Tigers take 2 of 3 from Tribe

8/3-8/5 - Tiger Stadium
GAME 1 - DET 8, CLE 4
Bob Lemon vs Mickey Lolich
The day started so promising for the Tribe as Larry Doby, the first African-American to play in the AL, hit a 3 run shot off of Mickey Lolich to give Cleveland a nice lead (3-0).  Lemon would toss shutout ball until the bottom of the 5th when he began leaking oil.  After Norm Cash narrowly missed a homer, Lemon walked Bill Freehan and Alan Trammell, which put him in the precarious situation of having to face one of the greatest competitors of all time:  Kirk Gibson.  Granted this wasn't the 1988 World Series scenario, but Gibson once again rose to the occasion and blasted his own 3 run shot to tie the game.  Jim Hegan's RBI single that scored Woodie Held in the top of the 6th momentarily helped the Tribe regain the lead.  Norm Cash didn't miss in the 6th like he did in the 5th, and this time he recorded a 2 run shot to give Detroit a 5-4 lead.  His second homer of the day in the 9th put the game out of reach.  Lolich narrowly missed a complete game victory as he stepped aside for Willie Hernandez with 1 out to go in the 9th.

GAME 2 - DET 3, CLE 2
Bob Feller vs Jack Morris
This great pitching battle almost turned into a slugfest when Larry Doby hit a 2 run shot in the first and Vic Wertz hit one off the fence to score Lou Whitaker in the bottom of the inning.  Both hurlers settled down after that.  Feller would serve up a gopher ball to Norm Cash in the 4th, which tied the game at 2-2.  A Lance Parrish solo shot in the 6th would put Detroit up by one.  Give Jack Morris a 1 run lead and he'll be the stingiest man alive.  Give him a 10 run lead and he'll be more charitable than Jerry Lewis.  Morris had a 1 run lead, which he protected better than an MP at Ft. Knox protects gold.  Once again Willie Hernandez came on in the 9th.  This time he would record two outs and get the save.  On the day Morris would give up just 2 runs in 8 1/3 innings worth of work.  He would also strikeout 6, while walking none.  Feller's 3 runs over 8 innings with 7 strikeouts is a final line usually attributed to a winning pitcher, but not when you face a guy like Morris who lives to one up you.

GAME 3 - CLE 7, DET 0
Early Wynn vs Jim Bunning
A four run outburst by the Tribe in the top of the second was all the support Early Wynn would need on a day where he was 2 outs from a complete game shutout.  Jim Bunning would not fare nearly as well since his day ended after 3 innings on the hill where he gave up 5 runs (3 earned) and was generally ineffective.  Al Rosen led off the second with a long blast to touch 'em all.  After Colavito flew out to left Bunning lost his control and walked 3 of the next 4 batters.  Sandwiched around the walkfest was a single by Julio Franco that loaded the bases.  A passed ball charged to Lance Parrish allowed the third run to score and a single by Dale Mitchell posted run number 4.  Colavito's solo shot in the 5th made it 5-0, which is how it stood until the top of the 9th when Mark "the bird" Fidrych, who pitched 4 scoreless innings of relief, combined with John Hiller to give up 2 meaningless runs.  Doug Jones would get the final 2 outs as Wynn tired in the 9th after allowing 2 baserunners.  All game long the skies threatened and by the 7th inning a light rain began to fall, which helped clear out the few remaining fans on Michigan and Trumbull.