Monday, October 1, 2012

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