Mired in a six-game losing streak, the Tigers followed a familiar script as of late: falling behind early and sometimes often. Tonight it was definitely both.
The Minnesota Twins had a field day, racking up 17 hits in beating the Tigers, 13-1 in a boo-filled Tiger Stadium.
In fact, the Tigers fans booed early and often, as well.
The Twins led, 4-0, before some of the announced crowd of 15,000+ were in their seats.
The crowd was fully seated---and booing---when the Twins made it 7-0 in the fourth. In the sixth, when the Twins scored five times for a 12-0 lead, many of the fans were heading home, perhaps to attack leftovers from their holiday BBQs.
The Twins looked to be taking batting practice at times---blasting drives all over the gaps and hitting four home runs (Steve Braun, Tony Oliva [2], Larry Hisle) in handing the Tigers their worst loss of the season.
It was payback for the Tigers' 16-3 win over the Twins in Minnesota last Monday.
The Tigers (14-23) have been swinging the bats poorly since that win, which was their last. In the six-game losing streak, Detroit has scored 13 runs---three less than in their last win alone.
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle (1-6) lasted 3.1 innings, roughed up for seven runs (six earned) and eight hits. His next two successors, Fernando Arroyo and Tom Walker, weren't any better.
"Just a long day at the office," manager Ralph Houk said as he picked at some tuna salad. "Too bad the fans had to see this on a holiday."
The Tigers didn't score until the ninth. It's debatable whether there were 2,000 fans left to see it.
"Not going good now," said DH Willie Horton. "Not at all."
Oliva's first home run, a two-run shot, made it 3-0 Minnesota in the first inning. The Twins added a run four batters later.
Oliva's two homers were just part of the Twins' 13-run, 17-hit assault
In the fourth, Braun's two-run homer made it 6-0. Rod Carew reached on a Nate Colbert error, and that was it for Ruhle.
Arroyo entered and immediately gave up a run-scoring double to Bobby Darwin. 7-0 Twins. The boos cascaded from everywhere in the old ballpark.
Two innings later, the Twins punished Arroyo and Walker for a five spot. Oliva hit his second two-run homer and Walker gave up four straight hits and a sacrifice fly as the route was on.
Meanwhile, Twins starter Bill Campbell---normally a reliever---cruised, as so many starters have against the Tigers lately. Campbell pitched a complete game, seven-hitter. Only three Tigers reached second base before the ninth inning.
"It's a vicious circle," Houk said. "Everyone is trying too hard. That's what happens when you don't score runs."
So does booing.
Notes: Terry Humphrey started at catcher, just his second start of the season. "Bill (Freehan) was due for a day off," Houk said...Had the Tigers not scored in the ninth, the loss would have been their worst shutout defeat since a 10-0 loss to the Twins on May 4 of last year...The Twins' Danny Thompson had four hits, all singles...Oliva has now hit two homers in a game 10 times in his career.
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Tigers record: 14-23 (actual 18-19)
Home: 7-12
Away: 7-11
Last 10: 2-8
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