No apparent hangover after locking up the division the previous night. ‘Twas a relatively low-scoring affair given the 22 hits amassed by both clubs.
Morris went six innings, scattering nine hits and allowed just two runs. Bill Scherrer, Dave Rozema and Willie pitched the final three, allowing just three hits.
Nelson Simmons had a three-for-four night. In the bottom of the second, Scotty Earl got his first major-league hit — a triple! — off Candiotti.
Miscellany
Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Dave Phillips, 1B – Steve Palermo, 2B – Rick Reed, 3B – Tim McClelland
Dennis Martínez neutralized the Tigers’ offense, tossing a complete-game six-hitter, with six strikeouts and no walks.
This one featured three newcomers on the mound: starter Mason, who allowed all three runs in four innings of work. He allowed six hits, walked two and struck out three. Randy O’Neal and Bill Scherrer combined for four innings of one-hit relief apiece.
Lance Parrish had two hits, and the Tigers scored their only run on a wild pitch.
Miscellany
Venue: Memorial Stadium
Umpires: HP – Al Clark, 1B – Tim McClelland, 2B – Don Denkinger, 3B – Rich Garcia
Dan Petry started and gave up two runs in the third and fourth innings before being pulled. Bill Scherrer, Doug Bair and Willie kept the Jays scoreless the rest of the way.
A pair of clutch three-run homers put the Tigers over the top. They scored four in the eighth to tie it — thanks to Kirk Gibson‘s homer off Doyle Alexander — and three on Dave Bergman‘s three-run shot in the 10th to win it. Bergie was 4 for 5 on the night.
Miscellany
Venue: Exhibition Stadium
Umpires: HP – Dave Phillips, 1B – Steve Palermo, 2B – Rick Reed, 3B – Jerry Neudecker
The Tigers had no answer for Orioles starter Mike Boddicker, though he gave them plenty of opportunity: six hits and six walks. He also struck out six.
Sparky had zero patience for Rozema, pulling him after facing just four batters in the first, giving up two runs and getting one out. Bill Scherrer got the Tigers out of the inning.
Then, righty Roger Mason made his major-league debut, pitching the final eight innings allowing two runs on five hits, while striking out six.
Detroit cut the 2-0 deficit in half when Nelson Simmons — making his major-league debut — singled home Johnny Grubb for the Tigers’ only run.
Miscellany
Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Nick Bremigan, 1B – Vic Voltaggio, 2B – Larry McCoy, 3B – Joe Brinkman
The Mariners took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh, but the Tigers tied it in the eighth, thanks to an Alan Trammell two-run homer.
Juan Berenguer started, going 62/3 and allowing four runs (only one earned.) Bill Scherrer made his Tigers debut, relieving Berenguer and getting the final out of the seventh.
When Brookens started the game at third, chances are he didn’t expect to finish it as part of the Tigers’ battery.
A routine Saturday evening game at Tiger Stadium, with Jack Morris pitching a typical eight and two thirds, and Willie Hernandez entering in relief of a 3-3 tie in the ninth got interesting in the top of the 11th when, given limited bench flexibility, to say the least, Sparky was forced to move Tom Brookens from third base to catcher … where he stayed for five innings.
Here’s how it happened:
In the bottom of the eighth, and the Tigers down 2-1, Alejandro Sánchez pinch hit for Bob Melvin with one out and pinch runner Dave Bergman on first — and homers! A two-run shot to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.
Then, in the top of the ninth, Marty Castillo replaced Sánchez in the lineup at catcher.
Morris allowed the tying run in the top of the ninth and the Tigers failed to score in the bottom half.
Bottom of the 10th: Johnny Grubb pinch hits for Castillo.
Bottom of the 11th: Aurelio López replaces Hernández pitching, and Brookens moves from third to catcher, and Doug Flynn replaces Grubb playing third batting ninth.
So, Brookens caught three innings for Señor Smoke and two for lefty Bill Scherrer — talk about two different type of pitchers — and was flawless. No passed balls and no errors.
The teams traded runs in 10th and 13th, and the Tigers scored in the bottom of the 15th to win it.
Alan Trammell singled and went to second on an error by Rangers left fielder (and future Tiger) Gary Ward. The next hitter, Barbaro Garbey, singled Tram home.
A great win, but the story of the game was Brookens. His 1 for 6 night is a mere footnote in what was undoubtedly one of the most memorable games of his career.
Miscellany
Umpires: HP – Ken Kaiser, 1B – Rocky Roe, 2B – Larry McCoy, 3B – Larry Barnett.
dailyfungoarchive.com 