Sept. 8, 1984: Tigers 10 – Blue Jays 4

W: Bill Scherrer (2-1) – L: Luis Leal (13-6) – S: Aurelio López (13) | Boxscore

Record: 91-51 — 10^1/2 games up on Toronto

Magic Number: 11

Highlights

Sparky had starter Jack Morris on a short leash, pulling him with one out in the fifth after giving up just two runs.

This was a 2-2 game in the fifth. Then, the Tigers scored two in the seventh and six in the eighth to break it open.

Alan Trammell went 3 for 5 with three RBI, Kirk Gibson drove in a pair, and Darrell Evans and Johnny Grubb added solo homers.

Miscellany

Venue: Exhibition Stadium
Umpires: HP – Steve Palermo, 1B – Rick Reed, 2B – Jerry Neudecker, 3B – Dave Phillips
Time of Game: 3:06
Attendance: 41,059

Birthdays

Bobby Parnell, Chance Ruffin, Mike Rivera and the late Casey Wise and Lou Sleater

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 525: 9/9 — Rarity: 54

See you tomorrow.

Sept. 3, 1984: Orioles 7 – Tigers 4

W: Sammy Stewart (7-2) – L: Jack Morris (17-10) | Boxscore

Record: 88-50 — 8.5 games up on Toronto

Highlights

Morris was lifted from this one in eighth*, with the score tied at three and two outs. The problem was, he walked the bases loaded. Sparky brought in Aurelio López who coughed up a grand slam to Mike Young.

*According to Roger Craig’s entry in his “Inside Pitch” diary, The Cat had thrown 128 pitches.

All told, Morris gave up six earned runs on nine hits and four walks; he struck out six.

Darrell Evans homered off Orioles starter Storm Davis in the sixth.

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Joe Brinkman, 1B – Nick Bremigan, 2B – Vic Voltaggio, 3B – Larry McCoy
Time of Game: 3:14
Attendance: 36,797

Birthdays

Nate Robertson, Luis Gonzalez, Dave Clark, and the late Bill Gilbreth, Steve Boros and Bill Moore.

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 520 9/9 — Rarity: 19

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 30, 1984: Mariners 2 – Tigers 1

W: Jim Beattie (10-15) – L: Jack Morris (17-9) – S: Ed Núñez (4) | Boxscore

Record: 87-47 — 10.5 games up on Toronto

Highlights

Morris pitched a gem, eight innings, four hits, one earned run and eight strikeouts, and was the hard-luck loser. He kept the Mariners off the board until the eighth when his throwing error on a comebacker led to two runs scoring.

The Tigers offense mustered seven hits, all singles, off three Seattle pitchers and they scored in the ninth on a two-out, bases-loaded walk by Alan Trammell.

Oh, and Howard Johnson had two hits.

Miscellany

Venue: The Kingdome
Umpires: HP – Durwood Merrill, 1B – Dan Morrison, 2B – Tim Welke, 3B – Marty Springstead
Time of Game: 2:34
Attendance: 9,583

Birthdays

Randy O’Neal, Steve Baker and the late Steve Partenheimer and Pol Perritt

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 516: 9/9 — Rarity: 62

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 25, 1984: Tigers 5 – Angels 1

W: Jack Morris (17-8) – L: Bruce Kison (3-3) | Boxscore

Record: 85-45 — 12 games up on Toronto

Highlights

Morris pitched eight innings and allowed nine hits and five walks. He allowed to singles in the ninth and Sparky brought in Willie Hernández.

Willie got Juan Beníquez to ground into a double play, then struck out Gary Pettis to end the game.

Ruppert Jones drove hit a three-run homer, Darrell Evans had a solo shot and Lou Whitaker had three hits.

Miscellany

Venue: Anaheim Stadium
Umpires: HP – Joe Brinkman, 1B – Nick Bremigan, 2B – Vic Voltaggio, 3B – Larry McCoy
Time of Game: 2:40
Attendance: 51,203

Birthdays

Justin Upton, and Detroit Wolverines outfielder and shortstop Frank Jones

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 512 9/9 – Rarity: 7

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 20, 1984: Tigers 14 – A’s 1

W: Jack Morris (16-8) – L: Curt Young (6-2) | Boxscore

Record: 82-44 — 10.5 games up on Toronto

Highlights

The Tigers blasted Oakland starter, Saginaw native and Central Michigan product, Young in his two innings: eight hits, six earned runs and two homers. He was replaced by Chuck Rainey who fared worse: 4^1/3 innings, 10 hits and eight runs.

All told, the Tigers amassed 20 hits. Larry Herndon, Darrell Evans and Doug Baker each had three hits, and Alan Trammell, Kirk Gibson and Chet Lemon contributed two each. Lemon, Gibby and Lance Parrish had homers.

The most-notable part of this game? Former Tigers infielder Mark Wagner pitched the final inning and two-thirds, allowing just two hits, a walk and striking out one (Johnny Grubb.)

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Durwood Merrill, 1B – Dan Morrison, 2B – Tim Welke, 3B – Marty Springstead
Time of Game: 2:45
Attendance: 38,431

Birthdays

Gene Kingsale, Jose Paniagua and the late George Zuverink, Beau Bell and Ross Reynolds

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 506 8/9 — Rarity: 123

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 16, 1984: Tigers 8 – Angels 7 (12)

W: Willie Hernández (7-2) – L: John C urtis (0-1) | Boxscore

Record: 79-43 — 10 games up on Toronto

Highlights

At the end of the second inning it was 5-0 Tigers. At the end of the fourth inning, it was 7-5 Angels.

Jack Morris has another miserable outing: 3^2/3 innings, nine hits, four walks, and seven earned runs. A trio of Tigers relievers held the Angels in check for the next eight innings — Doug Bair, 3^1/3 scoreless; Aurelio López, 1^1/3 scoreless; and Willie Hernández 3^2/3 scoreless. I still can’t get over Sparky using his closer for nearly four innings.

Alan Trammell, Kirk Gibson, Lance Parrish and Chet Lemon each had two hits. Brian Downing had three hits and five RBI for California.

Miscellany

Venue: Tiger Stadium
Umpires: HP – Mike Reilly, 1B – Rich Garcia, 2B – Tim McClelland, 3B – Don Denkinger
Time of Game: 4:02
Attendance: 37,779

Birthdays

Akil Baddoo, Roger Cedeño and Damian Jackson

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 502 9/9 — Rarity: 27

See you tomorrow.

Aug. 11, 1984: Tigers 9 – Royals 5

W: Jack Morris (15-8) – L: Charlie Leibrandt (6-5) – S: Aurelio López (12) | Boxscore

Record: 76-41 — 8 games up on Toronto

Highlights

The Cat was this close to a complete game win, but he allowed three ninth-inning runs and Sparky pulled him with two outs. Lopez came in and struck out Willie Wilson to end the game.