Baltimore Gets Mauled by Tigers

Game 1: Detroit 7  Baltimore 1

Willie Horton hits his league leading 7th homer.

WP: Joe Sparma (2-3, 2.79 ERA)
S: John Hiller (1st)
LP: Dave Leonhard (0-3, 9.72 ERA)
MVP: Dick MacAuliffe

This game wasn't much of a contest as the Tigers smashed 5 home runs, to embarrass Baltimore pitching, in a 7-1 win.  Dick MacAuliffe(3), Willie Horton (7), Mickey Stanle(2), Al Kaline(2) and Bill Freehan (4) all hit solo shot homers for Detroit. The only bright spot for Baltimore was Dave Mays 2 for 3 at the plate to up his robust batting average to .114.

Game 2: Detroit 7 Baltimore 6


WP: Dennis Ribrant (2-0, 2.35 ERA)
S: Jon Warden (1st)
LP: Moe Drabowsky (0-2, 6.52 ERA)
MVP: Norm Cash

Game 2 saw the woeful "O's" having the World Champs on the ropes.  Leading 6-5 going into the ninth, Baltimore fans had high hopes of stealing game 2 from Detroit.  And then entered Moe Drabowsky.  A single, hit batter and a double would see the first three Tigers reach base and eventually end up scoring 2 runs to take the game.  Detroit received fine performances from Bill Freehan (.239 avg) going 2 for 3 and game MVP Norm Cash (.269avg) going 2 for 5 with a double.


Game 3: Detroit 4 Baltimore 5, 12 innings

Dave McNally

WP: Pete Richart (1-2, 4.50 ERA)
LP: Dennis Ribrant (2-1, 2.89 ERA)
MVP: Eddie Watt

Baltimore came to brawl in game three, literally, as Dave McNally would plunk Willie Horton square in the shoulders sending Horton to first.  Horton, who had received some chin music by McNally earlier in the 2nd inning, would turn and charge the mound.  A brew ha ha would evolve resulting in only Horton being tossed from the game.  That type of action would ensue for the rest of the game as both teams slugged back and forth, going into extra frames, before it could be decided.  In the bottom of the 12th Dave Johnson was hit by a pitch, and trotted to first without incident.  Johnson would become the eventual winning run saving an opportunity of a Tiger sweep from happening.  Detroit finishes the series at 15-10 and Baltimore at 11-13.