Detroit (Sat., Sept. 20, 1975) - Carl Yastrzemski had three hits and scored three runs, Rico Petrocelli had four RBI, and Luis Tiant pitched a complete game shutout as the Boston Red Sox stymied the Tigers, 7-0, at Tiger Stadium.
The Red Sox squared the weekend series at a game apiece.
Tiant was masterful, scattering eight hits and walking one.
The Red Sox scored twice in the first inning, twice in the seventh, and three times in the ninth to hand the Tigers (60-94) their 30th loss in their past 43 games.
Tigers starter Mickey Lolich (14-16) went 8-plus innings, giving up 12 hits and five runs, three earned.
Petrocelli had a two-run single in the first, an RBI single in the seventh, and even drove in a run in the ninth by getting hit by a pitch.
Yastrzemski had three singles, walked, and reached base on an error.
Ron LeFlore had two singles for Detroit, but was caught stealing in the third with the score just 2-0, Boston. The caught stealing canceled an error by Rick Burleson that put LeFlore on first base.
Rookies Bob Molinaro (RF) and Jerry Manuel (2B) started, but went 0-for-7 between them.
The Major Said: "Tiant was as good as I've seen him. We got eight hits but nothing hit real hard and we couldn't really bunch them."
Boston 200 000 203 7-16-1
Tigers 000 000 000 0-8-1
WP: Tiant
LP: Lolich (14-16)
Tigers record: 60-94 (actual 57-97)
Home: 31-48
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6
Showing posts with label Ron LeFlore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ron LeFlore. Show all posts
Sunday, September 23, 2012
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
Monday, August 27, 2012
Game 128: Tigers Win, Sweep Twins
Bloomington, MN (Sun., Aug. 24, 1975) - Dan Meyer stroked a two-run triple in the sixth inning, highlighting a three-run rally, leading the Tigers from a 3-1 deficit and a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
The Tigers (51-77) completed a three-game sweep after a 10-game losing streak.
Meyer's hit into the right center field gap scored Ron LeFlore and Gary Sutherland, tying the game. One out later, Bill Freehan singled home Meyer to put the Tigers ahead, 4-3.
The winner was Mickey Lolich (11-14), who picked up his 10th complete game of the season despite surrendering 10 hits.
A two-run fifth inning put the Twins ahead, 2-1, but the Tigers bounced back with their three-run sixth.
Meyer had a sacrifice fly in the first inning for a three-RBI afternoon. He is in a 15-for-48 stretch, lifting his average to .244.
LeFlore also tripled in the sixth inning, his team-leading ninth three-bagger.
The Twins got a lead off single from Steve Braun (three hits, including a home run) in the ninth, but Lolich bore down and after Glenn Borgmann bunted Braun to second, Lolich retired Jerry Terrell (fly out) and Lyman Bostock (pop out) to seal the win.
The Major Said: "Good win. Good series. Good weekend. Just what we needed to pick everyone's spirits up a little bit, including mine. Now this road trip doesn't seem so disastrous."
Tigers 100 003 000 4-8-0
Minn. 001 020 000 3-10-2
HR: Braun (MIN)
WP: Lolich (11-14)
LP: Hughes
Tigers record: 51-77 (actual 51-77)
Home: 24-41
Away: 27-36
Last 10: 3-7
The Tigers (51-77) completed a three-game sweep after a 10-game losing streak.
Meyer's hit into the right center field gap scored Ron LeFlore and Gary Sutherland, tying the game. One out later, Bill Freehan singled home Meyer to put the Tigers ahead, 4-3.
The winner was Mickey Lolich (11-14), who picked up his 10th complete game of the season despite surrendering 10 hits.
A two-run fifth inning put the Twins ahead, 2-1, but the Tigers bounced back with their three-run sixth.
Meyer had a sacrifice fly in the first inning for a three-RBI afternoon. He is in a 15-for-48 stretch, lifting his average to .244.
LeFlore also tripled in the sixth inning, his team-leading ninth three-bagger.
The Twins got a lead off single from Steve Braun (three hits, including a home run) in the ninth, but Lolich bore down and after Glenn Borgmann bunted Braun to second, Lolich retired Jerry Terrell (fly out) and Lyman Bostock (pop out) to seal the win.
The Major Said: "Good win. Good series. Good weekend. Just what we needed to pick everyone's spirits up a little bit, including mine. Now this road trip doesn't seem so disastrous."
Tigers 100 003 000 4-8-0
Minn. 001 020 000 3-10-2
HR: Braun (MIN)
WP: Lolich (11-14)
LP: Hughes
Tigers record: 51-77 (actual 51-77)
Home: 24-41
Away: 27-36
Last 10: 3-7
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Game 126: Tigers Rout Twins, End Losing Skid
Bloomington, MN (Fri., Aug. 22, 1975) - Dan Meyer hit a grand slam as part of a five-run fourth inning, and the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins, 8-3, on Friday night to snap their 10-game losing streak.
Meyer connected off Twins starter Dave Goltz, who was roughed up for seven runs and nine hits in four innings.
Vern Ruhle picked up the win for Detroit with six-plus innings of solid work.
The win was the Tigers' first since beating Minnesota 1-0 on August 9 in Detroit.
Trailing 3-2 heading into the fourth, the Tigers loaded the bases with nobody out. After a force out at the plate, Ron LeFlore delivered a run-scoring single to tie the game. Gary Sutherland grounded into another force out at home, bringing Meyer to the plate. On a 1-1 pitch, Meyer drilled a Goltz fastball over the right field wall.
The Tigers (49-77) pounded out 15 hits off four Twins pitchers.
Rod Carew had an RBI double and a run-scoring single in the first two innings as the Twins built a 3-2 lead. The Tigers had gone ahead 2-1 in the top of the second on a Bill Freehan triple, a Ben Oglivie double and an Aurelio Rodriguez sacrifice fly.
The Major Said: "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz. Isn't that the commercial? We were due, that's for sure. That was a pretty good pitcher (Goltz) we got to, too."
Tigers 020 500 100 8-15-1
Minn. 120 000 000 3-9-1
HR: Meyer (DET, 8)
WP: Ruhle (8-11)
LP: Goltz
Tigers record: 49-77 (actual 50-76)
Home: 24-41
Away: 25-36
Last 10: 1-9
Meyer connected off Twins starter Dave Goltz, who was roughed up for seven runs and nine hits in four innings.
Vern Ruhle picked up the win for Detroit with six-plus innings of solid work.
The win was the Tigers' first since beating Minnesota 1-0 on August 9 in Detroit.
Trailing 3-2 heading into the fourth, the Tigers loaded the bases with nobody out. After a force out at the plate, Ron LeFlore delivered a run-scoring single to tie the game. Gary Sutherland grounded into another force out at home, bringing Meyer to the plate. On a 1-1 pitch, Meyer drilled a Goltz fastball over the right field wall.
The Tigers (49-77) pounded out 15 hits off four Twins pitchers.
Rod Carew had an RBI double and a run-scoring single in the first two innings as the Twins built a 3-2 lead. The Tigers had gone ahead 2-1 in the top of the second on a Bill Freehan triple, a Ben Oglivie double and an Aurelio Rodriguez sacrifice fly.
The Major Said: "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz. Isn't that the commercial? We were due, that's for sure. That was a pretty good pitcher (Goltz) we got to, too."
Tigers 020 500 100 8-15-1
Minn. 120 000 000 3-9-1
HR: Meyer (DET, 8)
WP: Ruhle (8-11)
LP: Goltz
Tigers record: 49-77 (actual 50-76)
Home: 24-41
Away: 25-36
Last 10: 1-9
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Game 121: Tigers' 9th-Inning Rally Falls Short, 6-5
Anaheim, CA (Sat., Aug. 16, 1975) - Bill Freehan hit into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded, snuffing out a potential go-ahead rally as the Tigers lost to the California Angels, 6-5 at Anaheim Stadium Saturday night.
The Tigers trailed 6-2 heading into the ninth, then kicked up their heels off reliever Dick Lange.
A double, a single and a hit batsman loaded the bases with no outs. Ron LeFlore walked to force in a run, driving Lange out of the game in favor of Don Kirkwood. Gary Sutherland then lofted a sacrifice fly to left field. Dan Meyer singled, re-loading the bases, and Willie Horton singled, scoring Gates Brown to make the score 6-5 as the crowd grew restless.
But then Freehan bounced into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat and the game.
The Angels scored a pair of runs in the second, third and seventh innings to build their 6-2 lead.
Bruce Bochte had three hits and three RBI for California, who have won the first two games of the weekend series. The Tigers (48-73) have lost six straight games.
Tigers starter Ray Bare (4-6) was roughed up for 12 hits and five runs in six-plus innings.
Detroit scored twice in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead, but that was short-lived as the Angels answered with two runs in their half of the inning.
The Major Said: "The irony is that Bill (Freehan) has been one of our best hitters in recent weeks. When you saw him up there in that situation, it was hard not to think that maybe tonight was our night."
Tigers 020 000 003 5-12-1
Calif. 022 000 20x 6-13-0
WP: Hockenberry
SV: Kirkwood
LP: Bare (4-6)
Tigers record: 48-73 (actual 47-74)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-32
Last 10: 1-9
The Tigers trailed 6-2 heading into the ninth, then kicked up their heels off reliever Dick Lange.
A double, a single and a hit batsman loaded the bases with no outs. Ron LeFlore walked to force in a run, driving Lange out of the game in favor of Don Kirkwood. Gary Sutherland then lofted a sacrifice fly to left field. Dan Meyer singled, re-loading the bases, and Willie Horton singled, scoring Gates Brown to make the score 6-5 as the crowd grew restless.
But then Freehan bounced into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat and the game.
The Angels scored a pair of runs in the second, third and seventh innings to build their 6-2 lead.
Bruce Bochte had three hits and three RBI for California, who have won the first two games of the weekend series. The Tigers (48-73) have lost six straight games.
Tigers starter Ray Bare (4-6) was roughed up for 12 hits and five runs in six-plus innings.
Detroit scored twice in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead, but that was short-lived as the Angels answered with two runs in their half of the inning.
The Major Said: "The irony is that Bill (Freehan) has been one of our best hitters in recent weeks. When you saw him up there in that situation, it was hard not to think that maybe tonight was our night."
Tigers 020 000 003 5-12-1
Calif. 022 000 20x 6-13-0
WP: Hockenberry
SV: Kirkwood
LP: Bare (4-6)
Tigers record: 48-73 (actual 47-74)
Home: 24-41
Away: 24-32
Last 10: 1-9
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Game 98: Lolich Quiets Tribe, 3-1
Detroit (Sat., July 26, 1975) - The Tigers like those 3-1 games.
They won for the fourth time out of their past seven victories by the score of 3-1, beating the Cleveland Indians Saturday in Detroit.
The win evened this four-game weekend series between the Tigers (40-58) and the Tribe.
Mickey Lolich pitched his seventh complete game, a masterful six-hitter, allowing just one Indian runner to reach second base after the third inning. The run he surrendered was unearned.
Ron LeFlore and Aurelio Rodriguez each had two hits and a run scored for Detroit, winners of six of their past nine games.
Lolich (8-12) outdueled Indians starter Dennis Eckerlsey, a 20-year-old rookie. Eckersley went 7.2 innings of six-hit baseball.
The Major Said: "They (Indians) thumped us pretty good Friday night, so it was great to see Mickey do his thing. We do tend to win low-scoring games."
Cleveland 001 000 000 1-6-1
Tigers 000 020 01x 3-7-2
WP: Lolich (8-12)
LP: Eckersley
Tigers record: 40-58 (actual 44-54)
Home: 21-33
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 6-4
They won for the fourth time out of their past seven victories by the score of 3-1, beating the Cleveland Indians Saturday in Detroit.
The win evened this four-game weekend series between the Tigers (40-58) and the Tribe.
Mickey Lolich pitched his seventh complete game, a masterful six-hitter, allowing just one Indian runner to reach second base after the third inning. The run he surrendered was unearned.
Ron LeFlore and Aurelio Rodriguez each had two hits and a run scored for Detroit, winners of six of their past nine games.
Lolich (8-12) outdueled Indians starter Dennis Eckerlsey, a 20-year-old rookie. Eckersley went 7.2 innings of six-hit baseball.
The Major Said: "They (Indians) thumped us pretty good Friday night, so it was great to see Mickey do his thing. We do tend to win low-scoring games."
Cleveland 001 000 000 1-6-1
Tigers 000 020 01x 3-7-2
WP: Lolich (8-12)
LP: Eckersley
Tigers record: 40-58 (actual 44-54)
Home: 21-33
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 6-4
Friday, July 20, 2012
Games 87 & 88: Tigers Score Late in Game 2 to Salvage DH Split
Chicago (Thu., July 17, 1975) - The Tigers broke a 1-1 tie in the eighth inning of game two of a twi-night doubleheader, and salvaged a split of the twinbill with the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park Thursday.
The Tigers won game two, 3-1, after dropping the opener, 7-0.
Wilbur Wood breezed through the first game, pitching a complete game six-hitter as the Chisox broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning that extended their lead to 6-0.
Tigers starter Mickey Lolich (7-11) gave up 13 hits in six innings in the first game. In the sixth inning, the White Sox went station-to-station as eight consecutive batters reached base on an error, six singles, and a fielder's choice, accounting for the four runs.
In the nightcap, Lerrin LaGrow pitched 6.2 innings, giving up just one run on eight hits and no walks. But the winner was reliever Bob Reynolds (2-1), who was the beneficiary of a Mickey Stanley double, which scored Ben Oglivie from first base in the eighth inning, breaking the 1-1 tie.
The Tigers (34-54) added an insurance run in the ninth on a John Wockenfuss triple and an Aurelio Rodriguez sacrifice fly.
Reliever John Hiller, whose last outing was a four-run implosion in Detroit against the White Sox which lost the game, gave up a walk in the ninth but coaxed a game-ending double play grounder from Jerry Hairston, who had been 3-for-3. The save was Hiller's 15th.
Stanley started the second game at leadoff, subbing for Ron LeFlore in center field, and had three hits, including two doubles.
The Major Said: "I like how we bounced back, and I like how John (Hiller) bounced back. I know that last outing he had haunted him all through the All-Star break, so it was good to see him get the save tonight."
Game 1
Tigers 000 000 000 0-6-2
Chicago 020 004 10x 7-15-0
WP- Wood
LP- Lolich (7-11)
Game 2
Tigers 100 000 011 3-10-0
Chicago 000 001 000 1-8-0
WP- Reynolds (2-1)
SV- Hiller (15)
LP- Osteen
The Tigers won game two, 3-1, after dropping the opener, 7-0.
Wilbur Wood breezed through the first game, pitching a complete game six-hitter as the Chisox broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning that extended their lead to 6-0.
Tigers starter Mickey Lolich (7-11) gave up 13 hits in six innings in the first game. In the sixth inning, the White Sox went station-to-station as eight consecutive batters reached base on an error, six singles, and a fielder's choice, accounting for the four runs.
In the nightcap, Lerrin LaGrow pitched 6.2 innings, giving up just one run on eight hits and no walks. But the winner was reliever Bob Reynolds (2-1), who was the beneficiary of a Mickey Stanley double, which scored Ben Oglivie from first base in the eighth inning, breaking the 1-1 tie.
The Tigers (34-54) added an insurance run in the ninth on a John Wockenfuss triple and an Aurelio Rodriguez sacrifice fly.
Reliever John Hiller, whose last outing was a four-run implosion in Detroit against the White Sox which lost the game, gave up a walk in the ninth but coaxed a game-ending double play grounder from Jerry Hairston, who had been 3-for-3. The save was Hiller's 15th.
Stanley started the second game at leadoff, subbing for Ron LeFlore in center field, and had three hits, including two doubles.
The Major Said: "I like how we bounced back, and I like how John (Hiller) bounced back. I know that last outing he had haunted him all through the All-Star break, so it was good to see him get the save tonight."
Game 1
Tigers 000 000 000 0-6-2
Chicago 020 004 10x 7-15-0
WP- Wood
LP- Lolich (7-11)
Game 2
Tigers 100 000 011 3-10-0
Chicago 000 001 000 1-8-0
WP- Reynolds (2-1)
SV- Hiller (15)
LP- Osteen
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Game 84: Tigers Return Extra Innings Favor, 2-1
Kansas City (July 11, 1975) - Thursday night, the Tigers lost, 2-1, in 10 innings. One night later, they turned the tables on the Kansas City Royals.
Willie Horton's bloop single to center field with two outs in the 10th scored Ron LeFlore with the go-ahead run, and Bob Reynolds shakily nailed his second save of the season as the Tigers won, 2-1.
Tigers starter Mickey Lolich and counterpart Marty Pattin were both brilliant. Lolich pitched nine innings, giving up the lone Royals run and scattering eight hits. Pattin was pulled with one out in the ninth after surrendering just six hits and striking out eight.
The Tigers scored in the fourth inning on a Jack Pierce ground out, and the Royals tied it in the eighth on Frank White's home run just over the left field wall.
The Tigers reclaimed the lead in the 10th after LeFlore led off with a single and moved to second on a balk by reliever (and loser) Doug Bird. Gary Sutherland sacrificed LeFlore to third, and after a Leon Roberts strikeout, Horton delivered.
In the Royals tenth, Reynolds coaxed a fly ball from George Brett after Kansas City put runners on first and third with two outs. Lolich (7-10) got the win.
The Tigers (33-51) won for just the third time in 12 games.
The Major Said: "I'm just so happy one of our starters finally got rewarded for a great effort. White hit a great pitch, down and in. Good for Mickey (Lolich). He deserved the win."
Tigers 000 100 000 1 2-10-0
KC 000 000 010 0 1-10-0
HR: White (KC)
WP: Lolich (7-10)
SV: Reynolds (2)
LP: Bird
Tigers record: 33-51 (actual 37-47)
Home: 15-30
Away: 18-21
L
Willie Horton's bloop single to center field with two outs in the 10th scored Ron LeFlore with the go-ahead run, and Bob Reynolds shakily nailed his second save of the season as the Tigers won, 2-1.
Tigers starter Mickey Lolich and counterpart Marty Pattin were both brilliant. Lolich pitched nine innings, giving up the lone Royals run and scattering eight hits. Pattin was pulled with one out in the ninth after surrendering just six hits and striking out eight.
The Tigers scored in the fourth inning on a Jack Pierce ground out, and the Royals tied it in the eighth on Frank White's home run just over the left field wall.
The Tigers reclaimed the lead in the 10th after LeFlore led off with a single and moved to second on a balk by reliever (and loser) Doug Bird. Gary Sutherland sacrificed LeFlore to third, and after a Leon Roberts strikeout, Horton delivered.
In the Royals tenth, Reynolds coaxed a fly ball from George Brett after Kansas City put runners on first and third with two outs. Lolich (7-10) got the win.
The Tigers (33-51) won for just the third time in 12 games.
The Major Said: "I'm just so happy one of our starters finally got rewarded for a great effort. White hit a great pitch, down and in. Good for Mickey (Lolich). He deserved the win."
Tigers 000 100 000 1 2-10-0
KC 000 000 010 0 1-10-0
HR: White (KC)
WP: Lolich (7-10)
SV: Reynolds (2)
LP: Bird
Tigers record: 33-51 (actual 37-47)
Home: 15-30
Away: 18-21
L
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Game 82: Hiller Implodes; Chisox Stun Tigers, 9-8
Detroit (July 9) - Pat Kelly's RBI single capped a stunning four-run ninth inning rally, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Tigers, 9-8, at Tiger Stadium Wednesday night.
The Tigers entered the ninth with an 8-5 lead, thanks to Jack Pierce's three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth. Pierce's blast was in response to Chicago scoring twice in their half of the eighth to tie the game, 5-5.
Chicago jumped on Tigers starter Ray Bare with three runs in the first inning.
The Tigers took a 5-3 lead with three runs in the fifth.
In the ninth, Hiller allowed a single and a walk to start the frame. The fans got restless as the Tigers closer, who has battled inconsistency all season, got into immediate trouble. But after Jerry Hairston flied out for the second out, Hiller still had the 8-5 lead, albeit with the bases loaded.
But the next three White Sox hitters singled, leading to the four runs as the Tiger Stadium crowd of 13,567 booed lustily.
White Sox reliever Ozzy Osborn set the Tigers down in order in the ninth to cap the stunning win.
Ron LeFlore had three hits and an RBI for the Tigers.
The Tigers (32-50) travel to Kansas City for a four-game weekend series.
The Major Said: "Obviously John (Hiller) hasn't been himself this year. He takes two steps forward and one step back. You just gotta believe that he's going to find his groove and get this thing back on track. And it's not like (the White Sox) hit the ball all that hard. They hit a couple flares."
Chicago 300 000 024 9-15-0
Tigers 011 030 030 8-14-1
HR: Horton (14); Pierce (2)
WP: Osborn
LP: Hiller (3-7)
Tigers record: 32-50 (actual 36-46)
Home: 15-30
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 2-8
The Tigers entered the ninth with an 8-5 lead, thanks to Jack Pierce's three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth. Pierce's blast was in response to Chicago scoring twice in their half of the eighth to tie the game, 5-5.
Chicago jumped on Tigers starter Ray Bare with three runs in the first inning.
The Tigers took a 5-3 lead with three runs in the fifth.
In the ninth, Hiller allowed a single and a walk to start the frame. The fans got restless as the Tigers closer, who has battled inconsistency all season, got into immediate trouble. But after Jerry Hairston flied out for the second out, Hiller still had the 8-5 lead, albeit with the bases loaded.
But the next three White Sox hitters singled, leading to the four runs as the Tiger Stadium crowd of 13,567 booed lustily.
White Sox reliever Ozzy Osborn set the Tigers down in order in the ninth to cap the stunning win.
Ron LeFlore had three hits and an RBI for the Tigers.
The Tigers (32-50) travel to Kansas City for a four-game weekend series.
The Major Said: "Obviously John (Hiller) hasn't been himself this year. He takes two steps forward and one step back. You just gotta believe that he's going to find his groove and get this thing back on track. And it's not like (the White Sox) hit the ball all that hard. They hit a couple flares."
Chicago 300 000 024 9-15-0
Tigers 011 030 030 8-14-1
HR: Horton (14); Pierce (2)
WP: Osborn
LP: Hiller (3-7)
Tigers record: 32-50 (actual 36-46)
Home: 15-30
Away: 17-20
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
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
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Game 76: Singles Galore as Tigers Tame Brewers, 4-1
Detroit (July 4) - The Tigers rapped out 11 hits, all singles, and Ray Bare pitched seven strong innings in a 4-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers Friday night at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers' 7-8-9 hitters went 4-for-8 and scored three runs, drawing three walks in the process.
Bare (2-2) scattered seven hits over seven innings, striking out five and walking none.
The Tigers broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning with a single run, then added two more runs in the sixth.
Ron LeFlore had two RBI for the Tigers (31-45), who improved to 14-25 at home.
Robin Yount had two hits and an RBI for Milwaukee.
The Major Said: "Ray was good. We got some timely hits. We played good defense. And we won. Funny how that works."
Milwaukee 001 000 000 1-8-0
Tigers 001 102 00x 4-11-0
Tigers record: 31-45 (actual 30-46)
Home: 14-25
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 4-6
The Tigers' 7-8-9 hitters went 4-for-8 and scored three runs, drawing three walks in the process.
Bare (2-2) scattered seven hits over seven innings, striking out five and walking none.
The Tigers broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning with a single run, then added two more runs in the sixth.
Ron LeFlore had two RBI for the Tigers (31-45), who improved to 14-25 at home.
Robin Yount had two hits and an RBI for Milwaukee.
The Major Said: "Ray was good. We got some timely hits. We played good defense. And we won. Funny how that works."
Milwaukee 001 000 000 1-8-0
Tigers 001 102 00x 4-11-0
Tigers record: 31-45 (actual 30-46)
Home: 14-25
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 4-6
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
Monday, June 18, 2012
Game 69: O's Score Late, Hang On, 6-5
Baltimore (June 28) - Joe Coleman has lost a lot of games this season. For nearly seven innings it looked like that might change.
It didn't.
The Baltimore Orioles erupted for four runs in the seventh inning, overcoming a 4-2 deficit, and they held on to beat Coleman and the Tigers, 6-5, at Memorial Stadium tonight.
Coleman (3-11) was in control after six innings, but in the seventh the Orioles kicked up their heels.
Brooks Robinson led off with a double, Dave Duncan singled him to third and one out later, Ken Singleton plated Robinson with a single. Bobby Grich walked, loading the bases. Then Al Bumbry doubled, scoring two more runs. Grich was cut down at the plate after a Ron LeFlore-to-Gene Michael-to-Bill Freehan relay.
Coleman, staggered, was left in the game by manager Ralph Houk.
"I thought he had enough to get one more out," Houk explained.
But Lee May squashed those thoughts with a triple, scoring Bumbry. Coleman was then lifted for rookie Ike Brookens.
"It all happened kind of fast," Coleman said afterward. "But that's what (the Orioles) can do. They can strike quickly."
Coleman's worst-ever season as a Tiger continued; he's 3-11
The Tigers edged to within one run in the eighth when Jack Pierce delivered a two-out single that scored Dan Meyer from second. Meyer led off the inning with a double.
The Tigers threw out another runner, Singleton, at the plate in the eighth, keeping the score 6-5. Again LeFlore started the relay.
The Tigers got a lead off walk from Aurelio Rodriguez in the ninth, but on a hit-and-run with pinch-hitter Gates Brown at the plate, Brown struck out and Rodriguez was cut down stealing. LeFlore grounded out to end the game.
"We tried to make something happen," Houk said of the ill-fated hit-and-run.
The Tigers scored four times in the fourth off O's starter Mike Torrez to take a 4-2 lead. After two walks, Freehan hit a three-run homer, and Pierce followed with a solo shot.
The Orioles scored twice in the first inning on a Bumbry triple and a May sacrifice fly, and it looked like another long night for Coleman. But the right-hander settled down and set down 16 of the next 21 Orioles hitters until the seventh.
The Tigers (28-41) will try to salvage a split of the four-game series on Sunday.
Notes: Freehan and Pierce's consecutive homers was the first time the Tigers pulled off that feat this season...Dan Meyer had a double and a triple...Brown, on the pivotal strike out/caught stealing in the ninth: "I just swung right through the damn ball. It hurts now but tomorrow is another day"...Last year after 69 games, the Tigers were 36-33. They finished 72-90.
********************************************************
Tigers record: 28-41 (actual 27-42)
Home: 13-23
Away: 15-18
Last 10: 4-6
It didn't.
The Baltimore Orioles erupted for four runs in the seventh inning, overcoming a 4-2 deficit, and they held on to beat Coleman and the Tigers, 6-5, at Memorial Stadium tonight.
Coleman (3-11) was in control after six innings, but in the seventh the Orioles kicked up their heels.
Brooks Robinson led off with a double, Dave Duncan singled him to third and one out later, Ken Singleton plated Robinson with a single. Bobby Grich walked, loading the bases. Then Al Bumbry doubled, scoring two more runs. Grich was cut down at the plate after a Ron LeFlore-to-Gene Michael-to-Bill Freehan relay.
Coleman, staggered, was left in the game by manager Ralph Houk.
"I thought he had enough to get one more out," Houk explained.
But Lee May squashed those thoughts with a triple, scoring Bumbry. Coleman was then lifted for rookie Ike Brookens.
"It all happened kind of fast," Coleman said afterward. "But that's what (the Orioles) can do. They can strike quickly."
Coleman's worst-ever season as a Tiger continued; he's 3-11
The Tigers edged to within one run in the eighth when Jack Pierce delivered a two-out single that scored Dan Meyer from second. Meyer led off the inning with a double.
The Tigers threw out another runner, Singleton, at the plate in the eighth, keeping the score 6-5. Again LeFlore started the relay.
The Tigers got a lead off walk from Aurelio Rodriguez in the ninth, but on a hit-and-run with pinch-hitter Gates Brown at the plate, Brown struck out and Rodriguez was cut down stealing. LeFlore grounded out to end the game.
"We tried to make something happen," Houk said of the ill-fated hit-and-run.
The Tigers scored four times in the fourth off O's starter Mike Torrez to take a 4-2 lead. After two walks, Freehan hit a three-run homer, and Pierce followed with a solo shot.
The Orioles scored twice in the first inning on a Bumbry triple and a May sacrifice fly, and it looked like another long night for Coleman. But the right-hander settled down and set down 16 of the next 21 Orioles hitters until the seventh.
The Tigers (28-41) will try to salvage a split of the four-game series on Sunday.
Notes: Freehan and Pierce's consecutive homers was the first time the Tigers pulled off that feat this season...Dan Meyer had a double and a triple...Brown, on the pivotal strike out/caught stealing in the ninth: "I just swung right through the damn ball. It hurts now but tomorrow is another day"...Last year after 69 games, the Tigers were 36-33. They finished 72-90.
********************************************************
Tigers record: 28-41 (actual 27-42)
Home: 13-23
Away: 15-18
Last 10: 4-6
Friday, June 15, 2012
Game 67: Tigers Overcome Cuellar, O's in 12, 4-0
Baltimore (June 26) -- Tigers manager Ralph Houk summed it up.
"I've been in big league baseball for 30 years," Houk said, "and I've never seen a team have 24 men retired in a row and still win the game."
Yet that's exactly what happened tonight at Memorial Stadium, where the Tigers beat the Baltimore Orioles, 4-0, in 12 innings.
Orioles starter Mike Cuellar set down 24 straight Tigers from the first thru eight innings, but Mickey Lolich matched Cuellar in terms of scoreless frames, and after nine innings the game was tied 0-0.
Both starters pitched into the 10th; Cuellar made it one out into the frame, and Lolich finished it.
Willie Horton led off the 12th inning with a home run, his 12th, off Dyar Miller. The Tigers went on to score three more runs off Grant Jackson.
Bob Reynolds pitched two innings to get the win over his former team.
The Tigers (28-39) have won five of their past nine games, which includes two shutouts.
But it looked like the story was going to be Cuellar, the Orioles' star lefty. For eight innings, it was.
Ron LeFlore led off the game with a single. After that, Cuellar set down the next 24 Tigers hitters.
(ed. note: Cuellar's last name is misspelled on his 1975 Topps trading card)
Meanwhile, Lolich was allowing the occasional base runner but no runs.
Cuellar took the result---a no decision---in stride.
"I did what I could," he said. "Sometimes it's not good enough."
Houk, for his part, praised Horton.
"Willie's been terrific for us," the manager said. "He's healthy, playing everyday, enjoying being our DH. And his production speaks for itself."
Horton has 12 homers and 46 RBI, both in the league's top five.
Horton's homer tonight was the second time in 48 hours that he struck for a tie-breaking home run in the game's final inning, essentially winning the game. He did it on Tuesday in the ninth inning in Milwaukee.
Notes: Lolich pitched beyond the ninth inning in a start for the 10th time in his career, which began in 1963...Tonight was just the Tigers' third extra innings game of the season. They're 1-2...Gene Michael started at shortstop for the fourth straight game, as Tom Veryzer's troublesome left ankle has flared up again...Houk said that John Wockenfuss would be spelling 33-year-old Bill Freehan at catcher more often as the summer wears on, especially since Freehan is fresh off the disabled list with a sore back.
*******************************************
Tigers record: 28-39 (actual 27-40)
Home: 13-23
Road: 15-16
Last 10: 5-5
"I've been in big league baseball for 30 years," Houk said, "and I've never seen a team have 24 men retired in a row and still win the game."
Yet that's exactly what happened tonight at Memorial Stadium, where the Tigers beat the Baltimore Orioles, 4-0, in 12 innings.
Orioles starter Mike Cuellar set down 24 straight Tigers from the first thru eight innings, but Mickey Lolich matched Cuellar in terms of scoreless frames, and after nine innings the game was tied 0-0.
Both starters pitched into the 10th; Cuellar made it one out into the frame, and Lolich finished it.
Willie Horton led off the 12th inning with a home run, his 12th, off Dyar Miller. The Tigers went on to score three more runs off Grant Jackson.
Bob Reynolds pitched two innings to get the win over his former team.
The Tigers (28-39) have won five of their past nine games, which includes two shutouts.
But it looked like the story was going to be Cuellar, the Orioles' star lefty. For eight innings, it was.
Ron LeFlore led off the game with a single. After that, Cuellar set down the next 24 Tigers hitters.
(ed. note: Cuellar's last name is misspelled on his 1975 Topps trading card)
Meanwhile, Lolich was allowing the occasional base runner but no runs.
Cuellar took the result---a no decision---in stride.
"I did what I could," he said. "Sometimes it's not good enough."
Houk, for his part, praised Horton.
"Willie's been terrific for us," the manager said. "He's healthy, playing everyday, enjoying being our DH. And his production speaks for itself."
Horton has 12 homers and 46 RBI, both in the league's top five.
Horton's homer tonight was the second time in 48 hours that he struck for a tie-breaking home run in the game's final inning, essentially winning the game. He did it on Tuesday in the ninth inning in Milwaukee.
Notes: Lolich pitched beyond the ninth inning in a start for the 10th time in his career, which began in 1963...Tonight was just the Tigers' third extra innings game of the season. They're 1-2...Gene Michael started at shortstop for the fourth straight game, as Tom Veryzer's troublesome left ankle has flared up again...Houk said that John Wockenfuss would be spelling 33-year-old Bill Freehan at catcher more often as the summer wears on, especially since Freehan is fresh off the disabled list with a sore back.
*******************************************
Tigers record: 28-39 (actual 27-40)
Home: 13-23
Road: 15-16
Last 10: 5-5
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Game 66: Happiness Then Heartbreak As Tigers Lose in 9th, 5-4
Milwaukee (June 25) - For a few moments, Aurelio Rodriguez looked to have saved the day for the Tigers---or at least had given them a chance to win a game in extra innings.
But the Tigers had to get through the bottom of the ninth, first. They couldn't.
Rodriguez drove an opposite field, two-run home run to right field in the top of the ninth inning, tying the game 4-4. But the Milwaukee Brewers cobbled together a run in the bottom of the frame as Dan Meyer misplayed a base hit, and the Tigers lost, 5-4 at County Stadium tonight.
The Tigers (27-39) lost three of four to Milwaukee after winning three of four from the Yankees in Detroit.
On the game-winning play, Don Money lined a ball toward the line in left field and Meyer, trying to prevent Sixto Lezcano from scoring from second base, overran the baseball.
Lezcano led off the Brewers' ninth with a walk off reliever John Hiller (1-4).Lezcano advanced to second base on a ground out, and after Hiller struck out Pedro Garcia, Money came to the plate.
"I hurried too much," a dejected Meyer said afterward. "And I took my eye off the ball, trying to look at the base runner at the same time."
Money's single scored the winning run---after Dan Meyer misplayed the ball in left field
The Tigers opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second inning. A wild pitch and a Ron LeFlore single plated the runs.
The Brewers broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh with two runs on a Garcia single and a sacrifice fly from 19 year-old shortstop Robin Yount.
With one out and Bill Freehan on second base in the ninth, Rodriguez took Ed Rodriguez's (no relation) fastball to right field, about three rows into the seats to tie the game, 4-4. It was Aurelio's third homer of the season.
But the Tigers couldn't take the game into extras.
"He (Meyer) just has to shake it off," manager Ralph Houk said of the left fielder's eighth miscue of the season, which leads all AL outfielders. "He was trying to make a play but he just attacked the ball too hard. What can you do?"
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle went 6.1 innings, surrendering just five hits and three runs, two earned. He didn't walk or strike out anyone.
The loss left the Tigers in last place in the AL East, one-half game behind Cleveland.
Now it's off to Baltimore for a four-game series with the Orioles over the weekend.
Notes: The Tigers committed three errors, giving them an unsightly 69 this season...Darrell Porter hit another home run, his third of the series...Hank Aaron indicated before the game that he would play in 1976. The question came up after Aaron was honored by the Brewers with an award by a Milwaukee community organization. "I feel pretty good," the 41 year-old Aaron said. "I think another season is possible."
*****************************************************
Tigers record: 27-39 (actual 26-40)
Home: 13-23
Away: 14-16
Last 10: 4-6
But the Tigers had to get through the bottom of the ninth, first. They couldn't.
Rodriguez drove an opposite field, two-run home run to right field in the top of the ninth inning, tying the game 4-4. But the Milwaukee Brewers cobbled together a run in the bottom of the frame as Dan Meyer misplayed a base hit, and the Tigers lost, 5-4 at County Stadium tonight.
The Tigers (27-39) lost three of four to Milwaukee after winning three of four from the Yankees in Detroit.
On the game-winning play, Don Money lined a ball toward the line in left field and Meyer, trying to prevent Sixto Lezcano from scoring from second base, overran the baseball.
Lezcano led off the Brewers' ninth with a walk off reliever John Hiller (1-4).Lezcano advanced to second base on a ground out, and after Hiller struck out Pedro Garcia, Money came to the plate.
"I hurried too much," a dejected Meyer said afterward. "And I took my eye off the ball, trying to look at the base runner at the same time."
Money's single scored the winning run---after Dan Meyer misplayed the ball in left field
The Tigers opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second inning. A wild pitch and a Ron LeFlore single plated the runs.
The Brewers broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh with two runs on a Garcia single and a sacrifice fly from 19 year-old shortstop Robin Yount.
With one out and Bill Freehan on second base in the ninth, Rodriguez took Ed Rodriguez's (no relation) fastball to right field, about three rows into the seats to tie the game, 4-4. It was Aurelio's third homer of the season.
But the Tigers couldn't take the game into extras.
"He (Meyer) just has to shake it off," manager Ralph Houk said of the left fielder's eighth miscue of the season, which leads all AL outfielders. "He was trying to make a play but he just attacked the ball too hard. What can you do?"
Tigers starter Vern Ruhle went 6.1 innings, surrendering just five hits and three runs, two earned. He didn't walk or strike out anyone.
The loss left the Tigers in last place in the AL East, one-half game behind Cleveland.
Now it's off to Baltimore for a four-game series with the Orioles over the weekend.
Notes: The Tigers committed three errors, giving them an unsightly 69 this season...Darrell Porter hit another home run, his third of the series...Hank Aaron indicated before the game that he would play in 1976. The question came up after Aaron was honored by the Brewers with an award by a Milwaukee community organization. "I feel pretty good," the 41 year-old Aaron said. "I think another season is possible."
*****************************************************
Tigers record: 27-39 (actual 26-40)
Home: 13-23
Away: 14-16
Last 10: 4-6
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).
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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
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.
************************************************************
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.
************************************************************
Tigers record: 23-34 (actual 25-32)
Home: 10-21
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 3-7
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Game 56: Tigers Power Past Bosox, 6-5
Detroit (June 16) - Wins don't come easy for the Tigers these days. Even games that appear in hand.
The Tigers survived a three-run Boston rally in the ninth inning and held on to beat the Red Sox, 6-5 at Tiger Stadium tonight.
It was the first time the Tigers (23-33) won consecutive games at home since May 9-10.
Ron LeFlore (4) and Dan Meyer (7) slugged home runs for Detroit, who had six extra-base hits on the night. LeFlore's led off the first inning, and Meyer's two-run shot extended the Tigers' lead to 6-2 in the seventh.
Jim Rice smacked a two-run homer for Boston.
Things got dicey in the ninth, as the Red Sox put the first three men on base and scored three times, leaving the tying run on base when Doug Griffin struck out against John Hiller to end the game.
Hiller's save was his 13th, ensuring the win for Mickey Lolich (6-7).
Lolich pitched two batters into the ninth, but couldn't get his fourth complete game of the season.
"It would have been flat out irresponsible of me to leave Mickey in there," manager Ralph Houk said. "He was clearly tired and he deserved to win."
Hiller came on with runners on second and third and nobody out. Rice greeted him with a single that scored both runners when Leon Roberts bobbled the ball in right field.
LeFlore had three hits (single, double, HR), scored a run and had two RBI
Fred Lynn grounded out, then Rico Petrocelli singled to send Rice to third. Dwight Evans hit the ball back to Hiller, but the Tigers couldn't complete the double play and Rice scored, causing the crowd of 21,145 to squirm in their seats. But Hiller settled down to fan Griffin on a 2-2 fastball.
LeFlore had three hits and two RBI. Gary Sutherland, returning to his starting spot at second base after missing a week with a sore hand, had two hits and an RBI.
Lolich allowed seven hits, struck out five and walked only one.
Royal Oak native Jim Burton started for Boston and went five innings. Meyer's homer came off Reggie Cleveland, who relieved Burton.
The Tigers are now 10-20 at home and improved to 2-4 on their current 12-game home stand.
"We just have to play better at home," Lolich said. "We still have a lot of games left on this home stand, so we can maybe get back into the race."
Beating first-place Boston two more times in this series will address that.
Notes: The Tigers played their first game after the sale of 1B Nate Colbert to Montreal, which occurred after Saturday's game. Mickey Stanley started at first base tonight and went 0-for-4...Houk, on Colbert: "He just didn't get it going. His back flared up on him and that didn't help. The doctors in Montreal think he'll be fine in a few weeks. We wish him well."...Tonight's win was the Tigers' first over Boston in five tries this season...The Tigers have committed 55 errors this season, by far the most in the majors.
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Tigers record: 23-33 (actual 25-31)
Home: 10-20
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
The Tigers survived a three-run Boston rally in the ninth inning and held on to beat the Red Sox, 6-5 at Tiger Stadium tonight.
It was the first time the Tigers (23-33) won consecutive games at home since May 9-10.
Ron LeFlore (4) and Dan Meyer (7) slugged home runs for Detroit, who had six extra-base hits on the night. LeFlore's led off the first inning, and Meyer's two-run shot extended the Tigers' lead to 6-2 in the seventh.
Jim Rice smacked a two-run homer for Boston.
Things got dicey in the ninth, as the Red Sox put the first three men on base and scored three times, leaving the tying run on base when Doug Griffin struck out against John Hiller to end the game.
Hiller's save was his 13th, ensuring the win for Mickey Lolich (6-7).
Lolich pitched two batters into the ninth, but couldn't get his fourth complete game of the season.
"It would have been flat out irresponsible of me to leave Mickey in there," manager Ralph Houk said. "He was clearly tired and he deserved to win."
Hiller came on with runners on second and third and nobody out. Rice greeted him with a single that scored both runners when Leon Roberts bobbled the ball in right field.
LeFlore had three hits (single, double, HR), scored a run and had two RBI
Fred Lynn grounded out, then Rico Petrocelli singled to send Rice to third. Dwight Evans hit the ball back to Hiller, but the Tigers couldn't complete the double play and Rice scored, causing the crowd of 21,145 to squirm in their seats. But Hiller settled down to fan Griffin on a 2-2 fastball.
LeFlore had three hits and two RBI. Gary Sutherland, returning to his starting spot at second base after missing a week with a sore hand, had two hits and an RBI.
Lolich allowed seven hits, struck out five and walked only one.
Royal Oak native Jim Burton started for Boston and went five innings. Meyer's homer came off Reggie Cleveland, who relieved Burton.
The Tigers are now 10-20 at home and improved to 2-4 on their current 12-game home stand.
"We just have to play better at home," Lolich said. "We still have a lot of games left on this home stand, so we can maybe get back into the race."
Beating first-place Boston two more times in this series will address that.
Notes: The Tigers played their first game after the sale of 1B Nate Colbert to Montreal, which occurred after Saturday's game. Mickey Stanley started at first base tonight and went 0-for-4...Houk, on Colbert: "He just didn't get it going. His back flared up on him and that didn't help. The doctors in Montreal think he'll be fine in a few weeks. We wish him well."...Tonight's win was the Tigers' first over Boston in five tries this season...The Tigers have committed 55 errors this season, by far the most in the majors.
************************************************
Tigers record: 23-33 (actual 25-31)
Home: 10-20
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 4-6
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Game 53: Home Is Where the Losses Are; Tigers Fall, 3-1
Detroit (June 12) - Another home game for the Tigers, another listless loss.
This time it was a typical score: 3-1, at the hands of the California Angels, who completed a three-game sweep tonight, revenge for the Tigers' three-game sweep in Anaheim last week.
The Angels' Ed Figueroa was the latest starting pitcher to turn the Tigers' bats into limp noodles.
Figueroa pitched a complete game, scattering eight mostly harmless hits.
Figueroa tossed an efficient complete game (no walks, seven Ks)
Lerrin LaGrow (2-8) took the loss for the Tigers but, as usual for Detroit starters, his was an effort that could have won most games. It was yet another instance when the Tigers starter's ERA went down, but the team still lost.
The Angels only scored 10 runs in the three games, but they did just enough to beat the punchless Bengals (21-32), who are 8-19 at home and off to a 0-3 start to this 12-game home stand. They scored four runs in the Angels series.
Tonight, the Halos scored all three runs in the fourth inning. Four singles and a Tom Veryzer error produced the three tallies.
Ron LeFlore's two-out single scored Veryzer in the fifth inning.
That was it for the offense.
The Oakland A's visit for a three-game weekend series.
Notes: Rookie catcher John Wockenfuss started a third straight game and went 2-for-4, making him 4-for-11 since being recalled from Toledo...When rookie Jack Pierce pinch-hit for Nate Colbert in the sixth with two outs and a runner on first base, the crowd of 14,442 cheered loudly. It was the earliest in a game that Colbert had been pinch-hit for as a Tiger. Pierce singled, but the rally died shortly thereafter...Rookie John Knox started at second base for Gary Sutherland, who is battling a sore neck. Knox went 0-for-4...LeFlore stole a base for the second straight game, for the first time this season. He now has six thefts.
***************************************************
Tigers record: 21-32 (actual 24-29)
Home: 8-19
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 5-5
This time it was a typical score: 3-1, at the hands of the California Angels, who completed a three-game sweep tonight, revenge for the Tigers' three-game sweep in Anaheim last week.
The Angels' Ed Figueroa was the latest starting pitcher to turn the Tigers' bats into limp noodles.
Figueroa pitched a complete game, scattering eight mostly harmless hits.
Figueroa tossed an efficient complete game (no walks, seven Ks)
Lerrin LaGrow (2-8) took the loss for the Tigers but, as usual for Detroit starters, his was an effort that could have won most games. It was yet another instance when the Tigers starter's ERA went down, but the team still lost.
The Angels only scored 10 runs in the three games, but they did just enough to beat the punchless Bengals (21-32), who are 8-19 at home and off to a 0-3 start to this 12-game home stand. They scored four runs in the Angels series.
Tonight, the Halos scored all three runs in the fourth inning. Four singles and a Tom Veryzer error produced the three tallies.
Ron LeFlore's two-out single scored Veryzer in the fifth inning.
That was it for the offense.
The Oakland A's visit for a three-game weekend series.
Notes: Rookie catcher John Wockenfuss started a third straight game and went 2-for-4, making him 4-for-11 since being recalled from Toledo...When rookie Jack Pierce pinch-hit for Nate Colbert in the sixth with two outs and a runner on first base, the crowd of 14,442 cheered loudly. It was the earliest in a game that Colbert had been pinch-hit for as a Tiger. Pierce singled, but the rally died shortly thereafter...Rookie John Knox started at second base for Gary Sutherland, who is battling a sore neck. Knox went 0-for-4...LeFlore stole a base for the second straight game, for the first time this season. He now has six thefts.
***************************************************
Tigers record: 21-32 (actual 24-29)
Home: 8-19
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 5-5
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