The Monday Fungo: July 8

July 8, 1984: Rangers 9 – Tigers 7

W: Frank Tanana (9-8) – L: Doug Bair (4-2) – S: Dave Schmidt (5) | Boxscore

Record: 57-27 — 7 games up on Toronto

Highlights

• Texas led this one 7-0 in the third, ringing the bell of Doug Bair in a spot start. He lasted 2^2/3 innings, serving up six runs on eight hits.

• Tanana started for the Rangers and he gave up six runs, two earned, and struck out five in his six innings of work.

• The Tigers trailed 8-2 to start the sixth inning and scored four runs — three on Howard Johnson‘s homer — to draw within 8-6. Another run in the eighth made it 8-7, but the Rangers tacked on an insurance run in the eighth to seal it.

• Chet Lemon matched Johnson’s two-hit, three-RBI performance.

• The Tigers head into the All-Star Break 30 games over .500.

Miscellany

• Venue: Arlington Stadium
• Umpires: HP – Joe Brinkman, 1B – Larry McCoy, 2B – Nick Bremigan, 3B – Mark Johnson
• Time of Game: 2:37
• Attendance: 16,010

Lerrin LaGrow – RHP #30

The Tigers drafted Phoenix-native Lerrin LaGrow in the sixth round of the 1969 MLB June Amateur Draft from Arizona State University.

He made his major-league debut the following season, on June 28, 1970.

He came in the eighth inning, in relief of starter Joe Niekro. He faced one batter, Paul Schaal, and gave up a single.

Here’s a snapshot of LaGrow’s Tigers career:

• 1970: 0-1, 7.03 ERA in 12 innings pitched
• 1972: 0-1, 1.32 in 27 IP
• 1973: 1-5, 4.33 in 54 IP
• 1974: 8-19, 4.66 in 216 IP
• 1975: 7-14, 4.38 in 164 IP

The Cardinals purchased his contract from the Tigers on April 2, 1976, which means he didn’t even get to enjoy the Mark Fidrych Era.

But, by leaving Detroit when he did, his number 30 became available for Jason Thompson.

Birthdays

Mike Gerber, Ernie Young, Lerrin LaGrow and the late Salty Parker, Roy Crumpler and Clyde Barfoot

See you tomorrow.