Milwaukee, WI (Fri., Sept. 26, 1975) - Darrell Porter's two-run homer in the first inning proved to be all the offense the Milwaukee Brewers needed, as they beat the Tigers, 6-0, at County Stadium.
The Tigers managed just six hits off starter Pete Broberg in 7.1 innings, and went hitless against reliever Bill Castro the rest of the way.
The Tigers loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning with Milwaukee ahead, 4-0, but Castro entered the game and retired Aurelio Rodriguez and Chuck Scrivener to squash the threat. The Brewers then added two more runs in their half of the eighth.
Porter drove a Ray Bare (7-11) fastball deep over the right field wall with Bob Sheldon on first base in the opening inning for a 2-0 Milwaukee lead. Porter finished with three hits.
The Brewers pounded out 14 hits.
The Major Said: "Too many shutouts. It's inexcusable to have so many games where we don't score a single run. We deserve everything we get these days."
Tigers 000 000 000 0-6-1
Milw. 200 020 02x 6-14-0
WP: Broberg
LP: Bare (7-11)
Tigers record: 60-97 (actual 57-100)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-48
Last 10: 4-6
Showing posts with label Aurelio Rodriguez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aurelio Rodriguez. Show all posts
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Game 156: Desperate O's Outlast Tigers in 15, 3-2
Baltimore, MD (Wed., Sept. 24, 1975) - Light-hitting Mark Belanger lined a single into center field with two outs in the bottom of the 15th, scoring Elrod Hendricks from second base, and the Baltimore Orioles kept their East Division title hopes alive with a 3-2 win over the Tigers at Memorial Stadium.
The Orioles tied the game, 2-2, in the eighth inning after the Tigers moved ahead 2-1 in the top half of the inning. Then the teams rarely threatened to score from the ninth through 14th innings.
The Tigers put runners on second and third with one out in the 14th, but Dyar Miller struck out Bill Freehan and Aurelio Rodriguez to end the threat.
In the 15th for Baltimore, Don Baylor led off with a single. Bobby Grich walked, and Hendricks hit a ground ball to shortstop Tom Veryzer, who flipped the ball to Jerry Manuel at second, but Manuel's throw to first was late, putting runners on first and third with one out.
Brooks Robinson hit a chopper to Rodriguez at third base, who gunned out Baylor trying to score. That left things up to Belanger, who stroked a 2-1 fastball from rookie Steve Grilli (0-1) into center field to plate Hendricks from second.
The win kept the Orioles 2.5 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox. The Tigers (60-96) lost their third straight.
Rookie Bob Molinaro had two triples for the Tigers, both off starter Jim Palmer, who went 10 innings. Tigers starter Joe Coleman didn't add to his league-leading 20 losses, but he is still winless since May 19, and he has no remaining starts scheduled.
The Major Said: "This game kind of symbolizes our season. When you're going good, you win games like this. We had our shot in the 14th."
Tigers 000 100 010 000 000 2-9-0
Baltimore 000 001 010 000 001 3-15-1
WP: Garland
LP: Grilli (0-1)
Tigers record: 60-96 (actual 57-99)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-47
Last 10: 4-6
The Orioles tied the game, 2-2, in the eighth inning after the Tigers moved ahead 2-1 in the top half of the inning. Then the teams rarely threatened to score from the ninth through 14th innings.
The Tigers put runners on second and third with one out in the 14th, but Dyar Miller struck out Bill Freehan and Aurelio Rodriguez to end the threat.
In the 15th for Baltimore, Don Baylor led off with a single. Bobby Grich walked, and Hendricks hit a ground ball to shortstop Tom Veryzer, who flipped the ball to Jerry Manuel at second, but Manuel's throw to first was late, putting runners on first and third with one out.
Brooks Robinson hit a chopper to Rodriguez at third base, who gunned out Baylor trying to score. That left things up to Belanger, who stroked a 2-1 fastball from rookie Steve Grilli (0-1) into center field to plate Hendricks from second.
The win kept the Orioles 2.5 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox. The Tigers (60-96) lost their third straight.
Rookie Bob Molinaro had two triples for the Tigers, both off starter Jim Palmer, who went 10 innings. Tigers starter Joe Coleman didn't add to his league-leading 20 losses, but he is still winless since May 19, and he has no remaining starts scheduled.
The Major Said: "This game kind of symbolizes our season. When you're going good, you win games like this. We had our shot in the 14th."
Tigers 000 100 010 000 000 2-9-0
Baltimore 000 001 010 000 001 3-15-1
WP: Garland
LP: Grilli (0-1)
Tigers record: 60-96 (actual 57-99)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-47
Last 10: 4-6
Monday, September 24, 2012
Game 155: Tigers Blow It in 9th, 2-1
Detroit (Sun., Sept. 21, 1975) - Vern Ruhle had the Boston Red Sox shutout through eight innings on four hits, but his lead was only 1-0. It would prove to not be enough.
Ruhle (8-15) struggled in the ninth, and the Red Sox scored twice to beat the Tigers, 2-1 at Tiger Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the home finale for the Bengals.
The Red Sox came back to win the final two games of the series after dropping Friday's opener.
With one out in the ninth and the bases empty, Fred Lynn singled for Boston. Jim Rice reached on Gary Sutherland's error, and Carlton Fisk followed with a single, scoring Lynn from second with the tying run.
That ended Ruhle's day, but rookie reliever Ed Glynn, a lefty, walked left-handed hitting Bernie Carbo to load the bases with one out. Rico Petrocelli was up next and he lined a single to left to score Rice with the go-ahead run.
Rick Burleson then hit into a 4-6-3 double play, but the damage was done.
Jim Willoughby survived a lead-off single in the ninth by Dan Meyer, thanks largely to Tom Veryzer's errant bunt, which was caught in the air by Fisk, who rifled a throw to Carl Yastrzemski at first base to double off Meyer.
Pinch-hitter Gates Brown, in perhaps his last at-bat at Tiger Stadium in his career, flied out to left for the final out. Brown has hinted strongly at retirement after this season, and the Tigers (60-95) finished their home schedule with a 31-49 record.
Detroit scored its run in the sixth when second baseman Denny Doyle bobbled Aurelio Rodriguez's potential double-play ground ball, scoring Willie Horton from third base.
The Major Said: "We've wasted a lot of good pitching this year, and today was an example. Felt horrible for Vern, but he was obviously losing gas out there. Had to get him out of there. Tommy's (Veryzer) bunt was unfortunate."
Boston 000 000 002 2-7-1
Tigers 000 001 000 1-6-1
WP: Willoughby
LP: Ruhle (8-15)
Tigers record: 60-95 (actual 57-98)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6
Ruhle (8-15) struggled in the ninth, and the Red Sox scored twice to beat the Tigers, 2-1 at Tiger Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the home finale for the Bengals.
The Red Sox came back to win the final two games of the series after dropping Friday's opener.
With one out in the ninth and the bases empty, Fred Lynn singled for Boston. Jim Rice reached on Gary Sutherland's error, and Carlton Fisk followed with a single, scoring Lynn from second with the tying run.
That ended Ruhle's day, but rookie reliever Ed Glynn, a lefty, walked left-handed hitting Bernie Carbo to load the bases with one out. Rico Petrocelli was up next and he lined a single to left to score Rice with the go-ahead run.
Rick Burleson then hit into a 4-6-3 double play, but the damage was done.
Jim Willoughby survived a lead-off single in the ninth by Dan Meyer, thanks largely to Tom Veryzer's errant bunt, which was caught in the air by Fisk, who rifled a throw to Carl Yastrzemski at first base to double off Meyer.
Pinch-hitter Gates Brown, in perhaps his last at-bat at Tiger Stadium in his career, flied out to left for the final out. Brown has hinted strongly at retirement after this season, and the Tigers (60-95) finished their home schedule with a 31-49 record.
Detroit scored its run in the sixth when second baseman Denny Doyle bobbled Aurelio Rodriguez's potential double-play ground ball, scoring Willie Horton from third base.
The Major Said: "We've wasted a lot of good pitching this year, and today was an example. Felt horrible for Vern, but he was obviously losing gas out there. Had to get him out of there. Tommy's (Veryzer) bunt was unfortunate."
Boston 000 000 002 2-7-1
Tigers 000 001 000 1-6-1
WP: Willoughby
LP: Ruhle (8-15)
Tigers record: 60-95 (actual 57-98)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Games 144 & 145: Tigers Come From Ahead Twice and Lose DH to Bosox
Boston, MA (Wed., Sept. 10, 1975) - The Tigers blew leads in both ends of a twi-night doubleheader and were swept by the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park Wednesday evening.
In Game 1, the Tigers scored five runs in the first inning but were shutout the rest of the way in losing, 6-5. In the nightcap, the Tigers held a 2-0 lead midway through the game but ended up on the short end of a 5-3 score.
In the opener, the Tigers pounced on Red Sox starter Roger Moret for five runs in the first inning, courtesy a three-run homer by hot-hitting Willie Horton and a two-run shot by Aurelio Rodriguez.
But Moret got stingy and went seven innings, giving up no more runs after the first frame. Meanwhile, the Red Sox chipped away against Tigers starter Vern Ruhle, tying the game in the eighth inning and winning it in the bottom of the ninth on a two-out single by Carl Yastrzemski, scoring Rick Burleson.
In Game 2, the Red Sox scored three runs in the seventh inning to erase a 2-1 deficit and they held on from there.
Horton hit another homer in the second game, no. 25 on the season to go with 92 RBI. In his past 41 at-bats, Horton has seven home runs and 19 RBI.
Tom Walker got a spot start for the Tigers (56-89) in the nightcap. He pitched six innings and only allowed one run. Rookie Ike Brookens (0-2) was tagged with the loss, surrendering the three runs in the seventh in just 1/3 inning.
Detroit has one more game left in Boston, where the Tigers are 1-6 this season.
Yastrzemski had three hits in each game, going 6-for-10 with three RBI.
The Major Said: "No lead is safe in this ballpark, and especially when you score five runs in the first and nothing afterward. That's a recipe for disaster against this team in this place. And they didn't hit the ball out of the ballpark in either game."
Game 1
Tigers 500 000 000 5-8-0
Boston 010 003 011 6-11-1
HR: Horton (DET, 24); Rodriguez (DET, 6)
WP: Drago
LP: Arroyo (3-2)
Game 2
Tigers 010 100 001 3-9-1
Boston 000 010 31x 5-12-0
HR: Horton (DET, 25)
WP: Pole
SV: Willoughby
LP: Brookens (0-2)
Tigers record: 56-89 (actual 55-90)
Home: 27-44
Away: 29-45
Last 10: 4-6
In Game 1, the Tigers scored five runs in the first inning but were shutout the rest of the way in losing, 6-5. In the nightcap, the Tigers held a 2-0 lead midway through the game but ended up on the short end of a 5-3 score.
In the opener, the Tigers pounced on Red Sox starter Roger Moret for five runs in the first inning, courtesy a three-run homer by hot-hitting Willie Horton and a two-run shot by Aurelio Rodriguez.
But Moret got stingy and went seven innings, giving up no more runs after the first frame. Meanwhile, the Red Sox chipped away against Tigers starter Vern Ruhle, tying the game in the eighth inning and winning it in the bottom of the ninth on a two-out single by Carl Yastrzemski, scoring Rick Burleson.
In Game 2, the Red Sox scored three runs in the seventh inning to erase a 2-1 deficit and they held on from there.
Horton hit another homer in the second game, no. 25 on the season to go with 92 RBI. In his past 41 at-bats, Horton has seven home runs and 19 RBI.
Tom Walker got a spot start for the Tigers (56-89) in the nightcap. He pitched six innings and only allowed one run. Rookie Ike Brookens (0-2) was tagged with the loss, surrendering the three runs in the seventh in just 1/3 inning.
Detroit has one more game left in Boston, where the Tigers are 1-6 this season.
Yastrzemski had three hits in each game, going 6-for-10 with three RBI.
The Major Said: "No lead is safe in this ballpark, and especially when you score five runs in the first and nothing afterward. That's a recipe for disaster against this team in this place. And they didn't hit the ball out of the ballpark in either game."
Game 1
Tigers 500 000 000 5-8-0
Boston 010 003 011 6-11-1
HR: Horton (DET, 24); Rodriguez (DET, 6)
WP: Drago
LP: Arroyo (3-2)
Game 2
Tigers 010 100 001 3-9-1
Boston 000 010 31x 5-12-0
HR: Horton (DET, 25)
WP: Pole
SV: Willoughby
LP: Brookens (0-2)
Tigers record: 56-89 (actual 55-90)
Home: 27-44
Away: 29-45
Last 10: 4-6
Monday, September 10, 2012
Games 140 & 141: Five-Run 8th Earns Tigers DH Split
Cleveland, OH (Sunday, Sept. 7, 1975) - The Tigers scored five runs in the eighth inning in Game Two of a Sunday doubleheader, overcoming a 3-2 deficit, and earned a DH split with a 7-3 win over the Cleveland Indians at Municipal Stadium.
The Tribe won the first game, 4-3.
In the nightcap, Bill Freehan hit two homers and knocked in five runs, and Willie Horton slammed his fifth homer in six games. Freehan's second homer was a grand slam in the five-run eighth. Horton and Freehan hit back-to-back solo homers in the seventh for a brief 2-0 lead before the Indians scored three runs in their half of the seventh.
In Game One, Joe Coleman suffered his 19th loss despite pitching eight innings. Cleveland jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the third inning and the Tigers' catch-up efforts fell short.
Aurelio Rodriguez hit his fifth homer in the first game.
The Tigers (55-86) avoided a four-game sweep with the nightcap win. Indians starter Fritz Peterson pitched six shutout innings in Game Two, but left with soreness in his left (pitching) elbow. The Tigers then roughed up relievers Roric Harrison and Tom Buskey for their seven runs.
The Major Said: "The big boys led us in the second game. We needed that. Too bad about Peterson but that happens. Good to get out of here with at least one win."
Game 1
Tigers 000 200 010 3-7-1
Cleve. 201 100 00x 4-7-0
HR: Hendrick (CLE); Rodriguez (DET, 5)
WP: Bibby
SV: LaRoche
LP: Coleman (3-19)
Game 2
Tigers 000 000 250 7-11-1
Cleve. 000 000 300 3-10-0
HR: Horton (DET, 23); Freehan (DET, [2] 15)
WP: Arroyo (3-1)
LP: Harrison
Tigers record: 55-86 (actual 54-87)
Home: 27-44
Away: 28-42
Last 10: 4-6
The Tribe won the first game, 4-3.
In the nightcap, Bill Freehan hit two homers and knocked in five runs, and Willie Horton slammed his fifth homer in six games. Freehan's second homer was a grand slam in the five-run eighth. Horton and Freehan hit back-to-back solo homers in the seventh for a brief 2-0 lead before the Indians scored three runs in their half of the seventh.
In Game One, Joe Coleman suffered his 19th loss despite pitching eight innings. Cleveland jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the third inning and the Tigers' catch-up efforts fell short.
Aurelio Rodriguez hit his fifth homer in the first game.
The Tigers (55-86) avoided a four-game sweep with the nightcap win. Indians starter Fritz Peterson pitched six shutout innings in Game Two, but left with soreness in his left (pitching) elbow. The Tigers then roughed up relievers Roric Harrison and Tom Buskey for their seven runs.
The Major Said: "The big boys led us in the second game. We needed that. Too bad about Peterson but that happens. Good to get out of here with at least one win."
Game 1
Tigers 000 200 010 3-7-1
Cleve. 201 100 00x 4-7-0
HR: Hendrick (CLE); Rodriguez (DET, 5)
WP: Bibby
SV: LaRoche
LP: Coleman (3-19)
Game 2
Tigers 000 000 250 7-11-1
Cleve. 000 000 300 3-10-0
HR: Horton (DET, 23); Freehan (DET, [2] 15)
WP: Arroyo (3-1)
LP: Harrison
Tigers record: 55-86 (actual 54-87)
Home: 27-44
Away: 28-42
Last 10: 4-6
Friday, September 7, 2012
Game 137: Tigers Keep Yanks' Number, 11-4
Detroit (Thu., Sept. 4, 1975) - The Tigers have won 54 games this season. Almost 20 percent of those wins have come against the New York Yankees.
The Tigers blitzed the Yankees, 11-4 at Tiger Stadium on Thursday night, Detroit's 10th win over New York in 16 meetings in 1975.
In this win, the Tigers bats didn't get going until the fifth inning, when they scored three runs to erase a 2-0 deficit. Dan Meyer kept his hot and clutch hitting going with a two-run double in the inning.
But it was in the sixth where the Tigers blew the game open, knocking out starter Rudy May with a five-run explosion. Aurelio Rodriguez started the inning with a home run, and a walk and two singles to the next three batters sent May to the showers. Sparky Lyle entered the game and the lefty surrendered an RBI single to Gary Sutherland and Willie Horton knocked in two more with a double to cap the five-run frame.
The Yankees made the score 8-4 with two runs in the eighth, but the Tigers immediately responded with three runs of their own to put the game away.
Detroit (54-83) raked Yankees pitching for 18 hits for its second straight victory.
Ray Bare (5-9) broke a personal four-game losing streak by pitching 7.2 innings of six-hit ball.
Horton had four RBI, giving the previously struggling designated hitter nine ribbies in the two-game series. Horton's 82 RBI leads the Tigers by far.
The Major Said: "That's a good team (Yankees) and we have handled them, for whatever reason. I'm sure Billy (Martin, manager) is beside himself, but we've had a much tougher year than they have, I'll tell you that."
New York 110 000 020 4-8-1
Tigers 000 035 03x 11-18-0
HR: Rodriguez (DET, 4)
WP: Bare (5-9)
LP: May
Tigers record: 54-83 (actual 53-84)
Home: 27-44
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
The Tigers blitzed the Yankees, 11-4 at Tiger Stadium on Thursday night, Detroit's 10th win over New York in 16 meetings in 1975.
In this win, the Tigers bats didn't get going until the fifth inning, when they scored three runs to erase a 2-0 deficit. Dan Meyer kept his hot and clutch hitting going with a two-run double in the inning.
But it was in the sixth where the Tigers blew the game open, knocking out starter Rudy May with a five-run explosion. Aurelio Rodriguez started the inning with a home run, and a walk and two singles to the next three batters sent May to the showers. Sparky Lyle entered the game and the lefty surrendered an RBI single to Gary Sutherland and Willie Horton knocked in two more with a double to cap the five-run frame.
The Yankees made the score 8-4 with two runs in the eighth, but the Tigers immediately responded with three runs of their own to put the game away.
Detroit (54-83) raked Yankees pitching for 18 hits for its second straight victory.
Ray Bare (5-9) broke a personal four-game losing streak by pitching 7.2 innings of six-hit ball.
Horton had four RBI, giving the previously struggling designated hitter nine ribbies in the two-game series. Horton's 82 RBI leads the Tigers by far.
The Major Said: "That's a good team (Yankees) and we have handled them, for whatever reason. I'm sure Billy (Martin, manager) is beside himself, but we've had a much tougher year than they have, I'll tell you that."
New York 110 000 020 4-8-1
Tigers 000 035 03x 11-18-0
HR: Rodriguez (DET, 4)
WP: Bare (5-9)
LP: May
Tigers record: 54-83 (actual 53-84)
Home: 27-44
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Game 127: Horton Homers, Tigers Survive Late Scare, 5-3
Bloomington, MN (Sat., Aug. 23, 1975) - Willie Horton slammed a two-run homer, his first home run in three weeks, and the Tigers staved off a ninth inning rally to beat the Minnesota Twins, 5-3, Saturday.
The Tigers (50-77) won their second straight game on the heels of a 10-game losing streak. They won consecutive games for the first time since August 6.
Horton's homer, his 18th, gave the Tigers a seemingly comfortable 5-1 lead in the eighth inning. But the Twins kicked up their heels in the ninth, scoring twice and getting runners on first and third with one out. Then Fernando Arroyo, after giving up hits to the first two Twins batters he faced, quelled the uprising by striking out Lyman Bostock and getting Jerry Terrell to ground into a fielder's choice.
The Tigers opened a 3-0 lead in the fourth. Ahead 1-0, Dan Meyer, Ben Oglivie and Aurelio Rodriguez singled, loading the bases with two outs. John Wockenfuss walked, scoring Meyer, and a passed ball charged to Twins catcher Phil Roof scored Oglivie and it was 3-0 Detroit.
Lerrin LaGrow (7-14) went 8.1 innings for the win. Arroyo picked up his fifth save.
The Major Said: "I know Willie (Horton) is a very proud man and that streak of no home runs had been bothering him. Maybe he can get hot and hit some more. He tends to hit them in bunches."
Tigers 100 200 020 5-10-0
Minn. 000 001 002 3-9-0
HR: Horton (DET, 18)
WP: LaGrow (7-14)
SV: Arroyo (5)
LP: Blyleven
The Tigers (50-77) won their second straight game on the heels of a 10-game losing streak. They won consecutive games for the first time since August 6.
Horton's homer, his 18th, gave the Tigers a seemingly comfortable 5-1 lead in the eighth inning. But the Twins kicked up their heels in the ninth, scoring twice and getting runners on first and third with one out. Then Fernando Arroyo, after giving up hits to the first two Twins batters he faced, quelled the uprising by striking out Lyman Bostock and getting Jerry Terrell to ground into a fielder's choice.
The Tigers opened a 3-0 lead in the fourth. Ahead 1-0, Dan Meyer, Ben Oglivie and Aurelio Rodriguez singled, loading the bases with two outs. John Wockenfuss walked, scoring Meyer, and a passed ball charged to Twins catcher Phil Roof scored Oglivie and it was 3-0 Detroit.
Lerrin LaGrow (7-14) went 8.1 innings for the win. Arroyo picked up his fifth save.
The Major Said: "I know Willie (Horton) is a very proud man and that streak of no home runs had been bothering him. Maybe he can get hot and hit some more. He tends to hit them in bunches."
Tigers 100 200 020 5-10-0
Minn. 000 001 002 3-9-0
HR: Horton (DET, 18)
WP: LaGrow (7-14)
SV: Arroyo (5)
LP: Blyleven
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Game 126: Tigers Rout Twins, End Losing Skid
Bloomington, MN (Fri., Aug. 22, 1975) - Dan Meyer hit a grand slam as part of a five-run fourth inning, and the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins, 8-3, on Friday night to snap their 10-game losing streak.
Meyer connected off Twins starter Dave Goltz, who was roughed up for seven runs and nine hits in four innings.
Vern Ruhle picked up the win for Detroit with six-plus innings of solid work.
The win was the Tigers' first since beating Minnesota 1-0 on August 9 in Detroit.
Trailing 3-2 heading into the fourth, the Tigers loaded the bases with nobody out. After a force out at the plate, Ron LeFlore delivered a run-scoring single to tie the game. Gary Sutherland grounded into another force out at home, bringing Meyer to the plate. On a 1-1 pitch, Meyer drilled a Goltz fastball over the right field wall.
The Tigers (49-77) pounded out 15 hits off four Twins pitchers.
Rod Carew had an RBI double and a run-scoring single in the first two innings as the Twins built a 3-2 lead. The Tigers had gone ahead 2-1 in the top of the second on a Bill Freehan triple, a Ben Oglivie double and an Aurelio Rodriguez sacrifice fly.
The Major Said: "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz. Isn't that the commercial? We were due, that's for sure. That was a pretty good pitcher (Goltz) we got to, too."
Tigers 020 500 100 8-15-1
Minn. 120 000 000 3-9-1
HR: Meyer (DET, 8)
WP: Ruhle (8-11)
LP: Goltz
Tigers record: 49-77 (actual 50-76)
Home: 24-41
Away: 25-36
Last 10: 1-9
Meyer connected off Twins starter Dave Goltz, who was roughed up for seven runs and nine hits in four innings.
Vern Ruhle picked up the win for Detroit with six-plus innings of solid work.
The win was the Tigers' first since beating Minnesota 1-0 on August 9 in Detroit.
Trailing 3-2 heading into the fourth, the Tigers loaded the bases with nobody out. After a force out at the plate, Ron LeFlore delivered a run-scoring single to tie the game. Gary Sutherland grounded into another force out at home, bringing Meyer to the plate. On a 1-1 pitch, Meyer drilled a Goltz fastball over the right field wall.
The Tigers (49-77) pounded out 15 hits off four Twins pitchers.
Rod Carew had an RBI double and a run-scoring single in the first two innings as the Twins built a 3-2 lead. The Tigers had gone ahead 2-1 in the top of the second on a Bill Freehan triple, a Ben Oglivie double and an Aurelio Rodriguez sacrifice fly.
The Major Said: "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz. Isn't that the commercial? We were due, that's for sure. That was a pretty good pitcher (Goltz) we got to, too."
Tigers 020 500 100 8-15-1
Minn. 120 000 000 3-9-1
HR: Meyer (DET, 8)
WP: Ruhle (8-11)
LP: Goltz
Tigers record: 49-77 (actual 50-76)
Home: 24-41
Away: 25-36
Last 10: 1-9
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Game 109: Tigers Prevail In 10 Wacky, Sloppy Innings, 11-8
Cleveland (Mon., Aug. 4, 1975) - The Cleveland Indians committed seven errors, the most in modern history for the franchise, and the final of those miscues opened the floodgates as the Tigers beat the Tribe, 11-8, in 10 innings at Municipal Stadium Monday night. It was the Tigers' second straight win.
Third baseman Buddy Bell made three errors by himself. But it was second baseman Jack Brohamer's fumbling of a ground ball in the tenth that started the Tigers' game-winning rally off reliever Jim Kern.
Jack Pierce singled, Aurelio Rodriguez doubled for a run, then rookie Art James came through with a two-out single that plated two more runs as the Tigers broke away from a 8-8 tie.
There were 19 runs and 27 hits, but only two home runs hit (Brohamer for Cleveland, a three-run shot; and Pierce for the Tigers, a solo blast).
The Tigers (45-64) jumped on Cleveland starter Dennis Eckersley for five runs in the first inning as the first six batters singled to start the game.
The Indians got a four spot in the fourth to make the score 5-4. Brohamer's drive over the right field wall off Detroit starter Mickey Lolich was the big blow.
Cleveland scored three times in the seventh inning to take a 7-6 lead but the Tigers answered with two in the eighth to regain the lead, 8-7. Rookie John Knox's double scored both runs. Knox had three RBI on the night.
The Indians bounced right back to score a run in their half of the eighth to tie the game once again. A bases loaded walk to Rick Manning scored the run.
Despite all the fireworks offensively, Tigers reliever (and winner) Dave Lemanczyk set down the final eight Indians hitters in a row to earn the victory, his first of the year.
The Major Said: "It wasn't pretty by any stretch but we'll take it. I didn't like the eight runs we gave up but I liked how we kept coming at them with the bats."
Tigers 500 000 120 3 11-16-0
Cleveland 000 400 310 0 8-11-7
HR: Brohamer (CLE); Pierce (DET, 4)
WP: Lemanczyk (1-2)
LP: Kern
Tigers record: 45-64 (actual 46-63)
Home: 22-34
Away: 23-30
Last 10: 5-5
Third baseman Buddy Bell made three errors by himself. But it was second baseman Jack Brohamer's fumbling of a ground ball in the tenth that started the Tigers' game-winning rally off reliever Jim Kern.
Jack Pierce singled, Aurelio Rodriguez doubled for a run, then rookie Art James came through with a two-out single that plated two more runs as the Tigers broke away from a 8-8 tie.
There were 19 runs and 27 hits, but only two home runs hit (Brohamer for Cleveland, a three-run shot; and Pierce for the Tigers, a solo blast).
The Tigers (45-64) jumped on Cleveland starter Dennis Eckersley for five runs in the first inning as the first six batters singled to start the game.
The Indians got a four spot in the fourth to make the score 5-4. Brohamer's drive over the right field wall off Detroit starter Mickey Lolich was the big blow.
Cleveland scored three times in the seventh inning to take a 7-6 lead but the Tigers answered with two in the eighth to regain the lead, 8-7. Rookie John Knox's double scored both runs. Knox had three RBI on the night.
The Indians bounced right back to score a run in their half of the eighth to tie the game once again. A bases loaded walk to Rick Manning scored the run.
Despite all the fireworks offensively, Tigers reliever (and winner) Dave Lemanczyk set down the final eight Indians hitters in a row to earn the victory, his first of the year.
The Major Said: "It wasn't pretty by any stretch but we'll take it. I didn't like the eight runs we gave up but I liked how we kept coming at them with the bats."
Tigers 500 000 120 3 11-16-0
Cleveland 000 400 310 0 8-11-7
HR: Brohamer (CLE); Pierce (DET, 4)
WP: Lemanczyk (1-2)
LP: Kern
Tigers record: 45-64 (actual 46-63)
Home: 22-34
Away: 23-30
Last 10: 5-5
Monday, August 6, 2012
Game 108: Tigers Score Late, Avoid 5-Game Sweep, 4-3
Boston (Sun., Aug. 3, 1975) - John Wockenfuss blooped a single into short right field, scoring Aurelio Rodriguez in the ninth inning to break a 3-3 tie, and the Tigers beat the Boston Red Sox, 4-3, at Fenway Park Sunday afternoon.
With the win, the Tigers (44-64) avoided a rare five-game sweep at the hands of Boston.
The Red Sox led, 3-2, after seven innings but the Tigers rallied to tie the game in the eighth. Again it was Wockenfuss with the big hit---a run-scoring double.
Boston scored twice in the first inning on a home run by Carl Yastrzemski that scored Bernie Carbo in front of him. That blast erased an early 1-0 Tigers lead, which was forged by Ron LeFlore's leadoff home run.
Tom Walker (2-2) earned the victory with three scoreless innings of relief. Fernando Arroyo pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.
Jack Pierce singled in the fifth to snap a hitless streak of 32 at-bats.
Reliever Dick Drago took the loss for Boston. He took over after Leon Roberts led off the eighth with a double off starter Reggie Cleveland. Drago then promptly surrendered Wockenfuss's double to tie the game, then was again victimized by the Tigers catcher in the ninth after giving up a double to Rodriguez and intentionally walking pinch-hitter Gates Brown.
The Major Said: "No one wants to be swept five games. This was a gutsy win. Very proud of the fellas."
Tigers 100 010 011 4-7-0
Boston 200 010 000 3-8-0
HR: LeFlore (DET, 6); Yastrzemski (BOS)
WP: Walker (2-2)
SV: Arroyo (3)
LP: Drago
Tigers record: 44-64 (actual 46-62)
Home: 22-34
Away: 22-30
Last 10: 4-6
With the win, the Tigers (44-64) avoided a rare five-game sweep at the hands of Boston.
The Red Sox led, 3-2, after seven innings but the Tigers rallied to tie the game in the eighth. Again it was Wockenfuss with the big hit---a run-scoring double.
Boston scored twice in the first inning on a home run by Carl Yastrzemski that scored Bernie Carbo in front of him. That blast erased an early 1-0 Tigers lead, which was forged by Ron LeFlore's leadoff home run.
Tom Walker (2-2) earned the victory with three scoreless innings of relief. Fernando Arroyo pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.
Jack Pierce singled in the fifth to snap a hitless streak of 32 at-bats.
Reliever Dick Drago took the loss for Boston. He took over after Leon Roberts led off the eighth with a double off starter Reggie Cleveland. Drago then promptly surrendered Wockenfuss's double to tie the game, then was again victimized by the Tigers catcher in the ninth after giving up a double to Rodriguez and intentionally walking pinch-hitter Gates Brown.
The Major Said: "No one wants to be swept five games. This was a gutsy win. Very proud of the fellas."
Tigers 100 010 011 4-7-0
Boston 200 010 000 3-8-0
HR: LeFlore (DET, 6); Yastrzemski (BOS)
WP: Walker (2-2)
SV: Arroyo (3)
LP: Drago
Tigers record: 44-64 (actual 46-62)
Home: 22-34
Away: 22-30
Last 10: 4-6
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Game 101: Tigers Jump on Yanks, Outlast Them, 7-4
New York (Mon., July 28, 1975) - The Tigers scored five runs in the fifth inning then fended off a furious rally to beat the New York Yankees, 7-4, at Shea Stadium on Monday night.
Ben Oglivie's solo home run started the scoring, and the Tigers added four more runs off starter Larry Gura as they sent 10 men to the plate.
The Yankees closed to within 5-4 and threatened to tie or take the lead in the eighth. But with the bases loaded and one out, reliever Dave Lemanczyk got Lou Piniella to ground into an inning-ending double play.
The Tigers (42-59) added two insurance runs in the ninth inning to seal the win, their eighth victory in twelve games.
Thurman Munson had four hits and a walk for the Yankees.
After Oglivie's fourth home run of the year, the next five Tigers singled to score three times. One out later, Aurelio Rodriguez singled to plate the fifth run of the inning.
The Yankees got three runs across the plate in the eighth and the crowd was shrieking, but Piniella pounded a Lemanczyk slider into the ground to second baseman Gary Sutherland, who started a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle went 6.1 innings, allowing just one run.
Before the game, reliever John Hiller had his left (pitching) elbow examined at a Manhattan clinic. So far, Hiller has been advised to rest the elbow for 10 days to two weeks, to relieve the tightness he experienced after Sunday's appearance. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
The Major Said: "That was a tough spot for Dave (Lemanczyk), with the bases loaded and the crowd into it. He made the perfect pitch, really."
Tigers 000 050 002 7-16-1
NY 000 000 130 4-13-0
HR: Oglivie (DET, 4)
WP: Ruhle (7-7)
SV: Lemanczyk (1)
LP: Gura
Tigers record: 42-59 (actual 46-55)
Home: 22-34
Away: 20-25
Last 10: 6-4
Ben Oglivie's solo home run started the scoring, and the Tigers added four more runs off starter Larry Gura as they sent 10 men to the plate.
The Yankees closed to within 5-4 and threatened to tie or take the lead in the eighth. But with the bases loaded and one out, reliever Dave Lemanczyk got Lou Piniella to ground into an inning-ending double play.
The Tigers (42-59) added two insurance runs in the ninth inning to seal the win, their eighth victory in twelve games.
Thurman Munson had four hits and a walk for the Yankees.
After Oglivie's fourth home run of the year, the next five Tigers singled to score three times. One out later, Aurelio Rodriguez singled to plate the fifth run of the inning.
The Yankees got three runs across the plate in the eighth and the crowd was shrieking, but Piniella pounded a Lemanczyk slider into the ground to second baseman Gary Sutherland, who started a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle went 6.1 innings, allowing just one run.
Before the game, reliever John Hiller had his left (pitching) elbow examined at a Manhattan clinic. So far, Hiller has been advised to rest the elbow for 10 days to two weeks, to relieve the tightness he experienced after Sunday's appearance. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
The Major Said: "That was a tough spot for Dave (Lemanczyk), with the bases loaded and the crowd into it. He made the perfect pitch, really."
Tigers 000 050 002 7-16-1
NY 000 000 130 4-13-0
HR: Oglivie (DET, 4)
WP: Ruhle (7-7)
SV: Lemanczyk (1)
LP: Gura
Tigers record: 42-59 (actual 46-55)
Home: 22-34
Away: 20-25
Last 10: 6-4
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Game 98: Lolich Quiets Tribe, 3-1
Detroit (Sat., July 26, 1975) - The Tigers like those 3-1 games.
They won for the fourth time out of their past seven victories by the score of 3-1, beating the Cleveland Indians Saturday in Detroit.
The win evened this four-game weekend series between the Tigers (40-58) and the Tribe.
Mickey Lolich pitched his seventh complete game, a masterful six-hitter, allowing just one Indian runner to reach second base after the third inning. The run he surrendered was unearned.
Ron LeFlore and Aurelio Rodriguez each had two hits and a run scored for Detroit, winners of six of their past nine games.
Lolich (8-12) outdueled Indians starter Dennis Eckerlsey, a 20-year-old rookie. Eckersley went 7.2 innings of six-hit baseball.
The Major Said: "They (Indians) thumped us pretty good Friday night, so it was great to see Mickey do his thing. We do tend to win low-scoring games."
Cleveland 001 000 000 1-6-1
Tigers 000 020 01x 3-7-2
WP: Lolich (8-12)
LP: Eckersley
Tigers record: 40-58 (actual 44-54)
Home: 21-33
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 6-4
They won for the fourth time out of their past seven victories by the score of 3-1, beating the Cleveland Indians Saturday in Detroit.
The win evened this four-game weekend series between the Tigers (40-58) and the Tribe.
Mickey Lolich pitched his seventh complete game, a masterful six-hitter, allowing just one Indian runner to reach second base after the third inning. The run he surrendered was unearned.
Ron LeFlore and Aurelio Rodriguez each had two hits and a run scored for Detroit, winners of six of their past nine games.
Lolich (8-12) outdueled Indians starter Dennis Eckerlsey, a 20-year-old rookie. Eckersley went 7.2 innings of six-hit baseball.
The Major Said: "They (Indians) thumped us pretty good Friday night, so it was great to see Mickey do his thing. We do tend to win low-scoring games."
Cleveland 001 000 000 1-6-1
Tigers 000 020 01x 3-7-2
WP: Lolich (8-12)
LP: Eckersley
Tigers record: 40-58 (actual 44-54)
Home: 21-33
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 6-4
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Game 90: Tigers Avert Defeat, Beat Royals, 2-1
Detroit (Sat., July 19, 1975) - Aurelio Rodriguez singled home Bill Freehan in the bottom of the 11th inning, lifting the Tigers to a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers (35-55) scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings.
Kansas City's George Brett opened the Royals 10th with a triple, but didn't score.
In the 11th, Freehan walked with one out and moved to second on a Leon Roberts single with two outs. The next batter was Rodriguez, and he flicked a base hit into center field to easily score Freehan and send the crowd of 15,337 home happy.
The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the fifth when Frank White scored from third thanks to an error by Rodriguez, who would more than atone for that miscue later.
In the Tigers ninth, they loaded the bases with nobody out on two singles and a walk. Jack Pierce drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly. Roberts singled, reloading the bases. Rodriguez tapped out, pitcher to home plate, and Tom Veryzer struck out, keeping the game tied, 1-1.
Gary Sutherland and Roberts each had two singles for the Tigers. Fernando Arroyo (1-1) pitched three innings of scoreless relief to earn the win.
In an oddity, Kansas City's Al Cowens had four singles: on each occasion, he never made it to second base, and he gathered the hits leading off an inning, batting second in an inning, batting third and batting fourth.
The Major Said: "It was good to win a close game for a change. I thought Arroyo was terrific. He wiggled out of it after George tripled. Good win tonight."
KC 000 010 000 00 1-8-1
Tigers 000 000 001 01 2-10-2
WP: Arroyo (1-1)
LP: Bird
Tigers record: 35-55 (actual 41-49)
Home: 16-30
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 4-6
The Tigers (35-55) scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings.
Kansas City's George Brett opened the Royals 10th with a triple, but didn't score.
In the 11th, Freehan walked with one out and moved to second on a Leon Roberts single with two outs. The next batter was Rodriguez, and he flicked a base hit into center field to easily score Freehan and send the crowd of 15,337 home happy.
The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the fifth when Frank White scored from third thanks to an error by Rodriguez, who would more than atone for that miscue later.
In the Tigers ninth, they loaded the bases with nobody out on two singles and a walk. Jack Pierce drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly. Roberts singled, reloading the bases. Rodriguez tapped out, pitcher to home plate, and Tom Veryzer struck out, keeping the game tied, 1-1.
Gary Sutherland and Roberts each had two singles for the Tigers. Fernando Arroyo (1-1) pitched three innings of scoreless relief to earn the win.
In an oddity, Kansas City's Al Cowens had four singles: on each occasion, he never made it to second base, and he gathered the hits leading off an inning, batting second in an inning, batting third and batting fourth.
The Major Said: "It was good to win a close game for a change. I thought Arroyo was terrific. He wiggled out of it after George tripled. Good win tonight."
KC 000 010 000 00 1-8-1
Tigers 000 000 001 01 2-10-2
WP: Arroyo (1-1)
LP: Bird
Tigers record: 35-55 (actual 41-49)
Home: 16-30
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 4-6
Friday, July 20, 2012
Games 87 & 88: Tigers Score Late in Game 2 to Salvage DH Split
Chicago (Thu., July 17, 1975) - The Tigers broke a 1-1 tie in the eighth inning of game two of a twi-night doubleheader, and salvaged a split of the twinbill with the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park Thursday.
The Tigers won game two, 3-1, after dropping the opener, 7-0.
Wilbur Wood breezed through the first game, pitching a complete game six-hitter as the Chisox broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning that extended their lead to 6-0.
Tigers starter Mickey Lolich (7-11) gave up 13 hits in six innings in the first game. In the sixth inning, the White Sox went station-to-station as eight consecutive batters reached base on an error, six singles, and a fielder's choice, accounting for the four runs.
In the nightcap, Lerrin LaGrow pitched 6.2 innings, giving up just one run on eight hits and no walks. But the winner was reliever Bob Reynolds (2-1), who was the beneficiary of a Mickey Stanley double, which scored Ben Oglivie from first base in the eighth inning, breaking the 1-1 tie.
The Tigers (34-54) added an insurance run in the ninth on a John Wockenfuss triple and an Aurelio Rodriguez sacrifice fly.
Reliever John Hiller, whose last outing was a four-run implosion in Detroit against the White Sox which lost the game, gave up a walk in the ninth but coaxed a game-ending double play grounder from Jerry Hairston, who had been 3-for-3. The save was Hiller's 15th.
Stanley started the second game at leadoff, subbing for Ron LeFlore in center field, and had three hits, including two doubles.
The Major Said: "I like how we bounced back, and I like how John (Hiller) bounced back. I know that last outing he had haunted him all through the All-Star break, so it was good to see him get the save tonight."
Game 1
Tigers 000 000 000 0-6-2
Chicago 020 004 10x 7-15-0
WP- Wood
LP- Lolich (7-11)
Game 2
Tigers 100 000 011 3-10-0
Chicago 000 001 000 1-8-0
WP- Reynolds (2-1)
SV- Hiller (15)
LP- Osteen
The Tigers won game two, 3-1, after dropping the opener, 7-0.
Wilbur Wood breezed through the first game, pitching a complete game six-hitter as the Chisox broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning that extended their lead to 6-0.
Tigers starter Mickey Lolich (7-11) gave up 13 hits in six innings in the first game. In the sixth inning, the White Sox went station-to-station as eight consecutive batters reached base on an error, six singles, and a fielder's choice, accounting for the four runs.
In the nightcap, Lerrin LaGrow pitched 6.2 innings, giving up just one run on eight hits and no walks. But the winner was reliever Bob Reynolds (2-1), who was the beneficiary of a Mickey Stanley double, which scored Ben Oglivie from first base in the eighth inning, breaking the 1-1 tie.
The Tigers (34-54) added an insurance run in the ninth on a John Wockenfuss triple and an Aurelio Rodriguez sacrifice fly.
Reliever John Hiller, whose last outing was a four-run implosion in Detroit against the White Sox which lost the game, gave up a walk in the ninth but coaxed a game-ending double play grounder from Jerry Hairston, who had been 3-for-3. The save was Hiller's 15th.
Stanley started the second game at leadoff, subbing for Ron LeFlore in center field, and had three hits, including two doubles.
The Major Said: "I like how we bounced back, and I like how John (Hiller) bounced back. I know that last outing he had haunted him all through the All-Star break, so it was good to see him get the save tonight."
Game 1
Tigers 000 000 000 0-6-2
Chicago 020 004 10x 7-15-0
WP- Wood
LP- Lolich (7-11)
Game 2
Tigers 100 000 011 3-10-0
Chicago 000 001 000 1-8-0
WP- Reynolds (2-1)
SV- Hiller (15)
LP- Osteen
Friday, July 13, 2012
Game 83: Bats Cold; Tigers Fall in 10, 2-1
Kansas City (July 10) - The Tigers managed just three hits, and Kansas City starter Steve Busby pitched a 10-inning complete game as the Royals beat Detroit, 2-1, at Royals Stadium Thursday night.
Tony Solaita's single with two outs scored John Mayberry from second base with the winning run.
The Tigers scored their lone run in the first inning, when they collected two of their three hits, all singles. The third hit didn't come until the eighth inning as Busby cruised. He finished the game by retiring 22 of the last 24 Tigers hitters.
The Royals scored in the first inning as well, ona pair of doubles from George Brett and Mayberry.
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle went eight innings. Newly recalled Gene Pentz took the loss in relief.
In the 10th, Jim Wohlford led off with a walk. Brett popped out trying to bunt, but Mayberry singled, sending Wohlford to third base. Hal McRae grounded to third baseman Aurelio Rodriguez, who gunned Wohlford down at the plate for the second out.
That brought up Solaita, who delivered a line drive over the head of second baseman Gary Sutherland.
The Tigers (32-51) have lost 9 of 11.
The Major Said: "Another wasted pitching performance, but this time you have to hand it to Busby. He just had great command. He made great pitches at all the right times, it seemed."
Tigers 100 000 000 0 1-3-0
KC 100 000 000 1 2-8-1
WP: Busby
LP: Pentz (0-1)
Tigers record: 32-51 (actual 37-46)
Home: 15-30
Away: 17-21
Last 10: 2-8
Tony Solaita's single with two outs scored John Mayberry from second base with the winning run.
The Tigers scored their lone run in the first inning, when they collected two of their three hits, all singles. The third hit didn't come until the eighth inning as Busby cruised. He finished the game by retiring 22 of the last 24 Tigers hitters.
The Royals scored in the first inning as well, ona pair of doubles from George Brett and Mayberry.
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle went eight innings. Newly recalled Gene Pentz took the loss in relief.
In the 10th, Jim Wohlford led off with a walk. Brett popped out trying to bunt, but Mayberry singled, sending Wohlford to third base. Hal McRae grounded to third baseman Aurelio Rodriguez, who gunned Wohlford down at the plate for the second out.
That brought up Solaita, who delivered a line drive over the head of second baseman Gary Sutherland.
The Tigers (32-51) have lost 9 of 11.
The Major Said: "Another wasted pitching performance, but this time you have to hand it to Busby. He just had great command. He made great pitches at all the right times, it seemed."
Tigers 100 000 000 0 1-3-0
KC 100 000 000 1 2-8-1
WP: Busby
LP: Pentz (0-1)
Tigers record: 32-51 (actual 37-46)
Home: 15-30
Away: 17-21
Last 10: 2-8
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Game 81: Rodriguez Comes Through When it Counts, 6-5
Detroit (July 8) - Aurelio Rodriguez, with one swing, made up for a whole night of bad ones.
Rodriguez singled home pinch-runner Art James with the bases loaded in the 13th inning, and the Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox, 6-5, Tuesday night in Detroit.
The Tigers third baseman had been hitless with four strikeouts prior to turning hero in the 13th.
The Tigers (32-49) had a 4-1 lead but fell behind, 5-4, after a three-run home run by Bill Melton in the sixth inning. The Tigers tied the game in the ninth inning on Leon Roberts' sacrifice fly.
In the 13th, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out on a lead-off single by Bill Freehan, a single by Mickey Stanley and an intentional walk to Ben Oglivie. James ran for Freehan.
Stanley had four hits for the Tigers, including a solo home run. Ron LeFlore had three singles and scored two runs. John Hiller (3-6) picked up the win with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.
The Major Said: "No one will talk about it, but I thought (relief pitcher) Ike Brookens was one of the heroes tonight. He gave us three innings and some change of scoreless relief, which gave us a chance to tie the game. He was a little rocky but he got the job done."
Chicago 000 104 000 000 0 5-12-1
Tigers 110 200 001 000 1 6-16-1
HR: Kelly (CHI); Melton (CHI); Stanley (DET; 1)
WP: Hiller (3-6)
LP: Forster
Tigers record: 32-49 (actual 35-46)
Home: 15-29
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 3-7
Rodriguez singled home pinch-runner Art James with the bases loaded in the 13th inning, and the Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox, 6-5, Tuesday night in Detroit.
The Tigers third baseman had been hitless with four strikeouts prior to turning hero in the 13th.
The Tigers (32-49) had a 4-1 lead but fell behind, 5-4, after a three-run home run by Bill Melton in the sixth inning. The Tigers tied the game in the ninth inning on Leon Roberts' sacrifice fly.
In the 13th, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out on a lead-off single by Bill Freehan, a single by Mickey Stanley and an intentional walk to Ben Oglivie. James ran for Freehan.
Stanley had four hits for the Tigers, including a solo home run. Ron LeFlore had three singles and scored two runs. John Hiller (3-6) picked up the win with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.
The Major Said: "No one will talk about it, but I thought (relief pitcher) Ike Brookens was one of the heroes tonight. He gave us three innings and some change of scoreless relief, which gave us a chance to tie the game. He was a little rocky but he got the job done."
Chicago 000 104 000 000 0 5-12-1
Tigers 110 200 001 000 1 6-16-1
HR: Kelly (CHI); Melton (CHI); Stanley (DET; 1)
WP: Hiller (3-6)
LP: Forster
Tigers record: 32-49 (actual 35-46)
Home: 15-29
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 3-7
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Game 77: Colborn Outduels Ruhle, 1-0
Detroit (July 5) - Darrell Porter slammed a solo home run into the right field upper deck in the eighth inning, and Jim Colborn pitched a complete-game shutout as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tigers, 1-0, Saturday afternoon at Tiger Stadium.
Colborn outdueled Tigers starter Vern Ruhle (6-7) by hurling a four-hitter and walking only one batter.
Ruhle went 7.1 innings, giving up just three hits. He carried a one-hitter into the eighth before Porter led off with his home run.
The Tigers (31-46) moved only one runner to second base all game, on Aurelio Rodriguez's double in the third inning.
The Major Said: "Vern made one mistake and it cost him. We've done this a lot this season---wasting good pitching performances. My heart breaks for the kid."
Milwaukee 000 000 010 1-4-1
Tigers 000 000 000 0-4-0
HR: Porter (MIL)
Tigers record: 31-46 (actual 31-46)
Home: 14-26
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 3-7
Colborn outdueled Tigers starter Vern Ruhle (6-7) by hurling a four-hitter and walking only one batter.
Ruhle went 7.1 innings, giving up just three hits. He carried a one-hitter into the eighth before Porter led off with his home run.
The Tigers (31-46) moved only one runner to second base all game, on Aurelio Rodriguez's double in the third inning.
The Major Said: "Vern made one mistake and it cost him. We've done this a lot this season---wasting good pitching performances. My heart breaks for the kid."
Milwaukee 000 000 010 1-4-1
Tigers 000 000 000 0-4-0
HR: Porter (MIL)
Tigers record: 31-46 (actual 31-46)
Home: 14-26
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 3-7
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Game 73: Oh, Mon! Carty, Tribe Scalp Tigers in 9th, 5-4
July 1 (Cleveland) - They call Rico Carty the Big Mon. Tonight he showed why.
Carty hit a home run that temporarily put his Cleveland Indians ahead, then continued a ninth inning rally that enabled the Indians to slip past the Tigers, 5-4, at Municipal Stadium.
The loss stunned the Tigers (30-43), who looked to be on the verge of sweeping this two-day, three-game series. The Tigers led, 4-2, after they scored twice in the seventh inning. But the Indians didn't quit.
Charlie Spikes' solo homer made it 4-3 in the Indians' seventh.
In the ninth, Mickey Lolich carried a six-hitter into the frame, but after George Hendrick doubled and Carty sent him to third with a single, manager Ralph Houk called for Bob Reynolds to relieve Lolich.
Spikes then hit a ball that caromed off Reynolds' leg and went to first baseman Jack Pierce, who made the out as Hendrick scored the tying run. Carty advanced to second.
Carty had two hits, including a home run, and scored twice, including the game-winning run
After John Ellis flied out to center, Bill Sudakis---just signed yesterday as a free agent---lofted a flare to left field that dropped in front of Dan Meyer and scored Carty with the winning run.
The loss dropped the Tigers back into the AL East cellar, one-half game behind the Tribe.
Bill Freehan (4th) hit a solo homer for Detroit.
In the seventh, the game tied 2-2, Gene Michael led off with a double. Aurelio Rodriguez singled him to third. Ron LeFlore singled, scoring Michael and sending Rodriguez to second base. After Gary Sutherland was hit by a pitch, loading the bases, Meyer hit a tapper to pitcher Jim Kern (in relief of Jim Bibby), whose only play was to first base, scoring Rodriguez to make it 4-2, Detroit.
The Tigers put runners on first and second with two out in the ninth, but couldn't tack on any insurance.
Thanks partly to the Big Mon, that would prove fatal.
Notes: Freehan, on his homer: "I thought I'd have more (than 4) by now. But I'm starting to feel better at the plate"...The Tigers finished their 11-game road trip with a 4-7 record.
******************************************************
Tigers record: 30-43 (actual 28-45)
Home: 13-23
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 4-6
Carty hit a home run that temporarily put his Cleveland Indians ahead, then continued a ninth inning rally that enabled the Indians to slip past the Tigers, 5-4, at Municipal Stadium.
The loss stunned the Tigers (30-43), who looked to be on the verge of sweeping this two-day, three-game series. The Tigers led, 4-2, after they scored twice in the seventh inning. But the Indians didn't quit.
Charlie Spikes' solo homer made it 4-3 in the Indians' seventh.
In the ninth, Mickey Lolich carried a six-hitter into the frame, but after George Hendrick doubled and Carty sent him to third with a single, manager Ralph Houk called for Bob Reynolds to relieve Lolich.
Spikes then hit a ball that caromed off Reynolds' leg and went to first baseman Jack Pierce, who made the out as Hendrick scored the tying run. Carty advanced to second.
Carty had two hits, including a home run, and scored twice, including the game-winning run
After John Ellis flied out to center, Bill Sudakis---just signed yesterday as a free agent---lofted a flare to left field that dropped in front of Dan Meyer and scored Carty with the winning run.
The loss dropped the Tigers back into the AL East cellar, one-half game behind the Tribe.
Bill Freehan (4th) hit a solo homer for Detroit.
In the seventh, the game tied 2-2, Gene Michael led off with a double. Aurelio Rodriguez singled him to third. Ron LeFlore singled, scoring Michael and sending Rodriguez to second base. After Gary Sutherland was hit by a pitch, loading the bases, Meyer hit a tapper to pitcher Jim Kern (in relief of Jim Bibby), whose only play was to first base, scoring Rodriguez to make it 4-2, Detroit.
The Tigers put runners on first and second with two out in the ninth, but couldn't tack on any insurance.
Thanks partly to the Big Mon, that would prove fatal.
Notes: Freehan, on his homer: "I thought I'd have more (than 4) by now. But I'm starting to feel better at the plate"...The Tigers finished their 11-game road trip with a 4-7 record.
******************************************************
Tigers record: 30-43 (actual 28-45)
Home: 13-23
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 4-6
Monday, June 18, 2012
Game 69: O's Score Late, Hang On, 6-5
Baltimore (June 28) - Joe Coleman has lost a lot of games this season. For nearly seven innings it looked like that might change.
It didn't.
The Baltimore Orioles erupted for four runs in the seventh inning, overcoming a 4-2 deficit, and they held on to beat Coleman and the Tigers, 6-5, at Memorial Stadium tonight.
Coleman (3-11) was in control after six innings, but in the seventh the Orioles kicked up their heels.
Brooks Robinson led off with a double, Dave Duncan singled him to third and one out later, Ken Singleton plated Robinson with a single. Bobby Grich walked, loading the bases. Then Al Bumbry doubled, scoring two more runs. Grich was cut down at the plate after a Ron LeFlore-to-Gene Michael-to-Bill Freehan relay.
Coleman, staggered, was left in the game by manager Ralph Houk.
"I thought he had enough to get one more out," Houk explained.
But Lee May squashed those thoughts with a triple, scoring Bumbry. Coleman was then lifted for rookie Ike Brookens.
"It all happened kind of fast," Coleman said afterward. "But that's what (the Orioles) can do. They can strike quickly."
Coleman's worst-ever season as a Tiger continued; he's 3-11
The Tigers edged to within one run in the eighth when Jack Pierce delivered a two-out single that scored Dan Meyer from second. Meyer led off the inning with a double.
The Tigers threw out another runner, Singleton, at the plate in the eighth, keeping the score 6-5. Again LeFlore started the relay.
The Tigers got a lead off walk from Aurelio Rodriguez in the ninth, but on a hit-and-run with pinch-hitter Gates Brown at the plate, Brown struck out and Rodriguez was cut down stealing. LeFlore grounded out to end the game.
"We tried to make something happen," Houk said of the ill-fated hit-and-run.
The Tigers scored four times in the fourth off O's starter Mike Torrez to take a 4-2 lead. After two walks, Freehan hit a three-run homer, and Pierce followed with a solo shot.
The Orioles scored twice in the first inning on a Bumbry triple and a May sacrifice fly, and it looked like another long night for Coleman. But the right-hander settled down and set down 16 of the next 21 Orioles hitters until the seventh.
The Tigers (28-41) will try to salvage a split of the four-game series on Sunday.
Notes: Freehan and Pierce's consecutive homers was the first time the Tigers pulled off that feat this season...Dan Meyer had a double and a triple...Brown, on the pivotal strike out/caught stealing in the ninth: "I just swung right through the damn ball. It hurts now but tomorrow is another day"...Last year after 69 games, the Tigers were 36-33. They finished 72-90.
********************************************************
Tigers record: 28-41 (actual 27-42)
Home: 13-23
Away: 15-18
Last 10: 4-6
It didn't.
The Baltimore Orioles erupted for four runs in the seventh inning, overcoming a 4-2 deficit, and they held on to beat Coleman and the Tigers, 6-5, at Memorial Stadium tonight.
Coleman (3-11) was in control after six innings, but in the seventh the Orioles kicked up their heels.
Brooks Robinson led off with a double, Dave Duncan singled him to third and one out later, Ken Singleton plated Robinson with a single. Bobby Grich walked, loading the bases. Then Al Bumbry doubled, scoring two more runs. Grich was cut down at the plate after a Ron LeFlore-to-Gene Michael-to-Bill Freehan relay.
Coleman, staggered, was left in the game by manager Ralph Houk.
"I thought he had enough to get one more out," Houk explained.
But Lee May squashed those thoughts with a triple, scoring Bumbry. Coleman was then lifted for rookie Ike Brookens.
"It all happened kind of fast," Coleman said afterward. "But that's what (the Orioles) can do. They can strike quickly."
Coleman's worst-ever season as a Tiger continued; he's 3-11
The Tigers edged to within one run in the eighth when Jack Pierce delivered a two-out single that scored Dan Meyer from second. Meyer led off the inning with a double.
The Tigers threw out another runner, Singleton, at the plate in the eighth, keeping the score 6-5. Again LeFlore started the relay.
The Tigers got a lead off walk from Aurelio Rodriguez in the ninth, but on a hit-and-run with pinch-hitter Gates Brown at the plate, Brown struck out and Rodriguez was cut down stealing. LeFlore grounded out to end the game.
"We tried to make something happen," Houk said of the ill-fated hit-and-run.
The Tigers scored four times in the fourth off O's starter Mike Torrez to take a 4-2 lead. After two walks, Freehan hit a three-run homer, and Pierce followed with a solo shot.
The Orioles scored twice in the first inning on a Bumbry triple and a May sacrifice fly, and it looked like another long night for Coleman. But the right-hander settled down and set down 16 of the next 21 Orioles hitters until the seventh.
The Tigers (28-41) will try to salvage a split of the four-game series on Sunday.
Notes: Freehan and Pierce's consecutive homers was the first time the Tigers pulled off that feat this season...Dan Meyer had a double and a triple...Brown, on the pivotal strike out/caught stealing in the ninth: "I just swung right through the damn ball. It hurts now but tomorrow is another day"...Last year after 69 games, the Tigers were 36-33. They finished 72-90.
********************************************************
Tigers record: 28-41 (actual 27-42)
Home: 13-23
Away: 15-18
Last 10: 4-6
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Game 66: Happiness Then Heartbreak As Tigers Lose in 9th, 5-4
Milwaukee (June 25) - For a few moments, Aurelio Rodriguez looked to have saved the day for the Tigers---or at least had given them a chance to win a game in extra innings.
But the Tigers had to get through the bottom of the ninth, first. They couldn't.
Rodriguez drove an opposite field, two-run home run to right field in the top of the ninth inning, tying the game 4-4. But the Milwaukee Brewers cobbled together a run in the bottom of the frame as Dan Meyer misplayed a base hit, and the Tigers lost, 5-4 at County Stadium tonight.
The Tigers (27-39) lost three of four to Milwaukee after winning three of four from the Yankees in Detroit.
On the game-winning play, Don Money lined a ball toward the line in left field and Meyer, trying to prevent Sixto Lezcano from scoring from second base, overran the baseball.
Lezcano led off the Brewers' ninth with a walk off reliever John Hiller (1-4).Lezcano advanced to second base on a ground out, and after Hiller struck out Pedro Garcia, Money came to the plate.
"I hurried too much," a dejected Meyer said afterward. "And I took my eye off the ball, trying to look at the base runner at the same time."
Money's single scored the winning run---after Dan Meyer misplayed the ball in left field
The Tigers opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second inning. A wild pitch and a Ron LeFlore single plated the runs.
The Brewers broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh with two runs on a Garcia single and a sacrifice fly from 19 year-old shortstop Robin Yount.
With one out and Bill Freehan on second base in the ninth, Rodriguez took Ed Rodriguez's (no relation) fastball to right field, about three rows into the seats to tie the game, 4-4. It was Aurelio's third homer of the season.
But the Tigers couldn't take the game into extras.
"He (Meyer) just has to shake it off," manager Ralph Houk said of the left fielder's eighth miscue of the season, which leads all AL outfielders. "He was trying to make a play but he just attacked the ball too hard. What can you do?"
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle went 6.1 innings, surrendering just five hits and three runs, two earned. He didn't walk or strike out anyone.
The loss left the Tigers in last place in the AL East, one-half game behind Cleveland.
Now it's off to Baltimore for a four-game series with the Orioles over the weekend.
Notes: The Tigers committed three errors, giving them an unsightly 69 this season...Darrell Porter hit another home run, his third of the series...Hank Aaron indicated before the game that he would play in 1976. The question came up after Aaron was honored by the Brewers with an award by a Milwaukee community organization. "I feel pretty good," the 41 year-old Aaron said. "I think another season is possible."
*****************************************************
Tigers record: 27-39 (actual 26-40)
Home: 13-23
Away: 14-16
Last 10: 4-6
But the Tigers had to get through the bottom of the ninth, first. They couldn't.
Rodriguez drove an opposite field, two-run home run to right field in the top of the ninth inning, tying the game 4-4. But the Milwaukee Brewers cobbled together a run in the bottom of the frame as Dan Meyer misplayed a base hit, and the Tigers lost, 5-4 at County Stadium tonight.
The Tigers (27-39) lost three of four to Milwaukee after winning three of four from the Yankees in Detroit.
On the game-winning play, Don Money lined a ball toward the line in left field and Meyer, trying to prevent Sixto Lezcano from scoring from second base, overran the baseball.
Lezcano led off the Brewers' ninth with a walk off reliever John Hiller (1-4).Lezcano advanced to second base on a ground out, and after Hiller struck out Pedro Garcia, Money came to the plate.
"I hurried too much," a dejected Meyer said afterward. "And I took my eye off the ball, trying to look at the base runner at the same time."
Money's single scored the winning run---after Dan Meyer misplayed the ball in left field
The Tigers opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second inning. A wild pitch and a Ron LeFlore single plated the runs.
The Brewers broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh with two runs on a Garcia single and a sacrifice fly from 19 year-old shortstop Robin Yount.
With one out and Bill Freehan on second base in the ninth, Rodriguez took Ed Rodriguez's (no relation) fastball to right field, about three rows into the seats to tie the game, 4-4. It was Aurelio's third homer of the season.
But the Tigers couldn't take the game into extras.
"He (Meyer) just has to shake it off," manager Ralph Houk said of the left fielder's eighth miscue of the season, which leads all AL outfielders. "He was trying to make a play but he just attacked the ball too hard. What can you do?"
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle went 6.1 innings, surrendering just five hits and three runs, two earned. He didn't walk or strike out anyone.
The loss left the Tigers in last place in the AL East, one-half game behind Cleveland.
Now it's off to Baltimore for a four-game series with the Orioles over the weekend.
Notes: The Tigers committed three errors, giving them an unsightly 69 this season...Darrell Porter hit another home run, his third of the series...Hank Aaron indicated before the game that he would play in 1976. The question came up after Aaron was honored by the Brewers with an award by a Milwaukee community organization. "I feel pretty good," the 41 year-old Aaron said. "I think another season is possible."
*****************************************************
Tigers record: 27-39 (actual 26-40)
Home: 13-23
Away: 14-16
Last 10: 4-6
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)