Baltimore, MD (Wed., Sept. 24, 1975) - Light-hitting Mark Belanger lined a single into center field with two outs in the bottom of the 15th, scoring Elrod Hendricks from second base, and the Baltimore Orioles kept their East Division title hopes alive with a 3-2 win over the Tigers at Memorial Stadium.
The Orioles tied the game, 2-2, in the eighth inning after the Tigers moved ahead 2-1 in the top half of the inning. Then the teams rarely threatened to score from the ninth through 14th innings.
The Tigers put runners on second and third with one out in the 14th, but Dyar Miller struck out Bill Freehan and Aurelio Rodriguez to end the threat.
In the 15th for Baltimore, Don Baylor led off with a single. Bobby Grich walked, and Hendricks hit a ground ball to shortstop Tom Veryzer, who flipped the ball to Jerry Manuel at second, but Manuel's throw to first was late, putting runners on first and third with one out.
Brooks Robinson hit a chopper to Rodriguez at third base, who gunned out Baylor trying to score. That left things up to Belanger, who stroked a 2-1 fastball from rookie Steve Grilli (0-1) into center field to plate Hendricks from second.
The win kept the Orioles 2.5 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox. The Tigers (60-96) lost their third straight.
Rookie Bob Molinaro had two triples for the Tigers, both off starter Jim Palmer, who went 10 innings. Tigers starter Joe Coleman didn't add to his league-leading 20 losses, but he is still winless since May 19, and he has no remaining starts scheduled.
The Major Said: "This game kind of symbolizes our season. When you're going good, you win games like this. We had our shot in the 14th."
Tigers 000 100 010 000 000 2-9-0
Baltimore 000 001 010 000 001 3-15-1
WP: Garland
LP: Grilli (0-1)
Tigers record: 60-96 (actual 57-99)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-47
Last 10: 4-6
Showing posts with label Joe Coleman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joe Coleman. Show all posts
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Game 151: Coleman's Winless Streak Continues, But Tigers Triumph in 9th
Detroit (Wed., Sept. 17, 1975) - If any pitcher in the American League has had worse luck than Joe Coleman since May, it would be amazing.
Coleman, a 20-game loser this season (often due to lack of run support), hasn't won since May 19. And he was three outs away from ending that streak Wednesday night at Tiger Stadium but it still didn't happen.
The Tigers won, 4-3, in the bottom of the ninth on a single by Gary Sutherland, but not before blowing a 3-0 lead in the top of the frame, denying Coleman his fourth win of the year.
Coleman had pitched eight shutout innings, allowing just two singles, when he surrendered back-to-back singles to Duane Kuiper and Rick Manning to start the ninth. Manager Ralph Houk walked to the mound, and was met with some jeers when he signaled for reliever Tom Walker. Coleman left the field to a chorus of cheers for his effort.
But Walker's first pitch, to George Hendrick, was deposited over the left field wall for a three-run homer and a 3-3 tie. As Hendrick circled the bases, Tiger Stadium was filled with boos.
TV cameras caught Coleman in the dugout with a sheepish grin, shaking his head, after Hendrick's homer.
In the Tigers' half of the ninth, with two out and nobody on base, catcher Terry Humphrey blooped a single into right field. Billy Baldwin followed with an infield hit. Sutherland stepped up and drove a Jim Kern pitch into right field, a flare that enabled the slow-footed Humphrey to score. Houk couldn't pinch run for Humphrey because Bill Freehan wasn't available due to a sore knee.
The Tigers (59-92) had won their second straight game, but Coleman's winless streak continued. It was hard to pitch any better and not get a victory, but that's how Coleman's 1975 season has gone.
The Major Said: "I knew I'd catch heat for lifting Joe, but I thought he was running out of gas, and the tying run was at the plate. I feel bad for him but I'd do it again."
Cleveland 000 000 003 3-5-1
Tigers 001 200 001 4-12-2
HR: Hendrick (CLE)
WP: Walker (3-2)
LP: Kern
Tigers record: 59-92 (actual 56-95)
Home: 30-46
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6
Coleman, a 20-game loser this season (often due to lack of run support), hasn't won since May 19. And he was three outs away from ending that streak Wednesday night at Tiger Stadium but it still didn't happen.
The Tigers won, 4-3, in the bottom of the ninth on a single by Gary Sutherland, but not before blowing a 3-0 lead in the top of the frame, denying Coleman his fourth win of the year.
Coleman had pitched eight shutout innings, allowing just two singles, when he surrendered back-to-back singles to Duane Kuiper and Rick Manning to start the ninth. Manager Ralph Houk walked to the mound, and was met with some jeers when he signaled for reliever Tom Walker. Coleman left the field to a chorus of cheers for his effort.
But Walker's first pitch, to George Hendrick, was deposited over the left field wall for a three-run homer and a 3-3 tie. As Hendrick circled the bases, Tiger Stadium was filled with boos.
TV cameras caught Coleman in the dugout with a sheepish grin, shaking his head, after Hendrick's homer.
In the Tigers' half of the ninth, with two out and nobody on base, catcher Terry Humphrey blooped a single into right field. Billy Baldwin followed with an infield hit. Sutherland stepped up and drove a Jim Kern pitch into right field, a flare that enabled the slow-footed Humphrey to score. Houk couldn't pinch run for Humphrey because Bill Freehan wasn't available due to a sore knee.
The Tigers (59-92) had won their second straight game, but Coleman's winless streak continued. It was hard to pitch any better and not get a victory, but that's how Coleman's 1975 season has gone.
The Major Said: "I knew I'd catch heat for lifting Joe, but I thought he was running out of gas, and the tying run was at the plate. I feel bad for him but I'd do it again."
Cleveland 000 000 003 3-5-1
Tigers 001 200 001 4-12-2
HR: Hendrick (CLE)
WP: Walker (3-2)
LP: Kern
Tigers record: 59-92 (actual 56-95)
Home: 30-46
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Game 147: Tigers Get 11 Hits But Only 1 Run as Coleman Loses 20th
Detroit (Fri., Sept. 12, 1975) - Mike Torrez pitched a complete game, despite giving up 11 hits, and the Baltimore Orioles used three first inning runs as their only offense in forging a 3-1 victory over the Tigers at Tiger Stadium, handing pitcher Joe Coleman a history-making loss.
Paul Blair (two-run) and Ken Singleton (solo) each hit home runs for the Orioles in the first off Coleman (3-20), who became the first Tigers pitcher since Art Houtteman in 1952 to lose 20 games in a season. Coleman has lost 16 straight decisions. His last win came on May 19.
The crowd of 14,546, realizing the gravity of Coleman's situation, tried exhorting the Tigers as the game went on, moaning and groaning at every Tigers out in the later innings.
But despite getting hits in every inning except the third and ninth, the Tigers couldn't score beyond the second inning, when Tom Veryzer's sacrifice fly plated Bill Freehan, who walked and went to third base on Aurelio Rodriguez's double.
Rodriguez had four hits for the Tigers (56-91), and Gary Sutherland had three, but Detroit left 10 men on base.
Coleman pitched well, limiting the Orioles to one hit after the second inning. But in a tough luck year, the right-hander fell victim to a lack of run support, as he has so often this season.
Coleman's 20 losses come just two years after he won 23 games.
The Major Said: "That's a shame that Joe lost 20 games. It's not all about how he's pitched. When this looked possible a couple weeks ago I asked him if he wanted to sit a couple starts out and he said no way. That's a testament to his competitiveness."
Baltimore 300 000 000 3-6-0
Tigers 010 000 000 1-11-3
HR: Blair (BAL); Singleton (BAL)
WP: Torrez
LP: Coleman (3-20)
Tigers record: 56-91 (actual 55-92)
Home: 27-45
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 2-8
Paul Blair (two-run) and Ken Singleton (solo) each hit home runs for the Orioles in the first off Coleman (3-20), who became the first Tigers pitcher since Art Houtteman in 1952 to lose 20 games in a season. Coleman has lost 16 straight decisions. His last win came on May 19.
The crowd of 14,546, realizing the gravity of Coleman's situation, tried exhorting the Tigers as the game went on, moaning and groaning at every Tigers out in the later innings.
But despite getting hits in every inning except the third and ninth, the Tigers couldn't score beyond the second inning, when Tom Veryzer's sacrifice fly plated Bill Freehan, who walked and went to third base on Aurelio Rodriguez's double.
Rodriguez had four hits for the Tigers (56-91), and Gary Sutherland had three, but Detroit left 10 men on base.
Coleman pitched well, limiting the Orioles to one hit after the second inning. But in a tough luck year, the right-hander fell victim to a lack of run support, as he has so often this season.
Coleman's 20 losses come just two years after he won 23 games.
The Major Said: "That's a shame that Joe lost 20 games. It's not all about how he's pitched. When this looked possible a couple weeks ago I asked him if he wanted to sit a couple starts out and he said no way. That's a testament to his competitiveness."
Baltimore 300 000 000 3-6-0
Tigers 010 000 000 1-11-3
HR: Blair (BAL); Singleton (BAL)
WP: Torrez
LP: Coleman (3-20)
Tigers record: 56-91 (actual 55-92)
Home: 27-45
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 2-8
Monday, September 10, 2012
Games 140 & 141: Five-Run 8th Earns Tigers DH Split
Cleveland, OH (Sunday, Sept. 7, 1975) - The Tigers scored five runs in the eighth inning in Game Two of a Sunday doubleheader, overcoming a 3-2 deficit, and earned a DH split with a 7-3 win over the Cleveland Indians at Municipal Stadium.
The Tribe won the first game, 4-3.
In the nightcap, Bill Freehan hit two homers and knocked in five runs, and Willie Horton slammed his fifth homer in six games. Freehan's second homer was a grand slam in the five-run eighth. Horton and Freehan hit back-to-back solo homers in the seventh for a brief 2-0 lead before the Indians scored three runs in their half of the seventh.
In Game One, Joe Coleman suffered his 19th loss despite pitching eight innings. Cleveland jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the third inning and the Tigers' catch-up efforts fell short.
Aurelio Rodriguez hit his fifth homer in the first game.
The Tigers (55-86) avoided a four-game sweep with the nightcap win. Indians starter Fritz Peterson pitched six shutout innings in Game Two, but left with soreness in his left (pitching) elbow. The Tigers then roughed up relievers Roric Harrison and Tom Buskey for their seven runs.
The Major Said: "The big boys led us in the second game. We needed that. Too bad about Peterson but that happens. Good to get out of here with at least one win."
Game 1
Tigers 000 200 010 3-7-1
Cleve. 201 100 00x 4-7-0
HR: Hendrick (CLE); Rodriguez (DET, 5)
WP: Bibby
SV: LaRoche
LP: Coleman (3-19)
Game 2
Tigers 000 000 250 7-11-1
Cleve. 000 000 300 3-10-0
HR: Horton (DET, 23); Freehan (DET, [2] 15)
WP: Arroyo (3-1)
LP: Harrison
Tigers record: 55-86 (actual 54-87)
Home: 27-44
Away: 28-42
Last 10: 4-6
The Tribe won the first game, 4-3.
In the nightcap, Bill Freehan hit two homers and knocked in five runs, and Willie Horton slammed his fifth homer in six games. Freehan's second homer was a grand slam in the five-run eighth. Horton and Freehan hit back-to-back solo homers in the seventh for a brief 2-0 lead before the Indians scored three runs in their half of the seventh.
In Game One, Joe Coleman suffered his 19th loss despite pitching eight innings. Cleveland jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the third inning and the Tigers' catch-up efforts fell short.
Aurelio Rodriguez hit his fifth homer in the first game.
The Tigers (55-86) avoided a four-game sweep with the nightcap win. Indians starter Fritz Peterson pitched six shutout innings in Game Two, but left with soreness in his left (pitching) elbow. The Tigers then roughed up relievers Roric Harrison and Tom Buskey for their seven runs.
The Major Said: "The big boys led us in the second game. We needed that. Too bad about Peterson but that happens. Good to get out of here with at least one win."
Game 1
Tigers 000 200 010 3-7-1
Cleve. 201 100 00x 4-7-0
HR: Hendrick (CLE); Rodriguez (DET, 5)
WP: Bibby
SV: LaRoche
LP: Coleman (3-19)
Game 2
Tigers 000 000 250 7-11-1
Cleve. 000 000 300 3-10-0
HR: Horton (DET, 23); Freehan (DET, [2] 15)
WP: Arroyo (3-1)
LP: Harrison
Tigers record: 55-86 (actual 54-87)
Home: 27-44
Away: 28-42
Last 10: 4-6
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 21, 2012
Game 123: Tigers Shutout, Loss Streak at Eight
Oakland, CA (Mon., Aug. 18, 1975) - Vida Blue quieted the Tigers on six hits, pitching a complete-game shutout as the Oakland A's beat Detroit, 2-0, Monday night at the Coliseum.
Only two Tigers base runners got past second base as Blue walked three and struck out five in the victory.
The Tigers (48-75) have lost eight straight and 11 of 12.
The A's scored both their runs in the seventh inning. Sal Bando opened the inning with a double. One out later, Claudell Washington walked. With two outs, Gene Tenace walked, loading the bases. Then first baseman Jim Holt delivered a single into center field to score Bando and Washington.
Hard-luck and struggling Joe Coleman (3-17) took the loss for the Tigers, going seven innings and only surrendering three hits. The A's only other hit came in the first inning, but once again the Tigers' MLB-worst offense couldn't support their starting pitcher.
Willie Horton and Ben Oglivie each had two hits, all singles, for Detroit.
The Major Said: "I'm sounding like a broken record to you guys (media). How many different ways can I say that our offense is a mess? Coleman has 17 losses but I bet at least half are due to lack of support."
Tigers 000 000 000 0-6-0
Oakland 000 000 20x 2-3-1
WP: Blue
LP: Coleman (3-17)
Tigers record: 48-75 (actual 49-74)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-34
Last 10: 1-9
Only two Tigers base runners got past second base as Blue walked three and struck out five in the victory.
The Tigers (48-75) have lost eight straight and 11 of 12.
The A's scored both their runs in the seventh inning. Sal Bando opened the inning with a double. One out later, Claudell Washington walked. With two outs, Gene Tenace walked, loading the bases. Then first baseman Jim Holt delivered a single into center field to score Bando and Washington.
Hard-luck and struggling Joe Coleman (3-17) took the loss for the Tigers, going seven innings and only surrendering three hits. The A's only other hit came in the first inning, but once again the Tigers' MLB-worst offense couldn't support their starting pitcher.
Willie Horton and Ben Oglivie each had two hits, all singles, for Detroit.
The Major Said: "I'm sounding like a broken record to you guys (media). How many different ways can I say that our offense is a mess? Coleman has 17 losses but I bet at least half are due to lack of support."
Tigers 000 000 000 0-6-0
Oakland 000 000 20x 2-3-1
WP: Blue
LP: Coleman (3-17)
Tigers record: 48-75 (actual 49-74)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-34
Last 10: 1-9
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Game 119: Rangers Batter Coleman, Tigers for Series Sweep, 11-5
Detroit (Wed., Aug. 13, 1975) - The Texas Rangers jumped all over Tigers starter Joe Coleman to the tune of eight runs in less than two innings of work, and completed a three-game sweep over slumping Detroit, 11-5 at Tiger Stadium Wednesday night.
Coleman (3-16) was battered for eight runs, all earned, in 1.2 innings. He gave up eight hits and threw two wild pitches while walking two batters. His ERA rose from 4.72 to 5.12. This came after he pitched his first complete game of 1975 in his last start.
Toby Harrah had two two-run doubles off Coleman, who gave up most of the damage after two were out.
The Tigers, losers of four straight and seven of their past eight, tried to claw back.
They scored twice in the second inning on consecutive homers by Bill Freehan (12) and Ben Oglivie (5), then added three more scores in the third on four singles and a hit batsman.
The score stayed 8-5 until the seventh, when the Rangers piled on three more runs, two off a double from Lenny Randle.
The key was the job Texas starter Fergie Jenkins did after the Tigers crept to within three runs, as the right-hander shut the Bengals down from the fourth through seventh innings on no runs and one hit.
Harrah led the Rangers' attack with two doubles, two walks and four RBI.
Oddly, Tigers pitchers surrendered 11 walks but none of those walks came around to score, yet Texas scored 11 runs.
Dave Lemanczyk walked six batters in four innings of scoreless relief for Detroit, but he only gave up one hit.
Gene Pentz continued his struggles, being tagged for three runs and five hits in 1.1 innings of relief.
The Major Said: "Glad we didn't pack it in but this was an ugly game. Not the best way to leave town for a West Coast trip but we haven't played very good in Detroit, so how the heck can the road be much worse?"
Texas 440 000 300 11-15-1
Tigers 023 000 000 5-12-0
HR: Freehan (DET, 12); Oglivie (DET, 5)
WP: Jenkins
LP: Coleman (3-16)
Tigers record: 48-71 (actual 46-73)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 3-7
Coleman (3-16) was battered for eight runs, all earned, in 1.2 innings. He gave up eight hits and threw two wild pitches while walking two batters. His ERA rose from 4.72 to 5.12. This came after he pitched his first complete game of 1975 in his last start.
Toby Harrah had two two-run doubles off Coleman, who gave up most of the damage after two were out.
The Tigers, losers of four straight and seven of their past eight, tried to claw back.
They scored twice in the second inning on consecutive homers by Bill Freehan (12) and Ben Oglivie (5), then added three more scores in the third on four singles and a hit batsman.
The score stayed 8-5 until the seventh, when the Rangers piled on three more runs, two off a double from Lenny Randle.
The key was the job Texas starter Fergie Jenkins did after the Tigers crept to within three runs, as the right-hander shut the Bengals down from the fourth through seventh innings on no runs and one hit.
Harrah led the Rangers' attack with two doubles, two walks and four RBI.
Oddly, Tigers pitchers surrendered 11 walks but none of those walks came around to score, yet Texas scored 11 runs.
Dave Lemanczyk walked six batters in four innings of scoreless relief for Detroit, but he only gave up one hit.
Gene Pentz continued his struggles, being tagged for three runs and five hits in 1.1 innings of relief.
The Major Said: "Glad we didn't pack it in but this was an ugly game. Not the best way to leave town for a West Coast trip but we haven't played very good in Detroit, so how the heck can the road be much worse?"
Texas 440 000 300 11-15-1
Tigers 023 000 000 5-12-0
HR: Freehan (DET, 12); Oglivie (DET, 5)
WP: Jenkins
LP: Coleman (3-16)
Tigers record: 48-71 (actual 46-73)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 3-7
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Game 114: Tigers Shutout Second Night in Row, 1-0
Detroit (Fri., Aug. 8, 1975) - Thursday night, the Tigers were shutout and routed. Friday night, they were shutout but the game came down to the final pitch.
Leon Roberts bounced into a game-ending, 1-6-3 double play---pitcher to shortstop to first base---and the Minnesota Twins rode a first inning home run to beat the Tigers, 1-0, at Tiger Stadium.
After a Willie Horton double and a Ben Oglivie single, the Tigers had runners on first and third in the ninth inning with one out, but lefty fireman Tom Burgmeier induced Roberts, pinch-hitting for Billy Baldwin, to try pulling an outside pitch, which resulted in a weak tapper right back to Burgmeier.
Ironically, Tigers starter Joe Coleman (3-15), who's struggled all season, pitched his first complete game of the year---in a loss.
Dan Ford took Coleman deep in the first inning and the Twins had a 1-0 lead two batters into the game. That lead would hold up for the whole game, as the Tigers (47-67) have now gone 20 straight innings without scoring.
Burgmeier got the final two outs for starter Jim Hughes, who walked one and struck out four for the victory.
The Major Said: "How many times have we wasted a good pitching performance? It's a shame for Joe. He's had a rough year and this doesn't help."
Minnesota 100 000 000 1-9-1
Tigers 000 000 000 0-7-0
HR: Ford (MIN)
WP: Hughes
SV: Burgmeier
LP: Coleman (3-15)
Tigers record: 47-67 (actual 46-68)
Home: 23-37
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 4-6
Leon Roberts bounced into a game-ending, 1-6-3 double play---pitcher to shortstop to first base---and the Minnesota Twins rode a first inning home run to beat the Tigers, 1-0, at Tiger Stadium.
After a Willie Horton double and a Ben Oglivie single, the Tigers had runners on first and third in the ninth inning with one out, but lefty fireman Tom Burgmeier induced Roberts, pinch-hitting for Billy Baldwin, to try pulling an outside pitch, which resulted in a weak tapper right back to Burgmeier.
Ironically, Tigers starter Joe Coleman (3-15), who's struggled all season, pitched his first complete game of the year---in a loss.
Dan Ford took Coleman deep in the first inning and the Twins had a 1-0 lead two batters into the game. That lead would hold up for the whole game, as the Tigers (47-67) have now gone 20 straight innings without scoring.
Burgmeier got the final two outs for starter Jim Hughes, who walked one and struck out four for the victory.
The Major Said: "How many times have we wasted a good pitching performance? It's a shame for Joe. He's had a rough year and this doesn't help."
Minnesota 100 000 000 1-9-1
Tigers 000 000 000 0-7-0
HR: Ford (MIN)
WP: Hughes
SV: Burgmeier
LP: Coleman (3-15)
Tigers record: 47-67 (actual 46-68)
Home: 23-37
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 4-6
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Game 102: Medich Cures Yanks, 4-0
New York (Tue., July 29, 1975) - Doc Medich twirled 7.1 innings of shutout ball, Sparky Lyle finished it up, and the New York Yankees beat the Tigers, 4-0, at Shea Stadium Tuesday night.
Medich scattered seven hits, walked three and struck out two.
The Yankees scored a single run in the first inning and added three insurance runs in the eighth.
Thurman Munson, who was 4-for-4 on Monday, had two hits and two RBI for New York.
The Tigers (42-60) got just one runner to second base all evening.
Rookie Billy Baldwin made his big league debut for Detroit, batting third and playing right field. He went 1-for-3.
Jack Pierce went 0-for-3 and his hitless streak has extended to 26 at-bats.
Joe Coleman (3-14) started and went seven-plus innings for the Tigers.
The three-game series is squared at a victory each and will conclude Wednesday night. Two lefties are scheduled to start: Mickey Lolich for Detroit and Rudy May for New York.
The Major Said: "Couldn't do much with Doc, though we had some base runners. It was a 1-0 game most of the night so a big hit or two, and the result might have been different."
Tigers 000 000 000 0-7-1
NY 100 000 03x 4-9-0
WP: Medich
SV: Lyle
LP: Coleman (3-14)
Tigers record: 42-60 (actual 46-56)
Home: 22-34
Away: 20-26
Last 10: 6-4
Medich scattered seven hits, walked three and struck out two.
The Yankees scored a single run in the first inning and added three insurance runs in the eighth.
Thurman Munson, who was 4-for-4 on Monday, had two hits and two RBI for New York.
The Tigers (42-60) got just one runner to second base all evening.
Rookie Billy Baldwin made his big league debut for Detroit, batting third and playing right field. He went 1-for-3.
Jack Pierce went 0-for-3 and his hitless streak has extended to 26 at-bats.
Joe Coleman (3-14) started and went seven-plus innings for the Tigers.
The three-game series is squared at a victory each and will conclude Wednesday night. Two lefties are scheduled to start: Mickey Lolich for Detroit and Rudy May for New York.
The Major Said: "Couldn't do much with Doc, though we had some base runners. It was a 1-0 game most of the night so a big hit or two, and the result might have been different."
Tigers 000 000 000 0-7-1
NY 100 000 03x 4-9-0
WP: Medich
SV: Lyle
LP: Coleman (3-14)
Tigers record: 42-60 (actual 46-56)
Home: 22-34
Away: 20-26
Last 10: 6-4
Friday, July 27, 2012
Game 96: Jackson, A's Avoid 4-Game Sweep, 6-2
Detroit (Thu., July 24, 1975) - Reggie Jackson smacked two home runs and had five RBI as the Oakland A's averted a four-game sweep by beating the Tigers, 6-2, Thursday night in Detroit.
Jackson's blasts, both mammoth shots deep into the right field upper deck, came in the first and seventh innings.
Former Tiger Jim Perry went 7.1 innings, allowing two runs and six hits, to get the win.
Tigers starter Joe Coleman (3-13) was again roughed up, giving up six runs in 6.1 innings as his ERA rose to 5.05.
Gary Sutherland, who wasn't supposed to play, hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Tigers' only offense. Sutherland was slated for a day off, but replacement second baseman John Knox was hit in the hand by a pitch in the first inning and had to leave the game.
The Tigers (39-57) had won five of their past six prior to Thursday's loss.
The Major Said: "Reggie would hit 60 home runs if he played here. He's a guy who you think is going to hit one out here every time he steps to the plate."
Oakland 300 010 200 6-10-0
Tigers 000 000 020 2-6-0
HR: Jackson (OAK [2]); Sutherland (DET, 3)
WP: Perry
LP: Coleman (3-13)
Tigers record: 39-57 (actual 43-53)
Home: 20-32
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 6-4
Jackson's blasts, both mammoth shots deep into the right field upper deck, came in the first and seventh innings.
Former Tiger Jim Perry went 7.1 innings, allowing two runs and six hits, to get the win.
Tigers starter Joe Coleman (3-13) was again roughed up, giving up six runs in 6.1 innings as his ERA rose to 5.05.
Gary Sutherland, who wasn't supposed to play, hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Tigers' only offense. Sutherland was slated for a day off, but replacement second baseman John Knox was hit in the hand by a pitch in the first inning and had to leave the game.
The Tigers (39-57) had won five of their past six prior to Thursday's loss.
The Major Said: "Reggie would hit 60 home runs if he played here. He's a guy who you think is going to hit one out here every time he steps to the plate."
Oakland 300 010 200 6-10-0
Tigers 000 000 020 2-6-0
HR: Jackson (OAK [2]); Sutherland (DET, 3)
WP: Perry
LP: Coleman (3-13)
Tigers record: 39-57 (actual 43-53)
Home: 20-32
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 6-4
Friday, July 6, 2012
Game 75: O's Dismantle Tigers Again, 11-2
(Ed. note: beginning 7/5/12, this
project will be played on a daily, "real time" basis, meaning the season
will now carry on as if it was really 1975, day-by-day. As such, the
recaps will be more brief, "agate type" recaps and will appear the day
after the game is played, just like a 1975 newspaper. The only
difference is that the 2012 calendar is two days ahead of the 1975
calendar. Example: the July 3, 1975 game [Thursday] will be played on
July 5, 2012 [Thursday]. Each recap will feature "The Major Said," a
quote from Tigers manager Ralph "The Major" Houk)
Detroit (July 3) - Ken Singleton had four hits and scored four runs, and Bobby Grich followed his eight-RBI game with three hits, and the Baltimore Orioles routed the Detroit Tigers for the second straight night, 11-2, Thursday night in Detroit.
The Tigers (30-45) are 13-25 at home and have lost six of their past eight overall, including the last three straight. The two losses to the Orioles were by a combined score of 27-7.
Tigers starter Joe Coleman (3-12) saw his ERA shoot up to 5.01 with a 4.2 inning outing in which he gave up nine hits and six runs.
The O's scored twice in the first inning. Lee May drove in a run with a ground out, and former Tiger Jim Northrup laced a double in the gap to plate Al Bumbry from first base.
Singleton made it 3-0 with a solo HR in the third, but the Tigers narrowed the lead to 3-2 with two runs in their half of the third, courtesy a two-run double by Bill Freehan.
Then it was all Baltimore.
The Orioles scored three times in the fifth and exploded for five runs in the seventh to win going away.
After being swept in the two-game set by Baltimore, the Tigers welcome the Milwaukee Brewers for a four-game weekend series which includes a Sunday doubleheader.
The Major Said: "Twenty-seven runs in two games. I don't care if I ever see those guys (Orioles) again.They beat us like a drum/ Good riddance."
Baltimore 201 030 500 11-16-1
Tigers 002 000 000 2-8-1
Tigers record: 30-45 (actual 29-46)
Home: 13-25
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 3-7
Detroit (July 3) - Ken Singleton had four hits and scored four runs, and Bobby Grich followed his eight-RBI game with three hits, and the Baltimore Orioles routed the Detroit Tigers for the second straight night, 11-2, Thursday night in Detroit.
The Tigers (30-45) are 13-25 at home and have lost six of their past eight overall, including the last three straight. The two losses to the Orioles were by a combined score of 27-7.
Tigers starter Joe Coleman (3-12) saw his ERA shoot up to 5.01 with a 4.2 inning outing in which he gave up nine hits and six runs.
The O's scored twice in the first inning. Lee May drove in a run with a ground out, and former Tiger Jim Northrup laced a double in the gap to plate Al Bumbry from first base.
Singleton made it 3-0 with a solo HR in the third, but the Tigers narrowed the lead to 3-2 with two runs in their half of the third, courtesy a two-run double by Bill Freehan.
Then it was all Baltimore.
The Orioles scored three times in the fifth and exploded for five runs in the seventh to win going away.
After being swept in the two-game set by Baltimore, the Tigers welcome the Milwaukee Brewers for a four-game weekend series which includes a Sunday doubleheader.
The Major Said: "Twenty-seven runs in two games. I don't care if I ever see those guys (Orioles) again.They beat us like a drum/ Good riddance."
Baltimore 201 030 500 11-16-1
Tigers 002 000 000 2-8-1
Tigers record: 30-45 (actual 29-46)
Home: 13-25
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 3-7
Monday, June 18, 2012
Game 69: O's Score Late, Hang On, 6-5
Baltimore (June 28) - Joe Coleman has lost a lot of games this season. For nearly seven innings it looked like that might change.
It didn't.
The Baltimore Orioles erupted for four runs in the seventh inning, overcoming a 4-2 deficit, and they held on to beat Coleman and the Tigers, 6-5, at Memorial Stadium tonight.
Coleman (3-11) was in control after six innings, but in the seventh the Orioles kicked up their heels.
Brooks Robinson led off with a double, Dave Duncan singled him to third and one out later, Ken Singleton plated Robinson with a single. Bobby Grich walked, loading the bases. Then Al Bumbry doubled, scoring two more runs. Grich was cut down at the plate after a Ron LeFlore-to-Gene Michael-to-Bill Freehan relay.
Coleman, staggered, was left in the game by manager Ralph Houk.
"I thought he had enough to get one more out," Houk explained.
But Lee May squashed those thoughts with a triple, scoring Bumbry. Coleman was then lifted for rookie Ike Brookens.
"It all happened kind of fast," Coleman said afterward. "But that's what (the Orioles) can do. They can strike quickly."
Coleman's worst-ever season as a Tiger continued; he's 3-11
The Tigers edged to within one run in the eighth when Jack Pierce delivered a two-out single that scored Dan Meyer from second. Meyer led off the inning with a double.
The Tigers threw out another runner, Singleton, at the plate in the eighth, keeping the score 6-5. Again LeFlore started the relay.
The Tigers got a lead off walk from Aurelio Rodriguez in the ninth, but on a hit-and-run with pinch-hitter Gates Brown at the plate, Brown struck out and Rodriguez was cut down stealing. LeFlore grounded out to end the game.
"We tried to make something happen," Houk said of the ill-fated hit-and-run.
The Tigers scored four times in the fourth off O's starter Mike Torrez to take a 4-2 lead. After two walks, Freehan hit a three-run homer, and Pierce followed with a solo shot.
The Orioles scored twice in the first inning on a Bumbry triple and a May sacrifice fly, and it looked like another long night for Coleman. But the right-hander settled down and set down 16 of the next 21 Orioles hitters until the seventh.
The Tigers (28-41) will try to salvage a split of the four-game series on Sunday.
Notes: Freehan and Pierce's consecutive homers was the first time the Tigers pulled off that feat this season...Dan Meyer had a double and a triple...Brown, on the pivotal strike out/caught stealing in the ninth: "I just swung right through the damn ball. It hurts now but tomorrow is another day"...Last year after 69 games, the Tigers were 36-33. They finished 72-90.
********************************************************
Tigers record: 28-41 (actual 27-42)
Home: 13-23
Away: 15-18
Last 10: 4-6
It didn't.
The Baltimore Orioles erupted for four runs in the seventh inning, overcoming a 4-2 deficit, and they held on to beat Coleman and the Tigers, 6-5, at Memorial Stadium tonight.
Coleman (3-11) was in control after six innings, but in the seventh the Orioles kicked up their heels.
Brooks Robinson led off with a double, Dave Duncan singled him to third and one out later, Ken Singleton plated Robinson with a single. Bobby Grich walked, loading the bases. Then Al Bumbry doubled, scoring two more runs. Grich was cut down at the plate after a Ron LeFlore-to-Gene Michael-to-Bill Freehan relay.
Coleman, staggered, was left in the game by manager Ralph Houk.
"I thought he had enough to get one more out," Houk explained.
But Lee May squashed those thoughts with a triple, scoring Bumbry. Coleman was then lifted for rookie Ike Brookens.
"It all happened kind of fast," Coleman said afterward. "But that's what (the Orioles) can do. They can strike quickly."
Coleman's worst-ever season as a Tiger continued; he's 3-11
The Tigers edged to within one run in the eighth when Jack Pierce delivered a two-out single that scored Dan Meyer from second. Meyer led off the inning with a double.
The Tigers threw out another runner, Singleton, at the plate in the eighth, keeping the score 6-5. Again LeFlore started the relay.
The Tigers got a lead off walk from Aurelio Rodriguez in the ninth, but on a hit-and-run with pinch-hitter Gates Brown at the plate, Brown struck out and Rodriguez was cut down stealing. LeFlore grounded out to end the game.
"We tried to make something happen," Houk said of the ill-fated hit-and-run.
The Tigers scored four times in the fourth off O's starter Mike Torrez to take a 4-2 lead. After two walks, Freehan hit a three-run homer, and Pierce followed with a solo shot.
The Orioles scored twice in the first inning on a Bumbry triple and a May sacrifice fly, and it looked like another long night for Coleman. But the right-hander settled down and set down 16 of the next 21 Orioles hitters until the seventh.
The Tigers (28-41) will try to salvage a split of the four-game series on Sunday.
Notes: Freehan and Pierce's consecutive homers was the first time the Tigers pulled off that feat this season...Dan Meyer had a double and a triple...Brown, on the pivotal strike out/caught stealing in the ninth: "I just swung right through the damn ball. It hurts now but tomorrow is another day"...Last year after 69 games, the Tigers were 36-33. They finished 72-90.
********************************************************
Tigers record: 28-41 (actual 27-42)
Home: 13-23
Away: 15-18
Last 10: 4-6
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Game 63: Castro, Bats Too Much For Tigers, 6-0
Milwaukee (June 23) - The Tigers, to a man, said they were looking forward to this 11-game road trip after a 5-7 home stand. They might want to re-think that.
The Milwaukee Brewers used a complete game, three-hit shutout from Bill Castro and pounded Tigers starter Joe Coleman to post a 6-0 win at County Stadium tonight.
This one was never really a contest.
The Brewers scored a run in the first inning on three singles, added another in the third on a George Scott home run, then drove Coleman (3-10) to the showers with a four-run fourth.
Meanwhile, Castro mowed the Tigers down, walking just one. The only Tiger who got past second base was Willie Horton, who slammed a one-out triple to deep right center in the fourth. Castro then got pop outs from Leon Roberts and Jack Pierce to end the threat.
The Tigers had no solution against Castro
"(Castro) pitched well but we helped him out too much," Tigers manager Ralph Houk said after the game. "I lost count of how many times we swung at the first pitch, or at bad pitches in general."
Still, Houk conceded, "Give (Castro) credit. Part of it was that he made our guys swing at bad pitches."
The Tigers looked listless against the Brewers righty, time and again hitting weak ground balls or popping the ball up in the infield.
Horton's triple was by far the hardest hit ball by any Tiger all night.
Bobby Darwin had three singles and scored a run for Milwaukee.
The Tigers (26-37) fell to 13-14 on the road and will play a twi-night doubleheader Tuesday against the Brewers.
Notes: Horton's triple was his first since July 6 of last year...A bright spot was the four innings of shutout relief by Dave Lemanczyk, who walked one and struck out four... Leon Roberts was caught stealing, making him 0-4 in steal attempts this season...Ron LeFlore sat the game out, still troubled by pain in his side.
***************************************************************
Tigers record: 26-37 (actual 26-37)
Home: 13-23
Away: 13-14
Last 10: 5-5
The Milwaukee Brewers used a complete game, three-hit shutout from Bill Castro and pounded Tigers starter Joe Coleman to post a 6-0 win at County Stadium tonight.
This one was never really a contest.
The Brewers scored a run in the first inning on three singles, added another in the third on a George Scott home run, then drove Coleman (3-10) to the showers with a four-run fourth.
Meanwhile, Castro mowed the Tigers down, walking just one. The only Tiger who got past second base was Willie Horton, who slammed a one-out triple to deep right center in the fourth. Castro then got pop outs from Leon Roberts and Jack Pierce to end the threat.
The Tigers had no solution against Castro
"(Castro) pitched well but we helped him out too much," Tigers manager Ralph Houk said after the game. "I lost count of how many times we swung at the first pitch, or at bad pitches in general."
Still, Houk conceded, "Give (Castro) credit. Part of it was that he made our guys swing at bad pitches."
The Tigers looked listless against the Brewers righty, time and again hitting weak ground balls or popping the ball up in the infield.
Horton's triple was by far the hardest hit ball by any Tiger all night.
Bobby Darwin had three singles and scored a run for Milwaukee.
The Tigers (26-37) fell to 13-14 on the road and will play a twi-night doubleheader Tuesday against the Brewers.
Notes: Horton's triple was his first since July 6 of last year...A bright spot was the four innings of shutout relief by Dave Lemanczyk, who walked one and struck out four... Leon Roberts was caught stealing, making him 0-4 in steal attempts this season...Ron LeFlore sat the game out, still troubled by pain in his side.
***************************************************************
Tigers record: 26-37 (actual 26-37)
Home: 13-23
Away: 13-14
Last 10: 5-5
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Game 58: Livonia Kid Carbo Helps Sink Hometown Team
Detroit (June 18) - Bernie Carbo grew up watching the Tigers, and as a kid he marveled at the right field upper deck at (then) Briggs Stadium, so often reached by the likes of Norm Cash and Charlie Maxwell.
Tonight, Carbo himself deposited a baseball into that same upper deck, and in doing so, provided the margin of victory as his Boston Red Sox beat the Tigers, 3-2.
Carbo, a Livonia native, slammed a solo homer in the eighth inning to give Boston a 3-1 lead, and the Tigers couldn't make up the small deficit.
It was a local kid who hurt the Tigers with his bat, but it was a Cuban who baffled them on the mound.
Luis Tiant twirled eight innings of six-hit ball for the victory. Tiant walked one and struck out four.
Dick Drago pitched a fairly uneventful ninth for the save.
Carbo led off the eighth by drilling the first pitch from rookie Ike Brookens about five rows into the upper deck in right field.
"You have to be careful," Carbo said afterward. "That porch looks so close. It's easy to overswing. Fortunately I stayed within myself and got a good rip at it."
Carbo delivered for the 15 or so friends and family in the Tiger Stadium stands
Was the home run extra special because it came in his hometown?
"I had about 15 people in the stands tonight," Carbo said of friends and family. "So, yeah."
Joe Coleman (3-9) took the tough loss, despite seven strong innings.
The Tigers (23-35) dropped the final two games of the series after winning Monday night, and are now 10-22 at home.
The New York Yankees come calling for a four-game set to complete the 12-game home stand, on which the Tigers are 2-6.
"Another strong pitching start wasted," manager Ralph Houk lamented. "That's pretty much the long and short of it. Joe (Coleman) deserved better."
Especially since Coleman wasn't the one who grooved a fastball that Carbo crushed, as Brookens did.
It's one of baseball's odd scoring rules that gives the loss to Coleman, even though the eventual margin of victory was achieved off Brookens.
But any way you slice it, the Tigers are 3-8 in the 11 games after their five-game winning streak out west.
Thanks, in part, to a former kid fan of the Tigers.
Notes: Ron LeFlore (2-for-4 tonight) raised his average to .301, on the strength of a 14-for-29 hot streak...In the ninth, Drago walked Jack Pierce with one out but then retired Aurelio Rodriguez (ground out) and pinch-hitter Ben Oglivie (fly out) to earn the save...The Tigers committed two more errors, giving them 58 for the season. "That's not helping," Houk said of his team's leaky defense.
***********************************************************
Tigers record: 23-35 (actual 25-33)
Home: 10-22
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 3-7
Tonight, Carbo himself deposited a baseball into that same upper deck, and in doing so, provided the margin of victory as his Boston Red Sox beat the Tigers, 3-2.
Carbo, a Livonia native, slammed a solo homer in the eighth inning to give Boston a 3-1 lead, and the Tigers couldn't make up the small deficit.
It was a local kid who hurt the Tigers with his bat, but it was a Cuban who baffled them on the mound.
Luis Tiant twirled eight innings of six-hit ball for the victory. Tiant walked one and struck out four.
Dick Drago pitched a fairly uneventful ninth for the save.
Carbo led off the eighth by drilling the first pitch from rookie Ike Brookens about five rows into the upper deck in right field.
"You have to be careful," Carbo said afterward. "That porch looks so close. It's easy to overswing. Fortunately I stayed within myself and got a good rip at it."
Carbo delivered for the 15 or so friends and family in the Tiger Stadium stands
Was the home run extra special because it came in his hometown?
"I had about 15 people in the stands tonight," Carbo said of friends and family. "So, yeah."
Joe Coleman (3-9) took the tough loss, despite seven strong innings.
The Tigers (23-35) dropped the final two games of the series after winning Monday night, and are now 10-22 at home.
The New York Yankees come calling for a four-game set to complete the 12-game home stand, on which the Tigers are 2-6.
"Another strong pitching start wasted," manager Ralph Houk lamented. "That's pretty much the long and short of it. Joe (Coleman) deserved better."
Especially since Coleman wasn't the one who grooved a fastball that Carbo crushed, as Brookens did.
It's one of baseball's odd scoring rules that gives the loss to Coleman, even though the eventual margin of victory was achieved off Brookens.
But any way you slice it, the Tigers are 3-8 in the 11 games after their five-game winning streak out west.
Thanks, in part, to a former kid fan of the Tigers.
Notes: Ron LeFlore (2-for-4 tonight) raised his average to .301, on the strength of a 14-for-29 hot streak...In the ninth, Drago walked Jack Pierce with one out but then retired Aurelio Rodriguez (ground out) and pinch-hitter Ben Oglivie (fly out) to earn the save...The Tigers committed two more errors, giving them 58 for the season. "That's not helping," Houk said of his team's leaky defense.
***********************************************************
Tigers record: 23-35 (actual 25-33)
Home: 10-22
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 3-7
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Game 48: Crash! Tigers' Win Streak Ends In Oakland, 12-0
Oakland, CA (June 8) - That sound you heard was the Tigers' five-game winning streak coming to a crashing end.
It couldn't have been more resounding: a 12-0 pasting at the hands of the Oakland A's at the Coliseum this afternoon.
A's lefty Ken Holtzman escaped a bases loaded jam in the first inning and was never headed off after that.
Billy Williams went 5-for-5 with an RBI. Joe Rudi had five RBI with a homer and a single as the A's salvaged the final game of the three-game series.
The Tigers, though, are 5-1 on this eight-game trip so they have clinched a winning record on it.
Still, today's game was a stunning way to end the winning streak.
Holtzman blanked the Tigers on six hits, with a walk and five strikeouts. After the first inning, no Tigers runner so much as reached second base.
"(Holtzman) pretty much mowed us down after we let him off the hook," Tigers manager Ralph Houk said, referring to the opening inning, when Holtzman struck out Leon Roberts and coaxed a line out from Nate Colbert to leave the sacks loaded.
Holtzman baffled the Tigers after the first inning
Meanwhile, the A's, who'd only scored three runs in the first two games of the series, were exploding.
They scored twice in the second on Rudi's two-run homer and then added four more in the third off starter Joe Coleman, making his first start since injuring himself in Anaheim in his last start.
Houk said the knee injury played a role in Coleman's performance.
"Oh, I think so," the skipper said. "I think he was kind of ginger on it," he added about Coleman's left leg, injured in a collision with California's Joe Lahoud at first base.
But Houk said Coleman and trainer Bill Behm assured the manager that Coleman was OK to start.
The A's couldn't do anything against Ray Bare, who pitched the fourth, fifth and sixth. But they abused Gene Pentz, who has struggled all year. The A's tagged Pentz for six runs (three earned) in the eighth.
Gary Sutherland had three singles for Detroit (20-28).
Notes: GM Jim Campbell, who's on the trip, denied reports that the team is close to trading Colbert, who's batting .128. The San Francisco Examiner reported that the Tigers are talking to two National League teams who've inquired about the struggling slugger...Tom Veryzer is in a 3-for-23 slump, lowering his average to .277...Mickey Stanley started a fifth straight game at third base for injured Aurelio Rodriguez.
***************************************************
Tigers record: 20-28 (actual 23-25)
Home: 8-16
Away: 12-12
Last 10: 6-4
It couldn't have been more resounding: a 12-0 pasting at the hands of the Oakland A's at the Coliseum this afternoon.
A's lefty Ken Holtzman escaped a bases loaded jam in the first inning and was never headed off after that.
Billy Williams went 5-for-5 with an RBI. Joe Rudi had five RBI with a homer and a single as the A's salvaged the final game of the three-game series.
The Tigers, though, are 5-1 on this eight-game trip so they have clinched a winning record on it.
Still, today's game was a stunning way to end the winning streak.
Holtzman blanked the Tigers on six hits, with a walk and five strikeouts. After the first inning, no Tigers runner so much as reached second base.
"(Holtzman) pretty much mowed us down after we let him off the hook," Tigers manager Ralph Houk said, referring to the opening inning, when Holtzman struck out Leon Roberts and coaxed a line out from Nate Colbert to leave the sacks loaded.
Holtzman baffled the Tigers after the first inning
Meanwhile, the A's, who'd only scored three runs in the first two games of the series, were exploding.
They scored twice in the second on Rudi's two-run homer and then added four more in the third off starter Joe Coleman, making his first start since injuring himself in Anaheim in his last start.
Houk said the knee injury played a role in Coleman's performance.
"Oh, I think so," the skipper said. "I think he was kind of ginger on it," he added about Coleman's left leg, injured in a collision with California's Joe Lahoud at first base.
But Houk said Coleman and trainer Bill Behm assured the manager that Coleman was OK to start.
The A's couldn't do anything against Ray Bare, who pitched the fourth, fifth and sixth. But they abused Gene Pentz, who has struggled all year. The A's tagged Pentz for six runs (three earned) in the eighth.
Gary Sutherland had three singles for Detroit (20-28).
Notes: GM Jim Campbell, who's on the trip, denied reports that the team is close to trading Colbert, who's batting .128. The San Francisco Examiner reported that the Tigers are talking to two National League teams who've inquired about the struggling slugger...Tom Veryzer is in a 3-for-23 slump, lowering his average to .277...Mickey Stanley started a fifth straight game at third base for injured Aurelio Rodriguez.
***************************************************
Tigers record: 20-28 (actual 23-25)
Home: 8-16
Away: 12-12
Last 10: 6-4
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Game 43: Tigers West Coast Swing Starts Well, 8-6
Anaheim, CA (June 3) - The Tigers used a five-run fifth inning, then survived a four-run Angels seventh, to start their west coast trip with a much-needed 8-6 win at Anaheim Stadium tonight.
Leon Roberts smacked a bases-loaded triple in the fifth and recorded four RBI on the night.
Detroit native Frank Tanana took the loss for the Angels.
Tanana had sailed through the first four innings allowing just one run until the Tigers roughed him up in the fifth.
Gary Sutherland and Willie Horton drove in a run each with a single and double, respectively, and then Roberts cleared the bases with a drive over the head of center fielder Mickey Rivers.
The uprising put the Tigers up, 6-2. They extended the lead to 7-2 before the Angels kicked up their heels in the seventh off reliever Gene Pentz.
Bruce Bochte drove a two-run double into the right field corner, a Danny Meyer error on Dave Chalk's single allowed another run to score, and Joe Lahoud added an RBI double to make the score 7-6, Detroit.
The Tigers added an insurance run in the ninth on Roberts' solo home run.
Roberts broke out of a slump with a triple, a HR and four RBI
The previously slumping Meyer had three hits and scored twice.
Tigers starter Joe Coleman only pitched two innings. In the second, Coleman was run over by Lahoud on a close play at first base. Coleman landed awkwardly on his left leg, pitched the rest of the inning, but didn't look comfortable in allowing the Angels' second run.
Manager Ralph Houk replaced Coleman with Ray Bare to start the third inning. Bare responded with four shutout innings.
"He's day-to-day," Houk said of Coleman, who apparently hurt his left knee.
John Hiller, maligned during the Tigers' recent home stand, pitched an uneventful ninth inning for his eighth save.
Houk was asked if pitching on the road helped Hiller.
"No," he said flatly. "John did what John usually does. He just has had a tough stretch lately."
The Tigers (16-27) won for just the fifth time in their past 20 games.
Notes: Lahoud, on the play that injured Coleman: "It was just one of those things. We both got to the base at the same time. I hope he's OK"...The Angels' Jerry Remy had four hits and scored two runs...Houk said that if Coleman can't go in his next start, Bare would replace him...The game was briefly halted in the fourth inning when an errant beach ball from the stands eluded players and umpires in the outfield.
****************************************************************
Tigers record: 16-27 (actual 21-22)
Home: 8-16
Away: 8-11
Last 10: 2-8
Leon Roberts smacked a bases-loaded triple in the fifth and recorded four RBI on the night.
Detroit native Frank Tanana took the loss for the Angels.
Tanana had sailed through the first four innings allowing just one run until the Tigers roughed him up in the fifth.
Gary Sutherland and Willie Horton drove in a run each with a single and double, respectively, and then Roberts cleared the bases with a drive over the head of center fielder Mickey Rivers.
The uprising put the Tigers up, 6-2. They extended the lead to 7-2 before the Angels kicked up their heels in the seventh off reliever Gene Pentz.
Bruce Bochte drove a two-run double into the right field corner, a Danny Meyer error on Dave Chalk's single allowed another run to score, and Joe Lahoud added an RBI double to make the score 7-6, Detroit.
The Tigers added an insurance run in the ninth on Roberts' solo home run.
Roberts broke out of a slump with a triple, a HR and four RBI
The previously slumping Meyer had three hits and scored twice.
Tigers starter Joe Coleman only pitched two innings. In the second, Coleman was run over by Lahoud on a close play at first base. Coleman landed awkwardly on his left leg, pitched the rest of the inning, but didn't look comfortable in allowing the Angels' second run.
Manager Ralph Houk replaced Coleman with Ray Bare to start the third inning. Bare responded with four shutout innings.
"He's day-to-day," Houk said of Coleman, who apparently hurt his left knee.
John Hiller, maligned during the Tigers' recent home stand, pitched an uneventful ninth inning for his eighth save.
Houk was asked if pitching on the road helped Hiller.
"No," he said flatly. "John did what John usually does. He just has had a tough stretch lately."
The Tigers (16-27) won for just the fifth time in their past 20 games.
Notes: Lahoud, on the play that injured Coleman: "It was just one of those things. We both got to the base at the same time. I hope he's OK"...The Angels' Jerry Remy had four hits and scored two runs...Houk said that if Coleman can't go in his next start, Bare would replace him...The game was briefly halted in the fourth inning when an errant beach ball from the stands eluded players and umpires in the outfield.
****************************************************************
Tigers record: 16-27 (actual 21-22)
Home: 8-16
Away: 8-11
Last 10: 2-8
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Game 39: "Lethargic" Tigers Drop 8th Straight, 6-2
Detroit (May 28) - Another day, another struggle to score runs for the Tigers.
Their eighth straight loss was a 6-2 ho-hum affair to the Minnesota Twins this afternoon at Tiger Stadium.
The Twins banged out 16 hits, the Tigers seven. Yet the Twins didn't really put the game away until the ninth, when they added two runs against beleaguered reliver John Hiller for a 6-1 lead.
But even though the score was respectable until then, the Tigers never really gave the impression that they were truly in the game.
"Very lethargic," was how manager Ralph Houk described his team. "We looked like we thought it was a night game."
The game was actually scoreless headed into the seventh, despite the Twins out-hitting the Tigers, 8-2 at that point.
The big blow was Bobby Darwin's three-run homer off starter Joe Coleman (3-6), which came after Coleman intentionally walked Rod Carew with first base open.
Danny Meyer slammed his sixth home run of the season into the right field upper deck in the Tigers' half of the seventh, making the score 4-1 Minnesota.
Not until the ninth, with the score out of hand, did the Tigers put together a rally. They loaded the bases but only scored one run and left the sacks filled.
Bobby Darwin's three-run homer broke a scoreless tie in the seventh
The Tigers (14-25) continue their May free fall; they've lost eight in a row and 13 of 16. They are 7-16 for the month.
"This is baseball," said DH Willie Horton, who had two hits. "It's a long season and there will be peaks and valleys. We need to find some peaks."
There haven't been too many for the Tigers this season. They were over .500 (3-2) once this season, and the closest they've been to the break even mark since then was when they were 11-12.
Since then, the 3-13 skid has occurred.
The Tigers' last victory remains the 16-3 romp over the Twins in Minnesota onMay 19. Not once in the eight-game losing streak have the Tigers scored more than three runs.
Twins starter Jim Hughes struck out 10 Tigers hitters, walking none in 7.1 innings.
Next up for the Tigers is an off day before the Chicago White Sox visit for a weekend series.
Notes: 2B Gary Sutherland (0-for-4) is in a 1-for-16 slump...The hideous season of 1B Nate Colbert continues. He was 0-for-3 (all strikeouts), dropping his average to a shockingly low .119...Hiller's struggles out of the bullpen have raised some eyebrows, but Houk stood behind the lefty. "John's a veteran. He'll work his way out of this," Houk said. Hiller is the Tigers' only left-handed reliever, so Houk has good reason to stick with the 32-year-old.
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Tigers record: 14-25 (actual 18-21)
Home: 7-14
Away: 7-11
Last 10: 1-9
Their eighth straight loss was a 6-2 ho-hum affair to the Minnesota Twins this afternoon at Tiger Stadium.
The Twins banged out 16 hits, the Tigers seven. Yet the Twins didn't really put the game away until the ninth, when they added two runs against beleaguered reliver John Hiller for a 6-1 lead.
But even though the score was respectable until then, the Tigers never really gave the impression that they were truly in the game.
"Very lethargic," was how manager Ralph Houk described his team. "We looked like we thought it was a night game."
The game was actually scoreless headed into the seventh, despite the Twins out-hitting the Tigers, 8-2 at that point.
The big blow was Bobby Darwin's three-run homer off starter Joe Coleman (3-6), which came after Coleman intentionally walked Rod Carew with first base open.
Danny Meyer slammed his sixth home run of the season into the right field upper deck in the Tigers' half of the seventh, making the score 4-1 Minnesota.
Not until the ninth, with the score out of hand, did the Tigers put together a rally. They loaded the bases but only scored one run and left the sacks filled.
Bobby Darwin's three-run homer broke a scoreless tie in the seventh
The Tigers (14-25) continue their May free fall; they've lost eight in a row and 13 of 16. They are 7-16 for the month.
"This is baseball," said DH Willie Horton, who had two hits. "It's a long season and there will be peaks and valleys. We need to find some peaks."
There haven't been too many for the Tigers this season. They were over .500 (3-2) once this season, and the closest they've been to the break even mark since then was when they were 11-12.
Since then, the 3-13 skid has occurred.
The Tigers' last victory remains the 16-3 romp over the Twins in Minnesota onMay 19. Not once in the eight-game losing streak have the Tigers scored more than three runs.
Twins starter Jim Hughes struck out 10 Tigers hitters, walking none in 7.1 innings.
Next up for the Tigers is an off day before the Chicago White Sox visit for a weekend series.
Notes: 2B Gary Sutherland (0-for-4) is in a 1-for-16 slump...The hideous season of 1B Nate Colbert continues. He was 0-for-3 (all strikeouts), dropping his average to a shockingly low .119...Hiller's struggles out of the bullpen have raised some eyebrows, but Houk stood behind the lefty. "John's a veteran. He'll work his way out of this," Houk said. Hiller is the Tigers' only left-handed reliever, so Houk has good reason to stick with the 32-year-old.
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Tigers record: 14-25 (actual 18-21)
Home: 7-14
Away: 7-11
Last 10: 1-9
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Game 35: White Sox Start Fast, End Strong, 5-3
Chicago (May 24) - The Chicago White Sox scored single runs in each of the first three innings and kept an arm's length distance ahead of the Tigers, holding on for a 5-3 win today at Comiskey Park.
The Tigers (14-21) have lost four straight, six of seven, and nine of their last 12 games, falling close to the cellar of the AL East.
Tigers starter Joe Coleman was in trouble early and often as the White Sox had more traffic on the base paths than rush hour on the Dan Ryan Expressway.
Coleman labored as he fell to 3-5
Coleman was wild, too: six walks thru the first five innings. Two of those walks scored, but more important, the walks forced the right-hander to work harder than normal as Coleman labored through the early innings, when the Chisox built a 3-0 lead using the walks and timely base hits.
The Tigers scored twice in the fourth. Willie Horton doubled, was driven home by Nate Colbert's double, and Aurelio Rodriguez plated Colbert with a single.
But that's as close as Detroit got. The White Sox scored in the fifth for a 4-2 lead (another Coleman walk started the rally), and even though the Tigers got to within 4-3 in the seventh, the White Sox didn't panic. They scored an insurance tally in the eighth.
Tigers manager Ralph Houk almost sounded like he was pleading for calm after the game, in light of his team's recent struggles.
"This is a long grind," Houk said. "The test is how you respond to these bad patches. It's not even Memorial Day yet. There's a lot of baseball to be played."
Still, Houk added, "We're just not swinging the bats. It's the same old thing. We haven't really gotten that going yet."
The Tigers now sit a season high seven games under .500. Houk's right: it's early. The way the Tigers are playing, is that good or bad?
Notes: Gates Brown made his 1975 debut, pinch-hitting for Gene Michael in the ninth. Brown missed the first 34 games with a sprained knee suffered in spring training. He grounded into a 3-6-3 double play and looked to be running gingerly...Reliever John Hiller's ERA rose to 5.59 after giving up a run in one inning of work...Horton's double was just his third of the season, though he has eight home runs.
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Tigers record: 14-21 (actual 16-19)
Home: 7-11
Away: 7-10
Last 10: 3-7
The Tigers (14-21) have lost four straight, six of seven, and nine of their last 12 games, falling close to the cellar of the AL East.
Tigers starter Joe Coleman was in trouble early and often as the White Sox had more traffic on the base paths than rush hour on the Dan Ryan Expressway.
Coleman labored as he fell to 3-5
Coleman was wild, too: six walks thru the first five innings. Two of those walks scored, but more important, the walks forced the right-hander to work harder than normal as Coleman labored through the early innings, when the Chisox built a 3-0 lead using the walks and timely base hits.
The Tigers scored twice in the fourth. Willie Horton doubled, was driven home by Nate Colbert's double, and Aurelio Rodriguez plated Colbert with a single.
But that's as close as Detroit got. The White Sox scored in the fifth for a 4-2 lead (another Coleman walk started the rally), and even though the Tigers got to within 4-3 in the seventh, the White Sox didn't panic. They scored an insurance tally in the eighth.
Tigers manager Ralph Houk almost sounded like he was pleading for calm after the game, in light of his team's recent struggles.
"This is a long grind," Houk said. "The test is how you respond to these bad patches. It's not even Memorial Day yet. There's a lot of baseball to be played."
Still, Houk added, "We're just not swinging the bats. It's the same old thing. We haven't really gotten that going yet."
The Tigers now sit a season high seven games under .500. Houk's right: it's early. The way the Tigers are playing, is that good or bad?
Notes: Gates Brown made his 1975 debut, pinch-hitting for Gene Michael in the ninth. Brown missed the first 34 games with a sprained knee suffered in spring training. He grounded into a 3-6-3 double play and looked to be running gingerly...Reliever John Hiller's ERA rose to 5.59 after giving up a run in one inning of work...Horton's double was just his third of the season, though he has eight home runs.
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Tigers record: 14-21 (actual 16-19)
Home: 7-11
Away: 7-10
Last 10: 3-7
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Game 31: A TD and 3 FGs? No, Horton Hits 3 HRs; Tigers Frolic 16-3
Bloomington, MN (May 19) - Swinging the bats as if they were getting a season long's worth of frustration out of them, the Tigers used brute power to cruise past the Minnesota Twins, 16-3, here tonight.
The Tigers smacked six home runs, including three by Willie Horton (seven for the season). Ron LeFlore hit two homers and Leon Roberts belted one as the Tigers set season records for runs scored and hits (20).
It was a bad night for Minnesota pitching, especially for starter Mike Pazik and Bill Butler, who relieved Pazik during an eight run uprising in the fourth inning.
By the end of the fourth, the Tigers led 11-1 and had outhit the Twins, 14-3.
And the Tigers weren't done.
They hit everything the Twins pitchers threw to the plate, and hard. Especially Horton.
The Tigers DH hit three home runs in one game for the first time since June 9, 1970 against the Brewers at Tiger Stadium.
Tonight, it seemed as if each home run was more majestic than the last. Horton connected in the third, fourth and sixth innings.
"Just one of them nights," Horton said afterward, shrugging. "The ball doesn't always carry good here, but sometimes it does. This was one of those nights."
LeFlore had a big night, too. The speedster hit two homers, a triple and a single and is 24-for-56 (.429) over his past 13 games.
"This was definitely fun," LeFlore said. "It was like we all knew everyone was going to get into the act. We have the talent. Tonight we showed it."
The benefactor of all the offense was Joe Coleman, who pitched eight innings and enjoyed the support.
"I wouldn't say it was easy, but it's nice to have breathing room," Coleman (3-4) said. "That way I can just try to make pitches and not worry as much about making a mistake."
Coleman scattered seven hits and was never in any real trouble.
The Tigers snapped a two-game losing streak and are 2-2 on their nine-game road trip.
"As a manager, you'd like to bottle some of this for tomorrow," said Ralph Houk. "But on the other hand it was good to see the boys have fun and gain some confidence. This was a long time coming," he added about the outburst.
Of Horton, Houk said, "Willie, and I'm not just saying this---and I managed (Mickey) Mantle and (Elston) Howard and (Moose) Skowron---he's the strongest man I've ever seen in this game. You saw evidence of that tonight."
Three home run strong, on this night.
Notes: Nate Colbert even got into the act, with a couple singles...Houk lifted 2B Gary Sutherland and catcher Bill Freehan in the eighth for kids John Knox and Gene Lamont, respectively...Roberts (.365) batted third for the first time this season...The Tigers raised their team BA from .274 to .280 thanks to their 20-hit uprising...The six home runs were the most for the Tigers in one game since they also hit six in June, 1968.
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Tigers record: 14-17 (actual 15-16)
Home: 7-11
Away: 7-6
Last 10: 5-5
The Tigers smacked six home runs, including three by Willie Horton (seven for the season). Ron LeFlore hit two homers and Leon Roberts belted one as the Tigers set season records for runs scored and hits (20).
It was a bad night for Minnesota pitching, especially for starter Mike Pazik and Bill Butler, who relieved Pazik during an eight run uprising in the fourth inning.
By the end of the fourth, the Tigers led 11-1 and had outhit the Twins, 14-3.
And the Tigers weren't done.
They hit everything the Twins pitchers threw to the plate, and hard. Especially Horton.
The Tigers DH hit three home runs in one game for the first time since June 9, 1970 against the Brewers at Tiger Stadium.
Tonight, it seemed as if each home run was more majestic than the last. Horton connected in the third, fourth and sixth innings.
"Just one of them nights," Horton said afterward, shrugging. "The ball doesn't always carry good here, but sometimes it does. This was one of those nights."
LeFlore had a big night, too. The speedster hit two homers, a triple and a single and is 24-for-56 (.429) over his past 13 games.
"This was definitely fun," LeFlore said. "It was like we all knew everyone was going to get into the act. We have the talent. Tonight we showed it."
The benefactor of all the offense was Joe Coleman, who pitched eight innings and enjoyed the support.
"I wouldn't say it was easy, but it's nice to have breathing room," Coleman (3-4) said. "That way I can just try to make pitches and not worry as much about making a mistake."
Coleman scattered seven hits and was never in any real trouble.
The Tigers snapped a two-game losing streak and are 2-2 on their nine-game road trip.
"As a manager, you'd like to bottle some of this for tomorrow," said Ralph Houk. "But on the other hand it was good to see the boys have fun and gain some confidence. This was a long time coming," he added about the outburst.
Of Horton, Houk said, "Willie, and I'm not just saying this---and I managed (Mickey) Mantle and (Elston) Howard and (Moose) Skowron---he's the strongest man I've ever seen in this game. You saw evidence of that tonight."
Three home run strong, on this night.
Notes: Nate Colbert even got into the act, with a couple singles...Houk lifted 2B Gary Sutherland and catcher Bill Freehan in the eighth for kids John Knox and Gene Lamont, respectively...Roberts (.365) batted third for the first time this season...The Tigers raised their team BA from .274 to .280 thanks to their 20-hit uprising...The six home runs were the most for the Tigers in one game since they also hit six in June, 1968.
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Tigers record: 14-17 (actual 15-16)
Home: 7-11
Away: 7-6
Last 10: 5-5
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Game 27: Freehan's Power Sparks Tigers, 4-2
Detroit (May 14) -- Bill Freehan had been grumbling about his lack of production over the past several days. Tonight, he did something about it.
The Tigers' catcher slammed two solo home runs---his first of the season---and they were the difference as the Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals, 4-2, to salvage the final game of the three-game series.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak and gave the Tigers (12-15) a 5-4 record on their now-completed homestand.
Veteran shortstop Gene Michael, starting for the second straight game in relief of Tom Veryzer, who's nursing a sore ankle, also hit a solo shot.
The power outburst made a winner of Joe Coleman (2-4), who pitched 7.1 strong innings. John Hiller picked up his sixth save, though he had to squirm out of an eighth inning, bases loaded jam to do it.
Freehan broke out of his funk in a big way
Freehan (.205 BA, no homers) entered the game in a deep slump, though his defense has been brilliant. The lack of production had been bothersome, and he spoke of it a couple days ago.
"I need to pick us up," Freehan said then. "The middle of our order isn't cutting it, and I'm one reason why it isn't."
Freehan deposited a Nelson Briles fastball into the lower deck in left in the second inning, then added another off Briles in the fourth---an opposite field shot off a slider into the lower deck in right.
"I know Nellie a little bit from the '68 World Series," Freehan said of the Royals right-hander, who pitched for the Cardinals. "I don't know if that helped or not, but it probably didn't hurt."
Tigers manager Ralph Houk was tickled.
"Bill's been pressing. He's a Tiger. He'll always be a Tiger. He wears the English D on his heart. It was great to see him knock a couple over the fence."
The Tigers now begin a nine-game road trip, starting Friday at Texas.
Notes: 2B Gary Sutherland (wrist) missed the game. His spot in the batting order (no. 2) was taken by LF Dan Meyer. John Knox played second base, and had three hits, making Knox 5-for-7 so far...Nate Colbert finished his first 100 at-bats as a Tiger with 11 hits and 36 strikeouts...The last time Freehan hit a home run, he also hit two---on October 1, 1974...Michael's last homer was on May 26, 1973.
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Tigers record: 12-15 (actual 13-14)
Home: 7-11
Away: 5-4
The Tigers' catcher slammed two solo home runs---his first of the season---and they were the difference as the Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals, 4-2, to salvage the final game of the three-game series.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak and gave the Tigers (12-15) a 5-4 record on their now-completed homestand.
Veteran shortstop Gene Michael, starting for the second straight game in relief of Tom Veryzer, who's nursing a sore ankle, also hit a solo shot.
The power outburst made a winner of Joe Coleman (2-4), who pitched 7.1 strong innings. John Hiller picked up his sixth save, though he had to squirm out of an eighth inning, bases loaded jam to do it.
Freehan broke out of his funk in a big way
Freehan (.205 BA, no homers) entered the game in a deep slump, though his defense has been brilliant. The lack of production had been bothersome, and he spoke of it a couple days ago.
"I need to pick us up," Freehan said then. "The middle of our order isn't cutting it, and I'm one reason why it isn't."
Freehan deposited a Nelson Briles fastball into the lower deck in left in the second inning, then added another off Briles in the fourth---an opposite field shot off a slider into the lower deck in right.
"I know Nellie a little bit from the '68 World Series," Freehan said of the Royals right-hander, who pitched for the Cardinals. "I don't know if that helped or not, but it probably didn't hurt."
Tigers manager Ralph Houk was tickled.
"Bill's been pressing. He's a Tiger. He'll always be a Tiger. He wears the English D on his heart. It was great to see him knock a couple over the fence."
The Tigers now begin a nine-game road trip, starting Friday at Texas.
Notes: 2B Gary Sutherland (wrist) missed the game. His spot in the batting order (no. 2) was taken by LF Dan Meyer. John Knox played second base, and had three hits, making Knox 5-for-7 so far...Nate Colbert finished his first 100 at-bats as a Tiger with 11 hits and 36 strikeouts...The last time Freehan hit a home run, he also hit two---on October 1, 1974...Michael's last homer was on May 26, 1973.
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Tigers record: 12-15 (actual 13-14)
Home: 7-11
Away: 5-4
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