Sun 7-2-72: DET 5, Bal 1

Detroit, MI- Joe Coleman pitched a complete game, three-hitter in his first start since his no-hitter on Wednesday, and the Tigers beat the Baltimore Orioles, 5-1, at Tiger Stadium.

Coleman (9-7) walked one and struck out six, surrendering a solo homer to Bobby Grich, who slugged his third four-bagger of the series.

Aurelio Rodriguez had two triples and smashed his sixth home run (and second of the series). Al Kaline had two RBI and Ike Brown went 4-for-4.

The game was tied 1-1 in the Tigers third, when Kaline and Bill Freehan each drove in a run to give Detroit a 3-1 lead. That held until the seventh, when Rodriguez cleared the left field wall with a two-run shot. The hot-hitting Freehan had a triple and a double.

Orioles starter and loser Mike Cuellar went seven innings, surrendering 10 hits but walking none.

The Tigers have a chance at winning three of four in this series on Monday.

************************************
BAL 010 000 000 1-3-1
DET 102 000 20x 5-11-0

WP: Coleman (9-7)
LP: Cuellar
HR: Rodriguez (DET; 6); Grich (BAL)

Tigers overall: 39-27
Home: 19-14
Away: 20-13
Last 10: 6-4

Sat 7-1-72: Bal 4, DET 3 (10 inn)

Detroit, MI- The Baltimore Orioles scored twice in the 10th inning, completing a comeback 4-3 victory over the Tigers at Tiger Stadium.

The Tigers (38-27) had jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the Orioles bided their time and scored once in the sixth and once in the eighth---both on solo homers by Bobby Grich---and then rallied for a pair of runs in the 10th inning. Grich got his third RBI in the 10th when his slow rolling ground ball plated Mark Belanger from third base. Paul Blair added an RBI single for a 4-2 Orioles lead.

The Tigers managed to score an unearned run off Orioles reliever Doyle Alexander in their half of the 10th, but could not push the tying run across.

Mickey Lolich (12-5) pitched all ten innings for the Tigers. He struck out 12, including Grich the first two times up for the Orioles first baseman before Grich turned his day around with his pair of homers.

Bill Freehan got the Tigers going early with a two-run home run (9) off Baltimore starter Dave McNally in the first inning.

*********************
BAL 000 001 010 2 4-9-1
DET 200 000 000 1 3-7-0

WP: Jackson
SV: Alexander
LP: Lolich (12-5)

HR: Freehan (DET; 9); Grich 2 (BAL)

Tigers overall: 38-27
Home: 18-14
Away: 20-13
Last 10: 5-5

Fri 6-30-72: DET 4, Bal 2

Detroit, MI- Light-hitting Eddie Brinkman lofted a bloop hit into shallow left field to score Bill Freehan with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and the Tigers went on to beat the Baltimore Orioles, 4-2 at Tiger Stadium.

Brinkman, who recently ended an 0-for-63 drought and who is hitting just .146 this season, delivered his key hit off Orioles reliever Roric Harrison with the bases loaded in the seventh.

The Tigers (38-26) had fallen behind 2-1 in the Orioles seventh on a two-run single from Don Buford. But the Tigers quickly loaded the bases in their half of the seventh on two singles, a double and an intentional walk. Norm Cash's double drove in Jim Northrup to tie the game, 2-2.

Up came Brinkman, who thrilled the crowd of 25,671 with his bloop single.

Aurelio Rodriguez added a solo homer in the eighth (5) for a 4-2 lead. Cash socked his 11th home run in the second inning to open the scoring.

Fred Scherman (2-1) pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory. Bill Slayback made his second career start and pitched 6.2 innings of three-hit ball.

************************
BAL 000 000 200 2-3-0
DET 010 000 21x 4-7-1

WP: Scherman (2-1)
LP: Harrison
HR: Cash (DET; 11); Rodriguez (DET; 5)

Tigers overall: 38-26
Home: 18-13
Away: 20-13
Last 10: 6-4

Thu 6-29-72: Bos 7, DET 5

Boston, MA- Carl Yastrzemski hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tigers, 7-5, at Fenway Park.

Yastrzemski connected off reliever John Hiller (3-4), who only got one out in trying to protect a 5-4 lead.

The Red Sox tied the game on a leadoff double by pinch-hitter Tommy Harper and, one out later, a single by Danny Cater, also pinch-hitting.

That brought up Yastrzemski, and the lefty-lefty match-up didn't matter as Yaz drove a Hiller curve ball deep into the right field seats, sending the Fenway faithful home happy.

The Tigers (37-26) had taken a 5-4 lead in the eighth inning of the see-saw affair, on a pair of doubles from Aurelio Rodriguez and Bill Freehan, the latter of which drove in the run.

The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on a two-run homer by Al Kaline (6), and after the Red Sox tied the game, Norm Cash blasted a two-run shot in the sixth (10) for a 4-2 Tigers lead.

But again the Red Sox answered, scoring twice in their half of the sixth. Juan Beniquez's Texas League single with the bases loaded provided the runs.

Red Sox starter Lynn McGlothen struck out 11 in eight innings of work. Gary Peters got the win in relief. Yastrzemski scored three runs and had two hits and a walk.

****************************
DET 000 202 010 5-8-1
BOS 000 202 003 7-9-1

WP: Peters
LP: Hiller (3-4)
HR: Kaline (DET; 6); Cash (DET; 10); Yastrzemski (BOS)

Tigers overall: 37-26
Home: 17-13
Away 20-13
Last 10: 5-5

Wed 6-28-72: DET 7, Bos 0

Boston, MA- Joe Coleman pitched the first no-hitter of his career as the Tigers beat the Boston Red Sox, 7-0 at Fenway Park.

Coleman (8-7) walked six and struck out four and survived two drives near the right field wall in twirling the first no-hitter at Fenway Park since Dave Morehead did it in 1965.

Rico Petrocelli in the seventh inning and Carlton Fisk in the eighth each sent fly balls deep to right field, but both were tracked down by Al Kaline to preserve the no-hitter.

With two outs in the ninth, Carl Yastrzemski walked. As the Boston fans screamed and cheered, Coleman uncorked two wild pitches with Reggie Smith at the plate. Finally, Coleman induced a ground ball by Smith to 2B Dick McAuliffe to complete the hitless gem.

Meanwhile, the Tigers (37-25) racked up seven runs and 12 hits. Bill Freehan went 4-for-4 with four RBI. Ten of the Tigers' hits were singles. Red Sox starter Sonny Siebert went 6.2 innings and gave up all seven runs and 10 hits.

The no-hitter by Coleman was the first by a Tigers pitcher since Jim Bunning did it in 1958, also at Fenway Park.

************************
DET 200 003 200 7-12-1
BOS 000 000 000 0-0-1

WP: Coleman (8-7)
LP: Siebert

Tigers overall: 37-25
Home: 17-13
Away: 20-12
Last 10: 5-5

Tue 6-27-72: DET 4, NY 2

Detroit, MI- Mickey Lolich fired a complete game, seven-hitter on two days' rest, and Willie Horton's two-run double triggered a three-run sixth inning as the Tigers beat the New York Yankees, 4-2 at Tiger Stadium.

Horton's gapper plated Lolich and Al Kaline and tied the game, 2-2. Two batters later, Ike Brown singled home Horton to give the Tigers (36-25) the lead.

Mickey Stanley's RBI single in the eighth added an insurance run.

Lolich (12-4) walked three and struck out nine. He has pitched a major league high 156 innings this season.

The Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the top of the sixth when Celerino Sanchez singled home Bobby Murcer, who had singled. An unearned run in the first inning accounted for New York's other tally.

Lolich also walked and scored a run in the victory.

The Yankees losing pitcher was lefty starter Rob Gardner.

************************************
NY 100 001 000 2-7-0
DET 000 003 01x 4-7-1

WP: Lolich (12-4)
LP: Gardner

Tigers overall: 36-25
Home: 17-13
Away: 19-12
Last 10: 5-5

Mon 6-26-72: NY 4, DET 3

Detroit, MI- Bobby Murcer slugged a three-run home run in the fifth inning, and the New York Yankees held on to beat the Tigers, 4-3, at Tiger Stadium.

Murcer connected off Tigers spot starter Bill Slayback (0-1), giving the Yanks a 4-0 lead.

The right-handed Slayback was making his first big league start after four relief appearances. He went six innings, surrendering four runs on six hits. He walked four and registered five strikeouts.

The Tigers (35-25) fought back, getting a run in the fifth inning and two in the sixth off Yankees southpaw starter Mike Kekich. But the New York bullpen, led by righty Fred Beene (two innings) and lefty Sparky Lyle (1.2 innings) shut the Tigers down on no hits the rest of the way.

Chuck Seelbach tossed three innings of shutout relief for first place Detroit, losers of five of their last eight games.

Willie Horton had two of the Tigers' six hits. Eddie Brinkman singled, ending a franchise-record 0-for-63 slump.

****************************
NY 001 030 000 4-7-0
DET 000 012 000 3-6-0

WP: Kekich
SV: Lyle
LP: Slayback (0-1)
HR: Murcer (NY)

Tigers overall: 35-25
Home: 16-13
Away: 19-12
Last 10: 5-5

Sun 6-25-72: DET 2, Bal 0

Baltimore, MD- Norm Cash's solo home run turned out to be the only run the Tigers needed as Tom Timmermann pitched a four-hit shutout in a 2-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Memorial Stadium.

Cash (9) connected off Orioles starter Jim Palmer in the second inning---a drive over the left field wall.

The Tigers (35-24) added another run in the third, unearned.

Meanwhile, Timmermann (7-6) cruised, walking one and striking out six, lowering his ERA to 1.78.

The first-place Tigers took two of three from the Orioles and return home to host the New York Yankees on Monday and Tuesday.

Timmermann allowed only three Orioles runners to reach second base.

*******************
DET 011 000 000 2-5-1
BAL 000 000 000 0-4-2

WP: Timmermann (7-6)
LP: Palmer
HR: Cash (DET; 9)

Tigers overall: 35-24
Home: 16-12
Away: 19-12
Last 10: 5-5

Sat 6-24-72: DET 2-3, Bal 3-1 (DH)

Baltimore, MD- Mickey Lolich's wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning enabled Merv Rettenmund to score the winning run in the first game of a doubleheader, but Joe Coleman fired eight innings of six-hit ball in the nightcap as the Tigers and Orioles split a twinbill. Baltimore took Game 1, 3-2, while the Tigers won Game 2, 3-1.

Mickey Stanley (2) hit a solo home run in each game for the Tigers (34-24).

In Game 1, Rettenmund slugged a two-run homer in the third inning to give the O's a 2-0 lead. Stanley's homer in the fifth tied the game, and it remained 2-2 until the ninth. Rettenmund led off with a single, was bunted to second by Mark Belanger, and advanced to third base on a fly out to deep center by Don Baylor. Lolich (11-4) then uncorked a wild pitch, ending the game.

Roric Harrison got the win in relief for the Orioles.

In Game 2, Coleman (7-7) struck out nine and walked three in eight innings of work. John Hiller earned his third save with a scoreless ninth. Mike Cuellar was the starter and loser for Baltimore. He went eight innings.

Tony Taylor and Al Kaline were both hit by pitches in the nightcap, and both scored.

**********************************
Game 1
DET 000 110 000 2-5-0
BAL 002 000 001 3-4-0

WP: Harrison
LP: Lolich (11-4)
HR: Stanley (DET; 1); Rettenmund (BAL)

Game 2
DET 001 100 010 3-5-1
BAL 000 000 010 1-6-0

WP: Coleman (7-7)
SV: Hiller (3)
LP: Cuellar
HR: Stanley (DET; 2)

Tigers overall: 34-24
Home: 16-12
Away: 18-12
Last 10: 4-6

Next game: Sun 6-25-72 at Bal

Wed 6-21-72: Oak 2, DET 1

Oakland, CA- The Oakland A's scored twice in the fourth inning, and despite 11 hits, the Tigers could only manage one run in a 2-1 loss at the Coliseum.

The Tigers (33-23) left 10 men on base as A's starter Ken Holtzman pitched out of trouble for most of his seven innings of work. The Tigers lone run came in the third, when Al Kaline singled home Tony Taylor.

The A's took two of three from the Tigers after winning Monday night and losing Tuesday.

Tigers starter Tom Timmermann (6-6) was the hard luck loser, scattering eight hits over eight innings and walking just one batter.

The 37-year-old Kaline added to his storybook season by collecting three more hits, raising his average to a league-leading .344.

Taylor also had three hits for Detroit.

********************************
DET 001 000 000 1-11-1
OAK000 200 00x 2-8-0

WP- Holtzman
SV- Horlen
LP- Timmermann (6-6)

Tigers overall: 33-23
Home: 16-12
Away: 17-11
Last 10: 4-6

Next game: Sat 6-24-72 at Bal (DH)

What is going on here?

This blog is a repository of all things regarding my replay of the 1972 Detroit Tigers season, using the tabletop baseball game Ball Park Baseball.

The 1972 season was interesting in that the players went on strike at the end of spring training, and were out for a couple of weeks. It was determined that all games missed due to the strike would not be made up. Therefore, teams would be playing varying amounts of games. In the Tigers case, they played 156 games. The second place Boston Red Sox played 155 games. It would prove to be a huge difference maker.

The Tigers captured the AL East on the final weekend of the season, taking two of three from the Red Sox to finish 86-70. The Red Sox finished 85-70. Had Boston been allowed to play a 156th game, they would have had a chance to force a one-game playoff.

I'm a Tigers fan through and through, but even I must admit that the Bosox got jobbed. Major League Baseball should have been ashamed and embarrassed.

This blog picks up my replay at the 56 game mark and will include brief, daily write-ups of every game played from here until the end of the season. I will play the remaining games in "real time," i.e. I will use 2013's calendar to mirror 1972's as closely as I can. There is a two-day difference. For example, June 22, 2013 is a Saturday. So on that day I will play the doubleheader that the actual Tigers played on June 24, 1972. Make sense?

The AL East race was hotly contested. It boiled down to Detroit and Boston, but the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles were in the mix until mid-September. To reflect this, I will be keeping track of how my Tigers do against Boston, New York and Baltimore and adjust the real wins and losses accordingly, to give a pennant race feel. Every Monday morning I will post standings, but only of those four teams, so you can see how my Tigers are doing relative to the other teams.

Right now, my Tigers are 33-23, good enough for first place!

Every day you will find updated hitting and pitching stats. Just click on the Stats page.

I will also post updates in the BP Baseball Delphi Forum, which will link back to this blog.

Here we go!