1971 Twins at Tigers

Monday, August 23.  The Tigers scored three times in the bottom of the first on a Jim Northrup rbi single and a two run triple by Bill Freehan.  Then the Tigers gifted those two of those runs back to the Twins on a Norm Cash error and a Freehan passed ball.  Cesar Tovar also doubled home a run to tie the game at three. In the bottom of the third, a Freehan sacrifice fly gave the Tigers the lead.  After Northrup hit a three run homer (21) in the bottom of the sixth the Tigers added two more to break the game open.  Les Cain went five innings for the win (4-4, 3.10)  Bill Denehy worked four innings for the save (3, 5.23)  Steve Luebber took the loss (1-4, 3.78  Tigers 10 Twins 4 

Tuesday, August 24.  Dick McAuliffe opened the bottom of the first with a homer (18).  Graig Nettles responded in the top of the second th his own lead off homer (6),  The Tigers responded with two in the second on an rbi triple by McAuliffe and a base hit by Gates Brown.  A sacrifice fly in the 4th by George Mitterwald brought the Twinkies to within one.  The Tiges again responded with 3 in the fifth including a two run homer by Aurelio Rodriguea (13), his first since July 30th.  Joe Niekro went six for he win (7-4, 3.80)  Timmermann got the save (8, 2.62)  Jim Perry took the loss (12-14, 4.73)  Tigers 6  Twins 2

 

Wednesday  August 25.  As Janice from "Friends" would say O-MI-GOD.  For seven innings, Jim Kaat (14-10, 3.21) held the Tigers to one hit.  Unfortunately, that one hit was a third inning leadoff homer by Mickey Stanley (6.  Kaat was doubly unfortunate in that his opposing pitcher on this date was Mickey Lolich.  While Lolich was wild today (5 hits,  6 walks, 8 ks), not a single batter who walked advanced beyond first base.  In fact, the Twins put a runner on second three times; in each of the first three innnings but were unable to move a runner further along.  Lolich (27-7, 1.86) again throws a complete game shutout and his consecutive scoreless inning streak in now at 47.  After the game, Lolich was showing some strain.  "I'm sorry, but I really dont want to talk about anything right now.  Put your questions in writing and I will answer them but you wont get the answers until."  Lolich then paused and continued, "Later.  I feel if say anything at all, I'll jinx myself."  Then, for the first time since the entering the locker room, The Fat Man smiled, "Of course, maybe not saying anything is a jinx, too.  The hell with it, what are your qusetions, and Yes it feels damn good."  Tigers 2  Twins 0