In a runaway season, perhaps it was appropriate to have a nail biter to clinch the pennant.
I was at this game with my brother and girlfriends at the time, sitting in the lower deck centerfield bleachers, perched as dead-center as you could get. We were there early and just could not believe we were at a Tigers playoff game.
The Tigers got on the board early in this one, in the bottom of the second, scoring in the most boring way possible. Bárbaro Garbey hit an infield single, Chet Lemon followed with grounder to third; George Brett threw out Garbey at second. Then, Darrell Evans hit a single to center, Chet took third. Marty Castillo hit into a force out at second, Chet scored. Tiger 1, Royals 0.
Speaking of Brett, he had a 1 for 4 night, and every time he came up we held our breath. Two of his outs were unpleasant: A short fly out to right in his first at bat, and a drive to deep-ish center in his third. Off the bat they seemed destined for the seats.
Here’s an understatement: Wilcox dazzled that night [video], allowing just two hits and two walks over eight innings. He also struck out eight. Meanwhile, poor Charlie Leibrandt was almost as good: 8 innings, 3 hits, 4 walks and 6 strikeouts in his eight innings. I did not feel bad about this at the time.
After Castillo caught the final out, we watched the bedlam from the section where the batting cage was stored. After a while, Gibby, Milt and Sparky were all brought out there on a golf cart and driven under the bleachers. I’d later find out that’s where the Tigers had set up an interview room for the postseason. Tiger Stadium had an “interview room”?
Before we left, I asked one of Detroit’s finest if he would hand me a chunk of outfield sod that was lying at his feet. He reluctantly did, folding it so it would fit in a space in the fence. That weekend, I planted it in my parents’ backyard and it took root and I like to think it’s still there.
Miscellany
Venue: Tiger Stadium
ReplacementUmpires: HP – Bill Deegan, 1B – Jon Bible, 2B – Randy Christal, 3B – Doug Cossey, LF – Dick Runchey, RF – Dick Zivic
Milt Wilcox started and pitched five innings, allowing just one run. The Tigers were up 5-3 going into the bottom of the eighth when Lopez gave up four runs on three hits. It resulted in his first loss of the year.
Don Sutton pitched seven innings for the Brewers, gave up 10 hits and struck out nine.
Sparky certainly wasn’t thinking about saving Peaches’ arm for the postseason. Petry dazzled with a complete-game four hitter. He struck out nine and walked just two.
The Tigers dropped five runs on Tommy John in the third inning — he allowed only two hits but walked five — and then they scored another run, on reliever Curt Kaufman.
Over the next 32/3 innings, Kaufman gave up six runs on seven hits, three of them solo homers by Chet Lemon and Marty Castillo and Kirk Gibson. When the Angels came to bat in the bottom of the sixth, they were down 11-0. Gibby cranked another in the ninth off Angels lefty John Curtis.
Milt pitched six innings, giving up five hits, three unearned runs, and striking out five.
Miscellany
Venue: Anaheim Stadium
Umpires: HP – Nick Bremigan, 1B – Vic Voltaggio, 2B – Larry McCoy, 3B – Joe Brinkman
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