1968 Tigers Tribute Site

July 13, 1968 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 7, Tigers 6 (56-30)

The Tigers lost a tough one as they blew a three run eighth inning lead then lost it in the fourteenth inning.  Joe Sparma gave up two runs in six innings in a solid start but it was John Hiller and Fred Lasher who combined to give up the three runs in the eighth.  Then in the fourteenth, after the Tigers had scored a run in the top of the inning, Dennis Ribant and John Wyatt combined to give up a pair of runs on back to back bases loaded walks to lose it.

Mickey Stanley and Willie Horton both went yard in the loss.  For Horton, it was his 22nd of the season and Stanley belted his eighth.  Dick McAuliffe went two for seven with a double, a run and an RBI.

July 4, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 13, Angels 10  (52-27)

The Tigers held on to win a wild one as they finished up a four game sweep over the Angels for their fourth straight win.  Jim Northrup and Norm Cash both hit a pair of homeruns and Northrup had a team high five RBIs.  Bill Freehan and Willie Horton both also went yard in the win.

Pitching was not the name of the game in this one.  Dennis Ribant picked up the win and he improved to 2-1 but he was more in the right place at the right time because he pitched just 2/3 of an inning.  John Hiller pitched a perfect ninth inning and he picked up his second save of the season.

June 25, 1968 at Yankees Stadium
Tigers 8, Yankees 5 (46-26)

The Tigers piled on twelve hits and eight walks to win their third straight game.  Willie Horton led the way and he went two for five with a triple, two runs and two RBIs while Jim Northrup tripled, drove in two and drew two walks.

Mickey Lolich was roughed up and he gave up four runs before he even finished the third inning.  Dennis Ribant picked up the win and he improved to 1-1.  He gave up one unearned run on three hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings.  Pat Dobson got the final batter out and he picked up his fourth save of the season.

June 23, 1968 at Cleveland Stadium
Indians 3, Tigers 0  (43-26)

The Tigers suffered their third straight loss and their second straight shutout at the hands of the Indians.  This time, the offense was held to just three hits, two of which were by Don Wert.  He singled and doubled while Tom Matchick had the only other hit with a single.

John Hiller was roughed up and he gave up three runs while he pitched just 1/3 of an inning.  Dennis Ribant did a fine job in relief and he pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings and he also got the Tigers out of their first inning jam, but it wasn’t enough as the hitters could never get going.

June 23, 1968 at Cleveland Stadium
Tigers 4, Indians 1 (44-26)

The Tigers snapped their three game losing streak behind a solid outing by Joe Sparma.  He gave up one run on six hits and four walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.  Pat Dobson threw two no-hit innings to close out the game and he picked up his third save of the season.

Dick Tracewski had a big day at the plate in the win. He went two for five and his three run homer was the difference.  Dick McAuliffe had a pinch hit, RBI single and he later drew a walk.

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.

April 20, 1968 at Comiskey Park
Tigers 4, White Sox 1  (7-1)

The Tigers continued their April tear with their seventh straight win and this time it was Mickey Lolich and the pen who got it done.  Lolich gave up just five hits in seven shutout innings while Jon Warden improved to 3-0 as he pitched the Tigers out of a jam in the ninth.  Dennis Ribant picked up the save with shutout tenth.

Dick McAuliffe had the big hit of the game with a two run single in the top of the tenth inning.  Bill Freehan doubled twice and he drove in a run.