Needless to say, it wasn't enough to win a game, as the California Angels swept a twi-night doubleheader, 4-2 and 3-1 at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers (21-31) continue to struggle at home, where they are 8-18.
They swept the Angels in a three-game series in Anaheim last week, but that just underscores the discrepancy between the Tigers at home and on the road (13-13).
The Tigers were hoping that a 6-2 road trip would give them some momentum heading into tonight's twinbill, which kicks off a 12-game home stand.
The way the Tigers are playing at Michigan and Trumbull, they might want to consider wearing their road grays during this homestand.
"It's a thought," manager Ralph Houk said wryly when it was thrown out there by a reporter.
Houk can't do much more than show gallows humor as his team's offense continues to slumber. Even during the successful road trip, the bats were suspect.
Rookie catcher John Wockenfuss, called up from Toledo (fellow catcher Terry Humphrey was sent to the Mud Hens), started both games and went 2-for-7 with a double.
The Tigers managed just three hits in the nightcap off lefty Andy Hassler, who went 7.1 innings.
It got so bad that even Ron LeFlore's one-out triple in the sixth inning failed to yield a run. Boos cascaded when the Tigers couldn't get LeFlore home.
In Game 1, Detroit native and lefty Frank Tanana, just 21 years old, kept the Tigers at bay with eight innings of eight-hit ball.
Mickey Lolich (5-7) took the loss in Game 1, while Ray Bare (1-2), making his first start of the season, was tagged with the loss in the nightcap.
The Angels scored twice in the ninth inning in Game 1, breaking a 2-2 tie. The runs came after two were out and nobody on base. A couple walks and two singles produced the game-winning tallies. The key hit was Bruce Bochte's two-run single off reliever Bob Reynolds.
Bochte was the hero in Game 1
In Game 2, the Angels pecked away, scoring single runs in the second, sixth and seventh innings.
There wasn't much offense from the Angels, either, but these days, it doesn't take much to beat the Tigers.
"Tomorrow is another day," Houk said.
It was difficult to tell if he was trying to convince the reporters, or himself.
Notes: Rumors persist that the Tigers are about to rid themselves of Nate Colbert any day now. Colbert is 20-for-162 (.123) and has 58 strikeouts...Houk, on Wockenfuss starting both games behind the plate: "He's young and fresh. No issue." Wockenfuss: "I would have started three if it was a tripleheader."
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Tigers record: 21-31 (actual 24-28)
Home: 8-18
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 6-4
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