The Tigers have scored just three runs in each of their last four games, but have won every one of those. In fact, they have won five in a row after slipping past the Oakland A's, 3-1, at Oakland Coliseum today.
The Tigers continued to ride stellar pitching and timely hitting to victory.
The heroes today? Center fielder Ron LeFlore (two-run triple) and starter Lerrin LaGrow (8.1 IP, one run, six hits, zero walks).
The Tigers are 5-0 on their eight-game road trip and can sweep the three-time defending champion A's tomorrow.
"It's nice to see the guys feel good about themselves again," manager Ralph Houk said. "We were teetering there for a bit."
No kidding.
The Tigers began the trip on a 1-10 slide, but have played like pennant contenders since leaving Detroit. The Tigers (20-27) are 8-16 at home but 12-11 on the road.
"No clue," Houk said when asked about the disparity.
This afternoon, the Tigers didn't even register their first hit until the fifth inning, when Nate Colbert, of all people, singled off A's starter Vida Blue.
But LaGrow was stingy himself. He didn't tire until the ninth, throwing shutout baseball until then. John Hiller recorded his 11th save, stranding two A's runners.
LaGrow entered the game 1-7 with a 5.63 ERA, but was splendid on Saturday
LeFlore's triple over the head of center fielder Billy North plated Mickey Stanley and Tom Veryzer, breaking a scoreless tie in the sixth inning. Gary Sutherland added an RBI single for a 3-0 Detroit lead.
That was it for the Tigers' offense, which won't remind anyone of the 1927 Yankees, but which has been just good enough to cobble together this five-game winning streak.
"The worst thing you can do in this game is waste good pitching," Houk said as he attacked a postgame meal of fried chicken. "So it's good to see us get good pitching and wins."
Blue was very good, but LaGrow (2-7) was even better.
"I haven't been doing my share so far," LaGrow said. "But today I had my slider and I got ahead of hitters."
Notes: Third baseman Aurelio Rodriguez said he could have pinch-hit today if Houk needed him, but playing in the field is still up in the air as he recovers from a bruised heel, suffered last weekend while running the bases. Mickey Stanley started his fourth straight game at third...Houk replaced rookie 1B Jack Pierce with Colbert for the first time in four games after Pierce went 0-for-12 in his first three Tigers starts. Colbert went 1-for-3...LeFlore, on his triple: "I was thinking inside the park homer, but Joe (3B coach Schultz) thought better of it." Indeed, LeFlore likely would have been thrown out at the plate.
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Tigers record: 20-27 (actual 23-24)
Home: 8-16
Away: 12-11
Last 10: 6-4
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