Milwaukee, WI (Sat., Sept. 27, 1975) - Darrell Porter led off the 10th inning with a triple, and one out later scored on a sacrifice fly as the Milwaukee Brewers handed the Tigers their fifth straight loss in the second-to-last game of the season, 3-2, at County Stadium.
Mike Hegan's fly ball to right field was more than deep enough to score Porter, who arrived at home plate without a throw by Leon Roberts.
The Tigers (60-98) and Brewers finish the season Sunday. The Tigers long ago clinched their second straight last place finish after not finishing in the basement since 1952.
George Scott hit two solo homers for the Brewers, in the sixth and seventh innings.
The Tigers trailed 2-1 in the eighth, but tied the game on back-to-back doubles by Bill Freehan and Tom Veryzer.
First baseman Dan Meyer had to leave the game in the fourth inning when he collided with Hegan in a race to the bag, that Meyer won. TV replays seemed to indicate that Hegan's left knee caught Meyer in the jaw. Freehan moved from catcher to first base, and Terry Humphrey entered the game as the new backstop.
Porter started the 10th inning by driving Fernando Arroyo's first pitch up the alley in right-center, legging out a three-bagger ahead of Jerry Manuel's relay to Chuck Scrivener. Arroyo got Bobby Darwin to pop up, but Hegan ended the night with his fly ball.
Vern Ruhle started for Detroit and went eight innings. Arroyo took the loss, while Ed Rodriguez got the win in relief of young lefty Jerry Augustine, who also went eight innings.
The Major Said: "Someone asked me if I was relieved that we can't lose 100 games. I had to laugh, because if that's the standard we set this year, that shows you what kind of year we had. And, no I'm not relieved. I'm angry, to tell you the truth."
Tigers 000 010 010 0 2-9-1
Milw. 000 001 100 1 3-11-0
HR: Scott (MIL, [2])
WP: Rodriguez
LP: Arroyo
Tigers record: 60-98 (actual 57-101)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-49
Last 10: 3-7
Showing posts with label Tom Veryzer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tom Veryzer. Show all posts
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Game 156: Desperate O's Outlast Tigers in 15, 3-2
Baltimore, MD (Wed., Sept. 24, 1975) - Light-hitting Mark Belanger lined a single into center field with two outs in the bottom of the 15th, scoring Elrod Hendricks from second base, and the Baltimore Orioles kept their East Division title hopes alive with a 3-2 win over the Tigers at Memorial Stadium.
The Orioles tied the game, 2-2, in the eighth inning after the Tigers moved ahead 2-1 in the top half of the inning. Then the teams rarely threatened to score from the ninth through 14th innings.
The Tigers put runners on second and third with one out in the 14th, but Dyar Miller struck out Bill Freehan and Aurelio Rodriguez to end the threat.
In the 15th for Baltimore, Don Baylor led off with a single. Bobby Grich walked, and Hendricks hit a ground ball to shortstop Tom Veryzer, who flipped the ball to Jerry Manuel at second, but Manuel's throw to first was late, putting runners on first and third with one out.
Brooks Robinson hit a chopper to Rodriguez at third base, who gunned out Baylor trying to score. That left things up to Belanger, who stroked a 2-1 fastball from rookie Steve Grilli (0-1) into center field to plate Hendricks from second.
The win kept the Orioles 2.5 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox. The Tigers (60-96) lost their third straight.
Rookie Bob Molinaro had two triples for the Tigers, both off starter Jim Palmer, who went 10 innings. Tigers starter Joe Coleman didn't add to his league-leading 20 losses, but he is still winless since May 19, and he has no remaining starts scheduled.
The Major Said: "This game kind of symbolizes our season. When you're going good, you win games like this. We had our shot in the 14th."
Tigers 000 100 010 000 000 2-9-0
Baltimore 000 001 010 000 001 3-15-1
WP: Garland
LP: Grilli (0-1)
Tigers record: 60-96 (actual 57-99)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-47
Last 10: 4-6
The Orioles tied the game, 2-2, in the eighth inning after the Tigers moved ahead 2-1 in the top half of the inning. Then the teams rarely threatened to score from the ninth through 14th innings.
The Tigers put runners on second and third with one out in the 14th, but Dyar Miller struck out Bill Freehan and Aurelio Rodriguez to end the threat.
In the 15th for Baltimore, Don Baylor led off with a single. Bobby Grich walked, and Hendricks hit a ground ball to shortstop Tom Veryzer, who flipped the ball to Jerry Manuel at second, but Manuel's throw to first was late, putting runners on first and third with one out.
Brooks Robinson hit a chopper to Rodriguez at third base, who gunned out Baylor trying to score. That left things up to Belanger, who stroked a 2-1 fastball from rookie Steve Grilli (0-1) into center field to plate Hendricks from second.
The win kept the Orioles 2.5 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox. The Tigers (60-96) lost their third straight.
Rookie Bob Molinaro had two triples for the Tigers, both off starter Jim Palmer, who went 10 innings. Tigers starter Joe Coleman didn't add to his league-leading 20 losses, but he is still winless since May 19, and he has no remaining starts scheduled.
The Major Said: "This game kind of symbolizes our season. When you're going good, you win games like this. We had our shot in the 14th."
Tigers 000 100 010 000 000 2-9-0
Baltimore 000 001 010 000 001 3-15-1
WP: Garland
LP: Grilli (0-1)
Tigers record: 60-96 (actual 57-99)
Home: 31-49
Away: 29-47
Last 10: 4-6
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Game 153: Tigers Edge Bosox, 2-1
Detroit (Fri., Sept. 19, 1975) - Ben Oglivie's single drove home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and the Tigers survived the first-place Boston Red Sox, 2-1, at Tiger Stadium.
Oglivie's line drive to right scored Dan Meyer, who had walked to lead off the inning.
The Tigers scored an unearned run in the third inning to lead, 1-0. Leon Roberts reached on a botched ground ball by third baseman Rico Petrocelli. He came around to score on a two-out single by Tom Veryzer, who was batting third in the lineup for the first time in his career.
The Red Sox tied the game in the fourth on a double from Denny Doyle and a single from Fred Lynn.
The loser was lefty Bill Lee, who pitched the whole game for Boston. Ray Bare (7-10) picked up the win, with rookie Steve Grilli registering his first career save with two scoreless innings of relief.
Bare kept the potent Boston lineup in check, giving up just six hits and one walk in seven innings.
The Major Said: "We tend to win low-scoring games, but against (the Red Sox), you're really not expecting that. But Ray (Bare) did a great job, and I felt great for the kid, Grilli. Two gutsy innings there."
Boston 000 100 000 1-6-2
Tigers 001 000 10x 2-7-1
WP: Bare (7-10)
SV: Grilli (1)
LP: Lee
Tigers record: 60-93 (actual 56-97)
Home: 31-47
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6
Oglivie's line drive to right scored Dan Meyer, who had walked to lead off the inning.
The Tigers scored an unearned run in the third inning to lead, 1-0. Leon Roberts reached on a botched ground ball by third baseman Rico Petrocelli. He came around to score on a two-out single by Tom Veryzer, who was batting third in the lineup for the first time in his career.
The Red Sox tied the game in the fourth on a double from Denny Doyle and a single from Fred Lynn.
The loser was lefty Bill Lee, who pitched the whole game for Boston. Ray Bare (7-10) picked up the win, with rookie Steve Grilli registering his first career save with two scoreless innings of relief.
Bare kept the potent Boston lineup in check, giving up just six hits and one walk in seven innings.
The Major Said: "We tend to win low-scoring games, but against (the Red Sox), you're really not expecting that. But Ray (Bare) did a great job, and I felt great for the kid, Grilli. Two gutsy innings there."
Boston 000 100 000 1-6-2
Tigers 001 000 10x 2-7-1
WP: Bare (7-10)
SV: Grilli (1)
LP: Lee
Tigers record: 60-93 (actual 56-97)
Home: 31-47
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Game 150: Tigers Debut Some Kids, Hang On 10-9
Detroit (Tue., Sept. 16, 1975) - The Tigers stormed out to a 10-3 lead then watched in horror as it almost was frittered away in holding off the Cleveland Indians, 10-9 at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers debuted three rookie pitchers from Toledo, whose minor league season ended later than others because the Mud Hens made it to the International League's championship series.
Lefties Tom Makowski and Ed Glynn and right-hander Steve Grilli all pitched in their first big league games. Makowski and Grilli combined to give up six runs in the eighth and ninth innings, turning a rout into a nailbiter.
Glynn picked up his first save with the tying run at first base, coaxing a ground out from Duane Kuiper.
From Toledo, the Tigers also called up infielders Chuck Scrivener and Jerry Manuel, and outfielder Bob Molinaro, but none of them played Tuesday night.
Ben Oglivie had four hits and three RBI and another rookie, 2B John Knox, had three hits.
Detroit (58-92) scored six times in the fourth inning, and added three in the fifth for a 10-3 lead. The Tigers roughed up Cleveland starter Dennis Eckersley and reliever Fred Beene for all 10 runs.
The Tigers racked up 18 hits, overcoming three errors---two by SS Tom Veryzer.
Fernando Arroyo got the start for Detroit because scheduled starter Vern Ruhle had shoulder soreness when he arrived at the ballpark. Arroyo (4-2) pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs, earning the victory. He had pitched two innings in Sunday's loss to Baltimore.
Willie Horton picked up another RBI, giving him 96, edging him closer to being the first Tiger to drive in 100 runs since Horton himself did it in 1966.
The Tigers are 29-46 at home and 29-46 on the road.
The Major Said: "We don't have a lot of time to see the rookie pitchers but we do have some games left so may as well put them in there. They had a good season in Toledo as a team. But realistically we won't find out much about any of them until spring training."
Cleveland 000 210 042 9-13-2
Tigers 001 630 000 10-18-3
HR: LeFlore (DET, 7); Bell (CLE)
WP: Arroyo (4-2)
SV: Glynn (1)
LP: Eckersley
Tigers record: 58-92 (actual 55-95)
Home: 29-46
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6
The Tigers debuted three rookie pitchers from Toledo, whose minor league season ended later than others because the Mud Hens made it to the International League's championship series.
Lefties Tom Makowski and Ed Glynn and right-hander Steve Grilli all pitched in their first big league games. Makowski and Grilli combined to give up six runs in the eighth and ninth innings, turning a rout into a nailbiter.
Glynn picked up his first save with the tying run at first base, coaxing a ground out from Duane Kuiper.
From Toledo, the Tigers also called up infielders Chuck Scrivener and Jerry Manuel, and outfielder Bob Molinaro, but none of them played Tuesday night.
Ben Oglivie had four hits and three RBI and another rookie, 2B John Knox, had three hits.
Detroit (58-92) scored six times in the fourth inning, and added three in the fifth for a 10-3 lead. The Tigers roughed up Cleveland starter Dennis Eckersley and reliever Fred Beene for all 10 runs.
The Tigers racked up 18 hits, overcoming three errors---two by SS Tom Veryzer.
Fernando Arroyo got the start for Detroit because scheduled starter Vern Ruhle had shoulder soreness when he arrived at the ballpark. Arroyo (4-2) pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs, earning the victory. He had pitched two innings in Sunday's loss to Baltimore.
Willie Horton picked up another RBI, giving him 96, edging him closer to being the first Tiger to drive in 100 runs since Horton himself did it in 1966.
The Tigers are 29-46 at home and 29-46 on the road.
The Major Said: "We don't have a lot of time to see the rookie pitchers but we do have some games left so may as well put them in there. They had a good season in Toledo as a team. But realistically we won't find out much about any of them until spring training."
Cleveland 000 210 042 9-13-2
Tigers 001 630 000 10-18-3
HR: LeFlore (DET, 7); Bell (CLE)
WP: Arroyo (4-2)
SV: Glynn (1)
LP: Eckersley
Tigers record: 58-92 (actual 55-95)
Home: 29-46
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6
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
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Game 147: Tigers Get 11 Hits But Only 1 Run as Coleman Loses 20th
Detroit (Fri., Sept. 12, 1975) - Mike Torrez pitched a complete game, despite giving up 11 hits, and the Baltimore Orioles used three first inning runs as their only offense in forging a 3-1 victory over the Tigers at Tiger Stadium, handing pitcher Joe Coleman a history-making loss.
Paul Blair (two-run) and Ken Singleton (solo) each hit home runs for the Orioles in the first off Coleman (3-20), who became the first Tigers pitcher since Art Houtteman in 1952 to lose 20 games in a season. Coleman has lost 16 straight decisions. His last win came on May 19.
The crowd of 14,546, realizing the gravity of Coleman's situation, tried exhorting the Tigers as the game went on, moaning and groaning at every Tigers out in the later innings.
But despite getting hits in every inning except the third and ninth, the Tigers couldn't score beyond the second inning, when Tom Veryzer's sacrifice fly plated Bill Freehan, who walked and went to third base on Aurelio Rodriguez's double.
Rodriguez had four hits for the Tigers (56-91), and Gary Sutherland had three, but Detroit left 10 men on base.
Coleman pitched well, limiting the Orioles to one hit after the second inning. But in a tough luck year, the right-hander fell victim to a lack of run support, as he has so often this season.
Coleman's 20 losses come just two years after he won 23 games.
The Major Said: "That's a shame that Joe lost 20 games. It's not all about how he's pitched. When this looked possible a couple weeks ago I asked him if he wanted to sit a couple starts out and he said no way. That's a testament to his competitiveness."
Baltimore 300 000 000 3-6-0
Tigers 010 000 000 1-11-3
HR: Blair (BAL); Singleton (BAL)
WP: Torrez
LP: Coleman (3-20)
Tigers record: 56-91 (actual 55-92)
Home: 27-45
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 2-8
Paul Blair (two-run) and Ken Singleton (solo) each hit home runs for the Orioles in the first off Coleman (3-20), who became the first Tigers pitcher since Art Houtteman in 1952 to lose 20 games in a season. Coleman has lost 16 straight decisions. His last win came on May 19.
The crowd of 14,546, realizing the gravity of Coleman's situation, tried exhorting the Tigers as the game went on, moaning and groaning at every Tigers out in the later innings.
But despite getting hits in every inning except the third and ninth, the Tigers couldn't score beyond the second inning, when Tom Veryzer's sacrifice fly plated Bill Freehan, who walked and went to third base on Aurelio Rodriguez's double.
Rodriguez had four hits for the Tigers (56-91), and Gary Sutherland had three, but Detroit left 10 men on base.
Coleman pitched well, limiting the Orioles to one hit after the second inning. But in a tough luck year, the right-hander fell victim to a lack of run support, as he has so often this season.
Coleman's 20 losses come just two years after he won 23 games.
The Major Said: "That's a shame that Joe lost 20 games. It's not all about how he's pitched. When this looked possible a couple weeks ago I asked him if he wanted to sit a couple starts out and he said no way. That's a testament to his competitiveness."
Baltimore 300 000 000 3-6-0
Tigers 010 000 000 1-11-3
HR: Blair (BAL); Singleton (BAL)
WP: Torrez
LP: Coleman (3-20)
Tigers record: 56-91 (actual 55-92)
Home: 27-45
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 2-8
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 13, 2012
Game 116: Tigers Bats Remain Cold in 6-2 Loss
Detroit (Sun., Aug. 10, 1975) - The Tigers' hitting slump continued as the Minnesota Twins broke open a tie game in the eighth inning and beat Detroit, 6-2, at Tiger Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Twins took the weekend series, 2-1.
The score was tied 2-2 when the Twins erupted for four runs in the eighth inning, punctuated by Johnny Briggs' three-run homer.
Tigers starter Ray Bare (3-5) pitched into the eighth inning and only allowed four hits and one walk, but the Tigers' offense continued to slumber. Detroit (48-68) has scored just three runs in their past four games.
Bill Freehan had two hits and scored both Tigers runs. Tom Veryzer had both RBI.
Minnesota starter Bert Blyleven pitched eight innings, giving up one earned run and six hits. He walked two and struck out six.
In the eighth, Jerry Terrell led off with a double, knocking Bare out of the game. Danny Thompson bunted, but reliever Tom Walker fumbled the ball for an error, placing runners on the corners with nobody out. Glenn Borgmann followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Terrell. Lyman Bostock singled, and after Dan Ford struck out, Briggs drove a Walker fastball deep into the right field upper deck.
The Major Said: "We're just not swinging the bats. There isn't much to say. You aren't going to win very many games scoring zero, one or two runs, as we tend to do. We have pitched pretty good this year but it hasn't really mattered."
Minnesota 000 200 040 6-9-2
Tigers 000 010 100 2-6-1
HR: Briggs (MIN)
WP: Blyleven
LP: Bare (3-5)
Tigers record: 48-68 (actual 46-70)
Home: 24-38
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 5-5
The Twins took the weekend series, 2-1.
The score was tied 2-2 when the Twins erupted for four runs in the eighth inning, punctuated by Johnny Briggs' three-run homer.
Tigers starter Ray Bare (3-5) pitched into the eighth inning and only allowed four hits and one walk, but the Tigers' offense continued to slumber. Detroit (48-68) has scored just three runs in their past four games.
Bill Freehan had two hits and scored both Tigers runs. Tom Veryzer had both RBI.
Minnesota starter Bert Blyleven pitched eight innings, giving up one earned run and six hits. He walked two and struck out six.
In the eighth, Jerry Terrell led off with a double, knocking Bare out of the game. Danny Thompson bunted, but reliever Tom Walker fumbled the ball for an error, placing runners on the corners with nobody out. Glenn Borgmann followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Terrell. Lyman Bostock singled, and after Dan Ford struck out, Briggs drove a Walker fastball deep into the right field upper deck.
The Major Said: "We're just not swinging the bats. There isn't much to say. You aren't going to win very many games scoring zero, one or two runs, as we tend to do. We have pitched pretty good this year but it hasn't really mattered."
Minnesota 000 200 040 6-9-2
Tigers 000 010 100 2-6-1
HR: Briggs (MIN)
WP: Blyleven
LP: Bare (3-5)
Tigers record: 48-68 (actual 46-70)
Home: 24-38
Away: 24-30
Last 10: 5-5
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
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Game 95: Benji!! A's, Fingers Stunned in 9th, 6-5
Detroit (Wed., July 23, 1975) - Ben Oglivie hit a two-run homer into the right field upper deck in the bottom of the ninth, and the Tigers came all the way back from an early 5-1 deficit to beat the Oakland A's, 6-5, at Tiger Stadium Wednesday night.
It was Detroit's third straight win, all over division-leading Oakland, against whom the Tigers are 6-2 this season.
Oglivie's home run came off Rollie Fingers, who the night before surrendered an 8th-inning, three-run blast to Bill Freehan, enabling the Tigers to win that game.
The Tigers scored twice in the sixth to pull to within 5-3, then added a single run in the seventh, made possible by an error by left fielder Claudell Washington.
In the ninth, John Wockenfuss led off with a double. After Tom Veryzer struck out, Oglivie stepped up and clubbed his second homer of the year.
The A's opened ths scoring with three unearned runs off starter Vern Ruhle in the fourth inning. Veryzer's muff of a ground ball should have been the second out of the inning, loading the bases. The next batter struck out, but thanks to the fourth out, the A's s got a walk and a double to push across three runs.
Willie Horton singled twice and scored twice for the Tigers (39-56), who have won five of six on this home stand.
The Major Said: "This was a great win, exciting for the fans. Hell, exciting for me, too. You never get tired of winning games in the ninth inning. It's a wonderful feeling. Fingers has had two tough nights here, but he's still one of the best in the business."
Oakland 000 320 000 5-9-1
Tigers 010 002 102 6-11-1
HR: Rudi (OAK); Oglivie (DET, 2)
WP: Arroyo (1-0)
LP: Fingers
Tigers record: 39-56 (actual 42-53)
Home: 20-31
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 6-4
It was Detroit's third straight win, all over division-leading Oakland, against whom the Tigers are 6-2 this season.
Oglivie's home run came off Rollie Fingers, who the night before surrendered an 8th-inning, three-run blast to Bill Freehan, enabling the Tigers to win that game.
The Tigers scored twice in the sixth to pull to within 5-3, then added a single run in the seventh, made possible by an error by left fielder Claudell Washington.
In the ninth, John Wockenfuss led off with a double. After Tom Veryzer struck out, Oglivie stepped up and clubbed his second homer of the year.
The A's opened ths scoring with three unearned runs off starter Vern Ruhle in the fourth inning. Veryzer's muff of a ground ball should have been the second out of the inning, loading the bases. The next batter struck out, but thanks to the fourth out, the A's s got a walk and a double to push across three runs.
Willie Horton singled twice and scored twice for the Tigers (39-56), who have won five of six on this home stand.
The Major Said: "This was a great win, exciting for the fans. Hell, exciting for me, too. You never get tired of winning games in the ninth inning. It's a wonderful feeling. Fingers has had two tough nights here, but he's still one of the best in the business."
Oakland 000 320 000 5-9-1
Tigers 010 002 102 6-11-1
HR: Rudi (OAK); Oglivie (DET, 2)
WP: Arroyo (1-0)
LP: Fingers
Tigers record: 39-56 (actual 42-53)
Home: 20-31
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 6-4
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Game 90: Tigers Avert Defeat, Beat Royals, 2-1
Detroit (Sat., July 19, 1975) - Aurelio Rodriguez singled home Bill Freehan in the bottom of the 11th inning, lifting the Tigers to a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers (35-55) scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings.
Kansas City's George Brett opened the Royals 10th with a triple, but didn't score.
In the 11th, Freehan walked with one out and moved to second on a Leon Roberts single with two outs. The next batter was Rodriguez, and he flicked a base hit into center field to easily score Freehan and send the crowd of 15,337 home happy.
The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the fifth when Frank White scored from third thanks to an error by Rodriguez, who would more than atone for that miscue later.
In the Tigers ninth, they loaded the bases with nobody out on two singles and a walk. Jack Pierce drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly. Roberts singled, reloading the bases. Rodriguez tapped out, pitcher to home plate, and Tom Veryzer struck out, keeping the game tied, 1-1.
Gary Sutherland and Roberts each had two singles for the Tigers. Fernando Arroyo (1-1) pitched three innings of scoreless relief to earn the win.
In an oddity, Kansas City's Al Cowens had four singles: on each occasion, he never made it to second base, and he gathered the hits leading off an inning, batting second in an inning, batting third and batting fourth.
The Major Said: "It was good to win a close game for a change. I thought Arroyo was terrific. He wiggled out of it after George tripled. Good win tonight."
KC 000 010 000 00 1-8-1
Tigers 000 000 001 01 2-10-2
WP: Arroyo (1-1)
LP: Bird
Tigers record: 35-55 (actual 41-49)
Home: 16-30
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 4-6
The Tigers (35-55) scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings.
Kansas City's George Brett opened the Royals 10th with a triple, but didn't score.
In the 11th, Freehan walked with one out and moved to second on a Leon Roberts single with two outs. The next batter was Rodriguez, and he flicked a base hit into center field to easily score Freehan and send the crowd of 15,337 home happy.
The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the fifth when Frank White scored from third thanks to an error by Rodriguez, who would more than atone for that miscue later.
In the Tigers ninth, they loaded the bases with nobody out on two singles and a walk. Jack Pierce drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly. Roberts singled, reloading the bases. Rodriguez tapped out, pitcher to home plate, and Tom Veryzer struck out, keeping the game tied, 1-1.
Gary Sutherland and Roberts each had two singles for the Tigers. Fernando Arroyo (1-1) pitched three innings of scoreless relief to earn the win.
In an oddity, Kansas City's Al Cowens had four singles: on each occasion, he never made it to second base, and he gathered the hits leading off an inning, batting second in an inning, batting third and batting fourth.
The Major Said: "It was good to win a close game for a change. I thought Arroyo was terrific. He wiggled out of it after George tripled. Good win tonight."
KC 000 010 000 00 1-8-1
Tigers 000 000 001 01 2-10-2
WP: Arroyo (1-1)
LP: Bird
Tigers record: 35-55 (actual 41-49)
Home: 16-30
Away: 19-25
Last 10: 4-6
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Game 86: Royals Crush Tigers' Comeback Bid In 9th, 6-5
Kansas City (July 13, 1975) - Bill Freehan hit two home runs for the Tigers, including a three-run shot that tied the game in the eighth inning, but the Kansas City Royals pushed across a run in the bottom of the ninth to win, 6-5, at Royals Stadium Sunday afternoon.
Cookie Rojas's single plated George Brett with the winning run, with the bases loaded and one out.
The Tigers (33-53) go into the All-Star break a season-high 20 games below .500 and having lost 11 of their past 14 games.
Willie Horton also hit a home run for Detroit. Kansas City's Frank White homered for the third straight game.
The Royals built a 5-1 lead by the time the Tigers started to chip away in the sixth inning, when they scored a run on Horton's 15th homer.
In the eighth, Leon Roberts and Horton singled to start the frame. That brought up Freehan, who connected for a solo homer in the fourth off starter Dennis Leonard, who was lifted after Horton's single sent Roberts to second base.
Reliever Nelson Briles hung a breaking ball that Freehan rocketed into left center field for his sixth homer of the season and second of the game, tying the contest, 5-5.
Two outs later, Tom Veryzer tripled but was stranded.
In the Royals ninth, Brett started with a single off Dave Lemanczyk and went to third on a John Mayberry base hit. Hal McRae grounded out, sending Mayberry to second. Tony Solaita was walked intentionally, and Rojas blistered a fastball past a diving Veryzer between short and third for the game-winning hit.
The Major Said: "I liked the way we fought back. Bill showed he can still do it. But we had to go through the heart of their order and we couldn't get it done."
Tigers 000 101 030 5-12-0
KC 220 100 001 6-16-0
HR: Horton (DET, 15); Freehan (DET, [2] 6); White (KC)
WP: Briles
LP: Lemanczyk (0-1)
Tigers record: 33-53 (actual 39-47)
Home: 15-30
Away: 18-23
Last 10: 2-8
Cookie Rojas's single plated George Brett with the winning run, with the bases loaded and one out.
The Tigers (33-53) go into the All-Star break a season-high 20 games below .500 and having lost 11 of their past 14 games.
Willie Horton also hit a home run for Detroit. Kansas City's Frank White homered for the third straight game.
The Royals built a 5-1 lead by the time the Tigers started to chip away in the sixth inning, when they scored a run on Horton's 15th homer.
In the eighth, Leon Roberts and Horton singled to start the frame. That brought up Freehan, who connected for a solo homer in the fourth off starter Dennis Leonard, who was lifted after Horton's single sent Roberts to second base.
Reliever Nelson Briles hung a breaking ball that Freehan rocketed into left center field for his sixth homer of the season and second of the game, tying the contest, 5-5.
Two outs later, Tom Veryzer tripled but was stranded.
In the Royals ninth, Brett started with a single off Dave Lemanczyk and went to third on a John Mayberry base hit. Hal McRae grounded out, sending Mayberry to second. Tony Solaita was walked intentionally, and Rojas blistered a fastball past a diving Veryzer between short and third for the game-winning hit.
The Major Said: "I liked the way we fought back. Bill showed he can still do it. But we had to go through the heart of their order and we couldn't get it done."
Tigers 000 101 030 5-12-0
KC 220 100 001 6-16-0
HR: Horton (DET, 15); Freehan (DET, [2] 6); White (KC)
WP: Briles
LP: Lemanczyk (0-1)
Tigers record: 33-53 (actual 39-47)
Home: 15-30
Away: 18-23
Last 10: 2-8
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Game 80: Johnson Blasts Tigers in 12th, 3-2
Detroit (July 7) - Deron Johnson drove an opposite field home run to right field in the 12th inning, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Tigers, 3-2, Monday night at Tiger Stadium.
Leading off the 12th, the 36-year-old DH connected off Bob Reynolds as the Tigers fell to 14-29 at home and 31-49 overall. They have lost seven of eight.
The Tigers tied the game 2-2 in the eighth inning and put runners on base in the ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th but couldn't score again. They had 14 hits.
Bill Melton slugged a two-run homer in the sixth to put Chicago ahead, 2-1.
Tom Veryzer had four hits for the Tigers.
The Major Said: "It's not like we didn't have any chances. You should get a lot more runs than two when you have 14 hits. It's not like (the players) are not trying, but the results just aren't there.
Chicago 000 002 000 001 3-10-1
Tigers 100 000 100 000 2-14-0
HR: Melton (CHI); Johnson (CHI)
WP: Gossage
LP: Reynolds
Tigers record: 31-49 (actual 34-46)
Home: 14-29
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 3-7
Leading off the 12th, the 36-year-old DH connected off Bob Reynolds as the Tigers fell to 14-29 at home and 31-49 overall. They have lost seven of eight.
The Tigers tied the game 2-2 in the eighth inning and put runners on base in the ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th but couldn't score again. They had 14 hits.
Bill Melton slugged a two-run homer in the sixth to put Chicago ahead, 2-1.
Tom Veryzer had four hits for the Tigers.
The Major Said: "It's not like we didn't have any chances. You should get a lot more runs than two when you have 14 hits. It's not like (the players) are not trying, but the results just aren't there.
Chicago 000 002 000 001 3-10-1
Tigers 100 000 100 000 2-14-0
HR: Melton (CHI); Johnson (CHI)
WP: Gossage
LP: Reynolds
Tigers record: 31-49 (actual 34-46)
Home: 14-29
Away: 17-20
Last 10: 3-7
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
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Game 23: Tigers Score 3 in 9th, Stun Rangers
Detroit (May 10) -- In the latest example of an awakening offense, the Tigers rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Texas Rangers, 6-5, at Tiger Stadium this afternoon.
The Tigers trailed 5-3, but quickly loaded the bases with nobody out against Texas reliever Stan Thomas. Bill Freehan singled, Ben Oglivie doubled the Tigers catcher to third, and Leon Roberts walked.
Tom Veryzer walked to to force in a run, and after Aurelio Rodriguez struck out, Ron LeFlore delivered a single to score Oglivie and tie the game. Texas manager Billy Martin then went to fireman Steve Foucault.
That brought the American League's leading hitter, Gary Sutherland to the plate with the bases loaded and one out.
"No reason to not have confidence," LeFlore said of Sutherland being up in that situation. "He's the man lately."
Sutherland, ironically, didn't get a hit, but still won the game for the Tigers. His drive to right fielder Jeff Burroughs was deep enough to score Roberts with the winning run as the Tigers streamed onto the field from the dugout.
After scoring just 55 runs in their first 19 games, the Tigers (11-12) have plated 27 runners in the past four games, all victories.
"Amazing how scoring runs can make you smarter," manager Ralph Houk cracked after the game.
Sutherland (.387 BA) won the game with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning
The Tigers trailed 5-3, but quickly loaded the bases with nobody out against Texas reliever Stan Thomas. Bill Freehan singled, Ben Oglivie doubled the Tigers catcher to third, and Leon Roberts walked.
Tom Veryzer walked to to force in a run, and after Aurelio Rodriguez struck out, Ron LeFlore delivered a single to score Oglivie and tie the game. Texas manager Billy Martin then went to fireman Steve Foucault.
That brought the American League's leading hitter, Gary Sutherland to the plate with the bases loaded and one out.
"No reason to not have confidence," LeFlore said of Sutherland being up in that situation. "He's the man lately."
Sutherland, ironically, didn't get a hit, but still won the game for the Tigers. His drive to right fielder Jeff Burroughs was deep enough to score Roberts with the winning run as the Tigers streamed onto the field from the dugout.
After scoring just 55 runs in their first 19 games, the Tigers (11-12) have plated 27 runners in the past four games, all victories.
"Amazing how scoring runs can make you smarter," manager Ralph Houk cracked after the game.
Sutherland (.387 BA) won the game with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning
The win went to reliever Gene Pentz (1-0), who pitched two innings after starter Joe Coleman went the first seven.
Lenny Randle, a thorn in the Tigers' side in the first two games of this weekend series, slammed a rare home run in the fifth. The two -run shot gave Texas a 3-1 lead. The Tigers responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.
Texas scored single runs in the seventh and ninth, before the Tigers' offense rose to the challenge.
Toby Harrah had three hits and scored three runs for the Rangers. LeFlore had three hits, including a triple.
The Tigers go for the series sweep Sunday, with lefty Mickey Lolich facing right hander Fergie Jenkins.
Notes: Houk was asked if he was concerned with the lack of stolen bases from speedster LeFlore, who is 2-for-7 in attempts this season. Many projected LeFlore to steal 40+ bases this year. "They (stolen bases) will come," Houk said. "Ronnie has too much speed for them not to. A couple calls haven't gone his way, either"...The saga of Nate Colbert continues. Houk put Colbert back into his cleanup spot, but the first baseman went o-for-4 with three strikeouts, lowering his average to an unsightly .107. He has struck out 30 times in 84 at-bats...The Tigers have committed a league-high 25 errors this season.
***********************************************************
Tigers record: 11-12 (actual 12-11)
Home: 6-8
Away: 5-4
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Game 21: Tigers Ruhle, Take Series with Brewers
Detroit (May 8) - Vern Ruhle hasn't been, yet, one of the Tigers' most reliable starters, on a staff with a team ERA among the league leaders. Tonight, he took a step in that direction.
Ruhle pitched 7.1 innings, yielding just one run and six hits, and the Tigers' bats took care of the rest in a 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Tiger Stadium.
Gary Sutherland (first) and Dan Meyer (third) each hit home runs. Meyer's two-run blast in the eighth inning proved the difference, giving the Tigers a 5-1 lead, which was helpful, as the Brewers scored twice in the ninth.
The Tigers (9-12) took two of three from the Brewers and have won two straight.
Ruhle dominated the Brewers in lowering his ERA from 5.75 to 4.55.
"Felt good," Ruhle said. "Had my slider working, which helped a lot."
The Tigers hit three triples in a game for the first time since 1971.
Tigers manager Ralph Houk wanted to talk about his starting pitcher, however.
"I thought a key was in the sixth," Houk said, referring to the inning where Milwaukee put runners on first and second with nobody out---without hitting the ball out of the infield. The Tigers were clinging to a 2-0 lead.
Ruhle didn't unravel. He retired the next three hitters, including slugger George Scott on a strikeout to end the frame.
The Tigers extended their lead to 3-0 in the seventh, then Meyer clubbed his home run after the Brewers knocked Ruhle out in the eighth after scoring a run.
John Hiller surrendered a two-run homer to Sixto Lezcano in the ninth, but then set the next three Brewers down in order for his fourth save of the year.
Sutherland continued his torrid 1975, adding a triple to his home run and running his average to .395. He leads the league in both batting average and hits (34).
"I don't know that Suds has ever hit this well for this long a stretch," Houk said.
"He's probably right," Sutherland said when told of Houk's comments.
The Tigers welcome the Texas Rangers and manager Billy Martin for a weekend series, starting tomorrow night.
Notes: Nate Colbert, after one game on the bench, was back in the starting lineup---but batting fifth, not fourth. "Just trying to take some pressure off him," Houk said. Colbert went 0-for-4 and his average sunk to .113...Houk also praised Tom Veryzer's at-bat in the third. Veryzer hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Leon Roberts, who had led off with a triple. But Aurelio Rodriguez struck out before Veryzer came to the plate. "Leadoff triple, you have to score," Houk said. "And Tommy fought off some good pitches and got the fly ball. Huge at-bat."
*************************************************
Tigers record: 9-12 (actual 12-9)
Home: 4-8
Away: 5-4
Ruhle pitched 7.1 innings, yielding just one run and six hits, and the Tigers' bats took care of the rest in a 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Tiger Stadium.
Gary Sutherland (first) and Dan Meyer (third) each hit home runs. Meyer's two-run blast in the eighth inning proved the difference, giving the Tigers a 5-1 lead, which was helpful, as the Brewers scored twice in the ninth.
The Tigers (9-12) took two of three from the Brewers and have won two straight.
Ruhle dominated the Brewers in lowering his ERA from 5.75 to 4.55.
"Felt good," Ruhle said. "Had my slider working, which helped a lot."
The Tigers hit three triples in a game for the first time since 1971.
Tigers manager Ralph Houk wanted to talk about his starting pitcher, however.
"I thought a key was in the sixth," Houk said, referring to the inning where Milwaukee put runners on first and second with nobody out---without hitting the ball out of the infield. The Tigers were clinging to a 2-0 lead.
Ruhle didn't unravel. He retired the next three hitters, including slugger George Scott on a strikeout to end the frame.
The Tigers extended their lead to 3-0 in the seventh, then Meyer clubbed his home run after the Brewers knocked Ruhle out in the eighth after scoring a run.
John Hiller surrendered a two-run homer to Sixto Lezcano in the ninth, but then set the next three Brewers down in order for his fourth save of the year.
Sutherland continued his torrid 1975, adding a triple to his home run and running his average to .395. He leads the league in both batting average and hits (34).
"I don't know that Suds has ever hit this well for this long a stretch," Houk said.
"He's probably right," Sutherland said when told of Houk's comments.
The Tigers welcome the Texas Rangers and manager Billy Martin for a weekend series, starting tomorrow night.
Notes: Nate Colbert, after one game on the bench, was back in the starting lineup---but batting fifth, not fourth. "Just trying to take some pressure off him," Houk said. Colbert went 0-for-4 and his average sunk to .113...Houk also praised Tom Veryzer's at-bat in the third. Veryzer hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Leon Roberts, who had led off with a triple. But Aurelio Rodriguez struck out before Veryzer came to the plate. "Leadoff triple, you have to score," Houk said. "And Tommy fought off some good pitches and got the fly ball. Huge at-bat."
*************************************************
Tigers record: 9-12 (actual 12-9)
Home: 4-8
Away: 5-4
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Game 17: Brewers Power Their Way Past Tigers, 4-2
Milwaukee (May 1) - The Tigers have surrendered the fewest home runs of any team in the major leagues. But that didn't stop the Milwaukee Brewers from playing longball at County Stadium.
The Brewers hit two home runs in the fifth inning off Tigers starter Vern Ruhle, and the blasts were the difference as Milwaukee won, 4-2, this afternoon.
The Tigers entered the contest having given up just six home runs in 16 games. The Brewers didn't care, as they got dingers from Darrell Porter (solo) and Don Money (two-run shot) in the fifth inning to move ahead, 3-1.
The Tigers edged to within 3-2 in the sixth, but the Brewers added a run in the seventh inning for some insurance.
It was the same old story for the Tigers: inefficiency on offense. They had ten hits, yet scored just twice.
Money's two-run home run proved the difference
"We just have to start scoring more runs," Tigers manager Ralp Houk said. "We're leaving way too many runners on base."
Twelve, to be exact, in today's contest as the Tigers fell to 7-10.
Ruhle had cruised through the first four innings when he served up the home runs in the fifth.
"Just threw some fat pitches and they did what big league hitters do," Ruhle lamented afterward.
Gary Sutherland had three singles, lifting his league-leading hit total to 28, and raising his average to an even .400, also leading the league.
The Tigers infield trio of Sutherland, shortstop Tom Veryzer and third baseman Aurelio Rodriguez are a combined 65-for-179 (.363) this season. But, as an indictment of the Tigers' offensive struggles, the three have scored just 17 runs total.
"Our no. 8 and 9 guys have been terrific," Houk said of Veryzer and Rodriguez, respectively. "And Suds (Sutherland), what can you say?"
But none of it was enough to overcome even a two-run deficit.
The Tigers' team ERA is a very respectable 3.52.
"That should win you a lot more games than we have," Houk said.
Indeed.
***********************************************************
Tigers record: 7-10 (actual 10-7)
Home: 2-7
Away: 5-3
The Brewers hit two home runs in the fifth inning off Tigers starter Vern Ruhle, and the blasts were the difference as Milwaukee won, 4-2, this afternoon.
The Tigers entered the contest having given up just six home runs in 16 games. The Brewers didn't care, as they got dingers from Darrell Porter (solo) and Don Money (two-run shot) in the fifth inning to move ahead, 3-1.
The Tigers edged to within 3-2 in the sixth, but the Brewers added a run in the seventh inning for some insurance.
It was the same old story for the Tigers: inefficiency on offense. They had ten hits, yet scored just twice.
Money's two-run home run proved the difference
"We just have to start scoring more runs," Tigers manager Ralp Houk said. "We're leaving way too many runners on base."
Twelve, to be exact, in today's contest as the Tigers fell to 7-10.
Ruhle had cruised through the first four innings when he served up the home runs in the fifth.
"Just threw some fat pitches and they did what big league hitters do," Ruhle lamented afterward.
Gary Sutherland had three singles, lifting his league-leading hit total to 28, and raising his average to an even .400, also leading the league.
The Tigers infield trio of Sutherland, shortstop Tom Veryzer and third baseman Aurelio Rodriguez are a combined 65-for-179 (.363) this season. But, as an indictment of the Tigers' offensive struggles, the three have scored just 17 runs total.
"Our no. 8 and 9 guys have been terrific," Houk said of Veryzer and Rodriguez, respectively. "And Suds (Sutherland), what can you say?"
But none of it was enough to overcome even a two-run deficit.
The Tigers' team ERA is a very respectable 3.52.
"That should win you a lot more games than we have," Houk said.
Indeed.
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Tigers record: 7-10 (actual 10-7)
Home: 2-7
Away: 5-3
Friday, January 27, 2012
Game 14: Belanger Stings Tigers Late, 3-2
Baltimore (April 28) - Mark Belanger isn't normally known for clutch hitting. In fact, he's not normally known for hitting, period.
But Belanger, the Baltimore Orioles' shortstop, delivered a two-out single in the seventh inning that scored Ellie Hendricks and broke a 2-2 tie, lifting the O's to a 3-2 win over the Tigers tonight at Memorial Stadium.
It was the third 3-2 loss for the Tigers (5-9) in their past four games.
Once again, the offense let the Bengals down.
"Same old story," said Tigers designated hitter Willie Horton. "Not enough runs to win games."
It was also another fine pitching performance wasted.
Joe Coleman (1-3) pitched all eight innings for the Tigers, surrendering just five hits and three runs, striking out seven. But it wasn't good enough for a win.
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning on Ron LeFlore's two-run homer, his first round-tripper of the season.
Orioles starter Mike Cuellar had traffic on the base paths in every inning, but managed to pitch one batter into the eighth before being relieved by Doyle Alexander. Grant Jackson got the save after spelling Alexander with one out in the ninth.
The Tigers threatened Jackson, putting runners on first and second before the lefty got Tom Veryzer on a force out and coaxing a groundball from Aurelio Rodriguez.
Bobby Grich's solo homer in the fifth cut the Tigers' lead to 2-1.
In the seventh, with two out and nobody on, the Orioles rallied.
Brooks Robinson walked, and was plated by Hendricks' double. Hendricks advanced to third on the play when Tigers left fielder Danny Meyer bobbled the baseball in the corner. That set the stage for Belanger's heroics, as he drove a 1-2 slider from Coleman that caught too much of the plate.
"That's baseball," Tigers manager Ralph Houk said. "Anyone can beat you, if you don't make pitches. But Joe pitched well, overall."
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Tigers record: 5-9 (actual 9-5)
Home: 2-7
Away: 3-2
But Belanger, the Baltimore Orioles' shortstop, delivered a two-out single in the seventh inning that scored Ellie Hendricks and broke a 2-2 tie, lifting the O's to a 3-2 win over the Tigers tonight at Memorial Stadium.
It was the third 3-2 loss for the Tigers (5-9) in their past four games.
Once again, the offense let the Bengals down.
"Same old story," said Tigers designated hitter Willie Horton. "Not enough runs to win games."
It was also another fine pitching performance wasted.
Joe Coleman (1-3) pitched all eight innings for the Tigers, surrendering just five hits and three runs, striking out seven. But it wasn't good enough for a win.
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning on Ron LeFlore's two-run homer, his first round-tripper of the season.
Orioles starter Mike Cuellar had traffic on the base paths in every inning, but managed to pitch one batter into the eighth before being relieved by Doyle Alexander. Grant Jackson got the save after spelling Alexander with one out in the ninth.
The Tigers threatened Jackson, putting runners on first and second before the lefty got Tom Veryzer on a force out and coaxing a groundball from Aurelio Rodriguez.
Bobby Grich's solo homer in the fifth cut the Tigers' lead to 2-1.
In the seventh, with two out and nobody on, the Orioles rallied.
Brooks Robinson walked, and was plated by Hendricks' double. Hendricks advanced to third on the play when Tigers left fielder Danny Meyer bobbled the baseball in the corner. That set the stage for Belanger's heroics, as he drove a 1-2 slider from Coleman that caught too much of the plate.
"That's baseball," Tigers manager Ralph Houk said. "Anyone can beat you, if you don't make pitches. But Joe pitched well, overall."
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Tigers record: 5-9 (actual 9-5)
Home: 2-7
Away: 3-2
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Game 11: Tiant Outduels Lolich, 3-2
Detroit (April 25) - Luis Tiant started slow but finished strong. Mickey Lolich started slow but finished not as strong.
That was pretty much the difference, as the Boston Red Sox held on for a 3-2 win over the Tigers at Tiger Stadium tonight.
Tiant fired a complete-game, nine-hitter, surrendering his runs and six of the hits in the first three innings. Lolich gave up Boston's runs and eight of their 12 hits after four innings.
Both pitchers settled in as the game wore on, and the Tigers couldn't push across the tying run.
Lolich (1-2) was victimized by a Nate Colbert error in the fourth, which extended the inning one batter too long. Juan Beniquez took advantage, singling home Bob Heise with the go-ahead, and eventual game-winning, run.
Gary Sutherland had three hits for the Tigers (5-6), lifting his batting average to .432.
Tigers shortstop Tom Veryzer had to be removed from the game in the sixth inning after colliding with left fielder Dan Meyer chasing a pop fly that Veryzer eventually caught. As Veryzer was helped off the field, the crowd of 11, 266 gave him a nice ovation.
Dwight Evans had three singles and an RBI for Boston (8-5).
Tiant's biggest challenge came in the eighth, when the Tigers put men on first and second with two outs. But the Cuban right-hander struck out Willie Horton to end the threat.
"That was a pretty good game," Tigers manager Ralph Houk said. "But not the result we wanted, obviously."
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Tigers record: 5-6 (Actual 6-5)
Home: 2-5
Away: 3-1
That was pretty much the difference, as the Boston Red Sox held on for a 3-2 win over the Tigers at Tiger Stadium tonight.
Tiant fired a complete-game, nine-hitter, surrendering his runs and six of the hits in the first three innings. Lolich gave up Boston's runs and eight of their 12 hits after four innings.
Both pitchers settled in as the game wore on, and the Tigers couldn't push across the tying run.
Lolich (1-2) was victimized by a Nate Colbert error in the fourth, which extended the inning one batter too long. Juan Beniquez took advantage, singling home Bob Heise with the go-ahead, and eventual game-winning, run.
Gary Sutherland had three hits for the Tigers (5-6), lifting his batting average to .432.
Tigers shortstop Tom Veryzer had to be removed from the game in the sixth inning after colliding with left fielder Dan Meyer chasing a pop fly that Veryzer eventually caught. As Veryzer was helped off the field, the crowd of 11, 266 gave him a nice ovation.
Dwight Evans had three singles and an RBI for Boston (8-5).
Tiant's biggest challenge came in the eighth, when the Tigers put men on first and second with two outs. But the Cuban right-hander struck out Willie Horton to end the threat.
"That was a pretty good game," Tigers manager Ralph Houk said. "But not the result we wanted, obviously."
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Tigers record: 5-6 (Actual 6-5)
Home: 2-5
Away: 3-1
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