1968 Tigers Tribute Site

May 31, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 1, Yankees 0  (28-16)

The Tigers closed out the month of May with their fourth straight win despite picking up just a run on four hits in the contest.  Willie Horton’s solo homerun in the seventh inning, his fourteenth long ball of the year, was the only run for either side as Mickey Lolich and Stottlemyre were both immersed in an intense pitcher’s dual.

Lolich improved to 3-2 with his best start of the season.  He gave up four hits and four walks with eight strikeouts in the shutout win.

May 30, 1968 at Anaheim Stadium
Tigers 7, Angels 3  (27-16)

Bill Freehan had a big day at the plate as the Tigers won their third straight game against the Angels.  He went three for three with two walks, a homerun, two RBIs and three runs.  Jim Northrup drove in three runs on two hits while Dick McAuliffe went two for four with a walk and two runs.

Joe Sparma evened his record to 4-4 on the season.  He gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.  Fred Lasher pitched 1 2/3 innings of shutout ball to close out the game and he picked up his fourth save of the season.

May 29, 1968 at Anaheim Stadium
Tigers 3, Angels 0  (26-16)

Denny McLain did it again with another exceptional start as he improved to 8-1.  He gave up just four hits and a walk with thirteen strikeouts in the shutout win.

Willie Horton’s two run homer in the seventh inning was his thirteenth of the season.  Dick McAuliffe went three for four and he drove in the other Tiger run.

May 28, 1968 at Anaheim Stadium
Tigers 4, Angels 1  (25-16)

Bill Freehan doubled home two runs and then Willie Horton followed that up with a two run homer to give the Tigers an early 4-0 lead before the Angels even got to hit.  That was all the Tigers got but it more then enough because of some exceptional relief pitching from John Hiller.

Les Cain got the start and after giving up a run in the first, he ran into trouble in the third inning when he put two men on with one out.  John Hiller came in to get the final two outs and he then pitched six more innings of shutout ball to improved to 2-1 on the season.

May 27, 1968 at Anaheim Stadium
Angels 7, Tigers 6  (24-16)

It took twelve innings but the Tigers lost for the fifth time in six games in their series opener against the Angels.  The Tigers hitters did get it done though and Eddie Mathews homered twice and drove in three runs while Norm Cash belted a two run shot to provide the bulk of the Tigers offense.

Mickey Lolich struggled and he gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings.  Dobson was touched up for a run on five hits in two innings and Daryl Patterson took the loss when he gave up the twelth inning run.  He fell to 1-2 on the season.

May 26, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum
Athletics 7, Tigers 6  (24-15)

The Tigers lost a bizare one as Joe Sparma was pummelled for six runs total in the second, third and fourth innings.  The Tigers then scored two in the fifth and four in the sixth to tie it before the game settled down and the final three regulation innings were scoreless on both sides.  Then John Hiller was touched up for a run in the bottom of the tenth as the Tigers dropped their fourth game in their last five.

Mickey Stanley had a nice day at the plate.  He went two for five with a triple, an RBI and two runs.  Don Wert singled, doubled and scored a run in the loss.

May 25, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum
Tigers 2, Athletics 1  (24-14)

Denny McLain got the Tigers back on track with another nice start as the Tigers ended their three game losing streak.  McLain gave up just a single run (in the ninth inning) on six hits and a walk with eight strikeouts and the win pushed his record to an impressive 7-1.

The Tigers managed just six hits of their own but it was enough to get the job done.  McLain singled and he scored one of the two runs while Mickey Stanley made his lone at bat count in spades with an RBI single that put the Tigers on the board in the eighth inning.

The Tigers were dealt a blog though.  Al Kaline was hit in the forearm by a pitch that would put him on the disabled list for well over a month.  Wayne Comer was brought up to take his place on the roster.

May 24, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum
Tigers 2, Athletics 2  (23-14)

The Tigers and Athletics played to a 2-2 rain shortened tie today and the game was called in the seventh inning.  Both Tiger runs came via the longball with solo shots by Bill Freehan and Willie Horton.  For Horton, it was his eleventh of the season and Freehan belted his seventh.

Earl Wilson gave up two runs on five hits with two strikeouts in five innings.  Daryl Patterson gave up a hit and a walk with a strikeout in two shutout innings of relief.

May 22, 1968 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 4, Tigers 3  (23-14)

The Tigers lost their rubber game with the Twins despite coming back from two runs down to tie it in the top of the eighth.  Don Wert led off the inning with his second homerun of the game to make it a one run contest and then after a Gate Brown pinch hit triple, Al Kaline singled to tie the game.  Unfortunately, Fred Lasher gave up a run in relief of Mickey Lolich in the bottom of the eighth to blow the comeback.

Wert hit his fourth and fifth homeruns of the season and outside of that, the Tigers didn’t get much at the plate.  A decent start by Mickey Lolich went to waste and he gave up three runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.

May 21, 1968 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 3, Tigers 1  (23-13)

The Tigers three game winning streak came to an end with a pretty pathetic day at the plate.  Tigers’ hitters managed just four hits and their lone run of the game came in the second inning when Bill Freehan singled home Willie Horton.

A solid start by Joe Sparma went to waste.  He fell to 3-4 and he gave up three runs on eight hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in eight innings.

May 20, 1968 at Metropolitan Stadium
Tigers 4, Twins 3  (23-12)

The Tigers came back from an early 3-0 deficit in this one to walk away with their third straight win.  Willie Horton hit a solo shot, his tenth homer of the season, in the ninth inning to send the game into extra frames and then Al Kaline scored on an error (the second of the inning) in the top of the tenth to win it.  Kaline finished with two runs despite not getting a hit and no Tiger had more then one hit.

Denny McLain improved to 6-1 despite a three run second inning. He gave up just the three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts in the ten inning complete game.

May 19, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Senators 4  (21-12)

The Tigers held off a late inning surge to walk away with a win in the first game of their doubleheader with the Senators.  The Tigers took a 4-0 lead into the eigth inning when Earl Wilson and Joe Warden were both tagged for a pair of runs to tie it up.  Then Gates Brown singled home Dick Tracewski in the bottom of the eighth inning to break the tie and to give the Tigers the win.

Fred Lasher picked up the win and he improved to 2-0.  John Hiller threw a perfect ninth and he picked up his first save of the season.

Dick McAuliffe put the Tigers on the board with a solo homer to lead things off.  Al Kaline went two for four and he drove in a run.

May 19, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 7, Senators 0  (22-12)

Les Cain picked up his first career win in his first career start as the Tigers finished up a doubleheader sweep over the Senators.  Cain gave up six hits and six walks with eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 shutout innings while Fred Lasher got the final seven outs in succession to pick up his third save of the season.

Six of the Tigers runs came via the longball.  Eddie Mathews belted a three run shot, Al Kaline went yard with a two run homer and Dick McAuliffe hit a solo homer.

May 18, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Senators 8, Tigers 4  (20-12)

Frank Howard took it to the Tigers with two more homeruns as Mickey Lolich was shelled in the Tigers blowout loss.  Lolich gave up five runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and the loss dropped his record to 2-2 on the season.

Bill Freehan went two for three with a walk, an RBI and two runs.  Willie Horton chipped with a two run homer.  It was his ninth homer of the season.

May 17, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 7, Senators 3  (20-11)

Joe Sparma gave up just three hits in a solid start as the Tigers got back on track with a win against the Senators.  Sparma improved to 3-3 and he gave up three runs on the three hits with two walks and five strikeouts.  Two of three hits he gave up were long balls.

Jim Northrup had the big hit of the game with a grand slam in the ninth inning that broke a 3-3 tie.  He finished three for five and the homer was his sixth of the season.  Dick McAuliffe singled, drew a walk and scored twice in the win.

One of the Senators homers was a two run shot by Frank Howard.  It was his eighth homerun in five games, a mark that set a new major league record.

May 15, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Orioles 10, Tigers 8  (19-11)

Denny McLain lost his first decision of the season and he lasted just two innings in a high scoring affair.  McLain fell to 5-1 and he gave up four runs in the two frames.  Jon Warden was also touched up and he gave up three runs in two innings of work.

Mickey Stanley had a big day at the plate.  He went two for five with a homerun, four RBIs and two runs.  Norm Cash also pitched in with a solo homer in the sixth inning.

May 14, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 4, Orioles 0  (19-10)

Earl Wilson improved to 4-4 on the season with a four hit shutout as the Tigers got back on track in front of their home crowd.  He gave up two walks and he struck out five in what his best start of the season to date.

Willie Horton pretty much was the Tigers offense in this one.  He homered twice and drove in three runs and the only run he didn’t play a part in was on a solo homer by Ray Oyler.

May 12, 1968 at D.C. Stadium
Senators 6, Tigers 3  (18-10)

The Tigers four game winning streak came to an end as Mickey Lolich and John Patterson were hammered in the sixth inning to the tune of five runs. Lolich gave up the first two runs and then Patterson came in and the floodgates opened as he was hammered for three runs.  The loss to Patterson dropped his record to 1-1 on the season.

Al Kaline was the hitting star in the loss.  He went three for four with a double, a run and an RBI.

May 11, 1968 at D.C. Stadium
Tigers 12, Senators 2  (18-9)

For the second straight game, an impressive offensive performance by the Tigers overshadowed a solid outing by the team’s starter.  Bill Freehan, Willie Horton and Don Wert all went yard in the contest and both Horton and Freehan finished with three RBIs a piece.  Mickey Stanley and Al Kaline also pitched in and they both scored a team high three runs.

Joe Sparma improved to 2-3 on the season.  He gave up two runs on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts in the complete game.

May 10, 1968 at D.C. Stadium
Tigers 12, Senators 1  (17-9)

The Tigers won their third straight game behind a huge game by Al Kaline at the plate and another rock solid outing on the mound by Denny McLain.  Kaline went three for four with a homerun, six RBIs and three runs.  Bill Freehan and Don Wert also went yard in the contest and Freehan finished the game with three RBIs.

Denny McLain improved to 5-0 with another complete game.  He gave up one run on seven hits with seven strikeouts and the lone run was a solo homer off the bat of Frank Howard.

May 8, 1968 at Memorial Stadium
Tigers 3, Orioles 1  (16-9)

Earl Wilson had one of his best starts of the season as he gave up just one unearned run in eight innings of work. That lone run didn’t come until the ninth inning and it was Jon Warden who came in to put out the fire.  He struck out one and got all three batters he faced out in the ninth to earn his second save of the season.

Jim Northrup put the Tigers on the board with a solo homer in the first inning.  Willie Horton went two for three with a walk, a run and an RBI.

May 7, 1968 at Memorial Stadium
Tigers 2, Orioles 1  (15-9)

In fantastic pitcher’s duel between Mickey Lolich and Tom Phoebus, the Tigers came out on top on a game where neither team scored until the ninth inning.  Tommy Matchick’s pinch hit, two run double in the ninth gave the Tigers two runs to break the scoreless tie and while Boog Powell hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth, it was enough as the Tigers held on to win.

Mickey Lolich improved to 2-1 with eight shutout innings in which he gave up just three hits.  Fred Lasher gave up the eighth inning run and then Joe Warden came in to get the final out of the game to pick up his first save of the season.

May 6, 1968 at Memorial Stadium
Orioles 4, Tigers 0  (14-9)

Orioles starter Leohnard completely shutout down the Tigers as they managed just a single hit the entire game.  Jim Northrup singled with two outs in the seventh inning and that was it for the Tigers.

Joe Sparma fell to 1-3 with a subpar outing.  He gave up three runs on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts in five innings of work.

May 5, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Angels 2  (14-8)

Denny McLain improved to a perfect 4-0 on the season with another nice start as the Tigers snapped a three game losing streak.  He gave up just a pair of runs on seven hits and a walk with seven strikeouts.

Mickey Stanley and Bill Freehan were the hitting stars.  They both belted homers and each drove in two runs in the contest.

May 4, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Angels 7, Tigers 2  (13-8)

The Tigers dropped their third straight game in a contest that saw Earl Wilson and Joe Warden hammered on the mound.  Wilson fell to 2-4 and he gave up three runs on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings.  Warden struck out six but he gave up three runs in the three frames he pitched.

The Tigers scored both of their runs on solo homeruns.  Willie Horton belted his fifth homer while Bill Freehan slugged his third.

May 3, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Angels 6, Tigers 5  (13-7)

The Tigers lost their second one run game in as many days as Mickey Lolich was roughed up by the Angels’ hitters.  Lolich fell to 1-1 and he gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Willie Horton had a monster day at the plate.  He homered twice and drove in three runs while Al Kaline went three for five with a run.

May 3, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Angels 6, Tigers 5  (13-7)

The Tigers lost their second one run game in as many days as Mickey Lolich was roughed up by the Angels’ hitters.  Lolich fell to 1-1 and he gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Willie Horton had a monster day at the plate.  He homered twice and drove in three runs while Al Kaline went three for five with a run.

May 2, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Twins 3, Tigers 2  (13-6)

The Twins turned the tables on the Tigers in a ten inning, 3-2 game that replicated the previous days scores with the sides being switched.  Still, it was a solid game as Jim Northrup drilled a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra frames.  Still, Dennis Ribant gave up a pair of hits which resulted in a tenth inning run as the Tigers took the loss.  Prior to that, John Hiller and Daryl Patterson threw two scoreless innings a piece to keep the Tigers in the game.

Northrup had the big day at the plate.  He went two for three with the solo homer, a walk and he scored both Tigers’ runs.

May 1, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 3, Twins 2 (13-5)

Willie Horton drove in Dick McAuliffe with a sac. fly in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie to win their first game in the May. With just five hits, the Tigers needed a two run homer by Jim Northrup in the fifth inning to give them the additional runs they needed to pull this one out.

Denny McLain improved to 3-0 with a nice start. He gave up two runs (both on solo homers) on six hits with nine strikeouts in a complete game win.