1971 Tigers at Twins

Friday August 13.  The Twins opened the scoring in the third on a Harmon Killebrew sacrifice fly. The Tigers got two back in the fourth on a Bill Freehan homer (25)  Les Cain threw five good innings for the Tigers but tired and gave way to Dean Chance.  After Chance gave up a single and two walks in the seventh to load the bases, he complained his arm was sore and Fred Schermann came in to relieve him.  Scherman gave up another walk to tie the game.  In the ninth, the Tigers hit a three pack off Bert Blyleven.  Dalton Jones led off, pinchhitting for Schermann and hit his 8th homer of the season.  Dick McAuliffe followed with his 15th and Gates Brown made it back-to-back-to-back with his 6th.  Scherman got the win (6-5) and Timmermann the save (6)  Tigers 5 Twins 3

 

Saturday August 14.  Joe Coleman has not been blessed with much run support this season, and today was no different.  The Tigers, who throughout their history have made rookie pitchers look like the next coming of Walter Johnson, managed only 5 hits of Steve Luebber (1-3) and two runs.  They scored in the 6th on a double by Freehan and in the 8th on a groundout by Aurelio Rodriguez.  Fortunately, that was all Coleman (17-3) needed.  Tigers 2 Twins 0.

 

Sunday August 15.  Sad news from Tigerland.  Dean Chance, who left Friday's game with a sore arm has been put on the disabled list.  It appears the 1964 Cy Young winner is done for the year and possibly for his career.  "My am is completly dead," the righthander said before the game.  "It is much worse than in 69.  I guess it only had a certain number of innings in it and I have used them up."  Chance was very philosophical about it.  "I'll hang around and do some rehab, but it doesnt look like I will throw again this season.  Maybe I can help out with some of the younger guys on the staff."  Chance, only thirty, was asked whether he would go into coaching if his career was over.  "No," he replied.  "I couldnt be that close to the game and not be on the field.  What I have always wanted to do was to manage boxers.  I might give that a try."

   The Tigers activated Mike Kilkenney from the disabled list and started him today.  Kilkenney (3-6) responded with 7 and two thirds innings of shutout ball.  Freehan singled home runs in the first and fifth and the Bengals picked up two more in the sixth.  Kilkenney's win was saved by Scherman (13)  Tigers 4 Twins 1