Anaheim, CA (Fri., Aug. 15, 1975) - The California Angels jumped on Tigers starter Mickey Lolich for five runs in the first inning, and cruised to a 6-4 victory Friday night at Anaheim Stadium.
The first five Angels hitters reached base in the opening inning as they quickly erased an early 1-0 deficit.
The Tigers didn't score again until plating three runners in the eighth inning, but Angels fireman Don Kirkwood retired the last four Detroit hitters in order to save the win for starter Frank Tanana (Catholic Central HS).
An error by shortstop Mike Miley to open the eighth inning started the Tigers' three-run rally. With two outs, Gary Sutherland (double), pinch-hitter John Wockenfuss (single) and Bill Freehan (single) all had RBI hits.
But it was too little, too late as the Tigers (48-72) lost their fifth straight game and eighth of their last nine.
In the first inning, Lolich was victimized by a stream of seeing-eye base hits through the infield and a soft liner into the outfield as the Angels came out swinging. All nine Angels hitters batted in the first inning. Lolich recovered for a 1-2-3 second inning, and the Angels added an unearned run in the third. Lolich, though, survived and pitched the whole game.
The Major Said: "The only good thing about giving up five runs that quick is that you have the whole game to make it up, if your pitchers keep you in the game. Mickey kept us in it but we just came up a little short."
Tigers 100 000 030 4-9-1
California 501 000 00x 6-9-1
WP: Tanana
SV: Kirkwood
LP: Lolich (10-13)
Tigers record: 48-72 (actual 46-74)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-31
Last 10: 2-8
Showing posts with label John Wockenfuss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Wockenfuss. Show all posts
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Game 118: Tigers Bats Awaken Too Late, 4-2
Detroit (Tue., Aug. 12, 1975) - The Texas Rangers rode an early 3-0 lead and held off a couple late Tigers rallies as they beat Detroit, 4-2, at Tiger Stadium Tuesday night.
Jeff Burroughs, who slammed two home runs Monday, hit another in the first inning, a two-run shot, to stake Texas to an early 2-0 lead.
The Rangers added a run in the second inning and tacked on another one in the seventh on a homer by Roy Howell.
Meanwhile, Texas starter Stan Perzanowski handcuffed the Tigers on no runs and six hits thru seven innings.
The Tigers (48-70) finally broke through in the eighth, thanks partially to two errors by second baseman Lenny Randle. That made the score 4-1, and in the ninth off Perzanowski and reliever Mike Kekich, Detroit cobbled together another run and had runners on first and second before fireman Steve Foucault came on to strike out pinch hitter John Wockenfuss to end the threat and the game.
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle (7-10) went seven innings in a losing effort.
It was the Tigers' third straight loss and sixth in their past seven games.
The Major Said: "A hitting slump is like a common cold. There really is no cure other than waiting it out and letting it ride its course. And we've had plenty of colds this year, that's for sure."
Texas 210 000 100 4-11-2
Tigers 000 000 011 2-8-0
HR: Burroughs (TEX); Howell (TEX)
WP: Perzanowski
SV: Foucault
LP: Ruhle (7-10)
Tigers record: 48-70 (actual 46-72)
Home: 24-40
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 4-6
Jeff Burroughs, who slammed two home runs Monday, hit another in the first inning, a two-run shot, to stake Texas to an early 2-0 lead.
The Rangers added a run in the second inning and tacked on another one in the seventh on a homer by Roy Howell.
Meanwhile, Texas starter Stan Perzanowski handcuffed the Tigers on no runs and six hits thru seven innings.
The Tigers (48-70) finally broke through in the eighth, thanks partially to two errors by second baseman Lenny Randle. That made the score 4-1, and in the ninth off Perzanowski and reliever Mike Kekich, Detroit cobbled together another run and had runners on first and second before fireman Steve Foucault came on to strike out pinch hitter John Wockenfuss to end the threat and the game.
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle (7-10) went seven innings in a losing effort.
It was the Tigers' third straight loss and sixth in their past seven games.
The Major Said: "A hitting slump is like a common cold. There really is no cure other than waiting it out and letting it ride its course. And we've had plenty of colds this year, that's for sure."
Texas 210 000 100 4-11-2
Tigers 000 000 011 2-8-0
HR: Burroughs (TEX); Howell (TEX)
WP: Perzanowski
SV: Foucault
LP: Ruhle (7-10)
Tigers record: 48-70 (actual 46-72)
Home: 24-40
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 4-6
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
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Game 103: Lolich Goes All the Way Again; Tigers Win, 4-3
New York (Wed., July 30, 1975) - Mickey Lolich fired his ninth complete game of the season, and despite giving up 13 hits, he only allowed three runs as the Tigers beat the New York Yankees, 4-3, Wednesday night at Shea Stadium.
Lolich (9-12) frequently had runners on base but was able to limit the damage as the Tigers (43-60) took two of three from the Yankees.
The Tigers scored three runs in the first inning off Yankees starter Rudy May. The first four Tigers and six of the first eight reached base.
The Yankees pecked away against the Tigers left-hander, scoring single runs in the second, seventh and eighth innings. But Lolich set down the final five Yankees hitters in a row to end the ballgame.
Rookie catcher John Wockenfuss had two hits, including a triple, and three RBI for Detroit.
In the first inning, the Tigers used a mix of five singles and a hit batsman to cobble together three runs. They could have had more, but Gene Michael, the ninth man to bat in the inning, flied out with the bases loaded.
The Tigers, who took three of four from the Yankees last month in Detroit, are 8-6 against New York this season, with four more matchups to play. They are now off to Boston for a big five-game series against the Red Sox, necessitated by a slew of April rainouts.
In their last 14 games, the Tigers are 9-5.
The Major Said: "What can you say about (Lolich)? He has a rubber arm, like they say. With (John) Hiller out, I figure that the way he was going, Mickey was the best option in the ninth inning."
Tigers 300 010 000 4-11-1
NY 010 000 110 3-13-1
WP: Lolich (9-12)
LP: May
Tigers record: 43-60 (actual 46-57)
Home: 22-34
Away: 21-26
Last 10: 6-4
Lolich (9-12) frequently had runners on base but was able to limit the damage as the Tigers (43-60) took two of three from the Yankees.
The Tigers scored three runs in the first inning off Yankees starter Rudy May. The first four Tigers and six of the first eight reached base.
The Yankees pecked away against the Tigers left-hander, scoring single runs in the second, seventh and eighth innings. But Lolich set down the final five Yankees hitters in a row to end the ballgame.
Rookie catcher John Wockenfuss had two hits, including a triple, and three RBI for Detroit.
In the first inning, the Tigers used a mix of five singles and a hit batsman to cobble together three runs. They could have had more, but Gene Michael, the ninth man to bat in the inning, flied out with the bases loaded.
The Tigers, who took three of four from the Yankees last month in Detroit, are 8-6 against New York this season, with four more matchups to play. They are now off to Boston for a big five-game series against the Red Sox, necessitated by a slew of April rainouts.
In their last 14 games, the Tigers are 9-5.
The Major Said: "What can you say about (Lolich)? He has a rubber arm, like they say. With (John) Hiller out, I figure that the way he was going, Mickey was the best option in the ninth inning."
Tigers 300 010 000 4-11-1
NY 010 000 110 3-13-1
WP: Lolich (9-12)
LP: May
Tigers record: 43-60 (actual 46-57)
Home: 22-34
Away: 21-26
Last 10: 6-4
Friday, July 20, 2012
Games 87 & 88: Tigers Score Late in Game 2 to Salvage DH Split
Chicago (Thu., July 17, 1975) - The Tigers broke a 1-1 tie in the eighth inning of game two of a twi-night doubleheader, and salvaged a split of the twinbill with the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park Thursday.
The Tigers won game two, 3-1, after dropping the opener, 7-0.
Wilbur Wood breezed through the first game, pitching a complete game six-hitter as the Chisox broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning that extended their lead to 6-0.
Tigers starter Mickey Lolich (7-11) gave up 13 hits in six innings in the first game. In the sixth inning, the White Sox went station-to-station as eight consecutive batters reached base on an error, six singles, and a fielder's choice, accounting for the four runs.
In the nightcap, Lerrin LaGrow pitched 6.2 innings, giving up just one run on eight hits and no walks. But the winner was reliever Bob Reynolds (2-1), who was the beneficiary of a Mickey Stanley double, which scored Ben Oglivie from first base in the eighth inning, breaking the 1-1 tie.
The Tigers (34-54) added an insurance run in the ninth on a John Wockenfuss triple and an Aurelio Rodriguez sacrifice fly.
Reliever John Hiller, whose last outing was a four-run implosion in Detroit against the White Sox which lost the game, gave up a walk in the ninth but coaxed a game-ending double play grounder from Jerry Hairston, who had been 3-for-3. The save was Hiller's 15th.
Stanley started the second game at leadoff, subbing for Ron LeFlore in center field, and had three hits, including two doubles.
The Major Said: "I like how we bounced back, and I like how John (Hiller) bounced back. I know that last outing he had haunted him all through the All-Star break, so it was good to see him get the save tonight."
Game 1
Tigers 000 000 000 0-6-2
Chicago 020 004 10x 7-15-0
WP- Wood
LP- Lolich (7-11)
Game 2
Tigers 100 000 011 3-10-0
Chicago 000 001 000 1-8-0
WP- Reynolds (2-1)
SV- Hiller (15)
LP- Osteen
The Tigers won game two, 3-1, after dropping the opener, 7-0.
Wilbur Wood breezed through the first game, pitching a complete game six-hitter as the Chisox broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning that extended their lead to 6-0.
Tigers starter Mickey Lolich (7-11) gave up 13 hits in six innings in the first game. In the sixth inning, the White Sox went station-to-station as eight consecutive batters reached base on an error, six singles, and a fielder's choice, accounting for the four runs.
In the nightcap, Lerrin LaGrow pitched 6.2 innings, giving up just one run on eight hits and no walks. But the winner was reliever Bob Reynolds (2-1), who was the beneficiary of a Mickey Stanley double, which scored Ben Oglivie from first base in the eighth inning, breaking the 1-1 tie.
The Tigers (34-54) added an insurance run in the ninth on a John Wockenfuss triple and an Aurelio Rodriguez sacrifice fly.
Reliever John Hiller, whose last outing was a four-run implosion in Detroit against the White Sox which lost the game, gave up a walk in the ninth but coaxed a game-ending double play grounder from Jerry Hairston, who had been 3-for-3. The save was Hiller's 15th.
Stanley started the second game at leadoff, subbing for Ron LeFlore in center field, and had three hits, including two doubles.
The Major Said: "I like how we bounced back, and I like how John (Hiller) bounced back. I know that last outing he had haunted him all through the All-Star break, so it was good to see him get the save tonight."
Game 1
Tigers 000 000 000 0-6-2
Chicago 020 004 10x 7-15-0
WP- Wood
LP- Lolich (7-11)
Game 2
Tigers 100 000 011 3-10-0
Chicago 000 001 000 1-8-0
WP- Reynolds (2-1)
SV- Hiller (15)
LP- Osteen
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Game 70: O's Sting Tigers Again Late, 5-4
Baltimore (June 29) - For six innings the Tigers thought they had the Baltimore Orioles where they wanted them. Turns out it was the other way around.
The Orioles, using a theme they employed all weekend, scored late and often and beat the Tigers, 5-4, at Memorial Stadium today. Al Bumbry drove in all five runs for Baltimore.
The Tigers led, 4-0, heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Orioles probably were salivating, because in taking three of four games this weekend, the O's made it a habit of scoring in the late innings to overtake the Bengals.
Sure enough, the Orioles scored three runs in the seventh, all coming from a bases-loaded double by Bumbry with two outs.
In the bottom of the ninth, Tigers reliever John Hiller, who's had his ups and downs this season, failed to retire a batter as the Orioles scored twice to win the game. Bumbry struck again, with a single that scored Ken Singleton and Bobby Grich, who both walked and moved into scoring position thanks to a passed ball charged to John Wockenfuss.
Ballgame.
The Tigers (28-42) have lost seven of their past 10 games and are 2-6 on a road trip that takes them to Cleveland next.
"We were cruising along and then everything got away from us," Tigers manager Ralph Houk said. "That's a good team (Orioles) over there and they proved it this weekend."
Bumbry drove in all five runs for the victorious Orioles
After winning an epic 12-inning game on Thursday night, the Tigers dropped the next three, all by one run and twice in the Orioles' last at-bat.
Ray Bare started for the Tigers and pitched six innings of shutout ball before leaving with one out in the seventh. Bob Reynolds finished ths seventh, but not before allowing both runners he inherited to score, plus one of his own.
Hiller (2-6) took over in the eighth and suffered his second loss of the series.
The Tigers scored once in the second, once in the third, and twice in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead.
Notes: Tom Veryzer returned to shortstop after a week's absence. Gene Michael started again, though---spelling Aurelio Rodriguez (flu) at third base...The five-RBI game was Bumbry's first of his career...Singleton and Bobby Grich, Baltimore's 1-2 hitters, were hitless but each walked twice and each scored twice...The Tigers fell to a season high 14 games under .500.
*****************************************************
Tigers record: 28-42 (actual 27-43)
Home: 13-23
Away: 15-19
Last 10: 3-7
The Orioles, using a theme they employed all weekend, scored late and often and beat the Tigers, 5-4, at Memorial Stadium today. Al Bumbry drove in all five runs for Baltimore.
The Tigers led, 4-0, heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Orioles probably were salivating, because in taking three of four games this weekend, the O's made it a habit of scoring in the late innings to overtake the Bengals.
Sure enough, the Orioles scored three runs in the seventh, all coming from a bases-loaded double by Bumbry with two outs.
In the bottom of the ninth, Tigers reliever John Hiller, who's had his ups and downs this season, failed to retire a batter as the Orioles scored twice to win the game. Bumbry struck again, with a single that scored Ken Singleton and Bobby Grich, who both walked and moved into scoring position thanks to a passed ball charged to John Wockenfuss.
Ballgame.
The Tigers (28-42) have lost seven of their past 10 games and are 2-6 on a road trip that takes them to Cleveland next.
"We were cruising along and then everything got away from us," Tigers manager Ralph Houk said. "That's a good team (Orioles) over there and they proved it this weekend."
Bumbry drove in all five runs for the victorious Orioles
After winning an epic 12-inning game on Thursday night, the Tigers dropped the next three, all by one run and twice in the Orioles' last at-bat.
Ray Bare started for the Tigers and pitched six innings of shutout ball before leaving with one out in the seventh. Bob Reynolds finished ths seventh, but not before allowing both runners he inherited to score, plus one of his own.
Hiller (2-6) took over in the eighth and suffered his second loss of the series.
The Tigers scored once in the second, once in the third, and twice in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead.
Notes: Tom Veryzer returned to shortstop after a week's absence. Gene Michael started again, though---spelling Aurelio Rodriguez (flu) at third base...The five-RBI game was Bumbry's first of his career...Singleton and Bobby Grich, Baltimore's 1-2 hitters, were hitless but each walked twice and each scored twice...The Tigers fell to a season high 14 games under .500.
*****************************************************
Tigers record: 28-42 (actual 27-43)
Home: 13-23
Away: 15-19
Last 10: 3-7
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Game 62: Tigers Stun Yanks With 8-Run 8th, 11-7
Detroit (June 22) - The New York Yankees looked to be on their way to splitting a four-game series with the Tigers today---until the eighth inning.
Trailing 7-3 going into the eighth, the Tigers broke out with an eight-run frame and beat the Yanks, 11-7 at Tiger Stadium.
It was the second time in the series that Tigers bats exploded. They won 16-11 on Thursday night.
Leon Roberts' three-run homer off reliever Dave Pagan drew the Tigers to within 7-6, then the next three batters got hits in tying the game, 7-7. Dan Meyer, who's batting 28-for-76 (.368) in recent weeks, smacked a two-run double, and so did Willie Horton. Just like that, the Tigers led 11-7.
The rally made a winner out of John Hiller (1-3), who pitched three innings in relief of Tom Walker.
It took three Yankees pitchers (starter Larry Gura, Pagan and Dick Tidrow) to quell the Tigers in the eighth inning.
The Tigers (26-36) looked dead earlier in the game, as they did in their 16-11 win.
The Yankees erased a 2-0 deficit by scoring seven unanswered runs from innings three thru seven.
Meyer (three hits) continues to be red hot
John Wockenfuss hit his first homer of the season in the seventh to make the score 7-3.
Then the Tigers stunned the Yankees one inning later.
The first six Tigers got on base in the eighth, and after that the game was tied, 7-7.
Roy White's three-run homer put the Yankees ahead, 4-2, in the fifth.
Walker pitched six innings in another spot start, surrendering four earned runs.
Pagan pitched to four Tigers hitters in the eighth and retired none of them.
"Good series for us, as it turned out," manager Ralph Houk said. "We had two kind of stunning wins, and won another with good pitching. So it was a good weekend."
Still, the Tigers are just 13-23 at home, where they wrapped up a 5-7 home stand.
But they're 13-13 on the road, and that's where they're headed---for an 11-game trip to Milwaukee (4), Baltimore (4) and Cleveland (3).
"Looking forward to it," Houk said of the trip. "Sometimes you gotta get away for awhile. And we need to make up some road games anyway."
The Tigers have played 36 of their first 62 games at home.
Notes: Bill Freehan returned from the 15-day disabled list (sore back) by starting at first base. He went 1-for-4 (double)...Meyer, on his hot streak: "Skip is batting me third and I'm finally rewarding him. Seeing the ball good right now"...Former Tiger Ed Brinkman continued to give the Tigers fits in this series, with a single, a hit by pitch and by scoring two runs. He also made some nifty plays defensively...Mickey Stanley started a second straight game in center field as Ron LeFlore sat out with soreness in his left side...The Tigers had a rarity in the second inning: two sacrifice flies in the same frame.
***************************************************************
Tigers record: 26-36 (actual 26-36)
Home: 13-23
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 5-5
Trailing 7-3 going into the eighth, the Tigers broke out with an eight-run frame and beat the Yanks, 11-7 at Tiger Stadium.
It was the second time in the series that Tigers bats exploded. They won 16-11 on Thursday night.
Leon Roberts' three-run homer off reliever Dave Pagan drew the Tigers to within 7-6, then the next three batters got hits in tying the game, 7-7. Dan Meyer, who's batting 28-for-76 (.368) in recent weeks, smacked a two-run double, and so did Willie Horton. Just like that, the Tigers led 11-7.
The rally made a winner out of John Hiller (1-3), who pitched three innings in relief of Tom Walker.
It took three Yankees pitchers (starter Larry Gura, Pagan and Dick Tidrow) to quell the Tigers in the eighth inning.
The Tigers (26-36) looked dead earlier in the game, as they did in their 16-11 win.
The Yankees erased a 2-0 deficit by scoring seven unanswered runs from innings three thru seven.
Meyer (three hits) continues to be red hot
John Wockenfuss hit his first homer of the season in the seventh to make the score 7-3.
Then the Tigers stunned the Yankees one inning later.
The first six Tigers got on base in the eighth, and after that the game was tied, 7-7.
Roy White's three-run homer put the Yankees ahead, 4-2, in the fifth.
Walker pitched six innings in another spot start, surrendering four earned runs.
Pagan pitched to four Tigers hitters in the eighth and retired none of them.
"Good series for us, as it turned out," manager Ralph Houk said. "We had two kind of stunning wins, and won another with good pitching. So it was a good weekend."
Still, the Tigers are just 13-23 at home, where they wrapped up a 5-7 home stand.
But they're 13-13 on the road, and that's where they're headed---for an 11-game trip to Milwaukee (4), Baltimore (4) and Cleveland (3).
"Looking forward to it," Houk said of the trip. "Sometimes you gotta get away for awhile. And we need to make up some road games anyway."
The Tigers have played 36 of their first 62 games at home.
Notes: Bill Freehan returned from the 15-day disabled list (sore back) by starting at first base. He went 1-for-4 (double)...Meyer, on his hot streak: "Skip is batting me third and I'm finally rewarding him. Seeing the ball good right now"...Former Tiger Ed Brinkman continued to give the Tigers fits in this series, with a single, a hit by pitch and by scoring two runs. He also made some nifty plays defensively...Mickey Stanley started a second straight game in center field as Ron LeFlore sat out with soreness in his left side...The Tigers had a rarity in the second inning: two sacrifice flies in the same frame.
***************************************************************
Tigers record: 26-36 (actual 26-36)
Home: 13-23
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 5-5
Friday, May 4, 2012
Game 55: Tigers Finally Break Through, Slap A's, 7-5
Detroit (June 14) - Call it a blind squirrel finding a nut. A broken clock being right twice a day.
The Tigers will call it a win. And, because it came at home, a very rare one, indeed.
The Tigers pulled away from a 3-3 tie and held off the Oakland A's, 7-5, today at Tiger Stadium.
It was just the ninth home win for the Bengals (22-33) in 29 games.
Willie Horton struck the biggest blow---a three-run homer, his ninth, in the seventh to put the Tigers up, 7-3.
The win gave the Tigers three victories over the A's in the five games they played this week against the three-time defending World Champs.
"We needed this badly," manager Ralph Houk understated.
What he needed wasn't only a win, but for the Tigers to score more than three runs, which has been so very difficult for them to do in recent weeks.
The team finally did that in the seventh, when they rallied against reliever Glenn Abbott, who took over from starter Sonny Siebert.
Horton's big day helped carry the Tigers, breaking a six-game home losing skid
John Wockenfuss walked and moved to second on a two-out walk issued to fellow rookie John Knox. Dan Meyer singled, scoring Wockenfuss and sending Knox to third. Horton then drove an Abbott fastball deep into the upper deck in left, making the score 7-3.
Naturally, the A's didn't go down easily.
They added two runs in the eighth on two doubles and a single, but fireman John Hiller relieved Bob Reynolds with two outs and induced a pop out from Phil Garner, then pitched a mostly uneventful ninth for the save.
Reynolds got the win in relief of starter Tom Walker, who turned in another impressive effort in a spot role (6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER).
Ron LeFlore had three singles and a stolen base (and one caught stealing).
Horton, who had four RBI on the afternoon, said that the feeling of relief has to be followed with determination.
"This is nice, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't score runs tomorrow," he said.
The whole blind nut/broken clock thing.
Notes: Soon everyone will know whether Nate Colbert will be an ex-Tiger. The interleague trading deadline is tomorrow, and reports have the struggling first baseman going to several teams: Montreal, Atlanta and Texas among them...The bad news is that Jack Pierce, who seemingly would be Colbert's replacement at first base, is hitting .111 (3-for-27)...Leon Roberts, who hit into three double plays last night, was 2-for-3 today.
***********************************************
Tigers record: 22-33 (actual 25-30)
Home: 9-20
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
The Tigers will call it a win. And, because it came at home, a very rare one, indeed.
The Tigers pulled away from a 3-3 tie and held off the Oakland A's, 7-5, today at Tiger Stadium.
It was just the ninth home win for the Bengals (22-33) in 29 games.
Willie Horton struck the biggest blow---a three-run homer, his ninth, in the seventh to put the Tigers up, 7-3.
The win gave the Tigers three victories over the A's in the five games they played this week against the three-time defending World Champs.
"We needed this badly," manager Ralph Houk understated.
What he needed wasn't only a win, but for the Tigers to score more than three runs, which has been so very difficult for them to do in recent weeks.
The team finally did that in the seventh, when they rallied against reliever Glenn Abbott, who took over from starter Sonny Siebert.
Horton's big day helped carry the Tigers, breaking a six-game home losing skid
John Wockenfuss walked and moved to second on a two-out walk issued to fellow rookie John Knox. Dan Meyer singled, scoring Wockenfuss and sending Knox to third. Horton then drove an Abbott fastball deep into the upper deck in left, making the score 7-3.
Naturally, the A's didn't go down easily.
They added two runs in the eighth on two doubles and a single, but fireman John Hiller relieved Bob Reynolds with two outs and induced a pop out from Phil Garner, then pitched a mostly uneventful ninth for the save.
Reynolds got the win in relief of starter Tom Walker, who turned in another impressive effort in a spot role (6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER).
Ron LeFlore had three singles and a stolen base (and one caught stealing).
Horton, who had four RBI on the afternoon, said that the feeling of relief has to be followed with determination.
"This is nice, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't score runs tomorrow," he said.
The whole blind nut/broken clock thing.
Notes: Soon everyone will know whether Nate Colbert will be an ex-Tiger. The interleague trading deadline is tomorrow, and reports have the struggling first baseman going to several teams: Montreal, Atlanta and Texas among them...The bad news is that Jack Pierce, who seemingly would be Colbert's replacement at first base, is hitting .111 (3-for-27)...Leon Roberts, who hit into three double plays last night, was 2-for-3 today.
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Tigers record: 22-33 (actual 25-30)
Home: 9-20
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Games 51 and 52: Tigers Lifeless at Home Again, Swept by Halos
Detroit (June 11) - Three runs and 12 hits. That's what the Tigers mustered tonight---in two games.
Needless to say, it wasn't enough to win a game, as the California Angels swept a twi-night doubleheader, 4-2 and 3-1 at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers (21-31) continue to struggle at home, where they are 8-18.
They swept the Angels in a three-game series in Anaheim last week, but that just underscores the discrepancy between the Tigers at home and on the road (13-13).
The Tigers were hoping that a 6-2 road trip would give them some momentum heading into tonight's twinbill, which kicks off a 12-game home stand.
The way the Tigers are playing at Michigan and Trumbull, they might want to consider wearing their road grays during this homestand.
"It's a thought," manager Ralph Houk said wryly when it was thrown out there by a reporter.
Houk can't do much more than show gallows humor as his team's offense continues to slumber. Even during the successful road trip, the bats were suspect.
Rookie catcher John Wockenfuss, called up from Toledo (fellow catcher Terry Humphrey was sent to the Mud Hens), started both games and went 2-for-7 with a double.
The Tigers managed just three hits in the nightcap off lefty Andy Hassler, who went 7.1 innings.
It got so bad that even Ron LeFlore's one-out triple in the sixth inning failed to yield a run. Boos cascaded when the Tigers couldn't get LeFlore home.
In Game 1, Detroit native and lefty Frank Tanana, just 21 years old, kept the Tigers at bay with eight innings of eight-hit ball.
Mickey Lolich (5-7) took the loss in Game 1, while Ray Bare (1-2), making his first start of the season, was tagged with the loss in the nightcap.
The Angels scored twice in the ninth inning in Game 1, breaking a 2-2 tie. The runs came after two were out and nobody on base. A couple walks and two singles produced the game-winning tallies. The key hit was Bruce Bochte's two-run single off reliever Bob Reynolds.
Bochte was the hero in Game 1
In Game 2, the Angels pecked away, scoring single runs in the second, sixth and seventh innings.
There wasn't much offense from the Angels, either, but these days, it doesn't take much to beat the Tigers.
"Tomorrow is another day," Houk said.
It was difficult to tell if he was trying to convince the reporters, or himself.
Notes: Rumors persist that the Tigers are about to rid themselves of Nate Colbert any day now. Colbert is 20-for-162 (.123) and has 58 strikeouts...Houk, on Wockenfuss starting both games behind the plate: "He's young and fresh. No issue." Wockenfuss: "I would have started three if it was a tripleheader."
**********************************************************
Tigers record: 21-31 (actual 24-28)
Home: 8-18
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 6-4
Needless to say, it wasn't enough to win a game, as the California Angels swept a twi-night doubleheader, 4-2 and 3-1 at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers (21-31) continue to struggle at home, where they are 8-18.
They swept the Angels in a three-game series in Anaheim last week, but that just underscores the discrepancy between the Tigers at home and on the road (13-13).
The Tigers were hoping that a 6-2 road trip would give them some momentum heading into tonight's twinbill, which kicks off a 12-game home stand.
The way the Tigers are playing at Michigan and Trumbull, they might want to consider wearing their road grays during this homestand.
"It's a thought," manager Ralph Houk said wryly when it was thrown out there by a reporter.
Houk can't do much more than show gallows humor as his team's offense continues to slumber. Even during the successful road trip, the bats were suspect.
Rookie catcher John Wockenfuss, called up from Toledo (fellow catcher Terry Humphrey was sent to the Mud Hens), started both games and went 2-for-7 with a double.
The Tigers managed just three hits in the nightcap off lefty Andy Hassler, who went 7.1 innings.
It got so bad that even Ron LeFlore's one-out triple in the sixth inning failed to yield a run. Boos cascaded when the Tigers couldn't get LeFlore home.
In Game 1, Detroit native and lefty Frank Tanana, just 21 years old, kept the Tigers at bay with eight innings of eight-hit ball.
Mickey Lolich (5-7) took the loss in Game 1, while Ray Bare (1-2), making his first start of the season, was tagged with the loss in the nightcap.
The Angels scored twice in the ninth inning in Game 1, breaking a 2-2 tie. The runs came after two were out and nobody on base. A couple walks and two singles produced the game-winning tallies. The key hit was Bruce Bochte's two-run single off reliever Bob Reynolds.
Bochte was the hero in Game 1
In Game 2, the Angels pecked away, scoring single runs in the second, sixth and seventh innings.
There wasn't much offense from the Angels, either, but these days, it doesn't take much to beat the Tigers.
"Tomorrow is another day," Houk said.
It was difficult to tell if he was trying to convince the reporters, or himself.
Notes: Rumors persist that the Tigers are about to rid themselves of Nate Colbert any day now. Colbert is 20-for-162 (.123) and has 58 strikeouts...Houk, on Wockenfuss starting both games behind the plate: "He's young and fresh. No issue." Wockenfuss: "I would have started three if it was a tripleheader."
**********************************************************
Tigers record: 21-31 (actual 24-28)
Home: 8-18
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 6-4
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