July 2024

July 31, 1984: Doubleheader versus Cleveland

Game 1: Tigers 5 – Indians 1

W: Juan Berenguer (5-7) – L: Roy Smith (4-3) | Boxscore

Record: 71-32

Highlights

This was a makeup game from the previous week’s rainout in Cleveland.

Berenguer was solid: 6^1/3 innings, four hits, two walks and four strikeouts — and just one run.

The Tigers jumped all over Indians’ starter Smith with five runs in the second inning. Doug Baker hit a bases-loaded triple and Ruppert Jones hit a solo shot which sent Smith to the showers.

Doug Bair pitched 2^2/3 flawless innings.

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Drew Coble, 1B – Jim Evans, 2B – Greg Kosc, 3B – Ted Hendry
Time of Game: 2:30

Game 2: Indians 6 – Tigers 4

W: Neal Heaton (8-10) – L: Dave Rozema (7-3) – S: Tom Waddell (5) | Boxscore

Record: 71-33 — 12 games up on Toronto

Highlights

Cleveland chased Rozey with six runs on seven hits in 2^1/3 innings.

At the time, I wish I had better appreciated the freak of nature that was Aurelio López. Sparky used him in every situation except for spot starter — and he probably would have excelled in the role. In this one, he pitched 6^2/3 of shutout relief, allowing just four hits, one walk and striking out five.

Bárbaro Garbey went three for four and Lou Whitaker had two hits and an RBI.

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Jim Evans, 1B – Greg Kosc, 2B – Ted Hendry, 3B – Drew Coble
Time of Game: 2:50
Attendance: 32,158

Birthdays

Reese Olson, Andy Van Hekken, Gabe Kapler, Howard Bailey, Dave Dombrowski, Terry Fox and the late Al Aber, Harry Malmberg and Billy Hitchcock

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 486 9/9 — Rarity: 37

See you tomorrow.

July 30, 1984: An Off Day in Detroit

The Tigers had a Monday off day at home before the Indians came to town for a three-game set. Let’s look back on a game played on this date 45 years ago …

July 30, 1979: Tigers 6 – Rangers 4

W: John Hiller (4-7) – L: Danny Darwin (2-2) – S: Aurelio López (9) | Boxscore

Record: 53-49 — 5th place, 16 games behind Baltimore

Highlights

Jack Morris started and went six innings, allowing eight hits and two runs. He departed with a 4-0 lead.

John Wockenfuss homered and Aurelio Rodríguez had three hits.

John Hiller blew a save opportunity but the Tigers scored a run in the eighth and again in the ninth to secure the win.

Miscellany

Venue: Arlington Stadium
Umpires: HP – Bill Deegan, 1B – Greg Kosc, 2B – George Maloney, 3B – Dan Morrison
Time of Game: 2:40
Attendance: 14,297

Birthdays

Scott Fletcher, Mickey Mahler, and the late Gus Triandos and Joe Coleman, Sr.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 485 9/9 — Rarity: 58

See you tomorrow.

July 29, 1984: Tigers 3 – Red Sox 0

W: Milt Wilcox (11-6) – L: Oil Can Boyd (5-8) – S: Willie Hernández (21) | Boxscore

Record: 70-32 — 12 games up on Toronto

Highlights

What a game for Milt: 8 innings, 3 hits, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts.

Oil Can all but matched him: 8 innings, 3 runs, 4 hits — but 10 strikeouts … three by Ruppert Jones.

Willie Hernández pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to lock it down.

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Al Clark, 1B – Mike Reilly, 2B – Tim McClelland, 3B – Don Denkinger
Time of Game: 2:09
Attendance: 42,013

Birthdays

Seth Greisinger, Dave LaPoint, Jeff Jones, Don Wert and the late Roy Henshaw and George Cutshaw

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 484 9/9: Rarity 32

See you tomorrow.

July 28, 1984: Red Sox 3 – Tigers 2

W: Bob Stanley (7-6) – L: Jack Morris (13-7) – S: Mark Clear (3) | Boxscore

Record: 69-32 — 12 games up on Toronto

Highlights

Lou Whitaker led off the scoring with a solo homer in the first, and Darrell Evans doubled in the second to score Larry Herndon.

Morris had one of his better starts of late, seven innings pitched, three runs, eight hits and seven strikeouts, but the Boston trio of John Henry Johnson, Bob Stanley and Mark Clear held the Tigers’s offense in check.

The Tigers had bases loaded with two out in the ninth, but Ruppert Jones grounded out.

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Don Denkinger, 1B – Al Clark, 2B – Mike Reilly, 3B – Tim McClelland
Time of Game: 2:58
Attendance: 49,372

Birthdays

Brendon Davis the late Ted Lepcio, Ben Steiner, John Glaiser, Hank Perry and Bob Wood

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 483 — Rarity:25

See you tomorrow.

July 27, 1984: Doubleheader vs. Boston

Game 1: Tigers 9 – Red Sox 1

W: Dan Petry (14-4) – L: Bruce Hurst (10-6) | Boxscore

Record: 69-30 — 12.5 games up on Toronto

Highlights

The Tigers scored two in the first on a Chet Lemon homer and a — wait for it — Lance Parrish steal of home. They tacked on two more in the sixth then blew it open with five in the seventh.

Petry threw a complete game, allowing just the one run on a Rich Gedman solo homer with one out in the ninth.

This is another one of those “I was there” doubleheaders, sitting in the upper deck bleachers. When the Tigers won, my friends and I were reveling in the thought of, if Detroit swept, they would be 70-30 after 100 games. Alas …

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Mike Reilly, 1B – Tim McClelland, 2B – Don Denkinger, 3B – Al Clark
Time of Game: 2:30

Game 2: Red Sox 4 – Tigers 0

W: Bob Ojeda (9-7) – L: Glenn Abbott (3-3) | Boxscore

Record: 69-31 — 12 games up on Toronto

Highlights

Ojeda shutout the Tigers for the second time in 1984 — the first was 1-0 on May 3 when he allowed six hits and struck out 10 — and this time he was even better. The lefty allowed just three hits in this complete game domination.

On the other side, Glenn Abbott was not good: 3^1/3 innings, 10 hits, a walk and four earned runs.

Rusty Kuntz led off the bottom of the first with a single and the Tigers would not get another hit until the seventh.

Wade Boggs went 4 for 5 and Marty Barrett 3 for 3.

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Tim McClelland, 1B – Don Denkinger, 2B – Al Clark, 3B – Mike Reilly
Time of Game: 2:22
Attendance: 49,607