Milwaukee, WI (Sat., Sept. 27, 1975) - Darrell Porter led off the 10th inning with a triple, and one out later scored on a sacrifice fly as the Milwaukee Brewers handed the Tigers their fifth straight loss in the second-to-last game of the season, 3-2, at County Stadium.
Mike Hegan's fly ball to right field was more than deep enough to score Porter, who arrived at home plate without a throw by Leon Roberts.
The Tigers (60-98) and Brewers finish the season Sunday. The Tigers long ago clinched their second straight last place finish after not finishing in the basement since 1952.
George Scott hit two solo homers for the Brewers, in the sixth and seventh innings.
The Tigers trailed 2-1 in the eighth, but tied the game on back-to-back doubles by Bill Freehan and Tom Veryzer.
First baseman Dan Meyer had to leave the game in the fourth inning when he collided with Hegan in a race to the bag, that Meyer won. TV replays seemed to indicate that Hegan's left knee caught Meyer in the jaw. Freehan moved from catcher to first base, and Terry Humphrey entered the game as the new backstop.
Porter started the 10th inning by driving Fernando Arroyo's first pitch up the alley in right-center, legging out a three-bagger ahead of Jerry Manuel's relay to Chuck Scrivener. Arroyo got Bobby Darwin to pop up, but Hegan ended the night with his fly ball.
Vern Ruhle started for Detroit and went eight innings. Arroyo took the loss, while Ed Rodriguez got the win in relief of young lefty Jerry Augustine, who also went eight innings.
The Major Said: "Someone asked me if I was relieved that we can't lose 100 games. I had to laugh, because if that's the standard we set this year, that shows you what kind of year we had. And, no I'm not relieved. I'm angry, to tell you the truth."
Tigers 000 010 010 0 2-9-1
Milw. 000 001 100 1 3-11-0
HR: Scott (MIL, [2])
WP: Rodriguez
LP: Arroyo
Tigers record: 60-98 (actual 57-101)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-49
Last 10: 3-7
Showing posts with label Dan Meyer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dan Meyer. Show all posts
Sunday, September 30, 2012
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
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Game 153: Tigers Edge Bosox, 2-1
Detroit (Fri., Sept. 19, 1975) - Ben Oglivie's single drove home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and the Tigers survived the first-place Boston Red Sox, 2-1, at Tiger Stadium.
Oglivie's line drive to right scored Dan Meyer, who had walked to lead off the inning.
The Tigers scored an unearned run in the third inning to lead, 1-0. Leon Roberts reached on a botched ground ball by third baseman Rico Petrocelli. He came around to score on a two-out single by Tom Veryzer, who was batting third in the lineup for the first time in his career.
The Red Sox tied the game in the fourth on a double from Denny Doyle and a single from Fred Lynn.
The loser was lefty Bill Lee, who pitched the whole game for Boston. Ray Bare (7-10) picked up the win, with rookie Steve Grilli registering his first career save with two scoreless innings of relief.
Bare kept the potent Boston lineup in check, giving up just six hits and one walk in seven innings.
The Major Said: "We tend to win low-scoring games, but against (the Red Sox), you're really not expecting that. But Ray (Bare) did a great job, and I felt great for the kid, Grilli. Two gutsy innings there."
Boston 000 100 000 1-6-2
Tigers 001 000 10x 2-7-1
WP: Bare (7-10)
SV: Grilli (1)
LP: Lee
Tigers record: 60-93 (actual 56-97)
Home: 31-47
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6
Oglivie's line drive to right scored Dan Meyer, who had walked to lead off the inning.
The Tigers scored an unearned run in the third inning to lead, 1-0. Leon Roberts reached on a botched ground ball by third baseman Rico Petrocelli. He came around to score on a two-out single by Tom Veryzer, who was batting third in the lineup for the first time in his career.
The Red Sox tied the game in the fourth on a double from Denny Doyle and a single from Fred Lynn.
The loser was lefty Bill Lee, who pitched the whole game for Boston. Ray Bare (7-10) picked up the win, with rookie Steve Grilli registering his first career save with two scoreless innings of relief.
Bare kept the potent Boston lineup in check, giving up just six hits and one walk in seven innings.
The Major Said: "We tend to win low-scoring games, but against (the Red Sox), you're really not expecting that. But Ray (Bare) did a great job, and I felt great for the kid, Grilli. Two gutsy innings there."
Boston 000 100 000 1-6-2
Tigers 001 000 10x 2-7-1
WP: Bare (7-10)
SV: Grilli (1)
LP: Lee
Tigers record: 60-93 (actual 56-97)
Home: 31-47
Away: 29-46
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
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Game 136: Tigers Use Longball to Overcome Yanks, 9-6
Detroit (Wed., Sept. 3, 1975) - The Tigers hit four home runs, including two from Willie Horton, and were able to out slug the New York Yankees, 9-6 Wednesday night.
The Tigers fell behind 1-0 in the fourth but scored three times in their half of the frame, highlighted by Horton's first homer of the night, a two-run shot. Detroit added two more runs in the fifth, on a two-run homer from hot-hitting Dan Meyer.
After the Yankees pulled to within 5-3 in the top of the seventh on Bobby Bonds's two-run homer, the Tigers responded in their half with a four spot, three of those runs coming from Horton's second homer and 20th of the season. That outburst made the score 9-3, Detroit, and the Tigers held on from there.
The Yankees managed to get the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but rookie right-hander Ike Brookens got Walt Williams to fly out to left field to end the game.
Horton finished the night with five RBI, giving him a team-leading 78 for the season.
Ben Oglivie added a solo homer (8) for Detroit, his third four-bagger in two nights.
The Tigers (53-83) are 9-6 vs. New York this season.
Mickey Lolich (13-14) went eight innings for the victory.
The Tigers roughed up Yankees ace Jim Hunter, who was raked for eight runs and 12 hits in 6-plus innings. Hunter surrendered three of the four Tigers homers.
Detroit banged out 14 hits in winning just its sixth game of the past 25.
The Major Said: "I have no idea why we've had success against New York. That's baseball. Sometimes you have a team's number. Hunter leads the league in complete games, so to knock him out in the seventh inning is quite a feat."
New York 000 100 221 6-11-0
Tigers 000 320 40x 9-14-2
HR: Horton (DET [2], 20); Meyer (DET, 11); Oglivie (DET, 8); Bonds (NY)
WP: Lolich (13-14)
LP: Hunter
Tigers record: 53-83 (actual 53-83)
Home: 26-44
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
The Tigers fell behind 1-0 in the fourth but scored three times in their half of the frame, highlighted by Horton's first homer of the night, a two-run shot. Detroit added two more runs in the fifth, on a two-run homer from hot-hitting Dan Meyer.
After the Yankees pulled to within 5-3 in the top of the seventh on Bobby Bonds's two-run homer, the Tigers responded in their half with a four spot, three of those runs coming from Horton's second homer and 20th of the season. That outburst made the score 9-3, Detroit, and the Tigers held on from there.
The Yankees managed to get the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but rookie right-hander Ike Brookens got Walt Williams to fly out to left field to end the game.
Horton finished the night with five RBI, giving him a team-leading 78 for the season.
Ben Oglivie added a solo homer (8) for Detroit, his third four-bagger in two nights.
The Tigers (53-83) are 9-6 vs. New York this season.
Mickey Lolich (13-14) went eight innings for the victory.
The Tigers roughed up Yankees ace Jim Hunter, who was raked for eight runs and 12 hits in 6-plus innings. Hunter surrendered three of the four Tigers homers.
Detroit banged out 14 hits in winning just its sixth game of the past 25.
The Major Said: "I have no idea why we've had success against New York. That's baseball. Sometimes you have a team's number. Hunter leads the league in complete games, so to knock him out in the seventh inning is quite a feat."
New York 000 100 221 6-11-0
Tigers 000 320 40x 9-14-2
HR: Horton (DET [2], 20); Meyer (DET, 11); Oglivie (DET, 8); Bonds (NY)
WP: Lolich (13-14)
LP: Hunter
Tigers record: 53-83 (actual 53-83)
Home: 26-44
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Game 134: Brewers Out Slug Reeling Tigers, 11-8
Detroit (Mon., Sept. 1, 1975) - Darrell Porter hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a wild 11-8 win over the Tigers Monday night at Tiger Stadium.
The Brewers led, 8-5, after two innings.
Milwaukee scored five times in the first frame, punctuated by Porter's bases-loaded homer into the right field upper deck.
But the Tigers (52-82), losers of 18 of their past 23 games, struck back with four runs in the first inning.
Detroit used four singles, two walks and a sacrifice fly to score the four runs, making the score 5-4 before many fans were even in their seats.
The key was the middle relief job done by Milwaukee right-hander Tom Hausman, who pitched five scoreless innings after taking over for lefty starter Bill Travers in the third inning. Leon Roberts led off the third with his 11th home run of the season, prompting Milwaukee manager Del Crandall to lift Travers with the score 8-6, Brewers.
The Tigers didn't score again until the ninth, with Milwaukee leading 11-6. Dan Meyer, who had three hits, slugged a two-run homer off Eduardo Rodriguez. Crandall then summoned Tom Murphy to get the final three outs, 1-2-3.
Meyer is hitting .351 (13-for-37) since August 20.
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle (8-13) was rocked for nine runs (seven earned) in 3.1 innings. Hausman was credited for the win for Milwaukee.
The Tigers committed three errors---two by shortstop Tom Veryzer---in the first two innings. Ron LeFlore misplayed Bob Sheldon's lead-off single in the first inning for the other error.
It was the second straight game the Tigers gave up 11 runs.
The Major Said: "That's how it goes when you're losing. You get good pitching, you can't hit. The bats get going, the pitching falters."
Milw. 530 100 011 11-14-0
Tigers 411 000 002 8-11-3
HR: Porter (MIL); Roberts (DET, 11); Meyer (DET, 10)
WP: Hausman
SV: Murphy
LP: Ruhle (8-13)
Tigers record: 52-82 (actual 53-81)
Home: 25-43
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
The Brewers led, 8-5, after two innings.
Milwaukee scored five times in the first frame, punctuated by Porter's bases-loaded homer into the right field upper deck.
But the Tigers (52-82), losers of 18 of their past 23 games, struck back with four runs in the first inning.
Detroit used four singles, two walks and a sacrifice fly to score the four runs, making the score 5-4 before many fans were even in their seats.
The key was the middle relief job done by Milwaukee right-hander Tom Hausman, who pitched five scoreless innings after taking over for lefty starter Bill Travers in the third inning. Leon Roberts led off the third with his 11th home run of the season, prompting Milwaukee manager Del Crandall to lift Travers with the score 8-6, Brewers.
The Tigers didn't score again until the ninth, with Milwaukee leading 11-6. Dan Meyer, who had three hits, slugged a two-run homer off Eduardo Rodriguez. Crandall then summoned Tom Murphy to get the final three outs, 1-2-3.
Meyer is hitting .351 (13-for-37) since August 20.
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle (8-13) was rocked for nine runs (seven earned) in 3.1 innings. Hausman was credited for the win for Milwaukee.
The Tigers committed three errors---two by shortstop Tom Veryzer---in the first two innings. Ron LeFlore misplayed Bob Sheldon's lead-off single in the first inning for the other error.
It was the second straight game the Tigers gave up 11 runs.
The Major Said: "That's how it goes when you're losing. You get good pitching, you can't hit. The bats get going, the pitching falters."
Milw. 530 100 011 11-14-0
Tigers 411 000 002 8-11-3
HR: Porter (MIL); Roberts (DET, 11); Meyer (DET, 10)
WP: Hausman
SV: Murphy
LP: Ruhle (8-13)
Tigers record: 52-82 (actual 53-81)
Home: 25-43
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Game 133: Angels Clobber Tigers, 11-0
Detroit (Sat., Aug. 30, 1975) - The California Angels pounded out 18 hits and routed the Tigers, 11-0, Saturday at Tiger Stadium.
Bruce Bochte had a single, a double and a home run and four RBI. Adrian Garrett hit a solo home run and an RBI single.
Angels starter Chuck Hockenberry pitched six innings, and Don Kirkwood went the final three for the save as the pair limited the Tigers to five hits.
Dan Meyer had a one-out triple in the sixth, but Hockenberry retired the next two hitters to keep the shutout alive.
Tigers reliever Dave Lemanczyk was especially torched, surrendering seven runs and seven hits in one full inning of work. Starter Ray Bare (4-9) took the loss, his fourth straight.
The score was a respectable 4-0 until the eighth, when the Angels scored three times. They added four in the ninth. All seven runs were charged to Lemanczyk.
The Tigers (52-81) are 5-17 in their past 22 games.
The Major Said: "11-0. What can I say? Sometimes you get your (butt) kicked in this game. It happens."
Calif. 031 000 034 11-18-0
Tigers 000 000 000 0-5-0
HR: Garrett (CAL); Bochte (CAL)
WP: Hockenberry
SV: Kirkwood
LP: Bare (4-9)
Tigers record: 52-81 (actual 52-81)
Home: 25-42
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
Bruce Bochte had a single, a double and a home run and four RBI. Adrian Garrett hit a solo home run and an RBI single.
Angels starter Chuck Hockenberry pitched six innings, and Don Kirkwood went the final three for the save as the pair limited the Tigers to five hits.
Dan Meyer had a one-out triple in the sixth, but Hockenberry retired the next two hitters to keep the shutout alive.
Tigers reliever Dave Lemanczyk was especially torched, surrendering seven runs and seven hits in one full inning of work. Starter Ray Bare (4-9) took the loss, his fourth straight.
The score was a respectable 4-0 until the eighth, when the Angels scored three times. They added four in the ninth. All seven runs were charged to Lemanczyk.
The Tigers (52-81) are 5-17 in their past 22 games.
The Major Said: "11-0. What can I say? Sometimes you get your (butt) kicked in this game. It happens."
Calif. 031 000 034 11-18-0
Tigers 000 000 000 0-5-0
HR: Garrett (CAL); Bochte (CAL)
WP: Hockenberry
SV: Kirkwood
LP: Bare (4-9)
Tigers record: 52-81 (actual 52-81)
Home: 25-42
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Game 132: Lolich Too Much for Angels, 3-0
Detroit (Fri., Aug. 29, 1975) - Mickey Lolich leads the Tigers in victories, and on Friday night he showed why, as the almost-35-year-old lefty pitched a complete-game, five-hit shutout as Detroit beat the California Angels, 3-0, at Tiger Stadium.
The win gave Lolich a team-high 12 victories, against 14 losses.
The Tigers scored twice in the second inning. Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, Dan Meyer and Ben Oglivie all singled, producing the runs.
Detroit added a run in the eighth as Lolich was keeping the Angels at arm's length throughout the game. California had base runners, but couldn't push across a run. Even Mickey Rivers' two-out triple in the third inning didn't help the Angels' cause.
The Angels left 10 men on base, including the bases loaded in the eighth inning.
But Lolich made the pitches he had to when he had to, despite walking five Angels, and the Tigers (52-80) won for just the fifth time in 21 games.
Leon Roberts had two hits and an RBI for the Tigers.
Frank Tanana (Catholic Central) took the loss for California.
The Major Said: "Mickey wasn't great but that's what veteran pitchers can do. They get into trouble, put runners on base, and wiggle out of it. I'm sure the Angels thought they had him on the ropes a few times tonight."
Calif. 000 000 000 0-5-1
Tigers 020 000 01x 3-10-1
WP: Lolich (12-14)
LP: Tanana
Tigers record: 52-80 (actual 51-81)
Home: 25-41
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
The win gave Lolich a team-high 12 victories, against 14 losses.
The Tigers scored twice in the second inning. Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, Dan Meyer and Ben Oglivie all singled, producing the runs.
Detroit added a run in the eighth as Lolich was keeping the Angels at arm's length throughout the game. California had base runners, but couldn't push across a run. Even Mickey Rivers' two-out triple in the third inning didn't help the Angels' cause.
The Angels left 10 men on base, including the bases loaded in the eighth inning.
But Lolich made the pitches he had to when he had to, despite walking five Angels, and the Tigers (52-80) won for just the fifth time in 21 games.
Leon Roberts had two hits and an RBI for the Tigers.
Frank Tanana (Catholic Central) took the loss for California.
The Major Said: "Mickey wasn't great but that's what veteran pitchers can do. They get into trouble, put runners on base, and wiggle out of it. I'm sure the Angels thought they had him on the ropes a few times tonight."
Calif. 000 000 000 0-5-1
Tigers 020 000 01x 3-10-1
WP: Lolich (12-14)
LP: Tanana
Tigers record: 52-80 (actual 51-81)
Home: 25-41
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Game 129: Tigers Get 10 Hits, But Lose, 2-1
Arlington, TX (Mon., Aug. 25, 1975) - The Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers each scored in just one inning, but the Rangers put up two runs, the Tigers one, and Texas won, 2-1, at Arlington Stadium Monday night.
The Rangers scored twice in the first inning on three singles and a force out, while the Tigers pushed across a run in the eighth when hot-hitting Dan Meyer doubled, plating Gary Sutherland.
In between, Tigers starter Ray Bare (4-8) and Texas lefty Jim Umbarger dueled. Umbarger was relieved by Steve Foucault, who picked up the save after taking over following Meyer's hit.
The Tigers (51-78) got a lead-off single from Aurelio Rodriguez in the ninth, but he was erased when Leon Roberts bounced into a double play. Undaunted, Ben Oglivie stroked a single before Foucault got pinch-hitter Gates Brown to ground into a 6-4 force out, ending the game.
The loss ended Detroit's modest three-game winning streak.
Meyer had two doubles, making him 7-for-16 in his last four games.
After the game, the Tigers placed right-handed reliever Bob Reynolds, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning, on waivers and recalled rookie righty Ike Brookens from Toledo. Reynolds, 28, struggled since being acquired from Baltimore in late-May, posting a 5.94 ERA in 36.1 innings and giving up six home runs.
Brookens, 26, will be making his second tour of duty with the Tigers this season. He has pitched 12 innings for Detroit in 1975, yielding just one earned run.
The Major Said: "You get 10 hits, you should score more than one run. That's all I have to say, really. Ray (Bare) pitched his butt off. Umbarger was just a little better, I suppose."
Tigers 000 000 010 1-10-1
Texas 200 000 00x 2-9-0
WP: Umbarger
SV: Foucault
LP: Bare (4-8)
Tigers record: 51-78 (actual 51-78)
Home: 24-41
Away: 27-37
Last 10: 3-7
The Rangers scored twice in the first inning on three singles and a force out, while the Tigers pushed across a run in the eighth when hot-hitting Dan Meyer doubled, plating Gary Sutherland.
In between, Tigers starter Ray Bare (4-8) and Texas lefty Jim Umbarger dueled. Umbarger was relieved by Steve Foucault, who picked up the save after taking over following Meyer's hit.
The Tigers (51-78) got a lead-off single from Aurelio Rodriguez in the ninth, but he was erased when Leon Roberts bounced into a double play. Undaunted, Ben Oglivie stroked a single before Foucault got pinch-hitter Gates Brown to ground into a 6-4 force out, ending the game.
The loss ended Detroit's modest three-game winning streak.
Meyer had two doubles, making him 7-for-16 in his last four games.
After the game, the Tigers placed right-handed reliever Bob Reynolds, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning, on waivers and recalled rookie righty Ike Brookens from Toledo. Reynolds, 28, struggled since being acquired from Baltimore in late-May, posting a 5.94 ERA in 36.1 innings and giving up six home runs.
Brookens, 26, will be making his second tour of duty with the Tigers this season. He has pitched 12 innings for Detroit in 1975, yielding just one earned run.
The Major Said: "You get 10 hits, you should score more than one run. That's all I have to say, really. Ray (Bare) pitched his butt off. Umbarger was just a little better, I suppose."
Tigers 000 000 010 1-10-1
Texas 200 000 00x 2-9-0
WP: Umbarger
SV: Foucault
LP: Bare (4-8)
Tigers record: 51-78 (actual 51-78)
Home: 24-41
Away: 27-37
Last 10: 3-7
Monday, August 27, 2012
Game 128: Tigers Win, Sweep Twins
Bloomington, MN (Sun., Aug. 24, 1975) - Dan Meyer stroked a two-run triple in the sixth inning, highlighting a three-run rally, leading the Tigers from a 3-1 deficit and a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
The Tigers (51-77) completed a three-game sweep after a 10-game losing streak.
Meyer's hit into the right center field gap scored Ron LeFlore and Gary Sutherland, tying the game. One out later, Bill Freehan singled home Meyer to put the Tigers ahead, 4-3.
The winner was Mickey Lolich (11-14), who picked up his 10th complete game of the season despite surrendering 10 hits.
A two-run fifth inning put the Twins ahead, 2-1, but the Tigers bounced back with their three-run sixth.
Meyer had a sacrifice fly in the first inning for a three-RBI afternoon. He is in a 15-for-48 stretch, lifting his average to .244.
LeFlore also tripled in the sixth inning, his team-leading ninth three-bagger.
The Twins got a lead off single from Steve Braun (three hits, including a home run) in the ninth, but Lolich bore down and after Glenn Borgmann bunted Braun to second, Lolich retired Jerry Terrell (fly out) and Lyman Bostock (pop out) to seal the win.
The Major Said: "Good win. Good series. Good weekend. Just what we needed to pick everyone's spirits up a little bit, including mine. Now this road trip doesn't seem so disastrous."
Tigers 100 003 000 4-8-0
Minn. 001 020 000 3-10-2
HR: Braun (MIN)
WP: Lolich (11-14)
LP: Hughes
Tigers record: 51-77 (actual 51-77)
Home: 24-41
Away: 27-36
Last 10: 3-7
The Tigers (51-77) completed a three-game sweep after a 10-game losing streak.
Meyer's hit into the right center field gap scored Ron LeFlore and Gary Sutherland, tying the game. One out later, Bill Freehan singled home Meyer to put the Tigers ahead, 4-3.
The winner was Mickey Lolich (11-14), who picked up his 10th complete game of the season despite surrendering 10 hits.
A two-run fifth inning put the Twins ahead, 2-1, but the Tigers bounced back with their three-run sixth.
Meyer had a sacrifice fly in the first inning for a three-RBI afternoon. He is in a 15-for-48 stretch, lifting his average to .244.
LeFlore also tripled in the sixth inning, his team-leading ninth three-bagger.
The Twins got a lead off single from Steve Braun (three hits, including a home run) in the ninth, but Lolich bore down and after Glenn Borgmann bunted Braun to second, Lolich retired Jerry Terrell (fly out) and Lyman Bostock (pop out) to seal the win.
The Major Said: "Good win. Good series. Good weekend. Just what we needed to pick everyone's spirits up a little bit, including mine. Now this road trip doesn't seem so disastrous."
Tigers 100 003 000 4-8-0
Minn. 001 020 000 3-10-2
HR: Braun (MIN)
WP: Lolich (11-14)
LP: Hughes
Tigers record: 51-77 (actual 51-77)
Home: 24-41
Away: 27-36
Last 10: 3-7
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
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Game 121: Tigers' 9th-Inning Rally Falls Short, 6-5
Anaheim, CA (Sat., Aug. 16, 1975) - Bill Freehan hit into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded, snuffing out a potential go-ahead rally as the Tigers lost to the California Angels, 6-5 at Anaheim Stadium Saturday night.
The Tigers trailed 6-2 heading into the ninth, then kicked up their heels off reliever Dick Lange.
A double, a single and a hit batsman loaded the bases with no outs. Ron LeFlore walked to force in a run, driving Lange out of the game in favor of Don Kirkwood. Gary Sutherland then lofted a sacrifice fly to left field. Dan Meyer singled, re-loading the bases, and Willie Horton singled, scoring Gates Brown to make the score 6-5 as the crowd grew restless.
But then Freehan bounced into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat and the game.
The Angels scored a pair of runs in the second, third and seventh innings to build their 6-2 lead.
Bruce Bochte had three hits and three RBI for California, who have won the first two games of the weekend series. The Tigers (48-73) have lost six straight games.
Tigers starter Ray Bare (4-6) was roughed up for 12 hits and five runs in six-plus innings.
Detroit scored twice in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead, but that was short-lived as the Angels answered with two runs in their half of the inning.
The Major Said: "The irony is that Bill (Freehan) has been one of our best hitters in recent weeks. When you saw him up there in that situation, it was hard not to think that maybe tonight was our night."
Tigers 020 000 003 5-12-1
Calif. 022 000 20x 6-13-0
WP: Hockenberry
SV: Kirkwood
LP: Bare (4-6)
Tigers record: 48-73 (actual 47-74)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-32
Last 10: 1-9
The Tigers trailed 6-2 heading into the ninth, then kicked up their heels off reliever Dick Lange.
A double, a single and a hit batsman loaded the bases with no outs. Ron LeFlore walked to force in a run, driving Lange out of the game in favor of Don Kirkwood. Gary Sutherland then lofted a sacrifice fly to left field. Dan Meyer singled, re-loading the bases, and Willie Horton singled, scoring Gates Brown to make the score 6-5 as the crowd grew restless.
But then Freehan bounced into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat and the game.
The Angels scored a pair of runs in the second, third and seventh innings to build their 6-2 lead.
Bruce Bochte had three hits and three RBI for California, who have won the first two games of the weekend series. The Tigers (48-73) have lost six straight games.
Tigers starter Ray Bare (4-6) was roughed up for 12 hits and five runs in six-plus innings.
Detroit scored twice in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead, but that was short-lived as the Angels answered with two runs in their half of the inning.
The Major Said: "The irony is that Bill (Freehan) has been one of our best hitters in recent weeks. When you saw him up there in that situation, it was hard not to think that maybe tonight was our night."
Tigers 020 000 003 5-12-1
Calif. 022 000 20x 6-13-0
WP: Hockenberry
SV: Kirkwood
LP: Bare (4-6)
Tigers record: 48-73 (actual 47-74)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-32
Last 10: 1-9
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
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Game 62: Tigers Stun Yanks With 8-Run 8th, 11-7
Detroit (June 22) - The New York Yankees looked to be on their way to splitting a four-game series with the Tigers today---until the eighth inning.
Trailing 7-3 going into the eighth, the Tigers broke out with an eight-run frame and beat the Yanks, 11-7 at Tiger Stadium.
It was the second time in the series that Tigers bats exploded. They won 16-11 on Thursday night.
Leon Roberts' three-run homer off reliever Dave Pagan drew the Tigers to within 7-6, then the next three batters got hits in tying the game, 7-7. Dan Meyer, who's batting 28-for-76 (.368) in recent weeks, smacked a two-run double, and so did Willie Horton. Just like that, the Tigers led 11-7.
The rally made a winner out of John Hiller (1-3), who pitched three innings in relief of Tom Walker.
It took three Yankees pitchers (starter Larry Gura, Pagan and Dick Tidrow) to quell the Tigers in the eighth inning.
The Tigers (26-36) looked dead earlier in the game, as they did in their 16-11 win.
The Yankees erased a 2-0 deficit by scoring seven unanswered runs from innings three thru seven.
Meyer (three hits) continues to be red hot
John Wockenfuss hit his first homer of the season in the seventh to make the score 7-3.
Then the Tigers stunned the Yankees one inning later.
The first six Tigers got on base in the eighth, and after that the game was tied, 7-7.
Roy White's three-run homer put the Yankees ahead, 4-2, in the fifth.
Walker pitched six innings in another spot start, surrendering four earned runs.
Pagan pitched to four Tigers hitters in the eighth and retired none of them.
"Good series for us, as it turned out," manager Ralph Houk said. "We had two kind of stunning wins, and won another with good pitching. So it was a good weekend."
Still, the Tigers are just 13-23 at home, where they wrapped up a 5-7 home stand.
But they're 13-13 on the road, and that's where they're headed---for an 11-game trip to Milwaukee (4), Baltimore (4) and Cleveland (3).
"Looking forward to it," Houk said of the trip. "Sometimes you gotta get away for awhile. And we need to make up some road games anyway."
The Tigers have played 36 of their first 62 games at home.
Notes: Bill Freehan returned from the 15-day disabled list (sore back) by starting at first base. He went 1-for-4 (double)...Meyer, on his hot streak: "Skip is batting me third and I'm finally rewarding him. Seeing the ball good right now"...Former Tiger Ed Brinkman continued to give the Tigers fits in this series, with a single, a hit by pitch and by scoring two runs. He also made some nifty plays defensively...Mickey Stanley started a second straight game in center field as Ron LeFlore sat out with soreness in his left side...The Tigers had a rarity in the second inning: two sacrifice flies in the same frame.
***************************************************************
Tigers record: 26-36 (actual 26-36)
Home: 13-23
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 5-5
Trailing 7-3 going into the eighth, the Tigers broke out with an eight-run frame and beat the Yanks, 11-7 at Tiger Stadium.
It was the second time in the series that Tigers bats exploded. They won 16-11 on Thursday night.
Leon Roberts' three-run homer off reliever Dave Pagan drew the Tigers to within 7-6, then the next three batters got hits in tying the game, 7-7. Dan Meyer, who's batting 28-for-76 (.368) in recent weeks, smacked a two-run double, and so did Willie Horton. Just like that, the Tigers led 11-7.
The rally made a winner out of John Hiller (1-3), who pitched three innings in relief of Tom Walker.
It took three Yankees pitchers (starter Larry Gura, Pagan and Dick Tidrow) to quell the Tigers in the eighth inning.
The Tigers (26-36) looked dead earlier in the game, as they did in their 16-11 win.
The Yankees erased a 2-0 deficit by scoring seven unanswered runs from innings three thru seven.
Meyer (three hits) continues to be red hot
John Wockenfuss hit his first homer of the season in the seventh to make the score 7-3.
Then the Tigers stunned the Yankees one inning later.
The first six Tigers got on base in the eighth, and after that the game was tied, 7-7.
Roy White's three-run homer put the Yankees ahead, 4-2, in the fifth.
Walker pitched six innings in another spot start, surrendering four earned runs.
Pagan pitched to four Tigers hitters in the eighth and retired none of them.
"Good series for us, as it turned out," manager Ralph Houk said. "We had two kind of stunning wins, and won another with good pitching. So it was a good weekend."
Still, the Tigers are just 13-23 at home, where they wrapped up a 5-7 home stand.
But they're 13-13 on the road, and that's where they're headed---for an 11-game trip to Milwaukee (4), Baltimore (4) and Cleveland (3).
"Looking forward to it," Houk said of the trip. "Sometimes you gotta get away for awhile. And we need to make up some road games anyway."
The Tigers have played 36 of their first 62 games at home.
Notes: Bill Freehan returned from the 15-day disabled list (sore back) by starting at first base. He went 1-for-4 (double)...Meyer, on his hot streak: "Skip is batting me third and I'm finally rewarding him. Seeing the ball good right now"...Former Tiger Ed Brinkman continued to give the Tigers fits in this series, with a single, a hit by pitch and by scoring two runs. He also made some nifty plays defensively...Mickey Stanley started a second straight game in center field as Ron LeFlore sat out with soreness in his left side...The Tigers had a rarity in the second inning: two sacrifice flies in the same frame.
***************************************************************
Tigers record: 26-36 (actual 26-36)
Home: 13-23
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 5-5
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Game 60: One Game After Slugfest, Tigers Win 2-0
Detroit (June 20) - Ain't that how it usually works?
The day after the Tigers and Yankees combined for 27 runs, only two were scored tonight at Tiger Stadium.
Both those runs were Detroit's, and they took a second straight game from the Yanks, 2-0.
Vern Ruhle (5-6) pitched a complete game, five-hit shutout in his first start in 10 days.
Dan Meyer had both Detroit RBI: on a ground out in the third inning and a single in the seventh.
The Tigers (25-35) have won four of their last six games.
"These games are more my speed," manager Ralph Houk said, referring to tonight's pitcher's duel in comparison to last night's slugfest.
Yankees lefty Rudy May pitched well (seven innings, two runs) but Ruhle was better.
"Vern was amazing," Houk said. "Especially when you thought he might be rusty."
Ruhle missed his last start with a "dead arm" and hadn't started since June 10.
"I felt refreshed," Ruhle said after the game, enjoying a cold can of beer while his pitching arm was being wrapped in ice. "Had all three pitches working. It was fun tonight."
Even with the paltry run support?
"Can't score 16 every night," Ruhle said, prompting laughter.
Gary Sutherland continued his torrid ways. Last night Sutherland was 4-for-4, and tonight he was 3-for-3. The 7-for-7 series has lifted his average to .332.
The Yanks managed to get four runners to second base, but Ruhle was in command all night. As a result, he tossed the Tigers' first complete game this season by anyone not named Mickey Lolich.
"I only walked one, and that is huge," Ruhle said. "I got ahead of hitters and that was key, too."
Notes: Mickey Stanley started at first base...Houk said that catcher Bill Freehan's back continues to tighten up on him every morning, making his return to the lineup unknown...May pitched well, but hit two batters and committed a balk...Sutherland is going so good that he was intentionally walked in the seventh inning. But the next batter, Meyer, delivered a run-scoring single.
***********************************************************8
Tigers record: 25-35 (actual 26-34)
Home: 12-22
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
The day after the Tigers and Yankees combined for 27 runs, only two were scored tonight at Tiger Stadium.
Both those runs were Detroit's, and they took a second straight game from the Yanks, 2-0.
Vern Ruhle (5-6) pitched a complete game, five-hit shutout in his first start in 10 days.
Dan Meyer had both Detroit RBI: on a ground out in the third inning and a single in the seventh.
The Tigers (25-35) have won four of their last six games.
"These games are more my speed," manager Ralph Houk said, referring to tonight's pitcher's duel in comparison to last night's slugfest.
Yankees lefty Rudy May pitched well (seven innings, two runs) but Ruhle was better.
"Vern was amazing," Houk said. "Especially when you thought he might be rusty."
Ruhle missed his last start with a "dead arm" and hadn't started since June 10.
"I felt refreshed," Ruhle said after the game, enjoying a cold can of beer while his pitching arm was being wrapped in ice. "Had all three pitches working. It was fun tonight."
Even with the paltry run support?
"Can't score 16 every night," Ruhle said, prompting laughter.
Gary Sutherland continued his torrid ways. Last night Sutherland was 4-for-4, and tonight he was 3-for-3. The 7-for-7 series has lifted his average to .332.
The Yanks managed to get four runners to second base, but Ruhle was in command all night. As a result, he tossed the Tigers' first complete game this season by anyone not named Mickey Lolich.
"I only walked one, and that is huge," Ruhle said. "I got ahead of hitters and that was key, too."
Notes: Mickey Stanley started at first base...Houk said that catcher Bill Freehan's back continues to tighten up on him every morning, making his return to the lineup unknown...May pitched well, but hit two batters and committed a balk...Sutherland is going so good that he was intentionally walked in the seventh inning. But the next batter, Meyer, delivered a run-scoring single.
***********************************************************8
Tigers record: 25-35 (actual 26-34)
Home: 12-22
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Game 59: Wow! Tigers Erase 8-Run Deficit; Dump Yanks, 16-11
Detroit (June 19) - If this is the Tigers' new formula for winning home games, then get ready for some 3-1/2 hour baseball games. And for some fireworks.
The offensively-challenged Tigers spotted the New York Yankees an 8-0 lead, then exploded for 16 runs from the third thru seventh innings to beat the Yanks 16-11 tonight at Tiger Stadium.
Yes, that's right. The Tigers scored 16 runs, a total that sometimes takes them a week to achieve.
"Who can explain it?" manager Ralph Houk said. "That's baseball."
What's even more amazing is that the outburst began against the Yankees' much-ballyhooed free agent signee, Jim "Catfish" Hunter.
Hunter had an 8-0 lead going into the bottom of the third. The Tigers nicked him for two runs in the third, then poured it on in the fourth with eight runs (seven charged to Hunter) to go ahead 10-9, the last two coming on Willie Horton's mammoth home run into the left field upper deck. It was Horton's second at-bat of the inning.
The eight-run fourth included seven hits, highlighted by Horton's homer and Danny Meyer's two-run triple.
The Tigers extended the lead to 14-9 with four runs in the sixth. Horton knocked in two more with a double.
Horton had four RBI to lead the Tigers to an unexpected victory
Ron Blomberg clubbed a two-run homer in the seventh to bring the Yankees to within 14-11, but the Tigers answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame on Leon Roberts' two-out, two-run single.
The Tigers banged out 20 hits as everyone except shortstop Tom Veryzer had at least one hit. Ron LeFlore (three hits) and Gary Sutherland (4-for-4) stayed hot. Combined with Meyer's three hits, the Tigers' 1-2-3 hitters went 10-for-14 and had seven RBI.
Quite a change from a team that normally scores runs like it's pulling teeth.
"It was a lot of fun out there tonight," Horton said. "Maybe this will get us going. Lots of smiles in the dugout, man."
LeFlore (.307), Sutherland (.322) and Horton (.318), three of the Tigers' first four hitters in Houk's lineup, are all hitting above .300. So why hasn't the team scored more runs this season?
"We've been streaky," LeFlore said. "I'm going good now but I wasn't for awhile. Suds (Sutherland) is hot again. And Willie has been the most consistent. But a lot of us have hit in streaks."
The offense made everyone forget the bad start of Ray Bare, who went just 1.2 innings and surrendered 9 hits and seven runs (five earned). Dave Lemanczyk (4-0) picked up the win with 3.2 innings of relief (two runs, none earned).
The game started ominously, as the first five Yankees scored, culminating with Chris Chambliss's three-run home run. When the Yankees went ahead 8-0 in the third, the booes could be heard loud and clear.
"It didn't look good, that's for sure," Houk said. "But baseball is nine innings, 27 outs."
The Tigers (24-35) get the Yankees three more times this weekend. It's doubtful any of those games will be as exhilirating as tonight's.
But you never know.
Notes: The 16 runs tied a season high, set exactly one month ago (May 19) in Minnesota...Chambliss had four hits for New York...The fourth inning knockout was Hunter's earliest since 1972...The Tigers team BA went from .264 to .268 during tonight's game...LeFlore is 17 for his last 34, raising his average 30 points (.277 to .307).
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Tigers record: 24-35 (actual (25-34)
Home: 11-22
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
The offensively-challenged Tigers spotted the New York Yankees an 8-0 lead, then exploded for 16 runs from the third thru seventh innings to beat the Yanks 16-11 tonight at Tiger Stadium.
Yes, that's right. The Tigers scored 16 runs, a total that sometimes takes them a week to achieve.
"Who can explain it?" manager Ralph Houk said. "That's baseball."
What's even more amazing is that the outburst began against the Yankees' much-ballyhooed free agent signee, Jim "Catfish" Hunter.
Hunter had an 8-0 lead going into the bottom of the third. The Tigers nicked him for two runs in the third, then poured it on in the fourth with eight runs (seven charged to Hunter) to go ahead 10-9, the last two coming on Willie Horton's mammoth home run into the left field upper deck. It was Horton's second at-bat of the inning.
The eight-run fourth included seven hits, highlighted by Horton's homer and Danny Meyer's two-run triple.
The Tigers extended the lead to 14-9 with four runs in the sixth. Horton knocked in two more with a double.
Horton had four RBI to lead the Tigers to an unexpected victory
Ron Blomberg clubbed a two-run homer in the seventh to bring the Yankees to within 14-11, but the Tigers answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame on Leon Roberts' two-out, two-run single.
The Tigers banged out 20 hits as everyone except shortstop Tom Veryzer had at least one hit. Ron LeFlore (three hits) and Gary Sutherland (4-for-4) stayed hot. Combined with Meyer's three hits, the Tigers' 1-2-3 hitters went 10-for-14 and had seven RBI.
Quite a change from a team that normally scores runs like it's pulling teeth.
"It was a lot of fun out there tonight," Horton said. "Maybe this will get us going. Lots of smiles in the dugout, man."
LeFlore (.307), Sutherland (.322) and Horton (.318), three of the Tigers' first four hitters in Houk's lineup, are all hitting above .300. So why hasn't the team scored more runs this season?
"We've been streaky," LeFlore said. "I'm going good now but I wasn't for awhile. Suds (Sutherland) is hot again. And Willie has been the most consistent. But a lot of us have hit in streaks."
The offense made everyone forget the bad start of Ray Bare, who went just 1.2 innings and surrendered 9 hits and seven runs (five earned). Dave Lemanczyk (4-0) picked up the win with 3.2 innings of relief (two runs, none earned).
The game started ominously, as the first five Yankees scored, culminating with Chris Chambliss's three-run home run. When the Yankees went ahead 8-0 in the third, the booes could be heard loud and clear.
"It didn't look good, that's for sure," Houk said. "But baseball is nine innings, 27 outs."
The Tigers (24-35) get the Yankees three more times this weekend. It's doubtful any of those games will be as exhilirating as tonight's.
But you never know.
Notes: The 16 runs tied a season high, set exactly one month ago (May 19) in Minnesota...Chambliss had four hits for New York...The fourth inning knockout was Hunter's earliest since 1972...The Tigers team BA went from .264 to .268 during tonight's game...LeFlore is 17 for his last 34, raising his average 30 points (.277 to .307).
*************************************
Tigers record: 24-35 (actual (25-34)
Home: 11-22
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Game 57: Tigers Claw Back, Still Lose
Detroit (June 17) - Danny Meyer knows how thin the line is between love and hate---and fair and foul.
Meyer, the Tigers left fielder, was at the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning at Tiger Stadium tonight. The Tigers trailed the Boston Red Sox, 6-5.
Meyer pulled a 1-1 fastball from reliever Diego Segui down the right field line---about six inches foul. The drive would have won the game for the Tigers, no doubt.
Two pitches later, Meyer grounded into a game-ending, 6-4-3 double play as what was left of a crowd of 9,874 groaned collectively.
"That's baseball," Meyer said afterward.
Indeed.
The Tigers (23-34) saw their modest two-game winning streak come to an end.
Meyer had two of the team's 10 hits, but missing his third by inches was yet another example of how the Tigers just don't seem to get the breaks at home, where they are 10-21.
Wise had a rough start, but settled into 8.1 innings for Boston
The game started ominously, as the Bosox scored four times in the first inning off starter Lerrin LaGrow (2-9).
Three batters into the game, the Red Sox led 3-0 after Carl Yastrzemski pulled a LaGrow slider into the right field upper deck. They tacked on another run after a Jim Rice double and Rico Petrocelli single.
The Tigers answered with two runs of their own in the first. Ron LeFlore led off with a home run, and after the next three Tigers reached base, it was 4-2 Boston thanks to a Willie Horton single.
The Red Sox led 5-2 before the Tigers tied the game with two runs in the third and one in the fourth.
But that's when Boston starter Rick Wise got stingy.
Wise survived a rocky four innings before settling down and retiring 16 of the next 17 hitters, giving way to Segui with one out in the ninth and a runner on first base.
A LeFlore single and Gary Sutherland walk greeted Segui before the veteran threw the double play ball to Meyer.
Notes: Livonia native Bernie Carbo started in right field for Boston and went 0-for-5...Rookie pitcher Ike Brookens made his debut after being called up from Toledo to replace Gene Pentz, who was sent down after last night's game. The right-handed Brookens entered the game in the sixth inning and pitched 1.1 innings of one-hit ball...LeFlore had three hits, one RBI and a stolen base...The series finale will be played on Polish-American night. Yastrzemski and Boston coach Eddie Kasko are to be among those honored on the field before the game.
************************************************************
Tigers record: 23-34 (actual 25-32)
Home: 10-21
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 3-7
Meyer, the Tigers left fielder, was at the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning at Tiger Stadium tonight. The Tigers trailed the Boston Red Sox, 6-5.
Meyer pulled a 1-1 fastball from reliever Diego Segui down the right field line---about six inches foul. The drive would have won the game for the Tigers, no doubt.
Two pitches later, Meyer grounded into a game-ending, 6-4-3 double play as what was left of a crowd of 9,874 groaned collectively.
"That's baseball," Meyer said afterward.
Indeed.
The Tigers (23-34) saw their modest two-game winning streak come to an end.
Meyer had two of the team's 10 hits, but missing his third by inches was yet another example of how the Tigers just don't seem to get the breaks at home, where they are 10-21.
Wise had a rough start, but settled into 8.1 innings for Boston
The game started ominously, as the Bosox scored four times in the first inning off starter Lerrin LaGrow (2-9).
Three batters into the game, the Red Sox led 3-0 after Carl Yastrzemski pulled a LaGrow slider into the right field upper deck. They tacked on another run after a Jim Rice double and Rico Petrocelli single.
The Tigers answered with two runs of their own in the first. Ron LeFlore led off with a home run, and after the next three Tigers reached base, it was 4-2 Boston thanks to a Willie Horton single.
The Red Sox led 5-2 before the Tigers tied the game with two runs in the third and one in the fourth.
But that's when Boston starter Rick Wise got stingy.
Wise survived a rocky four innings before settling down and retiring 16 of the next 17 hitters, giving way to Segui with one out in the ninth and a runner on first base.
A LeFlore single and Gary Sutherland walk greeted Segui before the veteran threw the double play ball to Meyer.
Notes: Livonia native Bernie Carbo started in right field for Boston and went 0-for-5...Rookie pitcher Ike Brookens made his debut after being called up from Toledo to replace Gene Pentz, who was sent down after last night's game. The right-handed Brookens entered the game in the sixth inning and pitched 1.1 innings of one-hit ball...LeFlore had three hits, one RBI and a stolen base...The series finale will be played on Polish-American night. Yastrzemski and Boston coach Eddie Kasko are to be among those honored on the field before the game.
************************************************************
Tigers record: 23-34 (actual 25-32)
Home: 10-21
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 3-7
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Game 56: Tigers Power Past Bosox, 6-5
Detroit (June 16) - Wins don't come easy for the Tigers these days. Even games that appear in hand.
The Tigers survived a three-run Boston rally in the ninth inning and held on to beat the Red Sox, 6-5 at Tiger Stadium tonight.
It was the first time the Tigers (23-33) won consecutive games at home since May 9-10.
Ron LeFlore (4) and Dan Meyer (7) slugged home runs for Detroit, who had six extra-base hits on the night. LeFlore's led off the first inning, and Meyer's two-run shot extended the Tigers' lead to 6-2 in the seventh.
Jim Rice smacked a two-run homer for Boston.
Things got dicey in the ninth, as the Red Sox put the first three men on base and scored three times, leaving the tying run on base when Doug Griffin struck out against John Hiller to end the game.
Hiller's save was his 13th, ensuring the win for Mickey Lolich (6-7).
Lolich pitched two batters into the ninth, but couldn't get his fourth complete game of the season.
"It would have been flat out irresponsible of me to leave Mickey in there," manager Ralph Houk said. "He was clearly tired and he deserved to win."
Hiller came on with runners on second and third and nobody out. Rice greeted him with a single that scored both runners when Leon Roberts bobbled the ball in right field.
LeFlore had three hits (single, double, HR), scored a run and had two RBI
Fred Lynn grounded out, then Rico Petrocelli singled to send Rice to third. Dwight Evans hit the ball back to Hiller, but the Tigers couldn't complete the double play and Rice scored, causing the crowd of 21,145 to squirm in their seats. But Hiller settled down to fan Griffin on a 2-2 fastball.
LeFlore had three hits and two RBI. Gary Sutherland, returning to his starting spot at second base after missing a week with a sore hand, had two hits and an RBI.
Lolich allowed seven hits, struck out five and walked only one.
Royal Oak native Jim Burton started for Boston and went five innings. Meyer's homer came off Reggie Cleveland, who relieved Burton.
The Tigers are now 10-20 at home and improved to 2-4 on their current 12-game home stand.
"We just have to play better at home," Lolich said. "We still have a lot of games left on this home stand, so we can maybe get back into the race."
Beating first-place Boston two more times in this series will address that.
Notes: The Tigers played their first game after the sale of 1B Nate Colbert to Montreal, which occurred after Saturday's game. Mickey Stanley started at first base tonight and went 0-for-4...Houk, on Colbert: "He just didn't get it going. His back flared up on him and that didn't help. The doctors in Montreal think he'll be fine in a few weeks. We wish him well."...Tonight's win was the Tigers' first over Boston in five tries this season...The Tigers have committed 55 errors this season, by far the most in the majors.
************************************************
Tigers record: 23-33 (actual 25-31)
Home: 10-20
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
The Tigers survived a three-run Boston rally in the ninth inning and held on to beat the Red Sox, 6-5 at Tiger Stadium tonight.
It was the first time the Tigers (23-33) won consecutive games at home since May 9-10.
Ron LeFlore (4) and Dan Meyer (7) slugged home runs for Detroit, who had six extra-base hits on the night. LeFlore's led off the first inning, and Meyer's two-run shot extended the Tigers' lead to 6-2 in the seventh.
Jim Rice smacked a two-run homer for Boston.
Things got dicey in the ninth, as the Red Sox put the first three men on base and scored three times, leaving the tying run on base when Doug Griffin struck out against John Hiller to end the game.
Hiller's save was his 13th, ensuring the win for Mickey Lolich (6-7).
Lolich pitched two batters into the ninth, but couldn't get his fourth complete game of the season.
"It would have been flat out irresponsible of me to leave Mickey in there," manager Ralph Houk said. "He was clearly tired and he deserved to win."
Hiller came on with runners on second and third and nobody out. Rice greeted him with a single that scored both runners when Leon Roberts bobbled the ball in right field.
LeFlore had three hits (single, double, HR), scored a run and had two RBI
Fred Lynn grounded out, then Rico Petrocelli singled to send Rice to third. Dwight Evans hit the ball back to Hiller, but the Tigers couldn't complete the double play and Rice scored, causing the crowd of 21,145 to squirm in their seats. But Hiller settled down to fan Griffin on a 2-2 fastball.
LeFlore had three hits and two RBI. Gary Sutherland, returning to his starting spot at second base after missing a week with a sore hand, had two hits and an RBI.
Lolich allowed seven hits, struck out five and walked only one.
Royal Oak native Jim Burton started for Boston and went five innings. Meyer's homer came off Reggie Cleveland, who relieved Burton.
The Tigers are now 10-20 at home and improved to 2-4 on their current 12-game home stand.
"We just have to play better at home," Lolich said. "We still have a lot of games left on this home stand, so we can maybe get back into the race."
Beating first-place Boston two more times in this series will address that.
Notes: The Tigers played their first game after the sale of 1B Nate Colbert to Montreal, which occurred after Saturday's game. Mickey Stanley started at first base tonight and went 0-for-4...Houk, on Colbert: "He just didn't get it going. His back flared up on him and that didn't help. The doctors in Montreal think he'll be fine in a few weeks. We wish him well."...Tonight's win was the Tigers' first over Boston in five tries this season...The Tigers have committed 55 errors this season, by far the most in the majors.
************************************************
Tigers record: 23-33 (actual 25-31)
Home: 10-20
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
Friday, May 4, 2012
Game 55: Tigers Finally Break Through, Slap A's, 7-5
Detroit (June 14) - Call it a blind squirrel finding a nut. A broken clock being right twice a day.
The Tigers will call it a win. And, because it came at home, a very rare one, indeed.
The Tigers pulled away from a 3-3 tie and held off the Oakland A's, 7-5, today at Tiger Stadium.
It was just the ninth home win for the Bengals (22-33) in 29 games.
Willie Horton struck the biggest blow---a three-run homer, his ninth, in the seventh to put the Tigers up, 7-3.
The win gave the Tigers three victories over the A's in the five games they played this week against the three-time defending World Champs.
"We needed this badly," manager Ralph Houk understated.
What he needed wasn't only a win, but for the Tigers to score more than three runs, which has been so very difficult for them to do in recent weeks.
The team finally did that in the seventh, when they rallied against reliever Glenn Abbott, who took over from starter Sonny Siebert.
Horton's big day helped carry the Tigers, breaking a six-game home losing skid
John Wockenfuss walked and moved to second on a two-out walk issued to fellow rookie John Knox. Dan Meyer singled, scoring Wockenfuss and sending Knox to third. Horton then drove an Abbott fastball deep into the upper deck in left, making the score 7-3.
Naturally, the A's didn't go down easily.
They added two runs in the eighth on two doubles and a single, but fireman John Hiller relieved Bob Reynolds with two outs and induced a pop out from Phil Garner, then pitched a mostly uneventful ninth for the save.
Reynolds got the win in relief of starter Tom Walker, who turned in another impressive effort in a spot role (6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER).
Ron LeFlore had three singles and a stolen base (and one caught stealing).
Horton, who had four RBI on the afternoon, said that the feeling of relief has to be followed with determination.
"This is nice, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't score runs tomorrow," he said.
The whole blind nut/broken clock thing.
Notes: Soon everyone will know whether Nate Colbert will be an ex-Tiger. The interleague trading deadline is tomorrow, and reports have the struggling first baseman going to several teams: Montreal, Atlanta and Texas among them...The bad news is that Jack Pierce, who seemingly would be Colbert's replacement at first base, is hitting .111 (3-for-27)...Leon Roberts, who hit into three double plays last night, was 2-for-3 today.
***********************************************
Tigers record: 22-33 (actual 25-30)
Home: 9-20
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
The Tigers will call it a win. And, because it came at home, a very rare one, indeed.
The Tigers pulled away from a 3-3 tie and held off the Oakland A's, 7-5, today at Tiger Stadium.
It was just the ninth home win for the Bengals (22-33) in 29 games.
Willie Horton struck the biggest blow---a three-run homer, his ninth, in the seventh to put the Tigers up, 7-3.
The win gave the Tigers three victories over the A's in the five games they played this week against the three-time defending World Champs.
"We needed this badly," manager Ralph Houk understated.
What he needed wasn't only a win, but for the Tigers to score more than three runs, which has been so very difficult for them to do in recent weeks.
The team finally did that in the seventh, when they rallied against reliever Glenn Abbott, who took over from starter Sonny Siebert.
Horton's big day helped carry the Tigers, breaking a six-game home losing skid
John Wockenfuss walked and moved to second on a two-out walk issued to fellow rookie John Knox. Dan Meyer singled, scoring Wockenfuss and sending Knox to third. Horton then drove an Abbott fastball deep into the upper deck in left, making the score 7-3.
Naturally, the A's didn't go down easily.
They added two runs in the eighth on two doubles and a single, but fireman John Hiller relieved Bob Reynolds with two outs and induced a pop out from Phil Garner, then pitched a mostly uneventful ninth for the save.
Reynolds got the win in relief of starter Tom Walker, who turned in another impressive effort in a spot role (6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER).
Ron LeFlore had three singles and a stolen base (and one caught stealing).
Horton, who had four RBI on the afternoon, said that the feeling of relief has to be followed with determination.
"This is nice, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't score runs tomorrow," he said.
The whole blind nut/broken clock thing.
Notes: Soon everyone will know whether Nate Colbert will be an ex-Tiger. The interleague trading deadline is tomorrow, and reports have the struggling first baseman going to several teams: Montreal, Atlanta and Texas among them...The bad news is that Jack Pierce, who seemingly would be Colbert's replacement at first base, is hitting .111 (3-for-27)...Leon Roberts, who hit into three double plays last night, was 2-for-3 today.
***********************************************
Tigers record: 22-33 (actual 25-30)
Home: 9-20
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
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