1968 Tigers Tribute Site

July 31, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 4, Senators 0  (65-39)

Denny McLain threw his second straight shutout and picked up his 21st win of the season as the Tigers kicked off their series against the Senators with a win.  McLain gave up just four hits and a walk with nine strikeouts.

Dick McAuliffe was the hitting star in the win.  He was a perfect four for four with two doubles, a solo homer, and he scored all four Tigers runs https://experience.tripster.ru/experience/Saint_Petersburg/17295-na-korablike/.

July 30, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Yankees 0  (64-39)

The Tigers bounced back and ended their two game mini skid behind a very solid outing by Earl Wilson.  The Duke improved to 9-8 and he gave up just three hits and three walks with five strikeouts in eight shutout innings.  Daryl Patterson struck out one in a perfect ninth inning to pick up his fourth save of the season.

Earl Wilson helped out his own cause with a solo homer, his third long ball of the season.  Dick McAuliffe went one for three with two walks, a solo homerun and two runs while Jim Northrup went three for five with a double.

July 29, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Yankees 7, Tigers 2  (63-39)

The Tigers suffered their second straight defeat as Joe Sparma was roughed up by the Yankees offense.  Sparma gave up five runs on nine hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in just five innings of work.

Norm Cash hit his fourteenth homer of the season, a solo homer in the seventh inning.  Jim Northrup tripled and he drove in the other Tigers run.

July 28, 1968 at Memorial Stadium
Orioles 5, Tigers 1  (63-38)

The Tigers failed to sweep the Orioles today as they were held to just three hits by Steve McNally.  Willie Horton drove in the lone run with a solo homer in the ninth inning.  It was his 26th of the season.

Mickey Lolich fell to 7-7 with a rough start.  He gave up three runs on seven hits with two strikeouts in just 1 2/3 innings.

July 27, 1968 at Memorial Stadium
Tigers 9, Orioles 0  (63-37)

Tiger stars Willie Horton and Denny McLain shined as the team won for the 63rd time at the 100 game mark today.  McLain improved to 20-3 with an impressive three hit shutout.  He walked two and struck out seven and with 20 out of the way, McLain had his eyes set on 30 wins with over two months left in the season.

Willie Horton homered twice and drove in four.  The two long balls brought his season total up to 25 on the season.  Dick McAuliffe, Don Wert and Al Kaline all went yard as well while Norm Cash went four for five with two doubles and two runs.

July 26, 1968 at Memorial Stadium
Tigers 4, Orioles 1  (62-37)

Earl Wilson threw five shutout innings and the Tigers got just enough offense to put away the Orioles in the opener of their three game series.  Wilson improved to 8-8 and he gave up five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five shutout innings while Daryl Patterson gave up one run on one hit (solo homer) and a walk with five strikeouts in four innings of relief to pick up his third save of the season.

Dick McAuliffe went two for three with a double, two walks, a run and an RBI.  Willie Horton went two for four with a double and a run.

July 25, 1968 at D.C. Stadium
Tigers 4, Senators 1  (61-37)

Joe Sparma had a career day on the mound as he held the Senators to just a single hit.  He did give up an unearned and he walked six with five strikeouts and the win pushed his record to 8-9.

Jim Northrup provided the bulk of the Tigers offense with a pair of homers.  The two blasts brought his season total up to 15 and he drove in three of the Tigers four runs.

July 24, 1968 at D.C. Stadium
Senators 6, Tigers 3  (60-37)

Mickey Lolich was shelled and he fell to 7-6 as the Tigers failed once again to put together a winning streak.  Lolich gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.

Mickey Stanley was the hitting star in the loss.  He went three for four with a double and a run.  Al Kaline went two for three with a walk and an RBI.

July 23, 1968 at D.C. Stadium
Tigers 6, Senators 4  (60-36)

The Tigers took game one of their series with the Senators with another dramatic comeback.  Down 4-3 in the eighth inning, Jim Price singled home Al Kaline to tie the game up and then Gates Brown singled home Bill Freehan for the game winner.  Jim Northrup doubled home Al Kaline in the ninth for some insurance that the Tigers didn’t need.  Speaking of Kaline, he was a perfect two for two with three walks, two runs and two RBIs.

Denny McLain improved to 19-3 despite a mediocre start.  He gave up four runs on eight hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in seven innings.  Jon Warden threw the final 1 2/3 innings and he picked up his third save of the season.

July 21, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Orioles 5, Tigers 2  (59-35)

Earl Wilson had a tough time as the Tigers dropped the first game of a Sunday doubleheader with the Orioles.  Wilson fell to 7-8 and he gave up four runs on seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in six innings.

Tom Matchick tripled, hit his third homer and drove in a pair in the loss.  Bill Freehan went two for four with a double and a run.

July 21, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Orioles 4, Tigers 1  (59-36)

The Tigers were held to just three hits and were swept by the Orioles in a series they lost three games to one.  Dick McAuliffe had one of the three hits and he scored the lone Tigers run.

Pat Dobson fell to 3-2 with a rough start.  He gave up two runs on four hits and a walk with a strikeout in just 2 1/3 innings.

July 20, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Orioles 5, Tigers 3  (59-34)

Denny McLain lost just his third decision of the season and had his shortest start as the Orioles evened their series with the Tigers.  McLain fell to 18-3 and he gave up five runs on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

Mickey Stanley was the hitting star in the loss.  He went two for four with a double, two RBIs and a run.

July 19, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Orioles 4  (59-33)

The Tigers put on a show for their home town fans with a dramatic comeback win in the ninth inning.  Down by two runs, Jim Northrup kicked off the ninth with a single and he moved to second on a walk by Al Kaline.  Kaline was then forced out at second base on a fielders choice by Norm Cash to put runners at the corners before Bill Freehan forced Cash out at second to score Northrup.  Then with two outs, Tom Matchick belted a huge two run walk off homer to complete the comeback.

Mickey Lolich was roughed up and he gave up four runs in five innings in his start.  Pat Dobson threw a shutout ninth inning and he improved to 3-1 on the season.

July 18, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum
Tigers 3, Athletics 1  (58-33)

Earl Wilson bounced back from a rough start and he helped the Tigers salvage a split with the A’s in their two game series.  Wilson improved to 7-7 and he gave up just one run on six hits with five strikeouts in the complete game.

Dick McAuliffe went two for four with a double and a run.  Jim Northrup singled, drove in a run and scored.

July 17, 1968 at the Oakland Coliseum
Athletics 3, Tigers 2  (57-33)

The Tiger continued their struggles out west despite the change of scenery as they dropped their opener to the Athletics by a single run.  All of the scoring in this one came in the first two innings.  Willie Horton hit his 23rd homer of the Tigers and Joe Sparma singled and drove in a run in his lone at bat.

Speaking of Sparma, he had a tough outing.  He gave up three runs on five hits with two strikeouts and he only pitched into the second inning.  Jon Warden was exceptional and he threw five innings of shutout relief but the Tigers hitters could never quite get it going to mount a comeback.

July 16, 1968 at Anaheim Stadium
Tigers 4, Angels 0  (57-32)

Denny McLain did it again.  He not only helped the Tigers avoid a sweep at the hands of the Angels, but he also helped them snap a three game losing streak.  McLain improved to 18-2 and he gave up just eight hits with eight strikeouts in the complete game shutout.

Al Kaline had just one hit in four at bats but it was a solo homer.  Tom Matchick finished two for four and he drove in a run.

July 15, 1968 at Anaheim Stadium
Angels 4, Tigers 0  (56-32)

The Tigers were held to five hits in a shutout loss as they dropped their third straight.  Three of those hits came off the bat of Al Kaline while Jim Northrup reached base twice with a single and a walk.

Mickey Lolich gell to 7-5 and while he gave up just three hits in six innings, two of those left the park.  Daryl Patterson threw two perfect innings of relief to close out the game but Angels starter Jim Brunet was just too much for Detroit in this one.

July 14, 1968 at Anaheim Stadium
Angels 7, Tigers 3  (56-31)

The Tigers kicked off a west coast trip with a loss as Earl Wilson had a tough time in his start.  He fell to 6-7 and he gave up six runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk with two strikeouts in just three innings of work.

Norm Cash and Don Wert both hit solo shots to account for most of the Tigers offense.  Mickey Stanley was the only Tiger with two hits and Cash finished with a pair of runs.

July 13, 1968 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 7, Tigers 6 (56-30)

The Tigers lost a tough one as they blew a three run eighth inning lead then lost it in the fourteenth inning.  Joe Sparma gave up two runs in six innings in a solid start but it was John Hiller and Fred Lasher who combined to give up the three runs in the eighth.  Then in the fourteenth, after the Tigers had scored a run in the top of the inning, Dennis Ribant and John Wyatt combined to give up a pair of runs on back to back bases loaded walks to lose it.

Mickey Stanley and Willie Horton both went yard in the loss.  For Horton, it was his 22nd of the season and Stanley belted his eighth.  Dick McAuliffe went two for seven with a double, a run and an RBI.

July 12, 1968 at Metropolitan Stadium
Tigers 5, Twins 1 (56-29)

Denny McLain improved to 17-2 with an exceptional start as the Tigers evened up their series with the Twins. He gave up just one unearned run on three hits with four walks with five strikeouts in yet another complete game win.

Don Wert went two for four with a two run homer. Willie Horton singled twice, scored a run and drove in one.

July 11, 1968 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 5, Tigers 4  (55-29)

The Tigers kicked off their second half with a loss in a game that saw the pitching staff blow a 4-2 lead.  Mickey Lolich gave up a pair of runs in the seventh inning and then John Hiller gave up a ninth inning run that was the game winner.  He fell to 5-3 on the season.

Mickey Stanley provided the bulk of the Tigers offense with a three run blast.  Dick McAuliffe accounted for the other Tigers run and he belted a solo homer.

July 7, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Athletics 4  (54-28)

Willie Horton belted a walk off solo homer as the Tigers bounced back and beat the A’s in the first game of their doubleheader.  Dick McAuliffe was also one of the hitting stars and he went two for four with a solo homer and two runs. 

Denny McLain got it done again.  He improved to 16-2 and he gave up four runs on five hits and a walk with nine strikeouts in another complete game.

July 7, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 7, Athletics 6  (55-28)

The Tigers held on to beat the Athletics and they completed a sweep over the team in their doubleheader.  The Tigers jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the seventh but the A’s chipped away at the deficit and while they made it a one run game, Mickey Lolich was able to strikeout the final batter with a runner on to end the game.  For Lolich, it was his first save of the season (check career marks).

Al Kaline was back and he hit his fourth homer of the season.  Dick McAuliffe doubled twice, scored a run and drove in one.  This was the Tigers last game as they headed into the All Star Break for some much needed rest.

July 6, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Athletics 4, Tigers 1  (53-28)

The Tigers five game winning streak came to an end in a game that saw Tigers hitters pick up just six hits.  Jim Northrup went two for three with a double and he scored the lone Tiger run.

Earl Wilson was roughed up and he fell to 6-6 on the season.  He gave up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.  Wilson had rough game too because he was hit by comebackers not once but twice.  Both came in the fifth and the first time he got nailed on his shoulder and the second time, he was hit on the hand.

July 5, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 8, Athletics 5  (53-27)

The Tigers won their fifth straight game in the month of July and their fifth straight game over all as Bill Freehan put the team on his back.  He hit a pair of three runs homers to account for most of the Tigers offense and Willie Horton pitched in with a pair of runs.

Mickey Lolich improved to 7-4 with a mediocre start. He gave up four runs on six hits and a walk with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.  Pat Dobson gave up a run in 3 2/3 innings and he picked up his fifth save of the season.

July 4, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 13, Angels 10  (52-27)

The Tigers held on to win a wild one as they finished up a four game sweep over the Angels for their fourth straight win.  Jim Northrup and Norm Cash both hit a pair of homeruns and Northrup had a team high five RBIs.  Bill Freehan and Willie Horton both also went yard in the win.

Pitching was not the name of the game in this one.  Dennis Ribant picked up the win and he improved to 2-1 but he was more in the right place at the right time because he pitched just 2/3 of an inning.  John Hiller pitched a perfect ninth inning and he picked up his second save of the season.

July 3, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Angels 2  (51-27)

The Tigers remained perfect in the month of the June and they won their third game behind a trio of homeruns.  Norm Cash belted two run shot while both Dick Tracewski and Willie Horton went yard with nobody on base.  For Horton, it was his ninteenth of the season and Bill Freehan pitched in with a double, two singles and an RBI.

Denny McLain improved to 15-2 on the season with another nice start.  He gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with ten strikeouts in the complete game win.

July 2, 1968 at Tiger StadiuM
Tigers 3, Angels 1  (50-27)

The Tigers won their second straight game and this time it was Earl Wilson who got it done on the mound.  He improved to 6-5 and he gave up just one run on seven hits and one walk with nine strikeouts in the complete game.

Willie Horton singled and drove in a pair of runs.  The other Tiger run came on a solo homer by Tom Matchick.

July 1, 1968 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5, Angels 1 (49-27)

The Tigers kicked off the month of July with an impressive win behind the arm of Mickey Lolich.  He gave up just a single run on five hits with fourteen strikeouts in the complete game win.

Bill Freehan provided the bulk of the offense with a pair of homeruns and three RBIs.  Dick Tracewski also went yard in the win with his second of the season.