1968detroittigers-blog

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Four-run seventh leads Tigers over Sox as McLain wins 9th

The Detroit Tigers scored three unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning as part of a four-run seventh as the Tigers (32-19) defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-4 Wednesday at Fenway Park.

The Tigers have taken the last two games of the five-game series against the host Red Sox (25-26).

Two errors, two walks and a wild pitch were among the unforced errors committed by the Red Sox in the seventh, an inning they entered with a 4-1 lead.

Don Wert led off the inning against Red Sox starter Ray Culp by reaching on an error by Red Sox 3B Joe Foy, advanced to third base on a single by Tommy Matchick and scored on a ground ball that saw Jim Price reach base on fielder’s choice that forced Matchick out at second.  A one-out pinch-hit single by Eddie Matthews moved Price over to third and ended Culp’s day. 

Red Sox manager Dick Williams brought on Bill Landis, who promptly walked Dick McAuliffe to loaded the base and unleash a wild pitch that scored Price. Williams pulled Landis in the middle of an at-bat against Mickey Stanley and was relieved by Jim Lonborg.

Stanley then reached on a throwing error by Red Sox SS Rico Petrocelli that scored Mickey Lolich (who pinch-ran for Matthews) and McAuliffe, giving the Tigers a 5-4 lead.

Culp gave up six hits, four runs (two earned),one walk and had five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings pitched.

The Red Sox got off to hot start in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three two-runs, with a 2-RBI double by George Scott and an RBI single by Jim Adair off Tigers’starter Denny McLain.

McLain (9-1), gave up five hits, four runs (three earned) and one strikeout in six innings pitched. It was just the second time in his 13 starts this season where he failed to pitch at-least seven innings.

Tigers rookie reliever Daryl Patterson finished the game, giving up no hits and one walk in three innings pitched, picking up his first-career save.

Both Northrup and Matchick were 2-for-4 for the Tigers, while Scott was 2-for-4 with a run scored, double and three RBI for the Red Sox.

The five-game series continues Thursday at Fenway Park, with the Tigers starting right-hander Joe Sparma (4-5, 3.33 ERA) against Lee Strange (2-1, 4.15 ERA)

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Tigers flip script on Sox, earn DH split with 2-0 win

A Don Wert solo home run to lead off the top of the seventh inning led the Detroit Tigers to 2-0 win over the Boston Red Sox in the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday at Fenway Park.

The score was the exact same score the Red Sox won game one by. The twin bill was the second in three days for the Tigers, who are in a stretch where they will play 19 games in 17 days without a day off.

Pat Dobson, making his first start of the season because of the need for a spot starter (and just the second start of his short career), picked up his first career shutout and complete game.

Dobson (1-0) gave just five hits, two walks and recorded four strikeouts in blanking the Red Sox (25-25).

Dobson was matched almost pitch-for-pitch for the first six innings by Red Sox starter Gary Waslewski, as the game was scoreless headed into the top of the seventh inning,

Following Wert’s home run to start the inning, Jim Price reached on a one-out single off Waslewski (2-7) and was advanced to second base by a sacrifice bunt by Dobson.

Dick McAuliffe was intentionally walked by Waslewski to set up a showdown with Tigers’ CF Mickey Stanley, who drew a two-out walk, loading the bases.

For the third straight game, Red Sox manager Dick Williams turned to reliever Sparky Lyle when he needed one out in a precarious situation, this time being the seventh leading down by one run, when the other two times were with two outs in the ninth inning protecting a one-run lead.

Unlike those previous situations, Lyle was not able to get the third one he needed and end the rally.

Jim Northrup drew a bases-loaded walk to score Price and gives the Tigers an insurance run and 2-0 lead. 

Waslewski was charged with both runs and gave up five hits, three walks to go along with two strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings pitched.

The Red Sox missed an opportunity in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game or take the lead when they runners on first and third after back-to-back two-out singles by Gene Toliver and Jose Tartabull. 

Dobson would escape the rally with no runs scored after Carl Yastrzemski flied out Stanley in center field.

Norm Cash was the only player from either team to collect multiple hits,going 2-four-4.

Game four of the five-game series is Wednesday at Fenway with the Tigers starting Denny McLain (8-1, 2.04 ERA) with the Sox countering with right-hander Ray Clup (2-2, 4.72 ERA)

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Scott’s 2-run double leads Sox over Tigers in game one

JUNE 4, 1968

GAME 1

WP: Gary Bell (5-1) LP: Mickey Lolich (3-3) SV: Sparky Lyle (3)

George Scott’s 2-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning led the Boston Red Sox to a 2-0 win over the Detroit Tigers Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox have won the first two games of what was expanded to five-game series after a rain out during the teams first meeting in Fenway in mid-April.

Scott’s blast off Tigers’ (30-19) starting pitcher Mickey Lolich with the bases loaded broke up Lolich’s no-hit bid after 5 1/3 innings, scoring Carl Yastrzemski and Joe Foy.

The game was pitchers duel throughout, with the Tigers not collecting their first hit until a Gates Brown single off Red Sox (25-24) starter Gary Bell with one out in the top of the fifth.

In a game few base runners and even few scoring chances, the Tigers did not put a runner in scoring position until there were two outs in the top of the ninth inning.

Bell surrendered a one-out walk to Mickey Stanley, following a Jim Northrup fly out to left field, Stanley advanced to second after a walk to Bill Freehan. For the second straight game, the Tigers had the tying run in scoring position with two outs and Red Sox manager Dick Williams turned to Sparky Lyle to get the game’s final out.

Lyle was able to get pinch hitter Jim Price to ground out to third base and Foy stepped on third to force Stanley out and secure the win.

Bell gave up just three hits, two walks and had two strikeouts in 8 2/3 scoreless innings pitched.

Lolich pitched out of early trouble, issuing back-to-back walks to the first two hitters (Mike Andrews and Foy) he faced in the bottom of the first. Lolich was able to get Yastrzemski to ground into a fielder’s choice and Harrelson grounded into an inning ending five-four-three double play.

Lolich’s command was an issue all day, issuing a season-high six walks. Free passes to Jerry Adair (who was soon replaced on the base paths by Foy after Foy grounded into a fielder’s choice) and Yastrzemski accounted  for both of Boston’s runs.

Lolich gave up two hits, two runs, six walks and had four strikeouts in seven innings pitched.

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Four-run fifth leads Sox over Tigers

JUNE 3, 1968

WP: Jose Santiago (6-3) LP: Joe Sparma(4-5) SV: Sparky Lyle (2) 

A four-run fifth inning gave the Boston Red Sox just enough ammunition to hold off the first-place Detroit Tigers in the opening of game of a rare five-game series Monday at Fenway Park.

The Tigers (30-18) blew a golden opportunity in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game or take the lead off of Red Sox (24-24) reliever Jim Lonborg. 

Gates Brown had a pinch hit double to leadoff the inning, a walk to Dick McAuliffe put the tying run in scoring position with nobody out. Lonborg induced Mickey Stanley to ground into a four-six-three double play that advanced Brown to third with two outs. Red Sox manager Dick Williams brought in Sparky Lyle to face Jim Northrup and Northrup grounded the ball to Lyle who tagged first base himself to secure the win.

The Red Sox scored all four runs in the fifth off Tigers’ starting pitcher Joe Sparma. Ken Harrelson had an RBI double that was followed by a groundout off the bat of Dalton Jones that scored Carl Yastrzemski. Following a walk to George Scott, Rico Petrocelli and Elston Howard had back-to-back RBI singles that gave the Red Sox a 4-1 lead and ended Sparma’s day.

Sparma (4-5) surrendered eight hits, four runs, four walks and had three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings pitched.

Scott led the Red Sox offensive attack going 3-for-4 with a run scored, walk and two doubles.

Red Sox starting pitcher Jose Santiago held the Tigers mostly in check through the first six innings, despite giving up a solo home run to McAuliffe in the top of the third. 

After recording the first two outs in the top of the seventh inning with a 4-1 lead, Santiago suddenly found himself in trouble. Back-to-back singles by Tigers’ reliever Dennis Ribant and McAuliffe and a walk to Stanley loaded the bases and ended Santiago’s evening as Williams brought in left-hander Bill Landis to matchup against the left-handed hitting Northrup.

Santiago (6-3) gave up nine hits, three runs, one walk and collected four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings pitched.

Landis’ evening lasted one batter as Northrup smacked a two-RBI single, scoring Ribant and McAuliffe, and advanced Stanley to third.

Longborg was summoned from the bullpen and promptly re-loaded the bases by hitting Bill Freehan with a pitch. With the potential go-ahead run in scoring position at second base, Willie Horton grounded into a fielder’s choice at second base and ended the threat.

McAuliffe was 3-for-4 with runs scored and home run, while Northrup was 3-for-5 with two RBI.

The Tigers left nine men on base and went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

The teams return to action with a doubleheader Tuesday at Fenway Park

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Tigers, Yanks split doubleheader; Tigers take series with 3-of-4

JUNE 2, 1968

GAME 1 WP: Joe Verbanic (3-2) LP: Jon Warden (3-1)

GAME 2 WP: John Hiller (3-1) LP: Steve Barber (0-1)

The New York Yankees were able to snap the Detroit Tigers five-game winning streak in game one of an afternoon doubleheader but the Tigers salvaged a split in the nightcap at Tiger Stadium Sunday.

The Yankees (22-26) won game one 4-3, while the Tigers (30-17) won game two 8-1.

Tom Tresh beat out Tigers’ shortstop Ray Oyler’s throw to the plate to give the Yankees a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth inning. Tresh doubled to leadoff the inning off Tigers’ reliever Jon Warden (3-1). Tresh moved to third on a groundout to shortstop and scored on a Bobby Cox grounder to Oyler.

The Yankees were able to come from behind against Tigers’ ace Denny McLain in game one, whose streak of three straight complete games came to an end. Solo home runs by Bobby Cox in the top of the seventh and Joe Pepitone in the top of the eighth tied the game.

McLain gave up nine hits, three runs, one walk and had four strikeouts in eight innings pitched.

The Tigers took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth scoring all three runs with two outs off Yankees’ starter Fritz Peterson. Dick McAuliffe and Mickey Stanley had RBI singles and were followed with an RBI double by Jim Northrup.

Peterson gave up four hits, three runs, one walk and had four strikeouts in six innings pitch. Joe Verbanic (3-2) pitched three shutout innings in relief to earn the win.

In game two, Yankees’ starting pitcher Steve Barber (0-1) held the Tigers to just one hit through his first four innings pitched.

A six-run fifth inning broke the game open for the Tigers. John Hiller had a one-out RBI single that scored Dick Trasewski and Hiller later scored an error by Yankees’ 1B Mickey Mantle. 

Stanley hit a two-out grandslam off Barber in bottom of the fifth inning, giving the Tigers a 6-0 lead. 

Barber gave up eight hits,eight runs (three earned), four walks and had four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings pitched.

Hiller (3-1) picked up his first complete game of the season, giving up six hits, one run,four walks and had three strikeouts. 

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Tigers overcome early hole, beat Yanks 5-4

JUNE1, 1968

WP: Fred Lasher (3-1) LP: Dooley Womack(0-4)

The Detroit Tigers overcame a 4-0 first inning deficit to come-from-behind and defeat the New York Yankees 5-4 Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

The Tigers (29-16) have now won five straight.

A Bill Freehan RBI single in the bottom of the seventh off Yankees’ reliever Dooley Womack that broke a 4-4 tie proved to be the differnce.

The Yankees (21-25) sent nine men to the plate in the top of the first inning, collecting six hits and scoring four runs. Andy Cosco, Joe PepItone, Tom Tresh and Bobby Cox had four consecutive one-out RBI singles that chased Tigers’ starter Les Cain from the game.

Cain gave up five hits and was charged with all four runs, lasting only six batters, recording just one out. He’s lasted just a combined 2 2/3 innings in his past two starts with a 16.88 ERA.

Pat Dobson relieved Cain and shut down the Bronx Bombers’ offense. He allowed an RBI single to the first batter he faced (Bobby Cox) and retired the next 16 batters he faced in order. He allowed just one hit, one walk and recorded five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings pitched.

The Tigers slowly chipped away at the Yankees’ lead off starter Bill Monbouquette.

Bill Freehan had a two-out, two-RBI single in the bottom of the third and tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back solo home runs from Willie Horton and Norm Cash that started the inning. Don Wert followed with a single that ended Monbouquette’s day. 

A one-out walk to pinch hitter Gates Brown by Womack gave the Tigers their first chance to take the lead by putting Wert at second base with just one out. Womack (0-4) was able to get Dick McAuliffe to fly out to third and get Mickey Stanley to ground out to Cox at third, allowing Cox to step on third base to force Wert out and end the Tigers’ threat.

Monbouquette gave up 10 hits, four runs, one walk and had two strikeouts in five innings.

The Tigers had a balanced offensive with seven of their eight starting position players having at least one hit. Horton was 3-for-4 with a home run, Freehan was 2-for-4 with three RBI, and McAuliffe and Stanley each had two hits and scored a run.

Fred Lasher (3-1) pitched the final three innings, allowing one hit and striking out one. The Yankees put only two men on base after the first inning.

The win coupled with a 5-1 loss by the Baltimore Orioles to the Boston Red Sox in Boston gives the Tigers their biggest lead in the American League pennant chase, 3 1/2 games.

The two teams will conclude their four-games with a doubleheader Sunday at Tiger Stadium.

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Horton homers as Lolich blanks Yanks 1-0

MAY 31, 1968

WP: Mickey Lolich (3-2) LP: Mel Stottlemyre (6-4)

Following one of the worst months of his career, Detroit Tigers’ left-hander Mickey Lolich was finally able to find the right formula against the hated New York Yankees.

Lolich (3-2) pitched a complete game shutout on an evening where the Tigers’ (28-16) offense gave the veteran southpaw the slimmest of margins to work with. 

The win was the fourth in a row for the Tigers, while the Yankees have lost two straight games after winning eight of their previous nine.

Willie Horton led off the bottom of the seventh inning with his 14th home run of the season off Yankees’ starter Mel Stottlemyre to produce the game’s only run.

Despite the shutout, Lolich pitched with traffic on the base paths most of the night, allowing base runners in six of his nine innings pitched. He surrendered four hits, four walks and had eight strikeouts.

The Yankees (21-24) had their best scoring opportunity the following half inning, with Ellie Rodriguez and Charley Smith both singling of Lolich, placing runners on first and third with nobody out.

Lolich responded by striking out Horace Clarke and getting Roy White to fly out to right field. Following an intentional walk to Mickey Mantle that loaded the bases, Lolich got Andy Kosco to line out to deep right field, ending the inning and having stranded the bases loaded.

Lolich has struggled in most of six starts in May, posting a 4.89 ERAand the Tigers went 1-5 in games started by Lolich.

Stottlemyre (6-4) was almost as good as Lolich, allowing just four hits, one run, two walks and recording two strikeouts.

The four-game series continues Saturday at Tiger Stadium with Tigers’ left-handed rook Les Cain (1-0, 0.83 ERA) the Yankees’ right-hander Bill Monbouquette (5-3, 3.14 ERA)

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Freehan and Northrup homer, Tigers beat Angels 7-3

MAY 30, 1968

WP: Joe Sparma (4-4) LP: Rickey Clarke (0-4) SV: Fred Lasher (4)

Bill Freehan and Jim Northrup both hit solo home runs to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 7-3 victory over the California Angels Thursday at Anaheim Stadium.

The win was the Tigers (27-16) third straight, all over the Angels (21-25), allowing the Tigers to take three of the four against the halos and gave the Tigers a winning record of 5-4 on their three-city, 11-day, 10-game road trip. (One game against the Oakland Athletics was called after seven innings due to rain and was declared a tie and does not count in the standings)

The middle of the Tigers order did the lion’s share of the work for the offense, with Northrup, Freehan and Willie Horton going a combined 7-for-10 with six RBI and four runs scored. 

 Freehan led the offensive charge going 3-for-3, with two runs scored, two walks, two RBI and his eighth home of the season. Northrup was 2-for-4 with three RBI and his seventh home run of the season. Horton was 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the top of the second inning that gave the Tigers an early 1-0 lead off Angels’ starter Rickey Clarke.

Clarke (0-4) lasted just four innings, giving up three hits, three runs (one unearned), four walks, two home runs and recorded three strikeouts.

Angels 1B Don Mincher hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut Tigers’lead in half to 5-3 off of Tigers’starter Joe Sparma.

Sparma (4-4) gave up seven hits, three runs, three walks, one home run and tallied three strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings pitched.

The Tigers added insurance runs in the top of the ninth with back-to-back two-out RBI singles by Northrup and Freehan.

After a one-out single that ended Sparma’s night, Tigers’ reliever Fred Lasher induced an inning-ending double play with the tying run at the plate.

Lasher pitched the final 1 2/3 innings to earn his fourth save.

[1968detroittigers-blog]

McLain K’s 13 in dominant shutout, Tigers win 3-0

MAY 29, 1968

WP: Denny McLain (8-1) LP: Jim McGlothlin (5-4)

Denny McLain recorded a season-high 13 strikeouts and his second shutout of the year as the Detroit Tigers blanked the home California Angels 3-0 Wednesday at Anaheim Stadium.

McLain (8-1) won his third straight start and recorded his eighth complete game of the season. He allowed just four hits, one walk and allowed just three runners to reach second base.

Angels’ (21-24) starter Jim McGlothlin (4-3) was almost able to match McLain pitch-for-pitch, holding the Tigers (26-16) scoreless for the first five innings. 

Dick McAuliffe was able to break the logjam with a one-out RBI single in the top of the sixth inning that scored Ray Oyler and McGlothlin surrendered a two-run home run to Willie Horton in the top of the seventh. McAuliffe was 3-for-4 on the day, the only player for either team with more than one hit.

McGlothlin gave up six hits, three runs, two walks and had three strikeouts in eight innings pitched.

The win, coupled with a 3-1 loss by the second-place Baltimore Orioles to the Chicago White Sox increased the Tigers’ lead in the American League standings to 1 1/2 games.

The Tigers conclude their three city, 10-game, 11-day roadtrip with the series finale Thursday afternoon at Anaheim Stadium with right-hander Joe Sparma (3-4, 3.00 ERA) taking on Angels’ right-hander Rickey Clark (0-3, 2.75 ERA).

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Tigers score four in first, hold on for 4-1 win

MAY 28, 1968

WP: John Hiller (2-1) LP: George Brunet (5-4)

George Brunet retired Mickey Stanley on a flyball to start the game.

That was the high point of the the California Angels left-handed starting pitcher’s day in his team’s 4-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers Tuesday at Anaheim Stadium.

Brunet (5-4) faced just five batters, retiring the first one, with the next four scoring.

Bill Freehan had a two-RBI double that scored Dick Tracewski and Jim Northrup and was followed by a Willie Horton two-run home run that ended Brunet’s day with the the Tigers (25-16) leading 4-0. 

Angels’ (21-23) reliever Minnie Rojas was able to escape further damage after issuing a double to Don Wert and walk to Jim Price. A Rojas wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third, but he was able to strikeout Ray Oyler and Les Cain.

Cain, the Tigers’ rookie left-hander, did not fare much better in his third career major league start. Cain pitched in and out of trouble, allowing three hits, one run, four walks and had one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.

The Angels had an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the first where Cain walked three batters. Rich Reichardt delivered a one-out RBI single that scored Jim Fregosi to cut the Tigers’ lead to 4-1. Cain then issued a free pass to Bubba Morton that loaded the bases with just one out. Cain was able to escape the jam by striking out Bobby Trevino and getting Tom Satriano to fly out to Wert at third base in foul territory.

Cain’s day ended in the third inning after a one-out walk to Chuck Hinton and single by Reichardt. John Hiller ended any potential rally by getting Morton and Trevino, who both represented the tying run, to fly out.

Tigers’ manager Mayo Smith stuck with Hiller the rest of the way, who guided the Tigers to victory and picked up the win. Hiller (2-1) gave up three hits, one walk and recorded three strikeouts in 6 1/3 scoreless innings pitched.

Against Hiller, the Angels advanced just two runners in scoring position.

Following the rocky start from Brunet, the Angels’ bullpen shutdown the Tigers’ offense the rest of the way. Rojas, Tom Burgmeier and Jim Weaver held the Tigers to just three hits, four walks and had six strikeouts in 8 2/3 scoreless innings.

Game three of the four-game series is Wednesday with Tigers’ right-hander Denny McLain (7-1, 2.14 ERA) taking on Angels’ right-hander Jim McGlothlin (4-2, 3.07 ERA).

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Tigers lose 7-6 in extras for second straight day

MAY 27, 1968

WP: Clyde Wright (4-1) LP: Daryl Patterson (1-2)

The Detroit Tigers lost 7-6 in extra innings for the second straight day and saw their lead in the American League pennant chase reduced to just one-half game.

This time it was the California Angels defeating the Tigers (24-16) by that same 7-6 margin, in the opening game of a four-game series at Anaheim Stadium. The Tigers have now lost four of five games.

Tom Satriano won the game for the Angels (21-22) in the bottom of the 12th inning off Daryl Patterson with an RBI double that scored  Rick Reichardt.

The Angels battered Tigers’ starting pitcher Mickey Lolich, taking leads of 3-0 and 5-2. Lolich gave up 10 hits, five runs and recorded six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings pitched. The 10 hits are the most given up by Lolich this season and is the third time in his six starts in May that he’s given up five runs.

The Angels three through six hitters of Chuck Hinton, Reichardt, Bubba Morton and Bobby Trevino went a combined 12-for-22 with five RBI, five runs scored and four doubles.

The Tigers trailed from the start, with the Angels scoring single runs in the first, second and third inning off Lolich. An Eddie Matthews two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning off of Angels’ starting pitcher Sammy Ellis, briefly cut their deficit to 3-2.

The Angels responded by chasing Lolich with two outs in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double by Reichardt and RBI single by Trevino.

Matthews went deep off of Ellis for the second time to lead off the top of the seventh inning, ending Ellis’ day. Following a Don Wert double off of reliever Minnie Rojas, Norm Cash briefly gave the Tigers a 6-5 lead with a pinch-hit two-run home run off Rojas.

Cash, Matthews and Tommy Matchick all had two hits for the Tigers.

Ellis gave up five hits, four runs, one walk, two home runs and recorded four strikeouts in six innings pitched. Following Rojas’ struggles, the combination of Jim Weaver and Clyde Wright pitched 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Angels.

Morton tied the game at six with a two-out single that scored Jim Fregosi off of Tigers’ reliever Pat Dobson,

The Angels had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, having the winning run at third base with one out. Pinch-hitting for Weaver, Roger Repoz drew a one-out walk off Fred Lasher. Repoz then stole second base and advanced to third base after Tigers’ catcher Bill Freehan’s throw to second base sailed into center field.

Lasher worked out of the jam, getting Paul Schaal to fly out to right field on a ball that was not deep enough for Repoz to tag up and score from third and got Fregosi to ground out to third, ending the threat.

The Tigers had multiple opportunities to win the game, placing runners in scoring position in the top of the ninth and 12th innings. Wert lined out to first base in the ninth, seeing Dick Tracewski doubled off second base, following a leadoff double. 

Following a two-out single by Matchick in the 12th that put Patterson at second base, Wright retired Stanley with a flyball to center field, ending the Tigers’ threat.

The loss put the second-place Baltimore Orioles (24-17) just one-half game behind the Tigers for first-place and the third-place Cleveland Indians (24-18) within one game, after a 3-1 road win over the Minnesota Twins.

Game two of the four-game series is Tuesday with rookie left-hander Les Cain (1-0, 0.47 ERA) taking the ball for the Tigers against Angels left-hander George Brunet (5-3, 2.19 ERA).

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Al Kaline

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Kaline expected to miss more than a month with broken arm

Detroit Tigers right fielder Al Kaline is expected to miss more than a month of action after suffering a broken arm.

Kaline was hit in the left arm by a pitch from Oakland Athletics’ starting pitcher Lew Krause.

Kaline was immediately removed from the game and was to be reevaluated when the team left Oakland. He is now expected to miss between four and eight weeks of action.

The Tigers enter play Monday with a 24-15 record and a one game lead over the Baltimore Orioles for the American League pennant.

In 37 games this season, Kaline is hitting .257 with three home runs, 16 RBI, six doubles, one triple and has drawn 23 walks.

The 16-year-veteran is a 13-time All-Star and is a career .304 hitter with 307 home runs, 1,211 RBI in 2,030 career games, all with the Tigers. He became the youngest batting champion in American League history at the age of 20 when he hit .340 in 1955. He’s finished in the top five of the American Most Valuable Player voting four times and is a 10-time winner of the Gold Glove.

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Lachemann’s RBI single gives A’s 7-6 win in 10

MAY 26, 1968

WP: Paul Lindblad (3-0) LP: John Hiller (1-1)

Jim “Catfish” Hunter scored on Marcel Lachemann’s one-out pinch-hit single off John Hiller in the bottom of the tenth inning to give the Oakland Athletics a 7-6 win over the Detroit Tigers in the finale of a three-game series Sunday.

Hunter pinch ran for A’s (18-22) catcher Jim Pagliaroni and scored the winning run that ended an afternoon where the A’s blew a 6-0 lead.

The A’s chased Tigers’ (24-15) starter Joe Sparma after four innings, tagging him with six earned runs, nine hits, one walk and strikeout in four innings pitched.

Reggie Jackson started the scoring with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the second inning, scoring Danny Cater. Pagliaroni extended the lead in the bottom of the third with a two-RBI single scoring Sal Bando and Ted Kubiak. 

The A’s broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs, extending the lead to 6-0. Joe Rudi scored on an RBI groundout by Kubiak, followed by an RBI single by Bando that scored Roy Campaneris. Bando and Jim Gosger (who pinch ran for A’s CF Rick Monday) then executed a double steal, with Bando stealing home and Gosger stealing second.

The Tigers responded quickly off of A’s starter Chuck Dobson in the next half inning, with Mickey Stanley scoring on an RBI single by Jim Northrup. The Tigers then loaded the bases with one out and Tigers’ manager Mayo Smith decided to have Gates Brown pinch hit for Willie Horton. Dobson, needing a double play to get out of the inning, induced Brown into grounding to second base with the A’s forcing Bill Freehan out at second base; but were not able to turn the double play as Dick Trasewski scored to cut the Tigers’ deficit to 6-2. The Tigers’ rally ended with Norm Cash grounding out to first base.

The Tigers chased Dobson two batters into the top of the sixth inning, with a leadoff double by Don Wert and an RBI double by Ray Oyler, cutting the deficit to 6-3. Oyler then advanced to second base on an error by Kubiak. Pinch-hitting for reliever Pat Dobson (no relation to Oakland’s Chuck), Jim Price greeted A’s reliever Jack Aker with an RBI single, scoring Oyler and cutting Oakland’s lead to 6-4. Stanley followed with an RBI triple, scoring Price, and was brought home to the tie the game at six on a sacrifice fly by Tracewski.

Chuck Dobson took a no decision, giving up eight hits, four runs (three earned), three walks and had five strikeouts in five innings pitched. Akker faced four batters, giving up two hits, two runs, hit one batter and only recorded one out. Ed Sprague relieved Akker, ending the Tigers’ rally in the sixth, by getting Freehan to ground into an inning ending five-four-three double play.

Sprague worked out a similar jam in the top of the seventh inning, getting Oyler to ground into an inning-ending double play as the Tigers had runners on first and third with one out.

With both starting pitchers exiting early, the bullpens settled the game after a combined 12 runs were scored from the bottom of the second through the top of the sixth. Sprague gave up just two hits and had one strikeout in 2 and 2/3rds innings pitched. Jon Warden gave up just one hit and one walk in three innings pitched for the Tigers.

A total of 19 players combined to collect a total of 26 hits combined for both teams. Rudi led the attack for the host A’s, going three-for-four with one run scored. Bando was two-for-five with two runs scored, one RBI and his steal of home; while Pagliaroni was two-for-four with two RBI.

For the Tigers,Stanley was two-for-five with two runs scored and one RBI, while Northrup and Freehan each had two hits.

The Tigers travel next to Los Angeles to begin a four-game series with the California Angels, beginning Monday.

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Kaline injured, McLain dominant as Tigers’ bats  remain stifled in 2-1 win

MAY 25, 1968

WP: Denny McLain (7-1) LP: Lew Krause (1-6)

Denny McLain pitched his seventh complete game of the season to carry a slumping Detroit Tigers to a 2-1 win over the Oakland Athletics Saturday at Oakland-Alameda County Stadium.

McLain (7-1) gave up six hits, one unearned run, one walk and had eight strikeouts. After a hit by Ray Olyer in the top of the second inning Friday, the Tigers (24-14) were no-hit for 8 2/3 innings over the two games and were held scoreless in 14 consecutive innings.

Mickey Stanley was the one to finally break through for the Tigers offense, driving home McLain with a one-out single in the top of the eighth inning off of A’s (17-22) starter Lew Krause.

Tigers’ RF Al Kaline left the game in the top of the sixth inning after being hit by a pitch from Krause. Kaline was replaced by Mickey Stanley who took over in centerfield, while Jim Northrup moved to right field. Kaline will be reevaluated when the Tigers get to Los Angeles. 

Krause (1-6) gave up four hits,one run, three walks and tallied six strikeouts in eight innings.

Willie Horton scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth after Tigers’ 3B Don Wert reached on a throwing error by A’s 3B Sal Bando.

McLain fell one out short of his second shutout of the season after Bando scored on an RBI single by pinch-hitter Floyd Robinson.

The teams conclude the tree-game series Sunday.

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Tigers, A’s play to rare “tie” in rain-shortened affair

The Detroit Tigers seven-game West Coast road trip started in a way that nobody anticipated, whether it be the Tigers or host Oakland Athletics Friday at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum.

The teams played to a 2-2 tie after the game was called on account of rain after the seventh inning.

Major League Baseball rules dictate that all games that can no longer be played due to weather or any other circumstances and that have become an “official game” (after five full innings), are declared a tie. All stats accumulated will count but the game will not count in the standings and will be made up with an entirely new game at a later date.

The Tigers (23-14) got off to a quick start off of A’s (17-21) starter Jim “Catfish” Hunter. Bill Freehan and Willie Horton hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the top of the second inning and give the Tigers an early 2-0 lead. Following a Ray Oyler single with outs in the inning, the Tigers would not get another hit the rest of the evening.

Hunter then retired the next 15 Tigers in order, a streak broken only Norm Cash reaching on an error committed by A’s 2B John Donaldson in the top of the seventh inning. Following Horton’s home run in the second, Hunter retired 18 of the final 20 Tigers he faced.

In seven innings, Hunter allowed three hits, two runs, no walks and recorded nine strikeouts.

The A’s came back off of Tigers’ starter Earl Wilson with Roy Campaneris scoring on a Wilson balk in the bottom of the fourth inning and Jim Pagliaroni scoring on a Reggie Jackson RBI single in the bottom of the fifth.

Wilson gave up five hits, two runs, no walks and had two strikeouts in five innings pitched. Reliever Daryl Patterson pitched the final two innings for the Tigers, giving up one hit, one walk and had one strikeout.

[1968detroittigers-blog]

Wert’s two HRs not enough as Tigers comeback falls short in 4-3 loss

MAY 22, 2018

WP: Ron Perranoski (4-0) LP: Fred Lasher (2-1) SV: Al Worthington (9)

Harmon Killebrew’s RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning led to the Minnesota Twins (20-17) to their second straight win with late inning heroics in as many days.

Killebrew’s RBI single followed a leadoff double by Tony Oliva off Detroit Tigers’ (23-14) reliever Fred Lasher after the Tigers had tied the game in the top of the eighth Wednesday at Metropolitan Stadium. The victory allowed the Twins to take two of the three games in the series with the first-place Tigers and move within three games of the American League lead.

After for trailing for almost the entire evening, the visiting Tigers bats came alive in the eighth off Twins’ starter Jim Perry. Tigers’ 3B Don Wert led off the inning with second solo home run of the day off Perry to cut the deficit to 3-2. After striking out Eddie Matthews, Perry’s day was ended by a Gates Brown pinch hit triple to left-center field. Perry was replaced with left-handed reliever Ron Perranoski, who was brought in to face the left-handed hitting Tommy Matchick.

Al Kaline pinch hit for Matchick and tied the game with an RBI single, giving Perry a no decision.

Perry gave up four hits, three runs, one walk and recorded seven strikeouts in 7 and 1/3 innings pitched. He also went 1-for-3 at the plate, hitting a three-run home run off of Tigers’ starter Mickey Lolich in the bottom of the second inning. 

Wert hit his first home run of the evening in the top of the fifth, cutting the Twins’ lead to 3-2. Wert finished the day 2-for-3.

Lolich gave up six hits, three runs, two walks and had five strikeouts in seven innings, taking a no decision.

Twins’ CF Ted Uhlaender was 3-for-4 with a run scored and 2B Rod Carew was 2-for-4.

Al Worthington got the final two outs of the game to earn his ninth save.

The Tigers are off Thursday and start a seven-game West Coach road trip with the first of three games Friday against the Oakland Athletics.