Motown steamrolls Bay City Boys

Game 1 Dennis Lamp (1-0) vs Bert Cole (first appearance) The Tigers opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with consecutive singles by Harry Heilman, Ty Cobb and Bobby Veach. They pushed across one run on a Johnny Bassler ground out and that closed the scoring in the first inning. Ralph Young drove home a second run in the second inning on a ground out. Oakland responded in the third when Terry Stienbach tripled home Alfredo Griffin and then posted another run when Mike Gallego bunted home Jose Canseco with the bases loaded. The Tigers took the lead for good in the sixth on a two run homer by Veach (2). Canseco answered with a homer of his own (2). The Tigers broke away with four runs in the bottom of the eighth including a two run homer by Cobb (5). Cole lasted into the ninth when a lengthy rain delay sent hm to the showers and Jim Middleton closed out the game for his first save. Tigers 8 As 5

Game 2 Dave Stewart (2-0) vs Howard Emhke (0-1) This game was a pitchers duel through the first seven and a half innings. The As scored on a leadoff homer in the second by Canseco (3) (and his second leadoff homer of the series) and a sacrifice fly by Steinbach in the 8th. The Tigers scored on a solo shot by Veach (3) in the 4th and a single by Lu Blue in the 6th. Then the wheels fell off the wagon for the As pitching in the bottom of the 8th. Although Eric Plunk took the loss, the real culprit was Dennis Eckersley. Heilman worked Plunk for a leadoff walk in the 8th. Eck came in to face Cobb, wild pitched Heilman to second and then intentionally walked Cobb. Bobby Veach singled and Blue drove home two with a one out double. Bobby Jones cleared the bases with a single and the Tigers had a four run lead. Emhke gave up a leadoff pinchhit homer to Tony Bernazard (1) in the 9th, but finished the game for his first win. Tigers 6 As 3

Game 3. Dutch Leonard (2-0) would take the mound for the Tigers. The As with a pitching staff of only 8 and playing their sixth game in a row was at a loss for starters and went with Eckersley who had been the goat in the previous game. The Tigers would again show no respect for Eck as they plated one run in the 2nd and then five more in the 3rd, including a three run homer by Cobb (6), back to back doubles by Veach and Bassler and a single by Chick Shorten, playing rightfield for Heilman who was DH'ing. The Tigers added solo homers by Veach (4) in the 5th and Heilman (10) in the 6th and two more runs in the 7th on a Jones triple and Shorten double. The As came back with two runs in the bottom half of the 7th on a homer by Steinback (1) but the Tigers, feasting on the tired As bullpen, matched it in the 8th on a triple by Heilman and doubles by Ira Flagstead and Veach. Leonard, who would go on to star as Red Forman in "The 70s Show," had his knuckler working all game giving up five hits, five walks and striking out 6. Tigers 12 As 2. --submitted by Tom "Crash" Davis--