Detroit (Tue., Sept. 16, 1975) - The Tigers stormed out to a 10-3 lead then watched in horror as it almost was frittered away in holding off the Cleveland Indians, 10-9 at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers debuted three rookie pitchers from Toledo, whose minor league season ended later than others because the Mud Hens made it to the International League's championship series.
Lefties Tom Makowski and Ed Glynn and right-hander Steve Grilli all pitched in their first big league games. Makowski and Grilli combined to give up six runs in the eighth and ninth innings, turning a rout into a nailbiter.
Glynn picked up his first save with the tying run at first base, coaxing a ground out from Duane Kuiper.
From Toledo, the Tigers also called up infielders Chuck Scrivener and Jerry Manuel, and outfielder Bob Molinaro, but none of them played Tuesday night.
Ben Oglivie had four hits and three RBI and another rookie, 2B John Knox, had three hits.
Detroit (58-92) scored six times in the fourth inning, and added three in the fifth for a 10-3 lead. The Tigers roughed up Cleveland starter Dennis Eckersley and reliever Fred Beene for all 10 runs.
The Tigers racked up 18 hits, overcoming three errors---two by SS Tom Veryzer.
Fernando Arroyo got the start for Detroit because scheduled starter Vern Ruhle had shoulder soreness when he arrived at the ballpark. Arroyo (4-2) pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs, earning the victory. He had pitched two innings in Sunday's loss to Baltimore.
Willie Horton picked up another RBI, giving him 96, edging him closer to being the first Tiger to drive in 100 runs since Horton himself did it in 1966.
The Tigers are 29-46 at home and 29-46 on the road.
The Major Said: "We don't have a lot of time to see the rookie pitchers but we do have some games left so may as well put them in there. They had a good season in Toledo as a team. But realistically we won't find out much about any of them until spring training."
Cleveland 000 210 042 9-13-2
Tigers 001 630 000 10-18-3
HR: LeFlore (DET, 7); Bell (CLE)
WP: Arroyo (4-2)
SV: Glynn (1)
LP: Eckersley
Tigers record: 58-92 (actual 55-95)
Home: 29-46
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6
Showing posts with label Fernando Arroyo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fernando Arroyo. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Game 149: O's Frolick, 13-1
Detroit (Sun., Sept. 14, 1975) - Doug DeCinces had three hits and five RBI, including a three-run homer, and the Baltimore Orioles routed the Tigers, 13-1, at Tiger Stadium.
The Orioles turned a 2-1 game after four innings into a romp, scoring 11 runs from the fifth through eighth innings. DeCinces' home run provided the last of those runs on the night for Baltimore, who took the weekend series, 2-1.
Tigers starter Ray Bare (6-10) went five innings, giving up six runs on eight hits. After Bare left, the bullpen duo of Gene Pentz and Fernando Arroyo surrendered seven more runs between them in three innings of work.
The Orioles banged out 16 hits off Tigers pitching, including three hits each from DeCinces, Al Bumbry and Mark Belanger.
Baltimore starter Mike Cuellar pitched a complete game as the Tigers (57-92) managed just five hits. The loss was the 28th in the past 38 games for Detroit.
The Major Said: "The Orioles can do that at any time. They have been swinging the bats good for the past 10 years or so. Everyone talks about their pitching over the years, but they always have a strong lineup."
Baltimore 002 043 130 13-16-2
Tigers 001 000 000 1-5-1
HR: DeCinces (BAL); Hendricks (BAL)
WP: Cuellar
LP: Bare (6-10)
Tigers record: 57-92 (actual 55-94)
Home: 28-46
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 3-7
The Orioles turned a 2-1 game after four innings into a romp, scoring 11 runs from the fifth through eighth innings. DeCinces' home run provided the last of those runs on the night for Baltimore, who took the weekend series, 2-1.
Tigers starter Ray Bare (6-10) went five innings, giving up six runs on eight hits. After Bare left, the bullpen duo of Gene Pentz and Fernando Arroyo surrendered seven more runs between them in three innings of work.
The Orioles banged out 16 hits off Tigers pitching, including three hits each from DeCinces, Al Bumbry and Mark Belanger.
Baltimore starter Mike Cuellar pitched a complete game as the Tigers (57-92) managed just five hits. The loss was the 28th in the past 38 games for Detroit.
The Major Said: "The Orioles can do that at any time. They have been swinging the bats good for the past 10 years or so. Everyone talks about their pitching over the years, but they always have a strong lineup."
Baltimore 002 043 130 13-16-2
Tigers 001 000 000 1-5-1
HR: DeCinces (BAL); Hendricks (BAL)
WP: Cuellar
LP: Bare (6-10)
Tigers record: 57-92 (actual 55-94)
Home: 28-46
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 3-7
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Game 135: Brewers Break It Open Late, 7-3
Detroit (Tue., Sept. 2, 1975) - Mike Hegan's three-run homer in the eighth inning highlighted a five-run frame, and the Milwaukee Brewers tore open a 1-1 game to beat the Tigers, 7-3 at Tiger Stadium.
Tigers right-hander Joe Coleman (3-18), making his first start since August 18, was locked in a duel with Milwaukee's Jim Colborn until he tired in the eighth. Though most of the damage in the frame was done against reliever Fernando Arroyo, that fact didn't prevent Coleman from inching closer to becoming the first Tigers pitcher to lose 20 games in a single season since Art Houtteman in 1952.
Coleman left after the first two Brewers singled in the eighth. Arroyo retired Hank Aaron on a pop up, but the next four Milwaukee hitters reached base, including Hegan, who slammed a fastball deep into the upper deck in right field for a 5-1 lead.
Milwaukee added one more run, then tacked on another in the ninth. The Tigers (52-83) countered with single runs in the eighth and ninth but it was much too little, much too late.
Ben Oglivie hit two solo homers for Detroit, losers of 19 of their past 24 games.
Colborn pitched eight innings to get the victory. Bill Castro pitched the ninth.
In an effort to get a look at some of the kids for 1976, Tigers manager Ralph Houk sat Ron LeFlore and Gary Sutherland, his 1-2 hitters for most of the season, and started John Knox (2B) and Billy Baldwin (CF) in the 1-2 spots, respectively. Knox had three singles; Baldwin went 0-for-5.
The New York Yankees invade Tiger Stadium for games Wednesday and Thursday before the Tigers head to Cleveland for a four-game weekend series.
The Major Said: "Of course I would hate to see Joe (Coleman) lose 20 games. He just won 23 games a couple years ago. So it's obviously not a complete reflection of him as a pitcher. He hasn't pitched like we thought, but he's had a ton of bad luck, too."
Milw. 000 001 051 7-14-1
Tigers 000 100 011 3-11-0
HR: Oglivie (DET, [2] 7); Hegan (MIL)
WP: Colborn
LP: Coleman (3-18)
Tigers record: 52-83 (actual 53-82)
Home: 25-44
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
Tigers right-hander Joe Coleman (3-18), making his first start since August 18, was locked in a duel with Milwaukee's Jim Colborn until he tired in the eighth. Though most of the damage in the frame was done against reliever Fernando Arroyo, that fact didn't prevent Coleman from inching closer to becoming the first Tigers pitcher to lose 20 games in a single season since Art Houtteman in 1952.
Coleman left after the first two Brewers singled in the eighth. Arroyo retired Hank Aaron on a pop up, but the next four Milwaukee hitters reached base, including Hegan, who slammed a fastball deep into the upper deck in right field for a 5-1 lead.
Milwaukee added one more run, then tacked on another in the ninth. The Tigers (52-83) countered with single runs in the eighth and ninth but it was much too little, much too late.
Ben Oglivie hit two solo homers for Detroit, losers of 19 of their past 24 games.
Colborn pitched eight innings to get the victory. Bill Castro pitched the ninth.
In an effort to get a look at some of the kids for 1976, Tigers manager Ralph Houk sat Ron LeFlore and Gary Sutherland, his 1-2 hitters for most of the season, and started John Knox (2B) and Billy Baldwin (CF) in the 1-2 spots, respectively. Knox had three singles; Baldwin went 0-for-5.
The New York Yankees invade Tiger Stadium for games Wednesday and Thursday before the Tigers head to Cleveland for a four-game weekend series.
The Major Said: "Of course I would hate to see Joe (Coleman) lose 20 games. He just won 23 games a couple years ago. So it's obviously not a complete reflection of him as a pitcher. He hasn't pitched like we thought, but he's had a ton of bad luck, too."
Milw. 000 001 051 7-14-1
Tigers 000 100 011 3-11-0
HR: Oglivie (DET, [2] 7); Hegan (MIL)
WP: Colborn
LP: Coleman (3-18)
Tigers record: 52-83 (actual 53-82)
Home: 25-44
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Game 117: Burroughs Hurts Tigers Early, Late, 5-3
Detroit (Mon., Aug. 11, 1975) - Jeff Burroughs clubbed two home runs, including a go-ahead, three-run shot in the eighth inning, and the Texas Rangers beat the Tigers, 5-3, at Tiger Stadium Monday night.
Burroughs also hit a solo homer in the second to put the Rangers ahead, 1-0. He finished with four RBI.
The backbreaking homer in the eighth came off reliever Fernando Arroyo, who was facing his first batter in relief of starter Lerrin LaGrow. Two were out and nobody on when LaGrow ran into trouble: back-to-back singles by Lenny Randle and Mike Hargrove.
LaGrow was then lifted, and Burroughs greeted Arroyo with a moonshot to deep left center on the second pitch. As Burroughs rounded the bases, boos were clearly heard from the crowd of 11,246.
The Rangers added an insurance run in the ninth.
The Tigers (48-69) got a leadoff single from Ben Oglivie in their half of the ninth, but starter Gaylord Perry (complete game) retired the next three batters without the ball leaving the infield.
Gene Michael hit a two-run homer (2) for the Tigers in the second inning for a 2-1 lead. Detroit added a run in the seventh to go ahead 3-1 and set up Burroughs' heroics.
After a four-game winning streak, the Tigers have lost five of six.
The Major Said: "That's why he (Burroughs) won the MVP last year. Big time players come up with big time hits, and he's a big time player."
Texas 010 000 031 5-9-0
Tigers 002 000 100 3-5-0
HR: Burroughs (TEX [2]); Michael (DET, 2)
WP: Perry
LP: Arroyo (2-4)
Tigers record: 48-69 (actual 46-71)
Home: 24-39
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 5-5
Burroughs also hit a solo homer in the second to put the Rangers ahead, 1-0. He finished with four RBI.
The backbreaking homer in the eighth came off reliever Fernando Arroyo, who was facing his first batter in relief of starter Lerrin LaGrow. Two were out and nobody on when LaGrow ran into trouble: back-to-back singles by Lenny Randle and Mike Hargrove.
LaGrow was then lifted, and Burroughs greeted Arroyo with a moonshot to deep left center on the second pitch. As Burroughs rounded the bases, boos were clearly heard from the crowd of 11,246.
The Rangers added an insurance run in the ninth.
The Tigers (48-69) got a leadoff single from Ben Oglivie in their half of the ninth, but starter Gaylord Perry (complete game) retired the next three batters without the ball leaving the infield.
Gene Michael hit a two-run homer (2) for the Tigers in the second inning for a 2-1 lead. Detroit added a run in the seventh to go ahead 3-1 and set up Burroughs' heroics.
After a four-game winning streak, the Tigers have lost five of six.
The Major Said: "That's why he (Burroughs) won the MVP last year. Big time players come up with big time hits, and he's a big time player."
Texas 010 000 031 5-9-0
Tigers 002 000 100 3-5-0
HR: Burroughs (TEX [2]); Michael (DET, 2)
WP: Perry
LP: Arroyo (2-4)
Tigers record: 48-69 (actual 46-71)
Home: 24-39
Away: 24-30
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
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
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Game 85: Fitzmorris Battles, Royals Cruise, 7-1
Kansas City (July 12, 1975) - Al Fitzmorris labored through eight innings, giving up 10 hits but only one unearned run, and the Kansas City Royals routed the Tigers, 7-1, at Royals Stadium Saturday night.
The Royals used a 16-hit barrage to take two of the first three games of this weekend series, which is the last before the All-Star break.
The Tigers had 11 hits, but left many runners on base and were lacking that big hit all evening. Ten of the Tigers' hits were singles.
The Royals roughed up Tigers starter Lerrin LaGrow (3-12), blistering him for seven runs (six earned) and 12 hits in 4.2 innings.
Frank White hit a two-run home run in the second inning, his second homer of the series.
The Royals scored three times in the second and twice more in the third.
The Tigers' (33-52) only run scored on a ground out by Ben Oglivie in the third inning. Detroit has now lost 10 of their past 13 games.
Right-hander Fernando Arroyo made his big league debut for Detroit, relieving LaGrow. Arroyo went 2.1 innings, giving up three hits and two walks, but no runs.
The Major Said: "I get tired of tipping my cap to the other pitcher. We had a lot of chances against Fitzmorris but we just couldn't get that big hit. But Lerrin (LaGrow) wasn't sharp, which didn't help."
Tigers 001 000 000 1-11-2
KC 032 020 00x 7-16-2
HR: White (KC)
WP: Fitzmorris
LP: LaGrow (3-12)
Tigers record: 33-52 (actual 38-47)
Home: 15-30
Away: 18-22
Last 10: 3-7
The Royals used a 16-hit barrage to take two of the first three games of this weekend series, which is the last before the All-Star break.
The Tigers had 11 hits, but left many runners on base and were lacking that big hit all evening. Ten of the Tigers' hits were singles.
The Royals roughed up Tigers starter Lerrin LaGrow (3-12), blistering him for seven runs (six earned) and 12 hits in 4.2 innings.
Frank White hit a two-run home run in the second inning, his second homer of the series.
The Royals scored three times in the second and twice more in the third.
The Tigers' (33-52) only run scored on a ground out by Ben Oglivie in the third inning. Detroit has now lost 10 of their past 13 games.
Right-hander Fernando Arroyo made his big league debut for Detroit, relieving LaGrow. Arroyo went 2.1 innings, giving up three hits and two walks, but no runs.
The Major Said: "I get tired of tipping my cap to the other pitcher. We had a lot of chances against Fitzmorris but we just couldn't get that big hit. But Lerrin (LaGrow) wasn't sharp, which didn't help."
Tigers 001 000 000 1-11-2
KC 032 020 00x 7-16-2
HR: White (KC)
WP: Fitzmorris
LP: LaGrow (3-12)
Tigers record: 33-52 (actual 38-47)
Home: 15-30
Away: 18-22
Last 10: 3-7
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Game 45: Benji!! Tigers, Led By Oglivie, Sweep Angels
Anaheim, CA (June 5) - Ben Oglivie delivered a two-run double---his fourth hit of the game---in the seventh inning that put the Tigers ahead to stay, and Detroit got its first three-game sweep of the season with a 3-2 win tonight at Anaheim Stadium.
Oglivie is now batting .488 (21-for-43) and is 5-for-5 in stolen bases, with another swipe tonight.
The Tigers (18-27) pulled off an unlikely sweep, given that they came into the series in a 1-10 funk.
"We battled this whole series," manager Ralph Houk said of his team, which won the three games by a combined total of five runs. "I'm proud of my guys."
Oglivie was the unquestioned star on this night.
He had singles in the first, third and fifth innings before coming to the plate in the seventh with runners on second and third and one out.
Angels manager Dick Williams, for whatever reason, elected to pitch to Oglivie with first base empty, rather than walk him to face Willie Horton with the bases loaded. Oglivie made Williams and the Angels pay by ripping a drive into the right field corner, plating Ron LeFlore and Terry Humphrey to erase a 2-1 deficit.
So why pitch to a guy who was 3-for-3 with first base open?
"Horton isn't chopped liver," Williams explained afterward of the Tigers DH, who is batting .317. "Frankly, I thought we could get Oglivie and then I'd have walked Horton."
Still, strange strategy, it would seem, and Oglivie's double underlined that.
Horton, ironically, then lined into a double play off reliever Dick Lange.
But the damage had been done.
Tom Walker, who has become the Tigers most dependable reliever recently, pitched two shutout innings (7th and 8th), and Fernando Arroyo pitched the ninth for his second save.
Normal fireman John Hiller was unavailable because of 3.1 innings pitched in the first two games of the series.
"The bullpen was great," Oglivie said. "I was happy to help," he then understated.
Oglivie is batting .488, albeit in 43 at-bats
Starter Vern Ruhle (3-6) pitched one batter into the seventh, scattering seven hits and allowing two unearned runs. He, too, lauded his relievers.
"Tommy's been on his game," Ruhle said of Walker. "And Fernie (Arroyo) picked us up with John (Hiller) being out."
The Tigers, though, committed three errors. They lead the majors with 47 miscues.
"We need to catch the ball better," Houk acknowledged.
But the Tigers have a three-game winning streak heading to Oakland.
Notes: Oglivie leads the Tigers with five steals. Shouldn't speedster Ron LeFlore (4) be doing that? "We'll look at that," Houk said. "Maybe we need to give Ronnie more leeway"...The Tigers will head to Kansas City for two games after the three games in Oakland...With GM Jim Campbell on the trip, there's a buzz about the future of 1B Nate Colbert. Rookie Jack Pierce started for the second straight night at first base. Pierce is 0-for-8. Houk wouldn't comment.
****************************************************
Tigers record: 18-27 (actual 21-24)
Home: 8-16
Away: 10-11
Last 10: 4-6
Oglivie is now batting .488 (21-for-43) and is 5-for-5 in stolen bases, with another swipe tonight.
The Tigers (18-27) pulled off an unlikely sweep, given that they came into the series in a 1-10 funk.
"We battled this whole series," manager Ralph Houk said of his team, which won the three games by a combined total of five runs. "I'm proud of my guys."
Oglivie was the unquestioned star on this night.
He had singles in the first, third and fifth innings before coming to the plate in the seventh with runners on second and third and one out.
Angels manager Dick Williams, for whatever reason, elected to pitch to Oglivie with first base empty, rather than walk him to face Willie Horton with the bases loaded. Oglivie made Williams and the Angels pay by ripping a drive into the right field corner, plating Ron LeFlore and Terry Humphrey to erase a 2-1 deficit.
So why pitch to a guy who was 3-for-3 with first base open?
"Horton isn't chopped liver," Williams explained afterward of the Tigers DH, who is batting .317. "Frankly, I thought we could get Oglivie and then I'd have walked Horton."
Still, strange strategy, it would seem, and Oglivie's double underlined that.
Horton, ironically, then lined into a double play off reliever Dick Lange.
But the damage had been done.
Tom Walker, who has become the Tigers most dependable reliever recently, pitched two shutout innings (7th and 8th), and Fernando Arroyo pitched the ninth for his second save.
Normal fireman John Hiller was unavailable because of 3.1 innings pitched in the first two games of the series.
"The bullpen was great," Oglivie said. "I was happy to help," he then understated.
Oglivie is batting .488, albeit in 43 at-bats
Starter Vern Ruhle (3-6) pitched one batter into the seventh, scattering seven hits and allowing two unearned runs. He, too, lauded his relievers.
"Tommy's been on his game," Ruhle said of Walker. "And Fernie (Arroyo) picked us up with John (Hiller) being out."
The Tigers, though, committed three errors. They lead the majors with 47 miscues.
"We need to catch the ball better," Houk acknowledged.
But the Tigers have a three-game winning streak heading to Oakland.
Notes: Oglivie leads the Tigers with five steals. Shouldn't speedster Ron LeFlore (4) be doing that? "We'll look at that," Houk said. "Maybe we need to give Ronnie more leeway"...The Tigers will head to Kansas City for two games after the three games in Oakland...With GM Jim Campbell on the trip, there's a buzz about the future of 1B Nate Colbert. Rookie Jack Pierce started for the second straight night at first base. Pierce is 0-for-8. Houk wouldn't comment.
****************************************************
Tigers record: 18-27 (actual 21-24)
Home: 8-16
Away: 10-11
Last 10: 4-6
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Game 37: Twins Frolic, Thump Tigers 13-1
Detroit (May 26) -- For a game played on Memorial Day, this was one the Tigers would like to soon forget.
Mired in a six-game losing streak, the Tigers followed a familiar script as of late: falling behind early and sometimes often. Tonight it was definitely both.
The Minnesota Twins had a field day, racking up 17 hits in beating the Tigers, 13-1 in a boo-filled Tiger Stadium.
In fact, the Tigers fans booed early and often, as well.
The Twins led, 4-0, before some of the announced crowd of 15,000+ were in their seats.
The crowd was fully seated---and booing---when the Twins made it 7-0 in the fourth. In the sixth, when the Twins scored five times for a 12-0 lead, many of the fans were heading home, perhaps to attack leftovers from their holiday BBQs.
The Twins looked to be taking batting practice at times---blasting drives all over the gaps and hitting four home runs (Steve Braun, Tony Oliva [2], Larry Hisle) in handing the Tigers their worst loss of the season.
It was payback for the Tigers' 16-3 win over the Twins in Minnesota last Monday.
The Tigers (14-23) have been swinging the bats poorly since that win, which was their last. In the six-game losing streak, Detroit has scored 13 runs---three less than in their last win alone.
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle (1-6) lasted 3.1 innings, roughed up for seven runs (six earned) and eight hits. His next two successors, Fernando Arroyo and Tom Walker, weren't any better.
"Just a long day at the office," manager Ralph Houk said as he picked at some tuna salad. "Too bad the fans had to see this on a holiday."
The Tigers didn't score until the ninth. It's debatable whether there were 2,000 fans left to see it.
"Not going good now," said DH Willie Horton. "Not at all."
Oliva's first home run, a two-run shot, made it 3-0 Minnesota in the first inning. The Twins added a run four batters later.
Oliva's two homers were just part of the Twins' 13-run, 17-hit assault
In the fourth, Braun's two-run homer made it 6-0. Rod Carew reached on a Nate Colbert error, and that was it for Ruhle.
Arroyo entered and immediately gave up a run-scoring double to Bobby Darwin. 7-0 Twins. The boos cascaded from everywhere in the old ballpark.
Two innings later, the Twins punished Arroyo and Walker for a five spot. Oliva hit his second two-run homer and Walker gave up four straight hits and a sacrifice fly as the route was on.
Meanwhile, Twins starter Bill Campbell---normally a reliever---cruised, as so many starters have against the Tigers lately. Campbell pitched a complete game, seven-hitter. Only three Tigers reached second base before the ninth inning.
"It's a vicious circle," Houk said. "Everyone is trying too hard. That's what happens when you don't score runs."
So does booing.
Notes: Terry Humphrey started at catcher, just his second start of the season. "Bill (Freehan) was due for a day off," Houk said...Had the Tigers not scored in the ninth, the loss would have been their worst shutout defeat since a 10-0 loss to the Twins on May 4 of last year...The Twins' Danny Thompson had four hits, all singles...Oliva has now hit two homers in a game 10 times in his career.
********************************************************************
Tigers record: 14-23 (actual 18-19)
Home: 7-12
Away: 7-11
Last 10: 2-8
Mired in a six-game losing streak, the Tigers followed a familiar script as of late: falling behind early and sometimes often. Tonight it was definitely both.
The Minnesota Twins had a field day, racking up 17 hits in beating the Tigers, 13-1 in a boo-filled Tiger Stadium.
In fact, the Tigers fans booed early and often, as well.
The Twins led, 4-0, before some of the announced crowd of 15,000+ were in their seats.
The crowd was fully seated---and booing---when the Twins made it 7-0 in the fourth. In the sixth, when the Twins scored five times for a 12-0 lead, many of the fans were heading home, perhaps to attack leftovers from their holiday BBQs.
The Twins looked to be taking batting practice at times---blasting drives all over the gaps and hitting four home runs (Steve Braun, Tony Oliva [2], Larry Hisle) in handing the Tigers their worst loss of the season.
It was payback for the Tigers' 16-3 win over the Twins in Minnesota last Monday.
The Tigers (14-23) have been swinging the bats poorly since that win, which was their last. In the six-game losing streak, Detroit has scored 13 runs---three less than in their last win alone.
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle (1-6) lasted 3.1 innings, roughed up for seven runs (six earned) and eight hits. His next two successors, Fernando Arroyo and Tom Walker, weren't any better.
"Just a long day at the office," manager Ralph Houk said as he picked at some tuna salad. "Too bad the fans had to see this on a holiday."
The Tigers didn't score until the ninth. It's debatable whether there were 2,000 fans left to see it.
"Not going good now," said DH Willie Horton. "Not at all."
Oliva's first home run, a two-run shot, made it 3-0 Minnesota in the first inning. The Twins added a run four batters later.
Oliva's two homers were just part of the Twins' 13-run, 17-hit assault
In the fourth, Braun's two-run homer made it 6-0. Rod Carew reached on a Nate Colbert error, and that was it for Ruhle.
Arroyo entered and immediately gave up a run-scoring double to Bobby Darwin. 7-0 Twins. The boos cascaded from everywhere in the old ballpark.
Two innings later, the Twins punished Arroyo and Walker for a five spot. Oliva hit his second two-run homer and Walker gave up four straight hits and a sacrifice fly as the route was on.
Meanwhile, Twins starter Bill Campbell---normally a reliever---cruised, as so many starters have against the Tigers lately. Campbell pitched a complete game, seven-hitter. Only three Tigers reached second base before the ninth inning.
"It's a vicious circle," Houk said. "Everyone is trying too hard. That's what happens when you don't score runs."
So does booing.
Notes: Terry Humphrey started at catcher, just his second start of the season. "Bill (Freehan) was due for a day off," Houk said...Had the Tigers not scored in the ninth, the loss would have been their worst shutout defeat since a 10-0 loss to the Twins on May 4 of last year...The Twins' Danny Thompson had four hits, all singles...Oliva has now hit two homers in a game 10 times in his career.
********************************************************************
Tigers record: 14-23 (actual 18-19)
Home: 7-12
Away: 7-11
Last 10: 2-8
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Game 12: Rookie Lynn Victimizes Tigers
Detroit (April 26) - Rookie Fred Lynn hit a two-out, two-run homer off reliever Fernando Arroyo in the eighth inning, his fourth hit of the game, erasing a 2-1 deficit, and the Boston Red Sox defeated the Detroit Tigers, 3-2 on Saturday afternoon.
Lynn struck with Bernie Carbo, who led off the inning with a walk, on third base. Arroyo (0-1) came on to relieve starter Vern Ruhle after Carbo's walk.
Dwight Evans sacrificed Carbo to second, and Carl Yastrzemski grounded out, setting the stage for Lynn, who had three singles and scored a run prior to his game-winning at-bat.
The clutch homer made a winner of lefty Bill Lee, who went 7-2/3 innings. Dick Drago went the rest of the way for the save,
Lee gave up 11 hits but just two runs, both unearned.
Ruhle was even stingier, surrendering just four hits.
The Tigers jumped off to a 1-0 lead in the first.
Ron LeFlore led off with a single, advanced to second after an error, and scored on a two-out single by Bill Freehan.
Gary Sutherland had two more hits for the Tigers (5-7), giving him 21 for the season and a .429 batting average.
The Tigers have dropped the first two games of this weekend series with the Red Sox, each by identical 3-2 scores.
"Our offense just isn't clicking," Tigers manager Ralph Houk said of his team, which has scored just 38 runs in 12 games.
Indeed, despite the 11 hits, the Tigers never really put together any major threats against Lee.
In the fourth inning, Leon Roberts, trying to score from first on a double, was thrown out at the plate by right fielder Evans, whose cannon arm fired a strike to catcher Bob Montgomery on one hop from about 300 feet away.
Drago intentionally walked Ben Oglivie in the eighth inning after relieving Lee, then struck out Tom Veryzer to end a man on first and second threat. Drago then pitched a perfect ninth.
"We're not going to win very many games the way we're scoring runs," Sutherland said afterward. "Our pitching's been pretty good. We're just not bailing them out."
As for Lynn, Houk was effusive in his praise.
"If he played here, with that swing, he'd hit a bushel of homers," Houk said about Lynn's lefty bat and the short right field porch at Tiger Stadium. "He's going to be a good one."
****************************************************
Record: 5-7 (actual 7-5)
Home: 2-6
Away: 3-1
Lynn struck with Bernie Carbo, who led off the inning with a walk, on third base. Arroyo (0-1) came on to relieve starter Vern Ruhle after Carbo's walk.
Dwight Evans sacrificed Carbo to second, and Carl Yastrzemski grounded out, setting the stage for Lynn, who had three singles and scored a run prior to his game-winning at-bat.
The clutch homer made a winner of lefty Bill Lee, who went 7-2/3 innings. Dick Drago went the rest of the way for the save,
Lee gave up 11 hits but just two runs, both unearned.
Ruhle was even stingier, surrendering just four hits.
The Tigers jumped off to a 1-0 lead in the first.
Ron LeFlore led off with a single, advanced to second after an error, and scored on a two-out single by Bill Freehan.
Gary Sutherland had two more hits for the Tigers (5-7), giving him 21 for the season and a .429 batting average.
The Tigers have dropped the first two games of this weekend series with the Red Sox, each by identical 3-2 scores.
"Our offense just isn't clicking," Tigers manager Ralph Houk said of his team, which has scored just 38 runs in 12 games.
Indeed, despite the 11 hits, the Tigers never really put together any major threats against Lee.
In the fourth inning, Leon Roberts, trying to score from first on a double, was thrown out at the plate by right fielder Evans, whose cannon arm fired a strike to catcher Bob Montgomery on one hop from about 300 feet away.
Drago intentionally walked Ben Oglivie in the eighth inning after relieving Lee, then struck out Tom Veryzer to end a man on first and second threat. Drago then pitched a perfect ninth.
"We're not going to win very many games the way we're scoring runs," Sutherland said afterward. "Our pitching's been pretty good. We're just not bailing them out."
As for Lynn, Houk was effusive in his praise.
"If he played here, with that swing, he'd hit a bushel of homers," Houk said about Lynn's lefty bat and the short right field porch at Tiger Stadium. "He's going to be a good one."
****************************************************
Record: 5-7 (actual 7-5)
Home: 2-6
Away: 3-1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)