Detroit (Wed., Sept. 17, 1975) - If any pitcher in the American League has had worse luck than Joe Coleman since May, it would be amazing.
Coleman, a 20-game loser this season (often due to lack of run support), hasn't won since May 19. And he was three outs away from ending that streak Wednesday night at Tiger Stadium but it still didn't happen.
The Tigers won, 4-3, in the bottom of the ninth on a single by Gary Sutherland, but not before blowing a 3-0 lead in the top of the frame, denying Coleman his fourth win of the year.
Coleman had pitched eight shutout innings, allowing just two singles, when he surrendered back-to-back singles to Duane Kuiper and Rick Manning to start the ninth. Manager Ralph Houk walked to the mound, and was met with some jeers when he signaled for reliever Tom Walker. Coleman left the field to a chorus of cheers for his effort.
But Walker's first pitch, to George Hendrick, was deposited over the left field wall for a three-run homer and a 3-3 tie. As Hendrick circled the bases, Tiger Stadium was filled with boos.
TV cameras caught Coleman in the dugout with a sheepish grin, shaking his head, after Hendrick's homer.
In the Tigers' half of the ninth, with two out and nobody on base, catcher Terry Humphrey blooped a single into right field. Billy Baldwin followed with an infield hit. Sutherland stepped up and drove a Jim Kern pitch into right field, a flare that enabled the slow-footed Humphrey to score. Houk couldn't pinch run for Humphrey because Bill Freehan wasn't available due to a sore knee.
The Tigers (59-92) had won their second straight game, but Coleman's winless streak continued. It was hard to pitch any better and not get a victory, but that's how Coleman's 1975 season has gone.
The Major Said: "I knew I'd catch heat for lifting Joe, but I thought he was running out of gas, and the tying run was at the plate. I feel bad for him but I'd do it again."
Cleveland 000 000 003 3-5-1
Tigers 001 200 001 4-12-2
HR: Hendrick (CLE)
WP: Walker (3-2)
LP: Kern
Tigers record: 59-92 (actual 56-95)
Home: 30-46
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6
Showing posts with label Terry Humphrey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Terry Humphrey. Show all posts
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Game 148: Brown's First '75 Hit Upends Orioles, 5-3
Detroit (Sat., Sept. 13, 1975) - Gates Brown's first base hit of the season---a single to right field---drove in two runs in the eighth inning, lifting the Tigers to a 5-3 win over Baltimore Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers trailed 3-1 heading into the eighth. A single and two walks quickly loaded the bases with no outs. Ben Oglivie drove home one run with a sacrifice fly, and Tom Veryzer tied the game with a single with two outs. Leon Roberts walked, re-loading the bases. Brown was sent in to pinch-hit for Terry Humphrey, and Gates drove a bounding ball past first baseman Lee May for a two-run single.
It was Brown's first hit in 10 at-bats in a season marred by a bad back. It may be Brown's last hit; the 36-year-old pinch-hitting specialist has hinted at retirement after the season.
Brown's hit made a winner out of Mickey Lolich (14-15), who pitched his 12th complete game. Lolich gave up 10 hits, walked four and struck out seven. He lowered his ERA to 3.24. The O's tried to rally in the ninth, putting runners on first and second, but Lolich struck out Tommy Davis to end the game.
It was a game of veteran heroes; Lolich turned 35 on Friday, and 38-year-old Brooks Robinson had two hits and drove in all three Orioles runs.
The Tigers (57-91) snapped a four-game losing streak.
The Major Said: "If Gates does call it quits, I am proud to have managed him for two years. He's a pro's pro. He could have hung them up this year with his bad back, but he wouldn't think of doing that in the middle of the season."
Baltimore 010 002 000 3-10-1
Tigers 000 001 04x 5-11-0
WP: Lolich (14-15)
LP: Alexander
Tigers record: 57-91 (actual 55-93)
Home: 28-45
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 3-7
The Tigers trailed 3-1 heading into the eighth. A single and two walks quickly loaded the bases with no outs. Ben Oglivie drove home one run with a sacrifice fly, and Tom Veryzer tied the game with a single with two outs. Leon Roberts walked, re-loading the bases. Brown was sent in to pinch-hit for Terry Humphrey, and Gates drove a bounding ball past first baseman Lee May for a two-run single.
It was Brown's first hit in 10 at-bats in a season marred by a bad back. It may be Brown's last hit; the 36-year-old pinch-hitting specialist has hinted at retirement after the season.
Brown's hit made a winner out of Mickey Lolich (14-15), who pitched his 12th complete game. Lolich gave up 10 hits, walked four and struck out seven. He lowered his ERA to 3.24. The O's tried to rally in the ninth, putting runners on first and second, but Lolich struck out Tommy Davis to end the game.
It was a game of veteran heroes; Lolich turned 35 on Friday, and 38-year-old Brooks Robinson had two hits and drove in all three Orioles runs.
The Tigers (57-91) snapped a four-game losing streak.
The Major Said: "If Gates does call it quits, I am proud to have managed him for two years. He's a pro's pro. He could have hung them up this year with his bad back, but he wouldn't think of doing that in the middle of the season."
Baltimore 010 002 000 3-10-1
Tigers 000 001 04x 5-11-0
WP: Lolich (14-15)
LP: Alexander
Tigers record: 57-91 (actual 55-93)
Home: 28-45
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 3-7
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Game 50: Tigers Overcome Royals, Finish 6-2 Trip
Kansas City, MO (June 10) - When the Tigers left Detroit, they were 15-27 and the wheels looked to be falling off, based on a 1-10 streak.
They return home having put their house back together again, at least for the time being.
The Tigers completed a 6-2 road trip with a 5-2 win over the Royals tonight.
Leon Roberts had two hits, including a solo homer, and drove in two runs. Ron LeFlore had three singles, and the Tigers banged out 11 hits in overcoming a 2-1 deficit midway through the game.
Starter Vern Ruhle (4-6) won his third straight start, posting a 2.14 ERA in that time.
Even light-hitting backup catcher Terry Humphrey got into the act with a couple hits, an RBI and a run scored.
"It'll be a much happier flight back home than the one leaving Detroit," manager Ralph Houk said.
Indeed.
The Tigers are 8-16 at home and left Detroit having lost 10 of 11 and looking completely out of sorts.
But they reeled off five wins to start the trip and won tonight, breaking a modest two-game losing streak.
"I think we played more relaxed on this trip," Roberts observed. "Maybe getting out of Detroit was good for us."
Roberts was 2-for-3 with two RBI
Now, Houk can only hope returning to Detroit brings the same "relaxed" play.
"We have twelve straight home games coming up," Houk said. "It's time to put up or shut up now."
If the Tigers can right the ship at home, the 12-game home stand provides a great chance to get back into the division race---a thought not lost on LeFlore.
"Just think. If we start winning at home like good teams should do, we could be right in the thick of things before too long," the speedster said.
The Tigers are currently in a virtual tie for last with Baltimore, seven games behind Boston.
But, as LeFlore said and Houk hopes, things can turn around quickly with some wins at home.
Tonight, the Tigers trailed 2-1 in the fifth before scoring twice on three singles and an error.
They added to their lead with Roberts' solo homer in the sixth. A Humphrey single in the seventh brought home the fifth run.
Ruhle went eight innings of six-hit ball.
Notes: Newly-acquired RHP Bob Reynolds made his Tigers debut in the ninth, pitching a stress-free inning for the save. The Tigers traded RHP Fred Holdsworth to Baltimore on May 29 for Reynolds, a 28-year-old veteran now with his fifth big league team...Between Nate Colbert (.128) and rookie Jack Pierce (1-for-21), the Tigers have, by far, the worst production at first base in the majors...Houk said he inserted Reynolds in the ninth because he wanted to give normal fireman John Hiller the night off, despite it being a save situation.
********************************************************
Tigers record: 21-29 (actual 23-27)
Home: 8-16
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 6-4
They return home having put their house back together again, at least for the time being.
The Tigers completed a 6-2 road trip with a 5-2 win over the Royals tonight.
Leon Roberts had two hits, including a solo homer, and drove in two runs. Ron LeFlore had three singles, and the Tigers banged out 11 hits in overcoming a 2-1 deficit midway through the game.
Starter Vern Ruhle (4-6) won his third straight start, posting a 2.14 ERA in that time.
Even light-hitting backup catcher Terry Humphrey got into the act with a couple hits, an RBI and a run scored.
"It'll be a much happier flight back home than the one leaving Detroit," manager Ralph Houk said.
Indeed.
The Tigers are 8-16 at home and left Detroit having lost 10 of 11 and looking completely out of sorts.
But they reeled off five wins to start the trip and won tonight, breaking a modest two-game losing streak.
"I think we played more relaxed on this trip," Roberts observed. "Maybe getting out of Detroit was good for us."
Roberts was 2-for-3 with two RBI
Now, Houk can only hope returning to Detroit brings the same "relaxed" play.
"We have twelve straight home games coming up," Houk said. "It's time to put up or shut up now."
If the Tigers can right the ship at home, the 12-game home stand provides a great chance to get back into the division race---a thought not lost on LeFlore.
"Just think. If we start winning at home like good teams should do, we could be right in the thick of things before too long," the speedster said.
The Tigers are currently in a virtual tie for last with Baltimore, seven games behind Boston.
But, as LeFlore said and Houk hopes, things can turn around quickly with some wins at home.
Tonight, the Tigers trailed 2-1 in the fifth before scoring twice on three singles and an error.
They added to their lead with Roberts' solo homer in the sixth. A Humphrey single in the seventh brought home the fifth run.
Ruhle went eight innings of six-hit ball.
Notes: Newly-acquired RHP Bob Reynolds made his Tigers debut in the ninth, pitching a stress-free inning for the save. The Tigers traded RHP Fred Holdsworth to Baltimore on May 29 for Reynolds, a 28-year-old veteran now with his fifth big league team...Between Nate Colbert (.128) and rookie Jack Pierce (1-for-21), the Tigers have, by far, the worst production at first base in the majors...Houk said he inserted Reynolds in the ninth because he wanted to give normal fireman John Hiller the night off, despite it being a save situation.
********************************************************
Tigers record: 21-29 (actual 23-27)
Home: 8-16
Away: 13-13
Last 10: 6-4
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