The Tuesday Fungo: June 18

June 18, 1984: Yankees 2 – Tigers 1

W: Phil Niekro (10-3) – L: Milt Wilcox (7-5) – S: José Rijo (2) | Boxscore

Record: 47-17 — 5^1/2 games up on Toronto

Highlights

• A genuine pitchers’ duel in this one as the ageless Phil Niekro shut down the Tigers on three hits and six strikeouts in 8^2/3 innings.

• Milt was almost as good; he went seven allowed seven hits and struck out seven.

• Gibby had two of Detroit’s hits, including a solo homer in the first.

Miscellany

• Venue: Tiger Stadium
• Umpires: HP – John Hirschbeck, 1B – Steve Palermo, 2B – Dave Phillips, 3B – Jerry Neudecker
• Time of Game: 2:54
• Attendance: 40,315

Julio Gonzalez – IF #10

Shortstop Julio Gonzalez appeared in 12 games for the 1983 Tigers, who signed him as a free agent on March 15 that year.

After hitting .299 at Evansville, he debuted with the Tigers, at age 30, on May 13 against the Yankees. He came in as a defensive replacement at third. His first start came a week later against the Rangers. Gonzalez was hitless in three at bats with three strikeouts.

On June 19 the veteran played in his final major-league game. He started and batted ninth against the Indians. He went one for two.

All told, he had three hits in 21 at bats and two RBI, and finished with a .143 average.

Defensively, he played six games at short, five at second and one at third. He had 27 chances at short and made three errors, and made one in 13 chances at second.

Birthdays

Matt Moore

See you tomorrow.