After seemingly years of being stymied by Dan Quisenberry, the Tigers got to him in the seventh inning — with an exclamation mark.
The Tigers trailed 2-0 and, with Quisenberry on the mound, the road winning streak again looked in peril … until a two-out grand slam by Alan Trammell as part of a five-run rally.
Both starters threw complete games, and only a Dwight Evans leadoff homer in the eighth spoiled another gem by Morris, handing him his first loss of the year.
Morris scattered five hits with eight strikeouts; Ojeda allowed six hits — all singles — and struck out 10.
Another complete game for Morris. This time a three-hitter.
The Tigers hung six runs on Indians starter Behenna in three-and-a-third innings. Fourth-inning homers by Chet Lemon and Lou Whitaker ultimately chased him.
Detroit had 10 hits, Lemon and Whitaker with two each.
Miscellany
Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Larry Barnett, 1B – Dale Ford, 2B – Ken Kaiser, 3B – Rocky Roe
Time of Game: 2:25
Attendance: 28,253
John Cerutti #55
The late John Cerutti would have turned 64 today. The long-time Blue Jays lefty pitched his final major-league season in Detroit.
After spending his first six seasons in Toronto, he signed with the Tigers as a free agent on Jan. 14, 1991.
Cerutti made his Tigers debut on April 10, 1991 against the Yankees. In relief of starter Walt Terrell and the Tigers down 2-0, he pitched the final two and a third innings, giving up two runs on two hits and four walks.
Cerutti appeared in 38 games for the Tigers, including eight starts. His final line: 3-6, 4.57 ERA and two saves. As a Blue Jay from 1985-90, he appeared in 15 games against the Tigers: 2-1, 4.63 ERA
It was Easter vacation, so I went to this one with my friend Steve and, after much guilt-heaping and nagging, my sister and her then-boyfriend, now husband.
If this game had been played today, it would’ve been called a bullpen game. Petry, Abbott and Lopez each pitched three innings.
A third-inning double by Bárbaro Garbey scored Alan Trammell to open the scoring for Detroit. Then, Lance Parrish‘s three-run homer off Viola in the fifth capped it.
The Tigers turned three double plays, including a pivotal one in the ninth with the potential tying run on first.
Miscellany
Umpires: HP – Mike Reilly, 1B – Al Clark, 2B – Don Denkinger, 3B – Dan Morrison
On a cold and wet Easter Sunday, Juan Berenguer delivered one of his best Tigers starts, at least that I can remember. He gave up just two hits — and didn’t allow one until the fifth — with one walk. He struck out seven.
Michigan native and fellow WMU alum first baseman Mike Squires was pressed into pitching duty, with two gone in the five-run eighth, for the final out.
Miscellany
Umpires: HP – Nick Bremigan, 1B – Vic Voltaggio, 2B – Joe Brinkman, 3B – Larry McCoy
He appeared in parts of three seasons, 1976-78, as a reliever and spot starter.
Crawford made his Tigers debut on April 20, 1976 against the A’s in Oakland. He came into the game in the ninth, relieving starter Joe Coleman, with the Tigers clinging to a 5-3 lead. Crawford got Bill North to line out but the next batter, Joe Rudi, singled to tie the game. Crawford was lifted for rookie Mark Fidrych who gave up a single to Don Baylor and the A’s won, 6-5.
His final game came on July 27, 1978 against the Orioles. Starter Jim Slaton gave up five runs on nine hits in three innings and Crawford came in to pitch the fourth — and gave up two runs of his own on three hits. Jack Morris relieved him with four scoreless.
Crawford’s final line in Detroit: 10-19, 4.62 ERA and 3 saves.
Fifteen days after making his major-league debut, the 20-year-old Saberhagen handed the Tigers their first loss of the year. He went six innings, allowing just one run on six hits, two walks and four strikeouts.
Petry gave up eight hits in as many innings, five runs (four earned), two walks and four strikeouts.
Frank White hit a two-out, two-run homer off Petry in the eighth that turned a 3-1 game into a 5-1 game.
Kirk Gibson homered off Quisenberry (who pitched three innings of relief!) with one out in the bottom of the ninth to draw the Tigers to 5-2.
Umpires: HP – Vic Voltaggio, 1B – Joe Brinkman, 2B – Larry McCoy, 3B – Nick Bremigan
Time of Game: 2:27
Attendance: 12,100
Kip Young – #37 and #44
Right-handed pitcher Kip Young was drafted by the Tigers in the 23rd round of the 1976 amateur draft from Bowling Green State University — a proud MAC school!
He made his Tigers debut on July 21, 1978 against the Angels at Tiger Stadium. Young took the loss in the 11-inning, 4-2 game, pitching the 10th and 11th.
Young pitched in 14 games in ’78, finishing 6-7 with 2.81 ERA over 105.2 innings.
As I remember it, after a few appearances there was some excitement around Young joining Jack Morris, Dan Petry and Milt Wilcox in the rotation — and don’t get me started on Bruce Robbins and Mike Chris.
It appears he made the 1979 club out of Spring Training, making starts in mid-April and early May. In fact, he pitched for the Tigers in every month except August. He spent time in Evansville, too, presumably late July and August.
His final appearance came on Sept. 26, 1979 against the Orioles. Young entered in the bottom of third, relieving starter Mike Chris with two on and nobody out.
On Nov. 21, 1979 his contract was purchased by the Mariners. Young spent time at Triple A with the Mariners, Reds and Twins, but he didn’t appear in the majors again.
Kip Young’s final major-league line: 8-9, 3.86 ERA, seven complete games, all with the Tigers.
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