Detroit (Fri., Sept. 19, 1975) - Ben Oglivie's single drove home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and the Tigers survived the first-place Boston Red Sox, 2-1, at Tiger Stadium.
Oglivie's line drive to right scored Dan Meyer, who had walked to lead off the inning.
The Tigers scored an unearned run in the third inning to lead, 1-0. Leon Roberts reached on a botched ground ball by third baseman Rico Petrocelli. He came around to score on a two-out single by Tom Veryzer, who was batting third in the lineup for the first time in his career.
The Red Sox tied the game in the fourth on a double from Denny Doyle and a single from Fred Lynn.
The loser was lefty Bill Lee, who pitched the whole game for Boston. Ray Bare (7-10) picked up the win, with rookie Steve Grilli registering his first career save with two scoreless innings of relief.
Bare kept the potent Boston lineup in check, giving up just six hits and one walk in seven innings.
The Major Said: "We tend to win low-scoring games, but against (the Red Sox), you're really not expecting that. But Ray (Bare) did a great job, and I felt great for the kid, Grilli. Two gutsy innings there."
Boston 000 100 000 1-6-2
Tigers 001 000 10x 2-7-1
WP: Bare (7-10)
SV: Grilli (1)
LP: Lee
Tigers record: 60-93 (actual 56-97)
Home: 31-47
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6
Showing posts with label Leon Roberts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leon Roberts. Show all posts
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Game 148: Brown's First '75 Hit Upends Orioles, 5-3
Detroit (Sat., Sept. 13, 1975) - Gates Brown's first base hit of the season---a single to right field---drove in two runs in the eighth inning, lifting the Tigers to a 5-3 win over Baltimore Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers trailed 3-1 heading into the eighth. A single and two walks quickly loaded the bases with no outs. Ben Oglivie drove home one run with a sacrifice fly, and Tom Veryzer tied the game with a single with two outs. Leon Roberts walked, re-loading the bases. Brown was sent in to pinch-hit for Terry Humphrey, and Gates drove a bounding ball past first baseman Lee May for a two-run single.
It was Brown's first hit in 10 at-bats in a season marred by a bad back. It may be Brown's last hit; the 36-year-old pinch-hitting specialist has hinted at retirement after the season.
Brown's hit made a winner out of Mickey Lolich (14-15), who pitched his 12th complete game. Lolich gave up 10 hits, walked four and struck out seven. He lowered his ERA to 3.24. The O's tried to rally in the ninth, putting runners on first and second, but Lolich struck out Tommy Davis to end the game.
It was a game of veteran heroes; Lolich turned 35 on Friday, and 38-year-old Brooks Robinson had two hits and drove in all three Orioles runs.
The Tigers (57-91) snapped a four-game losing streak.
The Major Said: "If Gates does call it quits, I am proud to have managed him for two years. He's a pro's pro. He could have hung them up this year with his bad back, but he wouldn't think of doing that in the middle of the season."
Baltimore 010 002 000 3-10-1
Tigers 000 001 04x 5-11-0
WP: Lolich (14-15)
LP: Alexander
Tigers record: 57-91 (actual 55-93)
Home: 28-45
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 3-7
The Tigers trailed 3-1 heading into the eighth. A single and two walks quickly loaded the bases with no outs. Ben Oglivie drove home one run with a sacrifice fly, and Tom Veryzer tied the game with a single with two outs. Leon Roberts walked, re-loading the bases. Brown was sent in to pinch-hit for Terry Humphrey, and Gates drove a bounding ball past first baseman Lee May for a two-run single.
It was Brown's first hit in 10 at-bats in a season marred by a bad back. It may be Brown's last hit; the 36-year-old pinch-hitting specialist has hinted at retirement after the season.
Brown's hit made a winner out of Mickey Lolich (14-15), who pitched his 12th complete game. Lolich gave up 10 hits, walked four and struck out seven. He lowered his ERA to 3.24. The O's tried to rally in the ninth, putting runners on first and second, but Lolich struck out Tommy Davis to end the game.
It was a game of veteran heroes; Lolich turned 35 on Friday, and 38-year-old Brooks Robinson had two hits and drove in all three Orioles runs.
The Tigers (57-91) snapped a four-game losing streak.
The Major Said: "If Gates does call it quits, I am proud to have managed him for two years. He's a pro's pro. He could have hung them up this year with his bad back, but he wouldn't think of doing that in the middle of the season."
Baltimore 010 002 000 3-10-1
Tigers 000 001 04x 5-11-0
WP: Lolich (14-15)
LP: Alexander
Tigers record: 57-91 (actual 55-93)
Home: 28-45
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 3-7
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Game 142: Yanks Beat Tigers in 9th, 1-0
Queens, NY (Mon., Sept. 8, 1975) - Bobby Bonds looped a base hit into right field with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, and the New York Yankees beat the Tigers, 1-0, at Shea Stadium.
The hit eluded a diving Leon Roberts and plated Chris Chambliss, who had doubled.
The tough-luck loser was Mickey Lolich (13-15), who pitched the whole game for Detroit.
The hitter prior to Bonds, Fred Stanley, legged out an infield hit to keep the inning alive.
The Tigers (55-87) managed just six hits off Yankees starter Rudy May, two by Willie Horton. They only got two runners as far as second base.
In the ninth, with one out, Chambliss doubled. Rick Dempsey struck out, and Lolich was one out away from forcing the game into extra innings. But Lolich walked Rick Bladt on four pitches, then Stanley's chopper stayed fair down the third base line and there was no throw.
That brought up Bonds, who was jammed but managed a blooper that Roberts couldn't quite reach, setting off a celebration at home plate.
The Major Said: "1-0. It's happened to us before. Tough loss, what can you say? Mickey was terrific."
Tigers 000 000 000 0-6-0
New York 000 000 001 1-8-0
WP: May
LP: Lolich (13-15)
Tigers record: 55-87 (actual 54-88)
Home: 27-44
Away: 28-43
Last 10: 3-7
The hit eluded a diving Leon Roberts and plated Chris Chambliss, who had doubled.
The tough-luck loser was Mickey Lolich (13-15), who pitched the whole game for Detroit.
The hitter prior to Bonds, Fred Stanley, legged out an infield hit to keep the inning alive.
The Tigers (55-87) managed just six hits off Yankees starter Rudy May, two by Willie Horton. They only got two runners as far as second base.
In the ninth, with one out, Chambliss doubled. Rick Dempsey struck out, and Lolich was one out away from forcing the game into extra innings. But Lolich walked Rick Bladt on four pitches, then Stanley's chopper stayed fair down the third base line and there was no throw.
That brought up Bonds, who was jammed but managed a blooper that Roberts couldn't quite reach, setting off a celebration at home plate.
The Major Said: "1-0. It's happened to us before. Tough loss, what can you say? Mickey was terrific."
Tigers 000 000 000 0-6-0
New York 000 000 001 1-8-0
WP: May
LP: Lolich (13-15)
Tigers record: 55-87 (actual 54-88)
Home: 27-44
Away: 28-43
Last 10: 3-7
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Game 134: Brewers Out Slug Reeling Tigers, 11-8
Detroit (Mon., Sept. 1, 1975) - Darrell Porter hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a wild 11-8 win over the Tigers Monday night at Tiger Stadium.
The Brewers led, 8-5, after two innings.
Milwaukee scored five times in the first frame, punctuated by Porter's bases-loaded homer into the right field upper deck.
But the Tigers (52-82), losers of 18 of their past 23 games, struck back with four runs in the first inning.
Detroit used four singles, two walks and a sacrifice fly to score the four runs, making the score 5-4 before many fans were even in their seats.
The key was the middle relief job done by Milwaukee right-hander Tom Hausman, who pitched five scoreless innings after taking over for lefty starter Bill Travers in the third inning. Leon Roberts led off the third with his 11th home run of the season, prompting Milwaukee manager Del Crandall to lift Travers with the score 8-6, Brewers.
The Tigers didn't score again until the ninth, with Milwaukee leading 11-6. Dan Meyer, who had three hits, slugged a two-run homer off Eduardo Rodriguez. Crandall then summoned Tom Murphy to get the final three outs, 1-2-3.
Meyer is hitting .351 (13-for-37) since August 20.
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle (8-13) was rocked for nine runs (seven earned) in 3.1 innings. Hausman was credited for the win for Milwaukee.
The Tigers committed three errors---two by shortstop Tom Veryzer---in the first two innings. Ron LeFlore misplayed Bob Sheldon's lead-off single in the first inning for the other error.
It was the second straight game the Tigers gave up 11 runs.
The Major Said: "That's how it goes when you're losing. You get good pitching, you can't hit. The bats get going, the pitching falters."
Milw. 530 100 011 11-14-0
Tigers 411 000 002 8-11-3
HR: Porter (MIL); Roberts (DET, 11); Meyer (DET, 10)
WP: Hausman
SV: Murphy
LP: Ruhle (8-13)
Tigers record: 52-82 (actual 53-81)
Home: 25-43
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
The Brewers led, 8-5, after two innings.
Milwaukee scored five times in the first frame, punctuated by Porter's bases-loaded homer into the right field upper deck.
But the Tigers (52-82), losers of 18 of their past 23 games, struck back with four runs in the first inning.
Detroit used four singles, two walks and a sacrifice fly to score the four runs, making the score 5-4 before many fans were even in their seats.
The key was the middle relief job done by Milwaukee right-hander Tom Hausman, who pitched five scoreless innings after taking over for lefty starter Bill Travers in the third inning. Leon Roberts led off the third with his 11th home run of the season, prompting Milwaukee manager Del Crandall to lift Travers with the score 8-6, Brewers.
The Tigers didn't score again until the ninth, with Milwaukee leading 11-6. Dan Meyer, who had three hits, slugged a two-run homer off Eduardo Rodriguez. Crandall then summoned Tom Murphy to get the final three outs, 1-2-3.
Meyer is hitting .351 (13-for-37) since August 20.
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle (8-13) was rocked for nine runs (seven earned) in 3.1 innings. Hausman was credited for the win for Milwaukee.
The Tigers committed three errors---two by shortstop Tom Veryzer---in the first two innings. Ron LeFlore misplayed Bob Sheldon's lead-off single in the first inning for the other error.
It was the second straight game the Tigers gave up 11 runs.
The Major Said: "That's how it goes when you're losing. You get good pitching, you can't hit. The bats get going, the pitching falters."
Milw. 530 100 011 11-14-0
Tigers 411 000 002 8-11-3
HR: Porter (MIL); Roberts (DET, 11); Meyer (DET, 10)
WP: Hausman
SV: Murphy
LP: Ruhle (8-13)
Tigers record: 52-82 (actual 53-81)
Home: 25-43
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Game 132: Lolich Too Much for Angels, 3-0
Detroit (Fri., Aug. 29, 1975) - Mickey Lolich leads the Tigers in victories, and on Friday night he showed why, as the almost-35-year-old lefty pitched a complete-game, five-hit shutout as Detroit beat the California Angels, 3-0, at Tiger Stadium.
The win gave Lolich a team-high 12 victories, against 14 losses.
The Tigers scored twice in the second inning. Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, Dan Meyer and Ben Oglivie all singled, producing the runs.
Detroit added a run in the eighth as Lolich was keeping the Angels at arm's length throughout the game. California had base runners, but couldn't push across a run. Even Mickey Rivers' two-out triple in the third inning didn't help the Angels' cause.
The Angels left 10 men on base, including the bases loaded in the eighth inning.
But Lolich made the pitches he had to when he had to, despite walking five Angels, and the Tigers (52-80) won for just the fifth time in 21 games.
Leon Roberts had two hits and an RBI for the Tigers.
Frank Tanana (Catholic Central) took the loss for California.
The Major Said: "Mickey wasn't great but that's what veteran pitchers can do. They get into trouble, put runners on base, and wiggle out of it. I'm sure the Angels thought they had him on the ropes a few times tonight."
Calif. 000 000 000 0-5-1
Tigers 020 000 01x 3-10-1
WP: Lolich (12-14)
LP: Tanana
Tigers record: 52-80 (actual 51-81)
Home: 25-41
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
The win gave Lolich a team-high 12 victories, against 14 losses.
The Tigers scored twice in the second inning. Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, Dan Meyer and Ben Oglivie all singled, producing the runs.
Detroit added a run in the eighth as Lolich was keeping the Angels at arm's length throughout the game. California had base runners, but couldn't push across a run. Even Mickey Rivers' two-out triple in the third inning didn't help the Angels' cause.
The Angels left 10 men on base, including the bases loaded in the eighth inning.
But Lolich made the pitches he had to when he had to, despite walking five Angels, and the Tigers (52-80) won for just the fifth time in 21 games.
Leon Roberts had two hits and an RBI for the Tigers.
Frank Tanana (Catholic Central) took the loss for California.
The Major Said: "Mickey wasn't great but that's what veteran pitchers can do. They get into trouble, put runners on base, and wiggle out of it. I'm sure the Angels thought they had him on the ropes a few times tonight."
Calif. 000 000 000 0-5-1
Tigers 020 000 01x 3-10-1
WP: Lolich (12-14)
LP: Tanana
Tigers record: 52-80 (actual 51-81)
Home: 25-41
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 4-6
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Game 124: A's Nip Tigers Late; Losing Streak is 9
Oakland, CA (Tue., Aug. 19, 1975) - Gene Tenace singled in Sal Bando in the eighth inning, breaking a 2-2 tie, and the Oakland A's beat the Tigers, 3-2 Tuesday night at the Coliseum, extending Detroit's losing streak to a season-high nine games.
The Tigers (48-76) had a brief 2-1 lead after scoring twice in the fourth, but Bando's double in the fifth inning scored Bert Campaneris with the tying run.
Ben Oglivie led off the Tigers' ninth with a single, but he was cut down trying to steal moments later by Tenace. Rollie Fingers pitched the ninth and retired the next two hitters in order after Oglivie's aborted steal attempt.
The Tigers trailed 1-0 when, with two outs and nobody on, they started a two-run rally in the fourth. Willie Horton singled, as did Bill Freehan. Oglivie doubled home Horton, and Leon Roberts followed with an RBI single.
The Tigers have lost 12 of their past 13 games and are in danger of finishing in last place for the first time since 1952. They currently trail fifth place Milwaukee by eight games.
Tigers starter Mickey Lolich (10-14) pitched the whole game---something Tigers starters have done a lot lately but haven't been rewarded. Dick Bosman pitched the first eight innings for Oakland before giving way to Fingers, who the Tigers roughed up in Detroit a couple weeks back.
The Major Said: "When things are going bad these are the kinds of games you lose. When you're going good, you get the late runs, not the other guys."
Tigers 000 200 000 2-8-0
Oakland 001 010 01x 3-8-0
WP: Blue
SV: Fingers
LP: Lolich (10-14)
Tigers record: 48-76 (actual 50-74)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-35
Last 10: 1-9
The Tigers (48-76) had a brief 2-1 lead after scoring twice in the fourth, but Bando's double in the fifth inning scored Bert Campaneris with the tying run.
Ben Oglivie led off the Tigers' ninth with a single, but he was cut down trying to steal moments later by Tenace. Rollie Fingers pitched the ninth and retired the next two hitters in order after Oglivie's aborted steal attempt.
The Tigers trailed 1-0 when, with two outs and nobody on, they started a two-run rally in the fourth. Willie Horton singled, as did Bill Freehan. Oglivie doubled home Horton, and Leon Roberts followed with an RBI single.
The Tigers have lost 12 of their past 13 games and are in danger of finishing in last place for the first time since 1952. They currently trail fifth place Milwaukee by eight games.
Tigers starter Mickey Lolich (10-14) pitched the whole game---something Tigers starters have done a lot lately but haven't been rewarded. Dick Bosman pitched the first eight innings for Oakland before giving way to Fingers, who the Tigers roughed up in Detroit a couple weeks back.
The Major Said: "When things are going bad these are the kinds of games you lose. When you're going good, you get the late runs, not the other guys."
Tigers 000 200 000 2-8-0
Oakland 001 010 01x 3-8-0
WP: Blue
SV: Fingers
LP: Lolich (10-14)
Tigers record: 48-76 (actual 50-74)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-35
Last 10: 1-9
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
Monday, August 6, 2012
Game 108: Tigers Score Late, Avoid 5-Game Sweep, 4-3
Boston (Sun., Aug. 3, 1975) - John Wockenfuss blooped a single into short right field, scoring Aurelio Rodriguez in the ninth inning to break a 3-3 tie, and the Tigers beat the Boston Red Sox, 4-3, at Fenway Park Sunday afternoon.
With the win, the Tigers (44-64) avoided a rare five-game sweep at the hands of Boston.
The Red Sox led, 3-2, after seven innings but the Tigers rallied to tie the game in the eighth. Again it was Wockenfuss with the big hit---a run-scoring double.
Boston scored twice in the first inning on a home run by Carl Yastrzemski that scored Bernie Carbo in front of him. That blast erased an early 1-0 Tigers lead, which was forged by Ron LeFlore's leadoff home run.
Tom Walker (2-2) earned the victory with three scoreless innings of relief. Fernando Arroyo pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.
Jack Pierce singled in the fifth to snap a hitless streak of 32 at-bats.
Reliever Dick Drago took the loss for Boston. He took over after Leon Roberts led off the eighth with a double off starter Reggie Cleveland. Drago then promptly surrendered Wockenfuss's double to tie the game, then was again victimized by the Tigers catcher in the ninth after giving up a double to Rodriguez and intentionally walking pinch-hitter Gates Brown.
The Major Said: "No one wants to be swept five games. This was a gutsy win. Very proud of the fellas."
Tigers 100 010 011 4-7-0
Boston 200 010 000 3-8-0
HR: LeFlore (DET, 6); Yastrzemski (BOS)
WP: Walker (2-2)
SV: Arroyo (3)
LP: Drago
Tigers record: 44-64 (actual 46-62)
Home: 22-34
Away: 22-30
Last 10: 4-6
With the win, the Tigers (44-64) avoided a rare five-game sweep at the hands of Boston.
The Red Sox led, 3-2, after seven innings but the Tigers rallied to tie the game in the eighth. Again it was Wockenfuss with the big hit---a run-scoring double.
Boston scored twice in the first inning on a home run by Carl Yastrzemski that scored Bernie Carbo in front of him. That blast erased an early 1-0 Tigers lead, which was forged by Ron LeFlore's leadoff home run.
Tom Walker (2-2) earned the victory with three scoreless innings of relief. Fernando Arroyo pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.
Jack Pierce singled in the fifth to snap a hitless streak of 32 at-bats.
Reliever Dick Drago took the loss for Boston. He took over after Leon Roberts led off the eighth with a double off starter Reggie Cleveland. Drago then promptly surrendered Wockenfuss's double to tie the game, then was again victimized by the Tigers catcher in the ninth after giving up a double to Rodriguez and intentionally walking pinch-hitter Gates Brown.
The Major Said: "No one wants to be swept five games. This was a gutsy win. Very proud of the fellas."
Tigers 100 010 011 4-7-0
Boston 200 010 000 3-8-0
HR: LeFlore (DET, 6); Yastrzemski (BOS)
WP: Walker (2-2)
SV: Arroyo (3)
LP: Drago
Tigers record: 44-64 (actual 46-62)
Home: 22-34
Away: 22-30
Last 10: 4-6
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Game 92: Royals Crown Tigers Late, 4-3
Detroit (Mon., July 21, 1975) - The Kansas City Royals used two hit batsmen and three singles to score three times in the eighth inning, sending them to a 4-3 win over the Tigers Monday night in Detroit.
The win averted a three-game sweep at the hands of the Tigers (36-56).
The Tigers led, 2-1 after seven innings before Kansas City erupted against Mickey Lolich.
Ben Oglivie hit a home run (1st) in the ninth inning to draw the Tigers to within 4-3, but reliever Stev Mingori left pinch runner John Knox stranded at first base after a Willie Horton single to seal the victory.
Harmon Killebrew (KC) and Leon Roberts (DET, 9th) each had solo homers.
Lolich failed to retire any of the four hitters he faced in the eighth, hitting two of them and allowing singles to the others. Buck Martinez's two-run single was the big blow.
The Major Said: "Mickey was cruising until the eighth. Just goes to show how quickly things can change in this game. We won the series, though, and we haven't done much of that lately."
KC 000 100 030 4-10-1
Tigers 000 020 001 3-7-1
HR: Killebrew (KC); Roberts (DET, 9); Oglivie (DET, 1)
WP: Leonard
SV: Mingori
LP: Lolich (7-12)
Tigers record: 36-56 (actual 42-50)
Home: 17-31
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 4-6
The win averted a three-game sweep at the hands of the Tigers (36-56).
The Tigers led, 2-1 after seven innings before Kansas City erupted against Mickey Lolich.
Ben Oglivie hit a home run (1st) in the ninth inning to draw the Tigers to within 4-3, but reliever Stev Mingori left pinch runner John Knox stranded at first base after a Willie Horton single to seal the victory.
Harmon Killebrew (KC) and Leon Roberts (DET, 9th) each had solo homers.
Lolich failed to retire any of the four hitters he faced in the eighth, hitting two of them and allowing singles to the others. Buck Martinez's two-run single was the big blow.
The Major Said: "Mickey was cruising until the eighth. Just goes to show how quickly things can change in this game. We won the series, though, and we haven't done much of that lately."
KC 000 100 030 4-10-1
Tigers 000 020 001 3-7-1
HR: Killebrew (KC); Roberts (DET, 9); Oglivie (DET, 1)
WP: Leonard
SV: Mingori
LP: Lolich (7-12)
Tigers record: 36-56 (actual 42-50)
Home: 17-31
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 4-6
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Game 90: Tigers Avert Defeat, Beat Royals, 2-1
Detroit (Sat., July 19, 1975) - Aurelio Rodriguez singled home Bill Freehan in the bottom of the 11th inning, lifting the Tigers to a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers (35-55) scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings.
Kansas City's George Brett opened the Royals 10th with a triple, but didn't score.
In the 11th, Freehan walked with one out and moved to second on a Leon Roberts single with two outs. The next batter was Rodriguez, and he flicked a base hit into center field to easily score Freehan and send the crowd of 15,337 home happy.
The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the fifth when Frank White scored from third thanks to an error by Rodriguez, who would more than atone for that miscue later.
In the Tigers ninth, they loaded the bases with nobody out on two singles and a walk. Jack Pierce drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly. Roberts singled, reloading the bases. Rodriguez tapped out, pitcher to home plate, and Tom Veryzer struck out, keeping the game tied, 1-1.
Gary Sutherland and Roberts each had two singles for the Tigers. Fernando Arroyo (1-1) pitched three innings of scoreless relief to earn the win.
In an oddity, Kansas City's Al Cowens had four singles: on each occasion, he never made it to second base, and he gathered the hits leading off an inning, batting second in an inning, batting third and batting fourth.
The Major Said: "It was good to win a close game for a change. I thought Arroyo was terrific. He wiggled out of it after George tripled. Good win tonight."
KC 000 010 000 00 1-8-1
Tigers 000 000 001 01 2-10-2
WP: Arroyo (1-1)
LP: Bird
Tigers record: 35-55 (actual 41-49)
Home: 16-30
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 4-6
The Tigers (35-55) scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings.
Kansas City's George Brett opened the Royals 10th with a triple, but didn't score.
In the 11th, Freehan walked with one out and moved to second on a Leon Roberts single with two outs. The next batter was Rodriguez, and he flicked a base hit into center field to easily score Freehan and send the crowd of 15,337 home happy.
The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the fifth when Frank White scored from third thanks to an error by Rodriguez, who would more than atone for that miscue later.
In the Tigers ninth, they loaded the bases with nobody out on two singles and a walk. Jack Pierce drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly. Roberts singled, reloading the bases. Rodriguez tapped out, pitcher to home plate, and Tom Veryzer struck out, keeping the game tied, 1-1.
Gary Sutherland and Roberts each had two singles for the Tigers. Fernando Arroyo (1-1) pitched three innings of scoreless relief to earn the win.
In an oddity, Kansas City's Al Cowens had four singles: on each occasion, he never made it to second base, and he gathered the hits leading off an inning, batting second in an inning, batting third and batting fourth.
The Major Said: "It was good to win a close game for a change. I thought Arroyo was terrific. He wiggled out of it after George tripled. Good win tonight."
KC 000 010 000 00 1-8-1
Tigers 000 000 001 01 2-10-2
WP: Arroyo (1-1)
LP: Bird
Tigers record: 35-55 (actual 41-49)
Home: 16-30
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 4-6
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Game 86: Royals Crush Tigers' Comeback Bid In 9th, 6-5
Kansas City (July 13, 1975) - Bill Freehan hit two home runs for the Tigers, including a three-run shot that tied the game in the eighth inning, but the Kansas City Royals pushed across a run in the bottom of the ninth to win, 6-5, at Royals Stadium Sunday afternoon.
Cookie Rojas's single plated George Brett with the winning run, with the bases loaded and one out.
The Tigers (33-53) go into the All-Star break a season-high 20 games below .500 and having lost 11 of their past 14 games.
Willie Horton also hit a home run for Detroit. Kansas City's Frank White homered for the third straight game.
The Royals built a 5-1 lead by the time the Tigers started to chip away in the sixth inning, when they scored a run on Horton's 15th homer.
In the eighth, Leon Roberts and Horton singled to start the frame. That brought up Freehan, who connected for a solo homer in the fourth off starter Dennis Leonard, who was lifted after Horton's single sent Roberts to second base.
Reliever Nelson Briles hung a breaking ball that Freehan rocketed into left center field for his sixth homer of the season and second of the game, tying the contest, 5-5.
Two outs later, Tom Veryzer tripled but was stranded.
In the Royals ninth, Brett started with a single off Dave Lemanczyk and went to third on a John Mayberry base hit. Hal McRae grounded out, sending Mayberry to second. Tony Solaita was walked intentionally, and Rojas blistered a fastball past a diving Veryzer between short and third for the game-winning hit.
The Major Said: "I liked the way we fought back. Bill showed he can still do it. But we had to go through the heart of their order and we couldn't get it done."
Tigers 000 101 030 5-12-0
KC 220 100 001 6-16-0
HR: Horton (DET, 15); Freehan (DET, [2] 6); White (KC)
WP: Briles
LP: Lemanczyk (0-1)
Tigers record: 33-53 (actual 39-47)
Home: 15-30
Away: 18-23
Last 10: 2-8
Cookie Rojas's single plated George Brett with the winning run, with the bases loaded and one out.
The Tigers (33-53) go into the All-Star break a season-high 20 games below .500 and having lost 11 of their past 14 games.
Willie Horton also hit a home run for Detroit. Kansas City's Frank White homered for the third straight game.
The Royals built a 5-1 lead by the time the Tigers started to chip away in the sixth inning, when they scored a run on Horton's 15th homer.
In the eighth, Leon Roberts and Horton singled to start the frame. That brought up Freehan, who connected for a solo homer in the fourth off starter Dennis Leonard, who was lifted after Horton's single sent Roberts to second base.
Reliever Nelson Briles hung a breaking ball that Freehan rocketed into left center field for his sixth homer of the season and second of the game, tying the contest, 5-5.
Two outs later, Tom Veryzer tripled but was stranded.
In the Royals ninth, Brett started with a single off Dave Lemanczyk and went to third on a John Mayberry base hit. Hal McRae grounded out, sending Mayberry to second. Tony Solaita was walked intentionally, and Rojas blistered a fastball past a diving Veryzer between short and third for the game-winning hit.
The Major Said: "I liked the way we fought back. Bill showed he can still do it. But we had to go through the heart of their order and we couldn't get it done."
Tigers 000 101 030 5-12-0
KC 220 100 001 6-16-0
HR: Horton (DET, 15); Freehan (DET, [2] 6); White (KC)
WP: Briles
LP: Lemanczyk (0-1)
Tigers record: 33-53 (actual 39-47)
Home: 15-30
Away: 18-23
Last 10: 2-8
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Game 81: Rodriguez Comes Through When it Counts, 6-5
Detroit (July 8) - Aurelio Rodriguez, with one swing, made up for a whole night of bad ones.
Rodriguez singled home pinch-runner Art James with the bases loaded in the 13th inning, and the Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox, 6-5, Tuesday night in Detroit.
The Tigers third baseman had been hitless with four strikeouts prior to turning hero in the 13th.
The Tigers (32-49) had a 4-1 lead but fell behind, 5-4, after a three-run home run by Bill Melton in the sixth inning. The Tigers tied the game in the ninth inning on Leon Roberts' sacrifice fly.
In the 13th, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out on a lead-off single by Bill Freehan, a single by Mickey Stanley and an intentional walk to Ben Oglivie. James ran for Freehan.
Stanley had four hits for the Tigers, including a solo home run. Ron LeFlore had three singles and scored two runs. John Hiller (3-6) picked up the win with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.
The Major Said: "No one will talk about it, but I thought (relief pitcher) Ike Brookens was one of the heroes tonight. He gave us three innings and some change of scoreless relief, which gave us a chance to tie the game. He was a little rocky but he got the job done."
Chicago 000 104 000 000 0 5-12-1
Tigers 110 200 001 000 1 6-16-1
HR: Kelly (CHI); Melton (CHI); Stanley (DET; 1)
WP: Hiller (3-6)
LP: Forster
Tigers record: 32-49 (actual 35-46)
Home: 15-29
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 3-7
Rodriguez singled home pinch-runner Art James with the bases loaded in the 13th inning, and the Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox, 6-5, Tuesday night in Detroit.
The Tigers third baseman had been hitless with four strikeouts prior to turning hero in the 13th.
The Tigers (32-49) had a 4-1 lead but fell behind, 5-4, after a three-run home run by Bill Melton in the sixth inning. The Tigers tied the game in the ninth inning on Leon Roberts' sacrifice fly.
In the 13th, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out on a lead-off single by Bill Freehan, a single by Mickey Stanley and an intentional walk to Ben Oglivie. James ran for Freehan.
Stanley had four hits for the Tigers, including a solo home run. Ron LeFlore had three singles and scored two runs. John Hiller (3-6) picked up the win with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.
The Major Said: "No one will talk about it, but I thought (relief pitcher) Ike Brookens was one of the heroes tonight. He gave us three innings and some change of scoreless relief, which gave us a chance to tie the game. He was a little rocky but he got the job done."
Chicago 000 104 000 000 0 5-12-1
Tigers 110 200 001 000 1 6-16-1
HR: Kelly (CHI); Melton (CHI); Stanley (DET; 1)
WP: Hiller (3-6)
LP: Forster
Tigers record: 32-49 (actual 35-46)
Home: 15-29
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 3-7
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Games 71 & 72: How SWEEP It Is! Tigers Broom Tribe in DH
Cleveland (June 30) - If only the Tigers could get this kind of pitching every night; they'd win a lot more ballgames.
It got them two wins tonight in Cleveland.
In a twi-night doubleheader, the Tigers beat the Indians twice, 1-0 and 6-2. They didn't need a relief pitcher in either game.
In Game 1, Vern Ruhle made a single run in the first inning hold up for the entire game, firing a six-hitter. Three Indians runners made it to second base but no further.
In Game 2, Lerrin LaGrow took the mound and, like Ruhle, never left it until the game's final out was recorded. The Tigers built a 6-0 lead and cruised. LaGrow limited the Tribe to eight scattered hits.
"Pitching, pitching, pitching," manager Ralph Houk said in opening his post-game statement after Game 2. "Tonight we got a ton of it."
Doubtless Houk was surprised to get through a twinbill without having to call on a reliever.
In the opener, Houk didn't dare, as Ruhle was in total control. In the nightcap, Houk resisted because, as he said, the Tigers' lead was comfortable enough to allow for some error.
Willie Horton (three-run shot, 13th) and Leon Roberts (two-run blast, 6th) hit homers in Game 2, supporting LaGrow.
In the opener, the Tigers used Ron LeFlore's speed to etch out a run.
The speedster led off the game with a base hit, stole second, and went to third on Gary Sutherland's fly ball. From there, LeFlore was plated by Dan Meyer's sacrifice fly.
Ruhle wiggled out of trouble all game long in spinning a shutout in Game 1
"You can't hit home runs all the time," Houk said. "We got a run there directly because of Ronnie's speed. And it held up."
Ruhle made sure of that. He put some runners on the base paths, but they were scattered and the Indians couldn't get the hit to break through. Ruhle walked five batters.
In the fourth, George Hendrick led off with a double but didn't get any further.
In the seventh, Oscar Gamble led off with a double. Rico Carty walked and the runners advanced to second and third after a ground out. Frank Duffy tried a squeeze bunt but it was hit too hard to Ruhle, who threw Gamble out at the plate. Ruhle got Buddy Bell to ground out to third to end the frame.
In fact, Ruhle's shutout was unusual in that in six of the nine innings, the Indians put the lead off man on yet couldn't score.
In the nightcap, the Tigers built a 6-0 lead by the fifth inning. Horton's moon shot into deep left center knocked Cleveland starter Dave Raich out of the game.
Notes: John Knox got a rare start at 2B in the night cap and had three singles...John Ellis caught both games for the Indians...In the second game, the Indians wore red jerseys with red pants...Cleveland relievers retired the last 14 Tigers hitters in a row in the second game, but the damage had been done...With the DH sweep, the Tigers escaped the AL East basement; they are now 1/2 game ahead of Cleveland.
**************************************************
Tigers record: 30-42 (actual 27-45)
Home: 13-23
Away: 17-19
Last 10: 4-6
It got them two wins tonight in Cleveland.
In a twi-night doubleheader, the Tigers beat the Indians twice, 1-0 and 6-2. They didn't need a relief pitcher in either game.
In Game 1, Vern Ruhle made a single run in the first inning hold up for the entire game, firing a six-hitter. Three Indians runners made it to second base but no further.
In Game 2, Lerrin LaGrow took the mound and, like Ruhle, never left it until the game's final out was recorded. The Tigers built a 6-0 lead and cruised. LaGrow limited the Tribe to eight scattered hits.
"Pitching, pitching, pitching," manager Ralph Houk said in opening his post-game statement after Game 2. "Tonight we got a ton of it."
Doubtless Houk was surprised to get through a twinbill without having to call on a reliever.
In the opener, Houk didn't dare, as Ruhle was in total control. In the nightcap, Houk resisted because, as he said, the Tigers' lead was comfortable enough to allow for some error.
Willie Horton (three-run shot, 13th) and Leon Roberts (two-run blast, 6th) hit homers in Game 2, supporting LaGrow.
In the opener, the Tigers used Ron LeFlore's speed to etch out a run.
The speedster led off the game with a base hit, stole second, and went to third on Gary Sutherland's fly ball. From there, LeFlore was plated by Dan Meyer's sacrifice fly.
Ruhle wiggled out of trouble all game long in spinning a shutout in Game 1
"You can't hit home runs all the time," Houk said. "We got a run there directly because of Ronnie's speed. And it held up."
Ruhle made sure of that. He put some runners on the base paths, but they were scattered and the Indians couldn't get the hit to break through. Ruhle walked five batters.
In the fourth, George Hendrick led off with a double but didn't get any further.
In the seventh, Oscar Gamble led off with a double. Rico Carty walked and the runners advanced to second and third after a ground out. Frank Duffy tried a squeeze bunt but it was hit too hard to Ruhle, who threw Gamble out at the plate. Ruhle got Buddy Bell to ground out to third to end the frame.
In fact, Ruhle's shutout was unusual in that in six of the nine innings, the Indians put the lead off man on yet couldn't score.
In the nightcap, the Tigers built a 6-0 lead by the fifth inning. Horton's moon shot into deep left center knocked Cleveland starter Dave Raich out of the game.
Notes: John Knox got a rare start at 2B in the night cap and had three singles...John Ellis caught both games for the Indians...In the second game, the Indians wore red jerseys with red pants...Cleveland relievers retired the last 14 Tigers hitters in a row in the second game, but the damage had been done...With the DH sweep, the Tigers escaped the AL East basement; they are now 1/2 game ahead of Cleveland.
**************************************************
Tigers record: 30-42 (actual 27-45)
Home: 13-23
Away: 17-19
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
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Game 59: Wow! Tigers Erase 8-Run Deficit; Dump Yanks, 16-11
Detroit (June 19) - If this is the Tigers' new formula for winning home games, then get ready for some 3-1/2 hour baseball games. And for some fireworks.
The offensively-challenged Tigers spotted the New York Yankees an 8-0 lead, then exploded for 16 runs from the third thru seventh innings to beat the Yanks 16-11 tonight at Tiger Stadium.
Yes, that's right. The Tigers scored 16 runs, a total that sometimes takes them a week to achieve.
"Who can explain it?" manager Ralph Houk said. "That's baseball."
What's even more amazing is that the outburst began against the Yankees' much-ballyhooed free agent signee, Jim "Catfish" Hunter.
Hunter had an 8-0 lead going into the bottom of the third. The Tigers nicked him for two runs in the third, then poured it on in the fourth with eight runs (seven charged to Hunter) to go ahead 10-9, the last two coming on Willie Horton's mammoth home run into the left field upper deck. It was Horton's second at-bat of the inning.
The eight-run fourth included seven hits, highlighted by Horton's homer and Danny Meyer's two-run triple.
The Tigers extended the lead to 14-9 with four runs in the sixth. Horton knocked in two more with a double.
Horton had four RBI to lead the Tigers to an unexpected victory
Ron Blomberg clubbed a two-run homer in the seventh to bring the Yankees to within 14-11, but the Tigers answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame on Leon Roberts' two-out, two-run single.
The Tigers banged out 20 hits as everyone except shortstop Tom Veryzer had at least one hit. Ron LeFlore (three hits) and Gary Sutherland (4-for-4) stayed hot. Combined with Meyer's three hits, the Tigers' 1-2-3 hitters went 10-for-14 and had seven RBI.
Quite a change from a team that normally scores runs like it's pulling teeth.
"It was a lot of fun out there tonight," Horton said. "Maybe this will get us going. Lots of smiles in the dugout, man."
LeFlore (.307), Sutherland (.322) and Horton (.318), three of the Tigers' first four hitters in Houk's lineup, are all hitting above .300. So why hasn't the team scored more runs this season?
"We've been streaky," LeFlore said. "I'm going good now but I wasn't for awhile. Suds (Sutherland) is hot again. And Willie has been the most consistent. But a lot of us have hit in streaks."
The offense made everyone forget the bad start of Ray Bare, who went just 1.2 innings and surrendered 9 hits and seven runs (five earned). Dave Lemanczyk (4-0) picked up the win with 3.2 innings of relief (two runs, none earned).
The game started ominously, as the first five Yankees scored, culminating with Chris Chambliss's three-run home run. When the Yankees went ahead 8-0 in the third, the booes could be heard loud and clear.
"It didn't look good, that's for sure," Houk said. "But baseball is nine innings, 27 outs."
The Tigers (24-35) get the Yankees three more times this weekend. It's doubtful any of those games will be as exhilirating as tonight's.
But you never know.
Notes: The 16 runs tied a season high, set exactly one month ago (May 19) in Minnesota...Chambliss had four hits for New York...The fourth inning knockout was Hunter's earliest since 1972...The Tigers team BA went from .264 to .268 during tonight's game...LeFlore is 17 for his last 34, raising his average 30 points (.277 to .307).
*************************************
Tigers record: 24-35 (actual (25-34)
Home: 11-22
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
The offensively-challenged Tigers spotted the New York Yankees an 8-0 lead, then exploded for 16 runs from the third thru seventh innings to beat the Yanks 16-11 tonight at Tiger Stadium.
Yes, that's right. The Tigers scored 16 runs, a total that sometimes takes them a week to achieve.
"Who can explain it?" manager Ralph Houk said. "That's baseball."
What's even more amazing is that the outburst began against the Yankees' much-ballyhooed free agent signee, Jim "Catfish" Hunter.
Hunter had an 8-0 lead going into the bottom of the third. The Tigers nicked him for two runs in the third, then poured it on in the fourth with eight runs (seven charged to Hunter) to go ahead 10-9, the last two coming on Willie Horton's mammoth home run into the left field upper deck. It was Horton's second at-bat of the inning.
The eight-run fourth included seven hits, highlighted by Horton's homer and Danny Meyer's two-run triple.
The Tigers extended the lead to 14-9 with four runs in the sixth. Horton knocked in two more with a double.
Horton had four RBI to lead the Tigers to an unexpected victory
Ron Blomberg clubbed a two-run homer in the seventh to bring the Yankees to within 14-11, but the Tigers answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame on Leon Roberts' two-out, two-run single.
The Tigers banged out 20 hits as everyone except shortstop Tom Veryzer had at least one hit. Ron LeFlore (three hits) and Gary Sutherland (4-for-4) stayed hot. Combined with Meyer's three hits, the Tigers' 1-2-3 hitters went 10-for-14 and had seven RBI.
Quite a change from a team that normally scores runs like it's pulling teeth.
"It was a lot of fun out there tonight," Horton said. "Maybe this will get us going. Lots of smiles in the dugout, man."
LeFlore (.307), Sutherland (.322) and Horton (.318), three of the Tigers' first four hitters in Houk's lineup, are all hitting above .300. So why hasn't the team scored more runs this season?
"We've been streaky," LeFlore said. "I'm going good now but I wasn't for awhile. Suds (Sutherland) is hot again. And Willie has been the most consistent. But a lot of us have hit in streaks."
The offense made everyone forget the bad start of Ray Bare, who went just 1.2 innings and surrendered 9 hits and seven runs (five earned). Dave Lemanczyk (4-0) picked up the win with 3.2 innings of relief (two runs, none earned).
The game started ominously, as the first five Yankees scored, culminating with Chris Chambliss's three-run home run. When the Yankees went ahead 8-0 in the third, the booes could be heard loud and clear.
"It didn't look good, that's for sure," Houk said. "But baseball is nine innings, 27 outs."
The Tigers (24-35) get the Yankees three more times this weekend. It's doubtful any of those games will be as exhilirating as tonight's.
But you never know.
Notes: The 16 runs tied a season high, set exactly one month ago (May 19) in Minnesota...Chambliss had four hits for New York...The fourth inning knockout was Hunter's earliest since 1972...The Tigers team BA went from .264 to .268 during tonight's game...LeFlore is 17 for his last 34, raising his average 30 points (.277 to .307).
*************************************
Tigers record: 24-35 (actual (25-34)
Home: 11-22
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Game 54: Oakland Gets All A's: Tigers Routed, 9-1
Detroit (June 13) - When the Oakland A's scored a single run in the first inning tonight at Tiger Stadium, you got the feeling that the Tigers were already knee-deep in trouble.
That's how bad Detroit's offense has been lately.
Tonight, the pitching followed suit, and the A's breezed to a 9-1 victory.
The Tigers' toothless offense managed seven hits against Oakland starter Ken Holtzman, who shut them out in Oakland on Sunday.
Leon Roberts personified the team's struggles by grounding into three double plays, each started by different infielders.
Joe Rudi (solo), Gene Tenace (two-run) and Reggie Jackson (two-run) hit home runs for the A's, who poured it on with five runs in the ninth.
The Tigers (21-33) lost their fourth straight and sixth of their past seven games on the heels of their season-high five-game winning streak.
![]()
Rudi: three hits, three runs, three RBI in 9-1 win
Worse, the Tigers fell to an unsightly and unbelievably bad 8-20 at home.
Tonight's game was filled with apathy---from the fans and, at times, the Tigers (or so it seemed).
The crowd of 29,567 appeared too fed up to even boo the Tigers; instead, the fans responded to each Oakland scoring rally with little more than a low murmur.
"To be this bad at home is really unbelievable," said Willie Horton, who had three singles. "I feel bad that we haven't given these people a good show for their hard-earned money."
Rudi had three hits and scored three runs. Tenace had three hits and even a stolen base.
The Tigers scored in the sixth when Roberts---who else---grounded into a 4-6-3 double play that plated Danny Meyer.
That made the score 4-1---normally still a competitive game. But with the Tigers' offense, the score may as well have been 44-1.
Notes: With two days before the June 15 trading deadline, rumors are flying about the futures of Nate Colbert and pitcher Joe Coleman, who started tonight's game. Roberts' name has been mentioned, too, as a player who could be moved...Aging DH Billy Williams, the former Cubs star, looked every bit his age (he'll be 37 on Sunday) as he went 0-for-5 and grounded to second base in each of his last three at-bats...Colbert went 0-for-4 and is 20-for-168 (.119) as a Tiger in 1975.
*********************************************************
Tigers record: 21-33 (actual 24-30)
Home: 8-20
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
That's how bad Detroit's offense has been lately.
Tonight, the pitching followed suit, and the A's breezed to a 9-1 victory.
The Tigers' toothless offense managed seven hits against Oakland starter Ken Holtzman, who shut them out in Oakland on Sunday.
Leon Roberts personified the team's struggles by grounding into three double plays, each started by different infielders.
Joe Rudi (solo), Gene Tenace (two-run) and Reggie Jackson (two-run) hit home runs for the A's, who poured it on with five runs in the ninth.
The Tigers (21-33) lost their fourth straight and sixth of their past seven games on the heels of their season-high five-game winning streak.
Rudi: three hits, three runs, three RBI in 9-1 win
Worse, the Tigers fell to an unsightly and unbelievably bad 8-20 at home.
Tonight's game was filled with apathy---from the fans and, at times, the Tigers (or so it seemed).
The crowd of 29,567 appeared too fed up to even boo the Tigers; instead, the fans responded to each Oakland scoring rally with little more than a low murmur.
"To be this bad at home is really unbelievable," said Willie Horton, who had three singles. "I feel bad that we haven't given these people a good show for their hard-earned money."
Rudi had three hits and scored three runs. Tenace had three hits and even a stolen base.
The Tigers scored in the sixth when Roberts---who else---grounded into a 4-6-3 double play that plated Danny Meyer.
That made the score 4-1---normally still a competitive game. But with the Tigers' offense, the score may as well have been 44-1.
Notes: With two days before the June 15 trading deadline, rumors are flying about the futures of Nate Colbert and pitcher Joe Coleman, who started tonight's game. Roberts' name has been mentioned, too, as a player who could be moved...Aging DH Billy Williams, the former Cubs star, looked every bit his age (he'll be 37 on Sunday) as he went 0-for-5 and grounded to second base in each of his last three at-bats...Colbert went 0-for-4 and is 20-for-168 (.119) as a Tiger in 1975.
*********************************************************
Tigers record: 21-33 (actual 24-30)
Home: 8-20
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Game 50: Tigers Overcome Royals, Finish 6-2 Trip
Kansas City, MO (June 10) - When the Tigers left Detroit, they were 15-27 and the wheels looked to be falling off, based on a 1-10 streak.
They return home having put their house back together again, at least for the time being.
The Tigers completed a 6-2 road trip with a 5-2 win over the Royals tonight.
Leon Roberts had two hits, including a solo homer, and drove in two runs. Ron LeFlore had three singles, and the Tigers banged out 11 hits in overcoming a 2-1 deficit midway through the game.
Starter Vern Ruhle (4-6) won his third straight start, posting a 2.14 ERA in that time.
Even light-hitting backup catcher Terry Humphrey got into the act with a couple hits, an RBI and a run scored.
"It'll be a much happier flight back home than the one leaving Detroit," manager Ralph Houk said.
Indeed.
The Tigers are 8-16 at home and left Detroit having lost 10 of 11 and looking completely out of sorts.
But they reeled off five wins to start the trip and won tonight, breaking a modest two-game losing streak.
"I think we played more relaxed on this trip," Roberts observed. "Maybe getting out of Detroit was good for us."
Roberts was 2-for-3 with two RBI
Now, Houk can only hope returning to Detroit brings the same "relaxed" play.
"We have twelve straight home games coming up," Houk said. "It's time to put up or shut up now."
If the Tigers can right the ship at home, the 12-game home stand provides a great chance to get back into the division race---a thought not lost on LeFlore.
"Just think. If we start winning at home like good teams should do, we could be right in the thick of things before too long," the speedster said.
The Tigers are currently in a virtual tie for last with Baltimore, seven games behind Boston.
But, as LeFlore said and Houk hopes, things can turn around quickly with some wins at home.
Tonight, the Tigers trailed 2-1 in the fifth before scoring twice on three singles and an error.
They added to their lead with Roberts' solo homer in the sixth. A Humphrey single in the seventh brought home the fifth run.
Ruhle went eight innings of six-hit ball.
Notes: Newly-acquired RHP Bob Reynolds made his Tigers debut in the ninth, pitching a stress-free inning for the save. The Tigers traded RHP Fred Holdsworth to Baltimore on May 29 for Reynolds, a 28-year-old veteran now with his fifth big league team...Between Nate Colbert (.128) and rookie Jack Pierce (1-for-21), the Tigers have, by far, the worst production at first base in the majors...Houk said he inserted Reynolds in the ninth because he wanted to give normal fireman John Hiller the night off, despite it being a save situation.
********************************************************
Tigers record: 21-29 (actual 23-27)
Home: 8-16
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 6-4
They return home having put their house back together again, at least for the time being.
The Tigers completed a 6-2 road trip with a 5-2 win over the Royals tonight.
Leon Roberts had two hits, including a solo homer, and drove in two runs. Ron LeFlore had three singles, and the Tigers banged out 11 hits in overcoming a 2-1 deficit midway through the game.
Starter Vern Ruhle (4-6) won his third straight start, posting a 2.14 ERA in that time.
Even light-hitting backup catcher Terry Humphrey got into the act with a couple hits, an RBI and a run scored.
"It'll be a much happier flight back home than the one leaving Detroit," manager Ralph Houk said.
Indeed.
The Tigers are 8-16 at home and left Detroit having lost 10 of 11 and looking completely out of sorts.
But they reeled off five wins to start the trip and won tonight, breaking a modest two-game losing streak.
"I think we played more relaxed on this trip," Roberts observed. "Maybe getting out of Detroit was good for us."
Roberts was 2-for-3 with two RBI
Now, Houk can only hope returning to Detroit brings the same "relaxed" play.
"We have twelve straight home games coming up," Houk said. "It's time to put up or shut up now."
If the Tigers can right the ship at home, the 12-game home stand provides a great chance to get back into the division race---a thought not lost on LeFlore.
"Just think. If we start winning at home like good teams should do, we could be right in the thick of things before too long," the speedster said.
The Tigers are currently in a virtual tie for last with Baltimore, seven games behind Boston.
But, as LeFlore said and Houk hopes, things can turn around quickly with some wins at home.
Tonight, the Tigers trailed 2-1 in the fifth before scoring twice on three singles and an error.
They added to their lead with Roberts' solo homer in the sixth. A Humphrey single in the seventh brought home the fifth run.
Ruhle went eight innings of six-hit ball.
Notes: Newly-acquired RHP Bob Reynolds made his Tigers debut in the ninth, pitching a stress-free inning for the save. The Tigers traded RHP Fred Holdsworth to Baltimore on May 29 for Reynolds, a 28-year-old veteran now with his fifth big league team...Between Nate Colbert (.128) and rookie Jack Pierce (1-for-21), the Tigers have, by far, the worst production at first base in the majors...Houk said he inserted Reynolds in the ninth because he wanted to give normal fireman John Hiller the night off, despite it being a save situation.
********************************************************
Tigers record: 21-29 (actual 23-27)
Home: 8-16
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 6-4
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Game 44: Lemanczyk Makes Rare Start, Dominates, 3-1
Anaheim, CA (June 4) - Dave Lemanczyk made his first start since April 30---7.2 innings of one-run ball---and struggling fireman John Hiller recorded his second straight save, wriggling out of a bases loaded, no-out jam in the ninth inning as the Tigers beat the California Angels, 3-1 tonight.
Lemanczyk (3-0) took the baseball and struck out 10 Angels, allowing just five hits as he breezed through every inning except the seventh.
Leon Roberts' two-run single in the seventh put the Tigers up 3-0.
In the Angels' seventh, Lemanczyk lost his command and loaded the bases with nobody out. But he limited the damage to one run: a force out to score a run, followed by an inning-ending double play.
Hiller faced the same daunting situation in the ninth. Bruce Bochte doubled, Dave Chalk walked, and rookie first baseman Jack Pierce, appearing in his first game as a Tiger, botched Dave Collins' sacrifice bunt to fill the bases with no outs. But the lefty struck out Leroy Stanton and Ellie Rodriguez, then got Billy Smith to pop out to second base to seal his ninth save.
The Tigers (17-27) have won the first two games of this eight-game road trip after a 1-10 stretch. They are 9-11 on the road, compared to 8-16 at home.
"No explanation for it," manager Ralph Houk said when the differing records were pointed out to him. "After you've been in this game as long as I have, you stop trying to figure certain things out."
Houk was more eager to talk about Lemanczyk, who was pressed into duty thanks to Sunday's doubleheader.
Lemanczyk's first start since April 30 was a gem
"I was really proud of Dave," Houk said. "To go over a month between starts isn't easy, but he made it look easy."
Of his 10 strikeouts, a career high, Lemanczyk said, "Sometimes they swing and miss. I had a good slider and some fastball movement."
Pierce was making his Tigers debut after being recalled from Toledo. The Tigers sent catcher Gene Lamont to the Mud Hens to make room for the tall, lefty-swinging first baseman.
Naturally, Pierce's promotion caused reporters to speculate about the future of Nate Colbert, who has struggled mightily as a Tiger.
Houk wouldn't comment, but GM Jim Campbell is with the team during the trip, which has fueled talk that a roster move involving Colbert was imminent.
Notes: Pierce was 0-for-4, but had an RBI ground out...Bill Freehan was hit by a pitch for the 110th time, a franchise record...Ron LeFlore's 0-for-5 makes him 12 for his last 58 AB...Angels starter Ed Figueroa pitched all nine innings, surrendering 10 hits but just the three runs...Houk said Joe Coleman, who injured his left knee in last night's game after just two innings, is feeling much better and should be able to make his next start.
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Tigers record: 17-27 (actual 21-23)
Home: 8-16
Away: 9-11
Last 10: 3-7
Lemanczyk (3-0) took the baseball and struck out 10 Angels, allowing just five hits as he breezed through every inning except the seventh.
Leon Roberts' two-run single in the seventh put the Tigers up 3-0.
In the Angels' seventh, Lemanczyk lost his command and loaded the bases with nobody out. But he limited the damage to one run: a force out to score a run, followed by an inning-ending double play.
Hiller faced the same daunting situation in the ninth. Bruce Bochte doubled, Dave Chalk walked, and rookie first baseman Jack Pierce, appearing in his first game as a Tiger, botched Dave Collins' sacrifice bunt to fill the bases with no outs. But the lefty struck out Leroy Stanton and Ellie Rodriguez, then got Billy Smith to pop out to second base to seal his ninth save.
The Tigers (17-27) have won the first two games of this eight-game road trip after a 1-10 stretch. They are 9-11 on the road, compared to 8-16 at home.
"No explanation for it," manager Ralph Houk said when the differing records were pointed out to him. "After you've been in this game as long as I have, you stop trying to figure certain things out."
Houk was more eager to talk about Lemanczyk, who was pressed into duty thanks to Sunday's doubleheader.
Lemanczyk's first start since April 30 was a gem
"I was really proud of Dave," Houk said. "To go over a month between starts isn't easy, but he made it look easy."
Of his 10 strikeouts, a career high, Lemanczyk said, "Sometimes they swing and miss. I had a good slider and some fastball movement."
Pierce was making his Tigers debut after being recalled from Toledo. The Tigers sent catcher Gene Lamont to the Mud Hens to make room for the tall, lefty-swinging first baseman.
Naturally, Pierce's promotion caused reporters to speculate about the future of Nate Colbert, who has struggled mightily as a Tiger.
Houk wouldn't comment, but GM Jim Campbell is with the team during the trip, which has fueled talk that a roster move involving Colbert was imminent.
Notes: Pierce was 0-for-4, but had an RBI ground out...Bill Freehan was hit by a pitch for the 110th time, a franchise record...Ron LeFlore's 0-for-5 makes him 12 for his last 58 AB...Angels starter Ed Figueroa pitched all nine innings, surrendering 10 hits but just the three runs...Houk said Joe Coleman, who injured his left knee in last night's game after just two innings, is feeling much better and should be able to make his next start.
**********************************************************************
Tigers record: 17-27 (actual 21-23)
Home: 8-16
Away: 9-11
Last 10: 3-7
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.
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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
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Game 40: Tigers Escape Jams, End Losing Skid
Detroit (May 31) - For once, it was the Tigers who scored first. For once, it was the Tigers who increased their lead. For once, it was the other team who failed to finish their rallies.
It all added up to a 5-3 win over the Chicago White Sox today at Tiger Stadium, ending Detroit's eight-game losing streak.
Starter Vern Ruhle, among several in the rotation who've struggled this season, pitched into the eighth inning, allowing just seven hits and three runs, walking only two.
But it was the man who relieved him who saved the day.
Tom Walker entered the eighth with runners on first and third (error, single) and nobody out. The Tigers were hanging on to a precarious 5-3 lead. Walker then set down Deron Johnson (strikeout), Bill Stein (shallow fly ball) and Tony Muser (fly ball), stranding the runners.
Then in the ninth, inconsistent John Hiller survived a second Gary Sutherland error and left the bases loaded to end the game, earning his seventh save.
"Plop, plop, fizz fizz," manager Ralph Houk said afterward, invoking the line from a popular antacid commercial. "Oh what a relief it is."
The Tigers' first win since May 19 didn't come easy. They usually don't when you've lost eight in a row.
Ruhle escaped jams in the third and fifth before Walker wiggled his way out of the White Sox eighth.
"The bullpen picked me up today," Ruhle (2-6) said. "I owe Tom (Walker) a beer."
Walker saved Ruhle's bacon in the eighth
The Tigers were leading 2-1 in the fifth when Sutherland doubled home catcher Terry Humphrey, and Leon Roberts added an RBI ground out for a 4-1 lead.
After the White Sox used three singles and a couple ground outs to get within 4-3 in the sixth,
Aurelio Rodriguez laced a Jim Kaat pitch into the left field lower deck for an insurance run in the Tigers' half of the inning.
"My thing has always been, you're not officially out of a losing streak until you win a couple in a row," Houk said. "It's nice to win, but we can't keep piling up the ones in the right hand column (losses)."
Thanks to Friday's rainout, the Tigers and White Sox will play a doubleheader Sunday afternoon.
Only then will we know if Houk's team is "officially" out of its losing streak.
Notes: Willie Horton's two RBI gives him 26, which is on pace for 104 for the season. Still, he's not satisfied. "I could have a lot more," Horton said, despite carrying a healthy .317 BA...Sutherland on his two errors, both botched grounders: "Mental. Gotta bear down more. That's unacceptable"....Ruhle won for the first time since May 8.
***************************************************************
Tigers record: 15-25 (actual 19-21)
Home: 8-14
Away: 7-11
Last 10: 2-8
It all added up to a 5-3 win over the Chicago White Sox today at Tiger Stadium, ending Detroit's eight-game losing streak.
Starter Vern Ruhle, among several in the rotation who've struggled this season, pitched into the eighth inning, allowing just seven hits and three runs, walking only two.
But it was the man who relieved him who saved the day.
Tom Walker entered the eighth with runners on first and third (error, single) and nobody out. The Tigers were hanging on to a precarious 5-3 lead. Walker then set down Deron Johnson (strikeout), Bill Stein (shallow fly ball) and Tony Muser (fly ball), stranding the runners.
Then in the ninth, inconsistent John Hiller survived a second Gary Sutherland error and left the bases loaded to end the game, earning his seventh save.
"Plop, plop, fizz fizz," manager Ralph Houk said afterward, invoking the line from a popular antacid commercial. "Oh what a relief it is."
The Tigers' first win since May 19 didn't come easy. They usually don't when you've lost eight in a row.
Ruhle escaped jams in the third and fifth before Walker wiggled his way out of the White Sox eighth.
"The bullpen picked me up today," Ruhle (2-6) said. "I owe Tom (Walker) a beer."
Walker saved Ruhle's bacon in the eighth
The Tigers were leading 2-1 in the fifth when Sutherland doubled home catcher Terry Humphrey, and Leon Roberts added an RBI ground out for a 4-1 lead.
After the White Sox used three singles and a couple ground outs to get within 4-3 in the sixth,
Aurelio Rodriguez laced a Jim Kaat pitch into the left field lower deck for an insurance run in the Tigers' half of the inning.
"My thing has always been, you're not officially out of a losing streak until you win a couple in a row," Houk said. "It's nice to win, but we can't keep piling up the ones in the right hand column (losses)."
Thanks to Friday's rainout, the Tigers and White Sox will play a doubleheader Sunday afternoon.
Only then will we know if Houk's team is "officially" out of its losing streak.
Notes: Willie Horton's two RBI gives him 26, which is on pace for 104 for the season. Still, he's not satisfied. "I could have a lot more," Horton said, despite carrying a healthy .317 BA...Sutherland on his two errors, both botched grounders: "Mental. Gotta bear down more. That's unacceptable"....Ruhle won for the first time since May 8.
***************************************************************
Tigers record: 15-25 (actual 19-21)
Home: 8-14
Away: 7-11
Last 10: 2-8
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