Arlington, TEX (Wed., Aug. 27, 1975) - If it wasn't for the Minnesota Twins, the Tigers would be in even more dire shape than they are now.
Fergie Jenkins spun a complete-game, five-hit shutout as the Texas Rangers beat Detroit, 7-0 on Wednesday night.
The loss made the Tigers (51-80) 4-16 in their past 20 games, and all four wins came at the expense of the Twins. Detroit hasn't beaten a team that's not the Twins since August 6.
Detroit finished its road trip 3-9, and every series was a three-game sweep: at the hands of California, Oakland and Texas; and a sweep of the Twins.
The Rangers broke Wednesday's game open with a six-run fourth inning.
Texas got six hits , two walks and a wild pitch in chasing starter Lerrin LaGrow (7-16) before he retired a batter in the fourth. The first six Rangers hitters reached base before manager Ralph Houk brought out the hook.
Mike Cubbage had three RBI for the Rangers, who swept the Tigers in three games in Detroit two weeks ago.
Jenkins scattered five hits, including two, two-out doubles.
Tom Walker pitched four scoreless innings of relief, keeping the score somewhat respectable.
The Tigers return home to face the California Angels this weekend.
The Major Said: "Jenkins, like (Gaylord) Perry last night, got into a groove and when veteran guys like that get rolling, look out. We didn't hit too many balls very hard. I was very impressed."
Tigers 000 000 000 0-5-1
Texas 001 600 00x 7-10-1
WP: Jenkins
LP: LaGrow (7-16)
Tigers record: 51-80 (actual 51-80)
Home: 24-41
Away: 27-39
Last 10: 3-7
Showing posts with label Lerrin LaGrow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lerrin LaGrow. Show all posts
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Game 127: Horton Homers, Tigers Survive Late Scare, 5-3
Bloomington, MN (Sat., Aug. 23, 1975) - Willie Horton slammed a two-run homer, his first home run in three weeks, and the Tigers staved off a ninth inning rally to beat the Minnesota Twins, 5-3, Saturday.
The Tigers (50-77) won their second straight game on the heels of a 10-game losing streak. They won consecutive games for the first time since August 6.
Horton's homer, his 18th, gave the Tigers a seemingly comfortable 5-1 lead in the eighth inning. But the Twins kicked up their heels in the ninth, scoring twice and getting runners on first and third with one out. Then Fernando Arroyo, after giving up hits to the first two Twins batters he faced, quelled the uprising by striking out Lyman Bostock and getting Jerry Terrell to ground into a fielder's choice.
The Tigers opened a 3-0 lead in the fourth. Ahead 1-0, Dan Meyer, Ben Oglivie and Aurelio Rodriguez singled, loading the bases with two outs. John Wockenfuss walked, scoring Meyer, and a passed ball charged to Twins catcher Phil Roof scored Oglivie and it was 3-0 Detroit.
Lerrin LaGrow (7-14) went 8.1 innings for the win. Arroyo picked up his fifth save.
The Major Said: "I know Willie (Horton) is a very proud man and that streak of no home runs had been bothering him. Maybe he can get hot and hit some more. He tends to hit them in bunches."
Tigers 100 200 020 5-10-0
Minn. 000 001 002 3-9-0
HR: Horton (DET, 18)
WP: LaGrow (7-14)
SV: Arroyo (5)
LP: Blyleven
The Tigers (50-77) won their second straight game on the heels of a 10-game losing streak. They won consecutive games for the first time since August 6.
Horton's homer, his 18th, gave the Tigers a seemingly comfortable 5-1 lead in the eighth inning. But the Twins kicked up their heels in the ninth, scoring twice and getting runners on first and third with one out. Then Fernando Arroyo, after giving up hits to the first two Twins batters he faced, quelled the uprising by striking out Lyman Bostock and getting Jerry Terrell to ground into a fielder's choice.
The Tigers opened a 3-0 lead in the fourth. Ahead 1-0, Dan Meyer, Ben Oglivie and Aurelio Rodriguez singled, loading the bases with two outs. John Wockenfuss walked, scoring Meyer, and a passed ball charged to Twins catcher Phil Roof scored Oglivie and it was 3-0 Detroit.
Lerrin LaGrow (7-14) went 8.1 innings for the win. Arroyo picked up his fifth save.
The Major Said: "I know Willie (Horton) is a very proud man and that streak of no home runs had been bothering him. Maybe he can get hot and hit some more. He tends to hit them in bunches."
Tigers 100 200 020 5-10-0
Minn. 000 001 002 3-9-0
HR: Horton (DET, 18)
WP: LaGrow (7-14)
SV: Arroyo (5)
LP: Blyleven
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Game 117: Burroughs Hurts Tigers Early, Late, 5-3
Detroit (Mon., Aug. 11, 1975) - Jeff Burroughs clubbed two home runs, including a go-ahead, three-run shot in the eighth inning, and the Texas Rangers beat the Tigers, 5-3, at Tiger Stadium Monday night.
Burroughs also hit a solo homer in the second to put the Rangers ahead, 1-0. He finished with four RBI.
The backbreaking homer in the eighth came off reliever Fernando Arroyo, who was facing his first batter in relief of starter Lerrin LaGrow. Two were out and nobody on when LaGrow ran into trouble: back-to-back singles by Lenny Randle and Mike Hargrove.
LaGrow was then lifted, and Burroughs greeted Arroyo with a moonshot to deep left center on the second pitch. As Burroughs rounded the bases, boos were clearly heard from the crowd of 11,246.
The Rangers added an insurance run in the ninth.
The Tigers (48-69) got a leadoff single from Ben Oglivie in their half of the ninth, but starter Gaylord Perry (complete game) retired the next three batters without the ball leaving the infield.
Gene Michael hit a two-run homer (2) for the Tigers in the second inning for a 2-1 lead. Detroit added a run in the seventh to go ahead 3-1 and set up Burroughs' heroics.
After a four-game winning streak, the Tigers have lost five of six.
The Major Said: "That's why he (Burroughs) won the MVP last year. Big time players come up with big time hits, and he's a big time player."
Texas 010 000 031 5-9-0
Tigers 002 000 100 3-5-0
HR: Burroughs (TEX [2]); Michael (DET, 2)
WP: Perry
LP: Arroyo (2-4)
Tigers record: 48-69 (actual 46-71)
Home: 24-39
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 5-5
Burroughs also hit a solo homer in the second to put the Rangers ahead, 1-0. He finished with four RBI.
The backbreaking homer in the eighth came off reliever Fernando Arroyo, who was facing his first batter in relief of starter Lerrin LaGrow. Two were out and nobody on when LaGrow ran into trouble: back-to-back singles by Lenny Randle and Mike Hargrove.
LaGrow was then lifted, and Burroughs greeted Arroyo with a moonshot to deep left center on the second pitch. As Burroughs rounded the bases, boos were clearly heard from the crowd of 11,246.
The Rangers added an insurance run in the ninth.
The Tigers (48-69) got a leadoff single from Ben Oglivie in their half of the ninth, but starter Gaylord Perry (complete game) retired the next three batters without the ball leaving the infield.
Gene Michael hit a two-run homer (2) for the Tigers in the second inning for a 2-1 lead. Detroit added a run in the seventh to go ahead 3-1 and set up Burroughs' heroics.
After a four-game winning streak, the Tigers have lost five of six.
The Major Said: "That's why he (Burroughs) won the MVP last year. Big time players come up with big time hits, and he's a big time player."
Texas 010 000 031 5-9-0
Tigers 002 000 100 3-5-0
HR: Burroughs (TEX [2]); Michael (DET, 2)
WP: Perry
LP: Arroyo (2-4)
Tigers record: 48-69 (actual 46-71)
Home: 24-39
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 5-5
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Game 106: Five-Run Third KOs Tigers, 8-3
Boston (Fri., Aug. 1, 1975) - The Boston Red Sox erupted for five runs in the third inning, and cruised to an 8-3 victory over the Tigers at Fenway Park on Friday night.
The Red Sox have taken the first three games of this five-game weekend series.
Lerrin LaGrow (5-13) allowed the first five Red Sox hitters to reach base in the third inning, and he was removed after just 2.1 innings of work. Boston catcher Carlton Fisk stroked a two-run triple in the frame. Fisk homered in the second inning for a 1-0 Boston lead.
The Tigers (43-63) chipped away at the 6-0 deficit, as Gary Sutherland lofted a fly ball over the Green Monster in left for a two-run homer (5) in the fifth make the score 6-3. But the Red Sox added two runs in the eighth to salt away the win.
Bill Freehan hit a solo homer (9) in the fourth for Detroit.
Red Sox starter Luis Tiant went 8.1 innings for the win.
Tigers first baseman Jack Pierce went 0-for-3, extending his hitless slump to 29 at-bats in a row.
The Major Said: "You saw how quickly you can score runs in this ballpark. You blink and they're up 6-0. But that's how it goes here."
Tigers 000 120 000 3-10-0
Boston 015 000 02x 8-14-0
HR: Fisk (BOS); Freehan (DET, 9); Sutherland (DET, 5)
WP: Tiant
LP: LaGrow (5-13)
Tigers record: 43-63 (actual 46-60)
Home: 22-34
Away: 21-29
Last 10: 4-6
The Red Sox have taken the first three games of this five-game weekend series.
Lerrin LaGrow (5-13) allowed the first five Red Sox hitters to reach base in the third inning, and he was removed after just 2.1 innings of work. Boston catcher Carlton Fisk stroked a two-run triple in the frame. Fisk homered in the second inning for a 1-0 Boston lead.
The Tigers (43-63) chipped away at the 6-0 deficit, as Gary Sutherland lofted a fly ball over the Green Monster in left for a two-run homer (5) in the fifth make the score 6-3. But the Red Sox added two runs in the eighth to salt away the win.
Bill Freehan hit a solo homer (9) in the fourth for Detroit.
Red Sox starter Luis Tiant went 8.1 innings for the win.
Tigers first baseman Jack Pierce went 0-for-3, extending his hitless slump to 29 at-bats in a row.
The Major Said: "You saw how quickly you can score runs in this ballpark. You blink and they're up 6-0. But that's how it goes here."
Tigers 000 120 000 3-10-0
Boston 015 000 02x 8-14-0
HR: Fisk (BOS); Freehan (DET, 9); Sutherland (DET, 5)
WP: Tiant
LP: LaGrow (5-13)
Tigers record: 43-63 (actual 46-60)
Home: 22-34
Away: 21-29
Last 10: 4-6
Monday, July 30, 2012
Games 99 & 100: Tigers, Tribe Swap Blowout Wins in DH
Detroit (Sun., July 27, 1975) - The Cleveland Indians whalloped the Tigers, 9-3, then were the recipients of a 6-2 loss as the teams split a Sunday doubleheader in Detroit.
The Tribe used a seven-run fifth inning to take command of Game 1.
In the nightcap, the Tigers (41-59) built a 4-0 lead by the fourth inning, watched the Indians pull to within 4-2, then finished Cleveland off with single runs in the fifth and seventh innings.
Willie Horton (16) broke a home run drought with a four-bagger in Game 1, his first homer in nearly two weeks. Tom Veryzer hit his first home run of the season in the eighth inning of the first game.
Tigers starter Tom Walker was blitzed in Game 1, giving up seven runs in 4.1 innings. In Game 2, Lerrin LaGrow pitched 7.2 strong innings. John Hiller got his 17th save, though he reported tightness in his pitching elbow after the game.
Tigers brass said Hiller would have the elbow examined on Monday in New York, where the team opens a three-game series.
The Tigers lost outfielder/first baseman Mickey Stanley Saturday to a broken hand. It's unclear whether Stanley will miss the rest of the season.
The Tigers finished their 11-game home stand with a 7-4 record.
The Major Said: "Clearly we don't want to lose John (Hiller) for any length of time. It would be a big blow. He's had tightness before, but he said this felt a little worse. We'll just have to keep our fingers crossed. He said it bothered him during the last batter of the game, (Rick) Manning."
Game 1
Cleveland 000 070 002 9-14-0
Tigers 001 100 010 3-10-0
HR: Manning (CLE); Sutherland (DET, 4); Horton (DET, 16); Veryzer (DET, 1)
WP: Raich
LP: Walker (2-3)
Game 2
Cleveland 000 020 000 2-8-0
Tigers 100 310 10x 6-8-0
HR: Gamble (CLE); Roberts (DET, 10)
WP: LaGrow (4-11)
SV: Hiller (17)
LP: Peterson
Tigers record: 41-59 (actual 45-55)
Home: 22-34
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 6-4
The Tribe used a seven-run fifth inning to take command of Game 1.
In the nightcap, the Tigers (41-59) built a 4-0 lead by the fourth inning, watched the Indians pull to within 4-2, then finished Cleveland off with single runs in the fifth and seventh innings.
Willie Horton (16) broke a home run drought with a four-bagger in Game 1, his first homer in nearly two weeks. Tom Veryzer hit his first home run of the season in the eighth inning of the first game.
Tigers starter Tom Walker was blitzed in Game 1, giving up seven runs in 4.1 innings. In Game 2, Lerrin LaGrow pitched 7.2 strong innings. John Hiller got his 17th save, though he reported tightness in his pitching elbow after the game.
Tigers brass said Hiller would have the elbow examined on Monday in New York, where the team opens a three-game series.
The Tigers lost outfielder/first baseman Mickey Stanley Saturday to a broken hand. It's unclear whether Stanley will miss the rest of the season.
The Tigers finished their 11-game home stand with a 7-4 record.
The Major Said: "Clearly we don't want to lose John (Hiller) for any length of time. It would be a big blow. He's had tightness before, but he said this felt a little worse. We'll just have to keep our fingers crossed. He said it bothered him during the last batter of the game, (Rick) Manning."
Game 1
Cleveland 000 070 002 9-14-0
Tigers 001 100 010 3-10-0
HR: Manning (CLE); Sutherland (DET, 4); Horton (DET, 16); Veryzer (DET, 1)
WP: Raich
LP: Walker (2-3)
Game 2
Cleveland 000 020 000 2-8-0
Tigers 100 310 10x 6-8-0
HR: Gamble (CLE); Roberts (DET, 10)
WP: LaGrow (4-11)
SV: Hiller (17)
LP: Peterson
Tigers record: 41-59 (actual 45-55)
Home: 22-34
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 6-4
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Games 93 & 94: Tigers Sweep Twinbill; Both 3-1
Detroit (Tue., July 22, 1975) - Bill Freehan's three-run homer broke a scoreless tie in the eighth inning, enabling the Tigers to sweep a doubleheader with the Oakland A's Tuesday at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers won both games by the score of 3-1.
With two outs and runners on first and third in the bottom of the eighth inning in the nightcap, Freehan connected into left center field off reliever Rollie Fingers, and the Tigers held off an Oakland rally in the ninth.
The A's loaded the bases with nobody out in the ninth, but John Hiller allowed just one run before coaxing Billy Williams into a game-ending ground out.
In Game 1, the Tigers also scored all three of their runs in one inning---the sixth. The big blow was a two-run homer by Jack Pierce into the left field upper deck. The A's scored their only run in the first inning.
Tigers starters Lerrin LaGrow (complete game) and Tom Walker combined for 17 innings pitched and two earned runs allowed on nine hits. LaGrow pitched the first game.
The Tigers (38-56) have won four of five and are 5-2 against AL West-leading Oakland this season.
The Major Said: "We're winning some games because we're pitching and rewarding that pitching. It's very simple. For the most part, I like how we've pitched. The bats just haven't always been there."
Game 1
Oakland 100 000 000 1-4-0
Tigers 000 003 00x 3-8-1
HR: Pierce (DET, 3)
WP: LaGrow
LP: Bahnsen
Game 2
Oakland 000 000 001 1-6-2
Tigers 000 000 03x 3-5-0
HR: Freehan (DET, 7)
WP: Walker
SV: Hiller (15)
LP: Abbott
Tigers record: 38-56 (actual 42-52)
Home: 19-31
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 5-5
The Tigers won both games by the score of 3-1.
With two outs and runners on first and third in the bottom of the eighth inning in the nightcap, Freehan connected into left center field off reliever Rollie Fingers, and the Tigers held off an Oakland rally in the ninth.
The A's loaded the bases with nobody out in the ninth, but John Hiller allowed just one run before coaxing Billy Williams into a game-ending ground out.
In Game 1, the Tigers also scored all three of their runs in one inning---the sixth. The big blow was a two-run homer by Jack Pierce into the left field upper deck. The A's scored their only run in the first inning.
Tigers starters Lerrin LaGrow (complete game) and Tom Walker combined for 17 innings pitched and two earned runs allowed on nine hits. LaGrow pitched the first game.
The Tigers (38-56) have won four of five and are 5-2 against AL West-leading Oakland this season.
The Major Said: "We're winning some games because we're pitching and rewarding that pitching. It's very simple. For the most part, I like how we've pitched. The bats just haven't always been there."
Game 1
Oakland 100 000 000 1-4-0
Tigers 000 003 00x 3-8-1
HR: Pierce (DET, 3)
WP: LaGrow
LP: Bahnsen
Game 2
Oakland 000 000 001 1-6-2
Tigers 000 000 03x 3-5-0
HR: Freehan (DET, 7)
WP: Walker
SV: Hiller (15)
LP: Abbott
Tigers record: 38-56 (actual 42-52)
Home: 19-31
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 5-5
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
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Game 85: Fitzmorris Battles, Royals Cruise, 7-1
Kansas City (July 12, 1975) - Al Fitzmorris labored through eight innings, giving up 10 hits but only one unearned run, and the Kansas City Royals routed the Tigers, 7-1, at Royals Stadium Saturday night.
The Royals used a 16-hit barrage to take two of the first three games of this weekend series, which is the last before the All-Star break.
The Tigers had 11 hits, but left many runners on base and were lacking that big hit all evening. Ten of the Tigers' hits were singles.
The Royals roughed up Tigers starter Lerrin LaGrow (3-12), blistering him for seven runs (six earned) and 12 hits in 4.2 innings.
Frank White hit a two-run home run in the second inning, his second homer of the series.
The Royals scored three times in the second and twice more in the third.
The Tigers' (33-52) only run scored on a ground out by Ben Oglivie in the third inning. Detroit has now lost 10 of their past 13 games.
Right-hander Fernando Arroyo made his big league debut for Detroit, relieving LaGrow. Arroyo went 2.1 innings, giving up three hits and two walks, but no runs.
The Major Said: "I get tired of tipping my cap to the other pitcher. We had a lot of chances against Fitzmorris but we just couldn't get that big hit. But Lerrin (LaGrow) wasn't sharp, which didn't help."
Tigers 001 000 000 1-11-2
KC 032 020 00x 7-16-2
HR: White (KC)
WP: Fitzmorris
LP: LaGrow (3-12)
Tigers record: 33-52 (actual 38-47)
Home: 15-30
Away: 18-22
Last 10: 3-7
The Royals used a 16-hit barrage to take two of the first three games of this weekend series, which is the last before the All-Star break.
The Tigers had 11 hits, but left many runners on base and were lacking that big hit all evening. Ten of the Tigers' hits were singles.
The Royals roughed up Tigers starter Lerrin LaGrow (3-12), blistering him for seven runs (six earned) and 12 hits in 4.2 innings.
Frank White hit a two-run home run in the second inning, his second homer of the series.
The Royals scored three times in the second and twice more in the third.
The Tigers' (33-52) only run scored on a ground out by Ben Oglivie in the third inning. Detroit has now lost 10 of their past 13 games.
Right-hander Fernando Arroyo made his big league debut for Detroit, relieving LaGrow. Arroyo went 2.1 innings, giving up three hits and two walks, but no runs.
The Major Said: "I get tired of tipping my cap to the other pitcher. We had a lot of chances against Fitzmorris but we just couldn't get that big hit. But Lerrin (LaGrow) wasn't sharp, which didn't help."
Tigers 001 000 000 1-11-2
KC 032 020 00x 7-16-2
HR: White (KC)
WP: Fitzmorris
LP: LaGrow (3-12)
Tigers record: 33-52 (actual 38-47)
Home: 15-30
Away: 18-22
Last 10: 3-7
Monday, July 9, 2012
Games 78 & 79: Brewers Take Twinbill With Blowout and 1-Run Affair
Detroit (July 6) - The Milwaukee Brewers surrendered just four runs in two games and swept a doubleheader from the Tigers Sunday afternoon in Detroit, taking three of four games in the weekend series.
The Brewers routed the Tigers, 13-2 in Game 1, then held on to win 3-2 in the nightcap.
Milwaukee banged out 19 hits in the first game---at least one in every inning. Robin Yount had three doubles and four RBI. He scored three times. Tigers pitchers walked eight Milwaukee hitters.
Tigers starter Mickey Lolich (6-10) became the third Detroit pitcher to register double digits in losses this season (Joe Coleman 12; Lerrin LaGrow 11). Lolich lasted just 3.2 innings, surrendering 10 hits and seven earned runs.
In Game 2, Milwaukee fell behind 1-0 in the first inning, but scored twice in the fifth inning on a 2-run double by George Scott. They added an insurance run in the seventh and survived a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the ninth with the score 3-2. The game ended with Ron LeFlore's line drive being caught by shortstop Kurt Bevacqua, who threw to second baseman Bob Sheldon to double off Gates Brown.
Brewers starters Tom Hausman and Pete Broberg (Games 1 and 2, respectively) combined to throw 13 innings and allow just three runs between them.
The Major Said: "That first game was as ugly as it gets. We had a shot in the second game, but Ronnie hits into that double play. That's pretty much how our season has gone, right there."
Game 1
Milwaukee 210 401 500 13-19-1
Tigers 100 000 100 2-11-2
HR: Scott (MIL); Bevacqua (MIL)
WP: Hausman
LP: Lolich (6-10)
Game 2
Milwaukee 000 020 100 3-9-0
Tigers 100 000 010 2-8-0
WP: Broberg
SV: Murphy
LP: LaGrow (3-11)
Tigers record: 31-48 (actual 33-46)
Home: 14-28
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 3-7
The Brewers routed the Tigers, 13-2 in Game 1, then held on to win 3-2 in the nightcap.
Milwaukee banged out 19 hits in the first game---at least one in every inning. Robin Yount had three doubles and four RBI. He scored three times. Tigers pitchers walked eight Milwaukee hitters.
Tigers starter Mickey Lolich (6-10) became the third Detroit pitcher to register double digits in losses this season (Joe Coleman 12; Lerrin LaGrow 11). Lolich lasted just 3.2 innings, surrendering 10 hits and seven earned runs.
In Game 2, Milwaukee fell behind 1-0 in the first inning, but scored twice in the fifth inning on a 2-run double by George Scott. They added an insurance run in the seventh and survived a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the ninth with the score 3-2. The game ended with Ron LeFlore's line drive being caught by shortstop Kurt Bevacqua, who threw to second baseman Bob Sheldon to double off Gates Brown.
Brewers starters Tom Hausman and Pete Broberg (Games 1 and 2, respectively) combined to throw 13 innings and allow just three runs between them.
The Major Said: "That first game was as ugly as it gets. We had a shot in the second game, but Ronnie hits into that double play. That's pretty much how our season has gone, right there."
Game 1
Milwaukee 210 401 500 13-19-1
Tigers 100 000 100 2-11-2
HR: Scott (MIL); Bevacqua (MIL)
WP: Hausman
LP: Lolich (6-10)
Game 2
Milwaukee 000 020 100 3-9-0
Tigers 100 000 010 2-8-0
WP: Broberg
SV: Murphy
LP: LaGrow (3-11)
Tigers record: 31-48 (actual 33-46)
Home: 14-28
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.
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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.
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Tigers record: 30-42 (actual 27-45)
Home: 13-23
Away: 17-19
Last 10: 4-6
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Game 57: Tigers Claw Back, Still Lose
Detroit (June 17) - Danny Meyer knows how thin the line is between love and hate---and fair and foul.
Meyer, the Tigers left fielder, was at the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning at Tiger Stadium tonight. The Tigers trailed the Boston Red Sox, 6-5.
Meyer pulled a 1-1 fastball from reliever Diego Segui down the right field line---about six inches foul. The drive would have won the game for the Tigers, no doubt.
Two pitches later, Meyer grounded into a game-ending, 6-4-3 double play as what was left of a crowd of 9,874 groaned collectively.
"That's baseball," Meyer said afterward.
Indeed.
The Tigers (23-34) saw their modest two-game winning streak come to an end.
Meyer had two of the team's 10 hits, but missing his third by inches was yet another example of how the Tigers just don't seem to get the breaks at home, where they are 10-21.
Wise had a rough start, but settled into 8.1 innings for Boston
The game started ominously, as the Bosox scored four times in the first inning off starter Lerrin LaGrow (2-9).
Three batters into the game, the Red Sox led 3-0 after Carl Yastrzemski pulled a LaGrow slider into the right field upper deck. They tacked on another run after a Jim Rice double and Rico Petrocelli single.
The Tigers answered with two runs of their own in the first. Ron LeFlore led off with a home run, and after the next three Tigers reached base, it was 4-2 Boston thanks to a Willie Horton single.
The Red Sox led 5-2 before the Tigers tied the game with two runs in the third and one in the fourth.
But that's when Boston starter Rick Wise got stingy.
Wise survived a rocky four innings before settling down and retiring 16 of the next 17 hitters, giving way to Segui with one out in the ninth and a runner on first base.
A LeFlore single and Gary Sutherland walk greeted Segui before the veteran threw the double play ball to Meyer.
Notes: Livonia native Bernie Carbo started in right field for Boston and went 0-for-5...Rookie pitcher Ike Brookens made his debut after being called up from Toledo to replace Gene Pentz, who was sent down after last night's game. The right-handed Brookens entered the game in the sixth inning and pitched 1.1 innings of one-hit ball...LeFlore had three hits, one RBI and a stolen base...The series finale will be played on Polish-American night. Yastrzemski and Boston coach Eddie Kasko are to be among those honored on the field before the game.
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Tigers record: 23-34 (actual 25-32)
Home: 10-21
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 3-7
Meyer, the Tigers left fielder, was at the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning at Tiger Stadium tonight. The Tigers trailed the Boston Red Sox, 6-5.
Meyer pulled a 1-1 fastball from reliever Diego Segui down the right field line---about six inches foul. The drive would have won the game for the Tigers, no doubt.
Two pitches later, Meyer grounded into a game-ending, 6-4-3 double play as what was left of a crowd of 9,874 groaned collectively.
"That's baseball," Meyer said afterward.
Indeed.
The Tigers (23-34) saw their modest two-game winning streak come to an end.
Meyer had two of the team's 10 hits, but missing his third by inches was yet another example of how the Tigers just don't seem to get the breaks at home, where they are 10-21.
Wise had a rough start, but settled into 8.1 innings for Boston
The game started ominously, as the Bosox scored four times in the first inning off starter Lerrin LaGrow (2-9).
Three batters into the game, the Red Sox led 3-0 after Carl Yastrzemski pulled a LaGrow slider into the right field upper deck. They tacked on another run after a Jim Rice double and Rico Petrocelli single.
The Tigers answered with two runs of their own in the first. Ron LeFlore led off with a home run, and after the next three Tigers reached base, it was 4-2 Boston thanks to a Willie Horton single.
The Red Sox led 5-2 before the Tigers tied the game with two runs in the third and one in the fourth.
But that's when Boston starter Rick Wise got stingy.
Wise survived a rocky four innings before settling down and retiring 16 of the next 17 hitters, giving way to Segui with one out in the ninth and a runner on first base.
A LeFlore single and Gary Sutherland walk greeted Segui before the veteran threw the double play ball to Meyer.
Notes: Livonia native Bernie Carbo started in right field for Boston and went 0-for-5...Rookie pitcher Ike Brookens made his debut after being called up from Toledo to replace Gene Pentz, who was sent down after last night's game. The right-handed Brookens entered the game in the sixth inning and pitched 1.1 innings of one-hit ball...LeFlore had three hits, one RBI and a stolen base...The series finale will be played on Polish-American night. Yastrzemski and Boston coach Eddie Kasko are to be among those honored on the field before the game.
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Tigers record: 23-34 (actual 25-32)
Home: 10-21
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 3-7
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Game 47: Tigers Squeak By Again; Win Fifth In Row, 3-1
Oakland, CA (June 7) - Break up the Tigers!
The Tigers have scored just three runs in each of their last four games, but have won every one of those. In fact, they have won five in a row after slipping past the Oakland A's, 3-1, at Oakland Coliseum today.
The Tigers continued to ride stellar pitching and timely hitting to victory.
The heroes today? Center fielder Ron LeFlore (two-run triple) and starter Lerrin LaGrow (8.1 IP, one run, six hits, zero walks).
The Tigers are 5-0 on their eight-game road trip and can sweep the three-time defending champion A's tomorrow.
"It's nice to see the guys feel good about themselves again," manager Ralph Houk said. "We were teetering there for a bit."
No kidding.
The Tigers began the trip on a 1-10 slide, but have played like pennant contenders since leaving Detroit. The Tigers (20-27) are 8-16 at home but 12-11 on the road.
"No clue," Houk said when asked about the disparity.
This afternoon, the Tigers didn't even register their first hit until the fifth inning, when Nate Colbert, of all people, singled off A's starter Vida Blue.
But LaGrow was stingy himself. He didn't tire until the ninth, throwing shutout baseball until then. John Hiller recorded his 11th save, stranding two A's runners.
LaGrow entered the game 1-7 with a 5.63 ERA, but was splendid on Saturday
LeFlore's triple over the head of center fielder Billy North plated Mickey Stanley and Tom Veryzer, breaking a scoreless tie in the sixth inning. Gary Sutherland added an RBI single for a 3-0 Detroit lead.
That was it for the Tigers' offense, which won't remind anyone of the 1927 Yankees, but which has been just good enough to cobble together this five-game winning streak.
"The worst thing you can do in this game is waste good pitching," Houk said as he attacked a postgame meal of fried chicken. "So it's good to see us get good pitching and wins."
Blue was very good, but LaGrow (2-7) was even better.
"I haven't been doing my share so far," LaGrow said. "But today I had my slider and I got ahead of hitters."
Notes: Third baseman Aurelio Rodriguez said he could have pinch-hit today if Houk needed him, but playing in the field is still up in the air as he recovers from a bruised heel, suffered last weekend while running the bases. Mickey Stanley started his fourth straight game at third...Houk replaced rookie 1B Jack Pierce with Colbert for the first time in four games after Pierce went 0-for-12 in his first three Tigers starts. Colbert went 1-for-3...LeFlore, on his triple: "I was thinking inside the park homer, but Joe (3B coach Schultz) thought better of it." Indeed, LeFlore likely would have been thrown out at the plate.
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Tigers record: 20-27 (actual 23-24)
Home: 8-16
Away: 12-11
Last 10: 6-4
The Tigers have scored just three runs in each of their last four games, but have won every one of those. In fact, they have won five in a row after slipping past the Oakland A's, 3-1, at Oakland Coliseum today.
The Tigers continued to ride stellar pitching and timely hitting to victory.
The heroes today? Center fielder Ron LeFlore (two-run triple) and starter Lerrin LaGrow (8.1 IP, one run, six hits, zero walks).
The Tigers are 5-0 on their eight-game road trip and can sweep the three-time defending champion A's tomorrow.
"It's nice to see the guys feel good about themselves again," manager Ralph Houk said. "We were teetering there for a bit."
No kidding.
The Tigers began the trip on a 1-10 slide, but have played like pennant contenders since leaving Detroit. The Tigers (20-27) are 8-16 at home but 12-11 on the road.
"No clue," Houk said when asked about the disparity.
This afternoon, the Tigers didn't even register their first hit until the fifth inning, when Nate Colbert, of all people, singled off A's starter Vida Blue.
But LaGrow was stingy himself. He didn't tire until the ninth, throwing shutout baseball until then. John Hiller recorded his 11th save, stranding two A's runners.
LaGrow entered the game 1-7 with a 5.63 ERA, but was splendid on Saturday
LeFlore's triple over the head of center fielder Billy North plated Mickey Stanley and Tom Veryzer, breaking a scoreless tie in the sixth inning. Gary Sutherland added an RBI single for a 3-0 Detroit lead.
That was it for the Tigers' offense, which won't remind anyone of the 1927 Yankees, but which has been just good enough to cobble together this five-game winning streak.
"The worst thing you can do in this game is waste good pitching," Houk said as he attacked a postgame meal of fried chicken. "So it's good to see us get good pitching and wins."
Blue was very good, but LaGrow (2-7) was even better.
"I haven't been doing my share so far," LaGrow said. "But today I had my slider and I got ahead of hitters."
Notes: Third baseman Aurelio Rodriguez said he could have pinch-hit today if Houk needed him, but playing in the field is still up in the air as he recovers from a bruised heel, suffered last weekend while running the bases. Mickey Stanley started his fourth straight game at third...Houk replaced rookie 1B Jack Pierce with Colbert for the first time in four games after Pierce went 0-for-12 in his first three Tigers starts. Colbert went 1-for-3...LeFlore, on his triple: "I was thinking inside the park homer, but Joe (3B coach Schultz) thought better of it." Indeed, LeFlore likely would have been thrown out at the plate.
******************************************************
Tigers record: 20-27 (actual 23-24)
Home: 8-16
Away: 12-11
Last 10: 6-4
Friday, March 23, 2012
Game 38: Offense Scarce Again as Tigers Drop Seventh Straight
Detroit (May 27) -- In their last victory, which seemed like eons ago but was a week ago Monday, the Tigers erupted for 16 runs. They spoke afterward of how it might have been a sign of things to come.
It was a sign, alright. A sign that even one of the league's worst offenses can have a breakout game.
Nothing more, nothing less.
The Tigers lost again tonight, 4-2 to the Minnesota Twins at Tiger Stadium. It was their seventh straight loss. In those seven games, the Tigers have scored 15 runs---one less than they scored in their last win on May 19.
"I sound like a broken record, but all you can do is show up, work hard and hope you bust out of this," manager Ralph Houk said after tonight's game. "There's no magic cure. A batting slump is like a common cold. You just have to wait it out."
Houk's words would be heartening if it wasn't for the fact that, aside from a handful of exceptions, the Tigers' bats have been maddeningly inefficient.
They have 359 hits as a team, but have only scored 135 runs. It is by far the worst such ratio in the American League.
"We seem to be really good at getting runners to third base," veteran catcher Bill Freehan said. "But that's where they seem to stop."
Not tonight.
Other than the two runners who scored, the Tigers managed to get just two runners to second base, let alone third.
LaGrow struggled yet again; in nine starts he's 1-7 with a 5.94 ERA
The Tigers did kick up their heels in the ninth, putting runners on first and second with one out, but fireman Tom Burgmeier set down Aurelio Rodriguez (strikeout) and Tom Veryzer (fly ball), and the Twins picked up their second consecutive win in this three-game series.
Tigers starter Lerrin LaGrow (1-7, 5.94 ERA) had another rough start, giving up two runs in the first inning. The first four Twins reached base to start the game, and that may have set a record for the earliest the boo birds came out this season.
The Twins added another run in the second. Freehan doubled home Leon Roberts in the Tigers' second to make the score 3-1. The Tigers crept closer in the third when Danny Meyer singled to right, scoring Ron LeFlore, who had walked and took second on a ground out.
Minnesota's Eric Soderholm delivered a clutch two-out single in the fifth to plate Rod Carew for a 4-2 lead, which stood up.
Twins starter Bert Blyleven breezed through innings 4-thru-8, surrendering just two singles along the way. Burgmeier came in after Freehan stroked a one-out single in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Mickey Stanley greeted Burgmeier with a single, and what remained of the crowd of 15,768 stirred, thirsty for some sort of a rally.
But that was as close as the Tigers got to tying the game.
The Tigers (14-24) have lost 12 of 15.
Notes: Remember when 2B Gary Sutherland was the league's darling---leading the circuit in hitting with a .400+ BA? After last night's 0-for-4. Sutherland (.308) officially dropped out of the top ten in batting average...Houk was non-committal when asked if LaGrow would be dropped from the rotation, even temporarily. "He's not the only one struggling," Houk correctly said. "I could replace three of them, to be honest. But I can't. And I don't think it's time yet, anyway"...The Twins' Tony Oliva went 4-for-5, making him 6-for-10 in the series so far.
*******************************************************************
Tigers record: 14-24 (actual 18-20)
Home: 7-13
Away: 7-11
Last 10: 1-9
It was a sign, alright. A sign that even one of the league's worst offenses can have a breakout game.
Nothing more, nothing less.
The Tigers lost again tonight, 4-2 to the Minnesota Twins at Tiger Stadium. It was their seventh straight loss. In those seven games, the Tigers have scored 15 runs---one less than they scored in their last win on May 19.
"I sound like a broken record, but all you can do is show up, work hard and hope you bust out of this," manager Ralph Houk said after tonight's game. "There's no magic cure. A batting slump is like a common cold. You just have to wait it out."
Houk's words would be heartening if it wasn't for the fact that, aside from a handful of exceptions, the Tigers' bats have been maddeningly inefficient.
They have 359 hits as a team, but have only scored 135 runs. It is by far the worst such ratio in the American League.
"We seem to be really good at getting runners to third base," veteran catcher Bill Freehan said. "But that's where they seem to stop."
Not tonight.
Other than the two runners who scored, the Tigers managed to get just two runners to second base, let alone third.
LaGrow struggled yet again; in nine starts he's 1-7 with a 5.94 ERA
The Tigers did kick up their heels in the ninth, putting runners on first and second with one out, but fireman Tom Burgmeier set down Aurelio Rodriguez (strikeout) and Tom Veryzer (fly ball), and the Twins picked up their second consecutive win in this three-game series.
Tigers starter Lerrin LaGrow (1-7, 5.94 ERA) had another rough start, giving up two runs in the first inning. The first four Twins reached base to start the game, and that may have set a record for the earliest the boo birds came out this season.
The Twins added another run in the second. Freehan doubled home Leon Roberts in the Tigers' second to make the score 3-1. The Tigers crept closer in the third when Danny Meyer singled to right, scoring Ron LeFlore, who had walked and took second on a ground out.
Minnesota's Eric Soderholm delivered a clutch two-out single in the fifth to plate Rod Carew for a 4-2 lead, which stood up.
Twins starter Bert Blyleven breezed through innings 4-thru-8, surrendering just two singles along the way. Burgmeier came in after Freehan stroked a one-out single in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Mickey Stanley greeted Burgmeier with a single, and what remained of the crowd of 15,768 stirred, thirsty for some sort of a rally.
But that was as close as the Tigers got to tying the game.
The Tigers (14-24) have lost 12 of 15.
Notes: Remember when 2B Gary Sutherland was the league's darling---leading the circuit in hitting with a .400+ BA? After last night's 0-for-4. Sutherland (.308) officially dropped out of the top ten in batting average...Houk was non-committal when asked if LaGrow would be dropped from the rotation, even temporarily. "He's not the only one struggling," Houk correctly said. "I could replace three of them, to be honest. But I can't. And I don't think it's time yet, anyway"...The Twins' Tony Oliva went 4-for-5, making him 6-for-10 in the series so far.
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Tigers record: 14-24 (actual 18-20)
Home: 7-13
Away: 7-11
Last 10: 1-9
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Game 34: White Sox Strike Early, Often---Trounce Tigers, 13-3
Chicago (May 23) - You had a feeling it wasn't going to be the Tigers' night when White Sox second baseman Jorge Orta slammed a rare home run, a two-run shot, in the second inning. You got that feeling even more when Orta added a second homer in the fifth.
When shortstop Bucky Dent hit an even rarer homer in the sixth, it was ollie ollie oxen free.
The White Sox started the game hitting and never really stopped, cruising to a 13-3 win over the Tigers at Comiskey Park tonight.
Chisox batters rapped out 22 hits, including four home runs. They got nine hits and four runs off reliever John Hiller in just 2.1 innings.
This was never a contest.
The White Sox led, 4-0, after two innings. They led 9-3 after six frames, then they poured on four more runs in the eighth.
The 22 hits were a season high for Chicago, and they hadn't had 20+ hits since 1972.
Orta was 4-for-5 for Chicago with two homers, four runs scored and three RBI
This game had one statistical oddity. Both no. 2 hitters---Gary Sutherland and Orta---played second base and both were 4-for-4 after their first four at-bats.
Lerrin LaGrow (1-6) turned in yet another poor start for Detroit, not getting out of the fifth inning after he surrendered back-to-back homers to Orta and Carlos May to lead off the inning.
LaGrow's ERA jumped to 5.93 after seven starts.
Tom Walker and Hiller were both ineffective in relief as the Tigers (14-20) lost for the fifth time in six games. They are 3-8 in their last 11 games.
"Just gotta keep your head down and plow forward," manager Ralph Houk said. "Baseball is a long season. You're going to get your brains beat in from time to time."
The White Sox sprayed hits all over Comiskey's diamond: bloops, line drives, ground balls, you name it. Of their 22 hits, 16 were singles, and they all seemed to be of the seeing eye variety.
"I stunk," LaGrow said. "I set the pace. I've been bad all season. It's gotta stop."
Chicago catcher Brian Downing, the no. 9 hitter, was the other White Sox batter who had four hits (all singles). May and Tony Muser had three hits each.
Notes: SS Tom Veryzer returned to the lineup after missing eight games with a sore ankle. He went 0-for-4...Deron Johnson was the only Chicago hitter who went hitless...Sutherland had been in a 3-for-30 slump before going 4-for-5 tonight...Dent's last home run came on September 21 of last year. Orta had never hit two home runs in a game prior to tonight.
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Tigers record: 14-20 (actual 16-18)
Home: 7-11
Away: 7-9
Last 10: 3-7
When shortstop Bucky Dent hit an even rarer homer in the sixth, it was ollie ollie oxen free.
The White Sox started the game hitting and never really stopped, cruising to a 13-3 win over the Tigers at Comiskey Park tonight.
Chisox batters rapped out 22 hits, including four home runs. They got nine hits and four runs off reliever John Hiller in just 2.1 innings.
This was never a contest.
The White Sox led, 4-0, after two innings. They led 9-3 after six frames, then they poured on four more runs in the eighth.
The 22 hits were a season high for Chicago, and they hadn't had 20+ hits since 1972.
Orta was 4-for-5 for Chicago with two homers, four runs scored and three RBI
This game had one statistical oddity. Both no. 2 hitters---Gary Sutherland and Orta---played second base and both were 4-for-4 after their first four at-bats.
Lerrin LaGrow (1-6) turned in yet another poor start for Detroit, not getting out of the fifth inning after he surrendered back-to-back homers to Orta and Carlos May to lead off the inning.
LaGrow's ERA jumped to 5.93 after seven starts.
Tom Walker and Hiller were both ineffective in relief as the Tigers (14-20) lost for the fifth time in six games. They are 3-8 in their last 11 games.
"Just gotta keep your head down and plow forward," manager Ralph Houk said. "Baseball is a long season. You're going to get your brains beat in from time to time."
The White Sox sprayed hits all over Comiskey's diamond: bloops, line drives, ground balls, you name it. Of their 22 hits, 16 were singles, and they all seemed to be of the seeing eye variety.
"I stunk," LaGrow said. "I set the pace. I've been bad all season. It's gotta stop."
Chicago catcher Brian Downing, the no. 9 hitter, was the other White Sox batter who had four hits (all singles). May and Tony Muser had three hits each.
Notes: SS Tom Veryzer returned to the lineup after missing eight games with a sore ankle. He went 0-for-4...Deron Johnson was the only Chicago hitter who went hitless...Sutherland had been in a 3-for-30 slump before going 4-for-5 tonight...Dent's last home run came on September 21 of last year. Orta had never hit two home runs in a game prior to tonight.
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Tigers record: 14-20 (actual 16-18)
Home: 7-11
Away: 7-9
Last 10: 3-7
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Game 30: Good Grieve!! Rangers Overtake Tigers Late, 6-4
Arlington, TX (May 18) - Tom Grieve wasn't even supposed to play, let alone be the hero.
Grieve, the Texas Rangers outfielder, crushed a pinch-hit, three-run home run in the eighth inning, and the Tigers lost a heartbreaker, 6-4, here today.
The home run came off John Hiller (0-2), who has thrown four gopher balls in 16 innings this season.
Grieve was told by Texas manager Billy Martin before the game that he'd have the day off to rest a sore shoulder, which caused Grieve to miss yesterday's game, too.
But when Martin saw the lefty-lefty matchup before him (Hiller and Mike Hargrove), and that Grieve could play Hargrove's position in left field, Grieve was told to grab a bat.
"I was smart today," Martin quipped. "Sometimes you're smart, sometimes you're not. Today I was smart."
Grieve sure made Martin look that way as he drove Hiller's second pitch deep into the left field grandstand, scoring Cesar Tovar and Jeff Burroughs ahead of him.
The Tigers (13-17) had just taken the lead in the top of the eighth, thanks to a bases loaded, two-run single by Leon Roberts.
The late innings saw the game become a see-saw affair. The Rangers moved ahead 3-2 in the seventh; the Tigers scored twice in the eighth to lead 4-3; then Grieve put the Rangers ahead to stay.
Tigers starter Lerrin LaGrow, who entered the game with a 5.56 ERA, cruised through the first five innings before the Rangers got to him in the sixth with two runs to tie the game, 2-2.
Grieve went from benchwarmer to hero for Texas
Tovar had three singles and scored twice for Texas. Toby Harrah homered in the seventh to put the Rangers ahead, 3-2.
The Tigers lost the series after winning the opener Friday night.
It was the second time this week that Hiller gave up an eighth inning home run that lost the game. It happened last Monday in Detroit against Kansas City's Harmon Killebrew. Hiller called that pitch bad, but not today's against Grieve.
"Give (Grieve) credit," Hiller said. "He hit a slider down and away."
"Just have to shake it off," said manager Ralph Houk. "What can you do? You take a left turn and head for the airport."
The Tigers start a three-game series in Minnesota tomorrow.
Notes: Bill Freehan got a rare day off and was replaced behind the plate by farmhand Gene Lamont, who was called up after backup Terry Humphrey complained of a sore back yesterday. Lamont had a double and scored a run...The Detroit News reported that the Tigers are contemplating cutting 1B Nate Colbert, which would be a stunning move this early in the season. But Colbert, acquired from San Diego last winter, is hitting .101 and showing no signs of improving...Gene Michael started a fifth straight game at shortstop and is 6-for-19 in that stretch.
******************************
Tigers record: 13-17 (actual 14-16)
Home: 7-11
Away: 6-6
Last 10: 5-5
Grieve, the Texas Rangers outfielder, crushed a pinch-hit, three-run home run in the eighth inning, and the Tigers lost a heartbreaker, 6-4, here today.
The home run came off John Hiller (0-2), who has thrown four gopher balls in 16 innings this season.
Grieve was told by Texas manager Billy Martin before the game that he'd have the day off to rest a sore shoulder, which caused Grieve to miss yesterday's game, too.
But when Martin saw the lefty-lefty matchup before him (Hiller and Mike Hargrove), and that Grieve could play Hargrove's position in left field, Grieve was told to grab a bat.
"I was smart today," Martin quipped. "Sometimes you're smart, sometimes you're not. Today I was smart."
Grieve sure made Martin look that way as he drove Hiller's second pitch deep into the left field grandstand, scoring Cesar Tovar and Jeff Burroughs ahead of him.
The Tigers (13-17) had just taken the lead in the top of the eighth, thanks to a bases loaded, two-run single by Leon Roberts.
The late innings saw the game become a see-saw affair. The Rangers moved ahead 3-2 in the seventh; the Tigers scored twice in the eighth to lead 4-3; then Grieve put the Rangers ahead to stay.
Tigers starter Lerrin LaGrow, who entered the game with a 5.56 ERA, cruised through the first five innings before the Rangers got to him in the sixth with two runs to tie the game, 2-2.
Grieve went from benchwarmer to hero for Texas
Tovar had three singles and scored twice for Texas. Toby Harrah homered in the seventh to put the Rangers ahead, 3-2.
The Tigers lost the series after winning the opener Friday night.
It was the second time this week that Hiller gave up an eighth inning home run that lost the game. It happened last Monday in Detroit against Kansas City's Harmon Killebrew. Hiller called that pitch bad, but not today's against Grieve.
"Give (Grieve) credit," Hiller said. "He hit a slider down and away."
"Just have to shake it off," said manager Ralph Houk. "What can you do? You take a left turn and head for the airport."
The Tigers start a three-game series in Minnesota tomorrow.
Notes: Bill Freehan got a rare day off and was replaced behind the plate by farmhand Gene Lamont, who was called up after backup Terry Humphrey complained of a sore back yesterday. Lamont had a double and scored a run...The Detroit News reported that the Tigers are contemplating cutting 1B Nate Colbert, which would be a stunning move this early in the season. But Colbert, acquired from San Diego last winter, is hitting .101 and showing no signs of improving...Gene Michael started a fifth straight game at shortstop and is 6-for-19 in that stretch.
******************************
Tigers record: 13-17 (actual 14-16)
Home: 7-11
Away: 6-6
Last 10: 5-5
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Game 26: Royals Crown Tigers, 11-6
Detroit (May 13) - No wasting of a good pitching effort on this night.
The Tigers pitchers had a rare stinker, and the Kansas City Royals jumped all over them en route to a convincing 11-6 win at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers (11-15) lost their third straight and fell to 4-4 on their homestand, which wraps up tomorrow.
By the sixth inning, the Royals led 10-1 and at the end of the night, the Tigers' team ERA jumped from 3.68 to 3.95.
Lerrin LaGrow (1-5) lasted just 2.1 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits. Dave Lemanczyk and Tom Walker didn't do much to stop the bleeding in relief.
Meanwhile, Al Fitzmorris went seven innings, and even though the Tigers eventually got to him and then roughed up reliever Lindy McDaniel in scoring five runs in the final three innings, it was too little, too late.
"We fought to the last out," manager Ralph Houk said. "But the hole was too deep."
It was deep because the Royals scored three times in the third inning, all on a home run by Detroit's own John Mayberry, and then four runs in the sixth, punctuated by a two-out, two-run single by DH Tony Solaita.
Strangely enough, the Tigers rapped out three triples, the second time they've done that this season. Prior to that, the Tigers hadn't hit three triples in a game since 1971.
Mayberry's three-run homer got the Royals going
Ron LeFlore had one of those triples among his three hits. Leon Roberts had three hits and two RBI.
The Royals registered 16 hits; the Tigers had 14, but were far less efficient. They continue to be the worst team in the big leagues when it comes to base hits per runs scored (244/91).
"That's a lot of men left on base," Houk said.
LaGrow tried to take the blame for the loss.
"If I hadn't stunk up the joint, the game wouldn't have gotten out of hand," the right-hander said. "I let the team down tonight."
Houk didn't agree. "Lerrin wasn't sharp, but we had a lot of time to get back into the game and we didn't score until it was too late."
Notes: SS Tom Veryzer took the day off with soreness in his left ankle. Veryzer (.350) was replaced by veteran Gene Michael, who went 1-for-4...The Tigers, after Aurelio Rodriguez was caught stealing, are now 6-for-18 in attempts this season...Nate Colbert had one of the Tigers' triples, but for the second straight night declined to talk to the media after the game...Houk said that he was looking forward to the team's upcoming nine-game road trip. "I think it's time we get away from home and bond. It will be our first extended trip of the year."
**************************************************************************
Tigers record: 11-15 (actual 13-13)
Home: 6-11
Away: 5-4
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Game 22: Tigers Go Deep, Bury Rangers
Detroit (May 9) -- For the first few weeks of the season, the Tigers learned to win games without the benefit of the home run, of which they had hit precious few.
But the baseballs flew out of Tiger Stadium tonight---three Tigers home runs---and Detroit overpowered the Texas Rangers, 6-4.
The Tigers (10-12) now have their first three-game winning streak of 1975.
Dan Meyer (4th HR), Leon Roberts (2nd) and Willie Horton (3rd) all went yard to overcome an early 4-1 deficit.
The power surge helped make a winner of starter Lerrin LaGrow (3-2). John Hiller notched his fifth save, and second in consecutive nights.
"This team can hit," Meyer said. "It's good to see us finally doing it."
Texas starter Jackie Brown surrendered all three dingers.
"Mistakes are killer in this ballpark," Brown said. "It's a very unforgiving place to pitch."
Meyer ripped his fourth homer into the upper deck in right field in the second inning, putting the Tigers on the scoreboard after Texas scored three times in their half of the frame.
The Rangers added a run in the third, then Roberts took Brown deep to left-center for a two-run shot to make the score 4-3.
The Tigers finally took the lead in the sixth, helped by a Toby Harrah error, as the shortstop threw wild to first base. The error came two batters after Horton tied the score with a drive into the left field lower deck.
Roberts singled home Ben Oglivie (beneficiary of the error), and Aurelio Rodriguez doubled to plate Roberts. Both hits came with two outs. If Harrah hadn't botched Oglivie's ball, neither Roberts nor Rodriguez would have come to the plate.
But they did, and the Tigers have a mini winning streak.
"There's more life on the bench now," Meyer said. "Guys are starting to feel it."
Lenny Randle's clutch two-out, two-run single in the second gave Texas an early 3-0 lead.
It didn't hold up.
NOTES: Nate Colbert was back out of the lineup, for the second time in three games. Oglivie played first base and made a couple nice plays, along with stealing his team-high fourth base...Manager Ralph Houk shrugged off concerns from a reporter that Bill Freehan, who's started all but one game at catcher so far, might be getting fatigued. "We've had a lot of rainouts," Houk said firmly. "I'm fully aware of Bill's age, but our games have been spread out more than most teams." Houk's right; the Houston Astros have played 32 games, ten more than the Tigers so far. Several teams have played between 28-30 games, while the Tigers have played a mere 22...Detroit's own "Fat Bob" Taylor sang the National Anthem before the game...Mike Hargrove made the final out after getting on base four times in a row.
***************************************************************
Tigers record: 10-12 (actual 12-10)
Home: 5-8
Away: 5-4
But the baseballs flew out of Tiger Stadium tonight---three Tigers home runs---and Detroit overpowered the Texas Rangers, 6-4.
The Tigers (10-12) now have their first three-game winning streak of 1975.
Dan Meyer (4th HR), Leon Roberts (2nd) and Willie Horton (3rd) all went yard to overcome an early 4-1 deficit.
The power surge helped make a winner of starter Lerrin LaGrow (3-2). John Hiller notched his fifth save, and second in consecutive nights.
"This team can hit," Meyer said. "It's good to see us finally doing it."
Texas starter Jackie Brown surrendered all three dingers.
"Mistakes are killer in this ballpark," Brown said. "It's a very unforgiving place to pitch."
Meyer ripped his fourth homer into the upper deck in right field in the second inning, putting the Tigers on the scoreboard after Texas scored three times in their half of the frame.
The Rangers added a run in the third, then Roberts took Brown deep to left-center for a two-run shot to make the score 4-3.
The Tigers finally took the lead in the sixth, helped by a Toby Harrah error, as the shortstop threw wild to first base. The error came two batters after Horton tied the score with a drive into the left field lower deck.
Roberts singled home Ben Oglivie (beneficiary of the error), and Aurelio Rodriguez doubled to plate Roberts. Both hits came with two outs. If Harrah hadn't botched Oglivie's ball, neither Roberts nor Rodriguez would have come to the plate.
But they did, and the Tigers have a mini winning streak.
"There's more life on the bench now," Meyer said. "Guys are starting to feel it."
Lenny Randle's clutch two-out, two-run single in the second gave Texas an early 3-0 lead.
It didn't hold up.
NOTES: Nate Colbert was back out of the lineup, for the second time in three games. Oglivie played first base and made a couple nice plays, along with stealing his team-high fourth base...Manager Ralph Houk shrugged off concerns from a reporter that Bill Freehan, who's started all but one game at catcher so far, might be getting fatigued. "We've had a lot of rainouts," Houk said firmly. "I'm fully aware of Bill's age, but our games have been spread out more than most teams." Houk's right; the Houston Astros have played 32 games, ten more than the Tigers so far. Several teams have played between 28-30 games, while the Tigers have played a mere 22...Detroit's own "Fat Bob" Taylor sang the National Anthem before the game...Mike Hargrove made the final out after getting on base four times in a row.
***************************************************************
Tigers record: 10-12 (actual 12-10)
Home: 5-8
Away: 5-4
Friday, February 3, 2012
Game 18: Evans "Two Much" For Tigers, 6-2
Boston (May 3) - Dwight Evans bats second in the Red Sox lineup because of his bat control and infrequency of striking out---not so much for his power.
Someone forgot to tell Evans that.
Boston's right fielder smacked two home runs, driving home five runs, as the Red Sox defeated the Tigers, 6-2, at Fenway Park this afternoon.
Both homers came off Tigers starter Lerrin LaGrow (1-2).
The Tigers (7-11) have lost two straight and nine of their past 13.
Evans' first blast was a three-run shot into the left field screen above the Green Monster in the third inning. Then, with LaGrow on the ropes in the seventh, Evans struck again---this time an opposite field drive into the Tigers bullpen in right center, good for two more runs.
Tigers manager Ralph Houk took full blame for the second blast.
"Lerrin should have been out of there," Houk said. "He was out of gas. That was my fault."
Rick Wise vexed the Tigers again, a week after shutting them out in Detroit. Wise pitched eight strong innings, giving up just one run and six hits, striking out seven.
In 17 innings against Detroit this season, Wise has given up one run and eight hits.
"Good command, good stuff," Houk said of the Boston righty. "He got us twice in a week. Hats off."
Evans said his power outburst shouldn't be a shock.
"I have the power [to hit home runs]," he said after the game. "It's not what I'm asked to do, necessarily, with this lineup. But I can reach the seats. It was nice to help the team that way today."
********************************************************
Tigers record: 7-11 (actual 10-8)
Home: 2-7
Away: 5-4
Someone forgot to tell Evans that.
Boston's right fielder smacked two home runs, driving home five runs, as the Red Sox defeated the Tigers, 6-2, at Fenway Park this afternoon.
Both homers came off Tigers starter Lerrin LaGrow (1-2).
The Tigers (7-11) have lost two straight and nine of their past 13.
Evans' first blast was a three-run shot into the left field screen above the Green Monster in the third inning. Then, with LaGrow on the ropes in the seventh, Evans struck again---this time an opposite field drive into the Tigers bullpen in right center, good for two more runs.
Tigers manager Ralph Houk took full blame for the second blast.
"Lerrin should have been out of there," Houk said. "He was out of gas. That was my fault."
Rick Wise vexed the Tigers again, a week after shutting them out in Detroit. Wise pitched eight strong innings, giving up just one run and six hits, striking out seven.
In 17 innings against Detroit this season, Wise has given up one run and eight hits.
"Good command, good stuff," Houk said of the Boston righty. "He got us twice in a week. Hats off."
Evans said his power outburst shouldn't be a shock.
"I have the power [to hit home runs]," he said after the game. "It's not what I'm asked to do, necessarily, with this lineup. But I can reach the seats. It was nice to help the team that way today."
********************************************************
Tigers record: 7-11 (actual 10-8)
Home: 2-7
Away: 5-4
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Game 13: Wise, Red Sox Tame Tigers, 7-0
Detroit (April 27) - The Tigers dropped the first two games of their weekend series to the Boston Red Sox by the narrowest of margins. After both games, Tigers players bemoaned the lack of a clutch hit to even the score.
No such worries today.
The Red Sox ran away from the Tigers, 7-0 this afternoon at Tiger Stadium, giving the Bosox the three-game sweep. Boston right-hander Rick Wise pitched a complete-game, two-hitter. In fact, the Tigers had more errors (three) than hits.
The Red Sox banged out 13 hits, led by rookie Fred Lynn, who followed up his four-hit game on Saturday with three more on Sunday.
Boston blew open the game with three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth, extending their lead to 6-0 and knocking out starter Lerrin LaGrow (1-2).
Wise, meanwhile, handcuffed the offensively challenged Tigers, whose 38 runs scored rank them next to last in the American League.
Only one Tigers base runner advanced as far as second base all afternoon.
"Couldn't do a thing with him," lamented Tigers manager Ralph Houk of Wise. "He was, basically, two pitches away from a no-hitter."
In fact, the Tigers didn't get a hit until the fifth inning, when they got both of them, and singles.
Wise walked one and struck out five in his command performance.
On offense, the Red Sox didn't need much but got plenty. The biggest blow was Bernie Carbo's two-out, two-run single in the fourth, making the score 4-0.
The Tigers are now off to Baltimore for two games. Maybe it's a good thing; the Tigers are 2-7 at home but 3-1 on the road, though all four of those games were in one city (New York).
"We've played nine of our first thirteen games at home," Houk said, "and we didn't take advantage of it, at all."
The Red Sox, and Wise, helped see to that.
*****************************************
Tigers record: 5-8 (actual 8-5)
Home: 2-7
Away: 3-1
No such worries today.
The Red Sox ran away from the Tigers, 7-0 this afternoon at Tiger Stadium, giving the Bosox the three-game sweep. Boston right-hander Rick Wise pitched a complete-game, two-hitter. In fact, the Tigers had more errors (three) than hits.
The Red Sox banged out 13 hits, led by rookie Fred Lynn, who followed up his four-hit game on Saturday with three more on Sunday.
Boston blew open the game with three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth, extending their lead to 6-0 and knocking out starter Lerrin LaGrow (1-2).
Wise, meanwhile, handcuffed the offensively challenged Tigers, whose 38 runs scored rank them next to last in the American League.
Only one Tigers base runner advanced as far as second base all afternoon.
"Couldn't do a thing with him," lamented Tigers manager Ralph Houk of Wise. "He was, basically, two pitches away from a no-hitter."
In fact, the Tigers didn't get a hit until the fifth inning, when they got both of them, and singles.
Wise walked one and struck out five in his command performance.
On offense, the Red Sox didn't need much but got plenty. The biggest blow was Bernie Carbo's two-out, two-run single in the fourth, making the score 4-0.
The Tigers are now off to Baltimore for two games. Maybe it's a good thing; the Tigers are 2-7 at home but 3-1 on the road, though all four of those games were in one city (New York).
"We've played nine of our first thirteen games at home," Houk said, "and we didn't take advantage of it, at all."
The Red Sox, and Wise, helped see to that.
*****************************************
Tigers record: 5-8 (actual 8-5)
Home: 2-7
Away: 3-1
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