Detroit (Thu., Sept. 18, 1975) - The Cleveland Indians jumped on spot starter Dave Lemanczyk for a four-run first inning, then held on the rest of the way to beat the Tigers, 5-2, at Tiger Stadium.
Buddy Bell's two out, two-run single capped the four-run frame.
The Tigers trailed, 5-0, before scoring single runs in the sixth and seventh.
Lemanczyk lasted just 3.2 innings, giving up all five Boston runs, all earned.
Rookie Steve Grilli pitched well, going 3.1 innings and striking out three, walking none.
The game featured the big league debuts of Chuck Scrivener (SS, batted lead-off, went 1-5); Bob Molinaro (RF, batted fifth, went 1-3 with an RBI); and Jerry Manuel (2B, batted ninth, went 0-4).
The Tigers took two of three in the series and welcome the Boston Red Sox for a weekend series.
The Major Said: "Not a great start, but I was happy to see the kids in the lineup kind of settle down and they didn't look out of place. We had five of 'em (rookies) in the game tonight. I want to see as much of them as I can before the season ends next week."
Cleveland 400 100 000 5-9-1
Tigers 000 001 100 2-7-1
WP: Bibby
SV: Buskey
LP: Lemanczyk (1-5)
Tigers record: 59-93 (actual 56-96)
Home: 30-47
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 4-6
Friday, September 21, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Game 151: Coleman's Winless Streak Continues, But Tigers Triumph in 9th
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
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
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
Monday, September 17, 2012
Game 149: O's Frolick, 13-1
Detroit (Sun., Sept. 14, 1975) - Doug DeCinces had three hits and five RBI, including a three-run homer, and the Baltimore Orioles routed the Tigers, 13-1, at Tiger Stadium.
The Orioles turned a 2-1 game after four innings into a romp, scoring 11 runs from the fifth through eighth innings. DeCinces' home run provided the last of those runs on the night for Baltimore, who took the weekend series, 2-1.
Tigers starter Ray Bare (6-10) went five innings, giving up six runs on eight hits. After Bare left, the bullpen duo of Gene Pentz and Fernando Arroyo surrendered seven more runs between them in three innings of work.
The Orioles banged out 16 hits off Tigers pitching, including three hits each from DeCinces, Al Bumbry and Mark Belanger.
Baltimore starter Mike Cuellar pitched a complete game as the Tigers (57-92) managed just five hits. The loss was the 28th in the past 38 games for Detroit.
The Major Said: "The Orioles can do that at any time. They have been swinging the bats good for the past 10 years or so. Everyone talks about their pitching over the years, but they always have a strong lineup."
Baltimore 002 043 130 13-16-2
Tigers 001 000 000 1-5-1
HR: DeCinces (BAL); Hendricks (BAL)
WP: Cuellar
LP: Bare (6-10)
Tigers record: 57-92 (actual 55-94)
Home: 28-46
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 3-7
The Orioles turned a 2-1 game after four innings into a romp, scoring 11 runs from the fifth through eighth innings. DeCinces' home run provided the last of those runs on the night for Baltimore, who took the weekend series, 2-1.
Tigers starter Ray Bare (6-10) went five innings, giving up six runs on eight hits. After Bare left, the bullpen duo of Gene Pentz and Fernando Arroyo surrendered seven more runs between them in three innings of work.
The Orioles banged out 16 hits off Tigers pitching, including three hits each from DeCinces, Al Bumbry and Mark Belanger.
Baltimore starter Mike Cuellar pitched a complete game as the Tigers (57-92) managed just five hits. The loss was the 28th in the past 38 games for Detroit.
The Major Said: "The Orioles can do that at any time. They have been swinging the bats good for the past 10 years or so. Everyone talks about their pitching over the years, but they always have a strong lineup."
Baltimore 002 043 130 13-16-2
Tigers 001 000 000 1-5-1
HR: DeCinces (BAL); Hendricks (BAL)
WP: Cuellar
LP: Bare (6-10)
Tigers record: 57-92 (actual 55-94)
Home: 28-46
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 3-7
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
Friday, September 14, 2012
Game 146: Six-Run Sixth Sinks Tigers, 8-5
Boston, MA (Thu., Sept. 11, 1975) - The Boston Red Sox scored six runs in the sixth inning, responding to the Tigers' four in the top of the inning, and the Red Sox beat the Tigers, 8-5 at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox exploded for seven hits, all singles, in the sixth inning, erasing a 5-2 deficit created when Detroit scored four runs in their half of the inning.
Trailing 2-1, the Tigers opened the sixth with three straight hits, the last of which was a two-run triple from Dan Meyer. Willie Horton made the score 4-2 with an RBI ground out, and Ben Oglivie added a solo homer to push the lead to 5-2.
But the lead evaporated under an onslaught of Red Sox singles, many that were seeing-eye hits through the infield. When the barrage ended against starter Dave Lemanczyk (1-4), the Red Sox led 8-5.
Boston swept the three-game series and finished 7-1 against the Tigers at Fenway this season.
Luis Tiant pitched seven sometimes shaky innings for Boston to get the victory.
Rookie outfielder Billy Baldwin hit a solo home run to start the game, but Boston answered with two runs in the first for a 2-1 lead.
Fred Lynn had three hits and two RBI for the first-place Red Sox, who are closing in on clinching the AL East.
The Major Said: "They had an answer for us every time we scored tonight. That's why they're so tough to beat here, and that's why they're going to win the division."
Tigers 100 004 000 5-13-1
Boston 200 006 00x 8-15-0
HR: Baldwin (DET, 2); Oglivie (DET, 12)
WP: Tiant
SV: Drago
LP: Lemanczyk (1-4)
Tigers record: 56-90 (actual 55-91)
Home: 27-44
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 3-7
The Red Sox exploded for seven hits, all singles, in the sixth inning, erasing a 5-2 deficit created when Detroit scored four runs in their half of the inning.
Trailing 2-1, the Tigers opened the sixth with three straight hits, the last of which was a two-run triple from Dan Meyer. Willie Horton made the score 4-2 with an RBI ground out, and Ben Oglivie added a solo homer to push the lead to 5-2.
But the lead evaporated under an onslaught of Red Sox singles, many that were seeing-eye hits through the infield. When the barrage ended against starter Dave Lemanczyk (1-4), the Red Sox led 8-5.
Boston swept the three-game series and finished 7-1 against the Tigers at Fenway this season.
Luis Tiant pitched seven sometimes shaky innings for Boston to get the victory.
Rookie outfielder Billy Baldwin hit a solo home run to start the game, but Boston answered with two runs in the first for a 2-1 lead.
Fred Lynn had three hits and two RBI for the first-place Red Sox, who are closing in on clinching the AL East.
The Major Said: "They had an answer for us every time we scored tonight. That's why they're so tough to beat here, and that's why they're going to win the division."
Tigers 100 004 000 5-13-1
Boston 200 006 00x 8-15-0
HR: Baldwin (DET, 2); Oglivie (DET, 12)
WP: Tiant
SV: Drago
LP: Lemanczyk (1-4)
Tigers record: 56-90 (actual 55-91)
Home: 27-44
Away: 29-46
Last 10: 3-7
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