Tigers sweep Yanks, move into tie of 1st

Sunday September 12 at Tiger Stadium. Ron Guidry -v- Mickey Lolich.

The Tigers jumped on Guidry in the 3rd, capitalizing on two walks, but the big blow was a Ray Boone three run homer (4).  Boone added a two run homer in the 7th and the Fat Man took a 6 run lead into the 8th.  To this point Lolich had dominated the Yankee lineup but in the 8th things fell apart.  Skowron led off with a walk and the next 5 Yankees singled.   Joe DiMaggio grounded out for the first out, driving in the 4th run.  After an intentional pass to pinchhitter Graig Nettles, John Hiller closed the door on the Yankee 8th.  In the ninth Ekston Howard struck for his 1st homerun off closer Willie Hernandez but with a two run lead Willie was good enough (s, 6).  Lolich got the win (4-4, 5.25)  Guidry took the loss ((1-3, 4.45)
Tigers 6  Yankees 4

Monday September 13 at Tiger Stadium  Allie Reynolds -v- Jack Morris.

One the reasons Hall of Fame voters constantly overlook Jack Morris is the complaint that he always seemed just good enough.  well, he was just good enough, often enough to be one the of the winningest pitchers of the 80s.  But the thing that gets overlooked is that sometimes being just good enough requires you to be outstanding.  Today Morris was.  He didn't keep the Yankees off the base path, giving up 2 walks and 6 hits.  But through 8 innings he kept the Yankees off the board.  The offense?  Norm Cash, Home run (8).  That's right Mr. Euker, "One lousy run."  Reynolds came into the game at 5-0 and was nearly as good as Morris, but there was no offensive help for him.  Hernandez again closed out the ninth for his 7th save.  Morris got the win (6-1, 2,45)  Reynolds took the loss (5-1, 1.61). Compounding the Yankees woes was the fact the Joe D. joined Rickey Henderson on the injured list and will be unavailable for about ten days.  Tigers 1  Yankees 0

Tuesday September 14 ay Tiger Stadium  Mel Stottlemyre -v- Hank Aguiree. 

The Tigers scored first in the second inning when Harvey Kuenn grounded out with the bases full to force in a run.  In the third, Cash singled, went to third on George Kell's double and scored on Bill Freehan's sacrifice fly.  The Yanks picked up a run in the 4th on a Phil Rizzuto double and Mickey Mantle single.  Cash led off the fifth with his ninth homerun and there things stood into the 9th.  Again the Yankees would face Hernandez and once again a Yankee catcher would homer, this time Thurman Munson, his first/  but again Willie came in with a two run lead and was just good enough (s, 8).  Aguirre was the winner (1-0, 5.16)  Stottlemyre took a loss he didn't deserve (5-1, 305)  Tigers 3  Yankees 2

--submitted by Tom “Crash” Davis--