broke out of his funk in a big way


Freehan (.205 BA, no homers) entered the game in a deep slump, though his defense has been brilliant. The lack of production had been bothersome, and he spoke of it a couple days ago.

"I need to pick us up," Freehan said then. "The middle of our order isn't cutting it, and I'm one reason why it isn't."

Freehan deposited a Nelson Briles fastball into the lower deck in left in the second inning, then added another off Briles in the fourth---an opposite field shot off a slider into the lower deck in right.

"I know Nellie a little bit from the '68 World Series," Freehan said of the Royals right-hander, who pitched for the Cardinals. "I don't know if that helped or not, but it probably didn't hurt."

Tigers manager Ralph Houk was tickled.

"Bill's been pressing. He's a Tiger. He'll always be a Tiger. He wears the English D on his heart. It was great to see him knock a couple over the fence."

The Tigers now begin a nine-game road trip, starting Friday at Texas.

Notes: 2B Gary Sutherland (wrist) missed the game. His spot in the batting order (no. 2) was taken by LF Dan Meyer. John Knox played second base, and had three hits, making Knox 5-for-7 so far...Nate Colbert finished his first 100 at-bats as a Tiger with 11 hits and 36 strikeouts...The last time Freehan hit a home run, he also hit two---on October 1, 1974...Michael's last homer was on May 26, 1973.

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Tigers record: 12-15 (actual 13-14)
Home: 7-11
Away: 5-4