1967 American League Pennant Race

April 30, 1967 at Memorial Stadium
Tigers 2 (9-6), Orioles 1 

This game was about as strange as they come.  Earl Wilson threw a gem.  in the eighth inning, Wilson walked the bases loaded before Luis Aparicio hit a sac. fly to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead without getting a single hit in the inning.

Entering the top of the ninth, Orioles starter Steve Barber was even more effective.  He had a no hitter going and he kept it going, but in an odd twist, he took the loss.  Norm Cash and Roy Oyler drew back to back walks to start the ninth and they both moved over on Wilson’s bunt.  Willie Horton then popped out and the Tigers were down to their final out.  Barber then gave up the tying run when he threw one in the dirt and Dick Tracewski, who was pinch running for Cash, scored.  Mickey Stanley then drew a walk before Orioles manager went to the pen and brought in Stu Miller.  Don Wert then reached on Mark Belanger’s error and Jake Wood (who had pinch ran for Oyler) scampered home to put the Tigers ahead.

Fred Gladding put the Orioles down in order in the ninth and the end result was, the Tigers won the game 2-1 despite not getting a single hit.  Barber did give up ten walks though and that came back to haunt him.

April 30, 1967 at Memorial Stadium
Tigers 6 (10-6), Orioles 2 

The second game of this doubleheader was a lot less strange.  The Tigers scored six runs in the top of the fifth and never looked back.  The Orioles did try to eat at away at the big lead but the closest they came was 6-4.

Joe Sparma improved to 2-0 on the season.  He gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings of work.  Norm Cash was three for three with a homerun and two RBIs and Al Kaline doubled and drove in two runs in the win.

April 30, 1967 at D.C. Stadium

Senators 7, Twins 3  (5-9)

Mudcat Grant dropped to 0-3 on the season as he was shelled by the Senators.  He gave up six runs on six hits and five walks in only 4 2/3 innings of work.

The Twins didn’t score their first run until they were already down 6-0.  Earl Battey was the only Twin with two hits and he also drove in one of the Twins three runs.

April 30, 1967 at D.C. Stadium

Senators 3, Twins 0  (5-10)

The Twins closed out the month of April with a series loss to the Senators after they were swept in today’s double header.  They also finished the month at 5-10 and you wonder had they finished April just .500, they probably would have been playing the Cardinals, not the Red Sox.

This was probably the Twins worst games of the season because they held to just one hit.  Cesar Tovar singled in the sixth and that was all the Twins got.

Jim Kaat had a nice start go to waste.  He dropped to 1-2 and he gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings of work.

April 30, 1967 at Comiskey Park

Indians 2, White Sox 1  (8-7)

A solid start by Bruce Howard went to waste in the White Sox 2-1 loss to the Indians.  Howard gave up a single run on only two hits and two walks with five strikeouts in eight innings.  Bob Locker gave up a key run as well and the insurance run ended up being the difference between a loss and sending the game into extra frames.

The White Sox only run of the game came in the bottom of the ninth when Tommy McCraw hit a solo homerun.  The White Sox did manage seven hits but they were all by different players.

April 30, 1967 at Comiskey Park

White Sox 4, Indians 2  (9-7)

The White Sox salvaged a split in their doubleheader with the Indians and also but they won their three game series with the win.  Jim O’Toole gave up two early runs but the White Sox chipped away at the lead a run at a time.  Hoyt Wilhelm picked up the win with four shutout innings to close out the game.

Tommie Agee got it done with the bat.  He drove in two runs while Don Buford walked twice and scored two runs.

April 30, 1967 at Fenway Park

Athletics 1, Red Sox 0 (8-6)

The Red Sox were held to just five hits in a tough loss to the A’s.  Bucky Brandon took the loss despite givie up only one run on five hits in eight innings of work.

Reggie Smith singled twice and that was the extent of the hitting highlights for the Red Sox.

April 30, 1967 at Yankee Stadium

Yankees 4, Angels 1  (7-9)

The Yankees handed the Angels their fourth straight loss in a ten inning game.  Both teams scored a run in the second and then neither team scored until Mickey Mantle hit a three run walk off homerun in the tenth inning to put the game away.

Buck Rodgers drove in the only run for the Angels and Jim Fregosi had three hits in the game.  George Brunet was awesome through nine innings but he was probably left in there an inning too long as he let two men reach base with only one out before Minnie Rojas gave up the Mantle homerun.

April 30, 1967 at Yankee Stadium

Angels 4, Yankees 2  (8-9)

The Angels finally figured out the Yankees and snapped a four game losing streak in the second game of their doubleheader.  Don Mincher had a big game at the plate for the Angels.  He went two for four with a homerun and two RBIs.  It was his fifth homerun of the season.

Rickey Clark picked up the win and he improved to 2-0.  He gave up two runs on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts in seven innings of work.  Bill Kelso struck out three in the final two frames and he picked up his first save of the season.

April 29, 1967 at Memorial Stadium
Tigers 4 (8-6), Orioles 2 

Mickey Lolich improved to 2-1 with another complete game.  He gave up two runs on six hits and five walks with eight strikeouts.

Gates Brown had the big hit of the game.  His two run single gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead and while the Orioles would pick at the lead, they’d never overtake the Tigers.  Don Wert had a solid game as well.  He had two hits and two runs. 

April 29, 1967 at D.C. Stadium

Senators 9, Twins 6  (5-8)

After being down 4-1, the Twins rallied in the fifth inning with five five runs to take a 6-5.  Then the wheels fell of the wagon in the seventh as three different relievers gave up five runs as the Senators came back to beat the Twins.  Jim Perry took the loss and he gave up the first two runs in seventh but Jim Merritt gave up two runs with out getting a batter out and Al Worthington gave up a run before finally getting the final out in the inning.

Russ Nixon drove in two runs for the Twins and Rod Carew and Cesar Tovar both scored twice.

April 29, 1967 at Fenway Park

Red Sox 11 (8-5), Athletics 10

The Red Sox won their fourth straight in a crazy game at Fenway Park.  The game had some pretty big swings that saw the Athletics take a three run lead in the top of the third but then they were down by three in the bottom of the third.  The Red Sox eventually blew a four run lead and the game finally calmed down in the later innings.  Finally in the fifteenth, the A’s scored a run to take the lead but a two run single with the bases loaded by Jose Tartabull gave the Red Sox the win.

George Scott and Tony Conigliaro had big games for the Red Sox.  Scott went three for six with two RBIs and three runs while Conigliaro went three for seven with an RBI and three runs.

Billy Rohr was hit hard and he was credited with only three innings of work.  Lee Stange was also knocked around in relief of Rohr.  Don McMahon picked up the win despite giving up the go ahead run in the top of the fifteenth but that was the only run he gave up in three innings of work.  You also have to give some credit to John Wyatt.  He threw 5 2/3 shutout innings after Stange gave up the big lead.

April 29, 1967 at Yankee Stadium

Yankees 5, Angels 2  (7-8)

The Angels bats were completely shut down as the team lost their third straight game.  Bobby Knoop and Sanford accounted for the only two Angels hits in the game and oddly, Buck Rodgers scored both runs despite not getting a hit.

Jack Sanford was roughed up in 4 2/3 innings and he took his first loss of the season.  He gave up four runs on five hits and three walks with one strikeout.

April 28, 1967 at Memorial Stadium
Orioles 5, Tigers 3 (7-6)

Most of the scoring in this game happened in the first inning and all of it went down in the first three frames.  The Tigers scored two quick runs in the first then Denny McLain gave up four in the bottom half of the inning.  The Orioles then added a run in the second and the Tigers added one in the third and the 5-3 lead would end up being the final.

McLain was gone in the second inning and he dropped to 2-2.  Four relievers then combined to hold the Orioles to two hits in 6 1/3 innings, but the Tigers couldn’t get the bats going to mount a comeback.

Dick McAuliffe and Al Kaline both hit solo shots.  Al Kaline went three for four with two RBIs and a run.

April 28, 1967 at D.C. Stadium

Twins 7, Senators 3  (5-7)

The Twins ran up the score on the Senators and Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison had big games.  Killebrew went three for three with his second homerun, two RBIs, three runs and two walks.  Allison hit homerun number four and he drove in three runs.

Dean Chance calmed down after giving up three first inning runs and shut the Senators out the rest of the way.  He improved to 2-1 and he gave up three runs on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts in nine innings of work.

April 28, 1967 at Comiskey Park

White Sox 3, Indians 2  (8-6)

The White Sox were down 2-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth and they came back to win it.  Wayne Causey led off with a single and then Ron Hansen struck out.  Ed Stroud, who ran for Causey, stole second and Smoky Burgess drew a walk.  Then Ken Berry reached first on a critical error by Sonny Siebert that loaded the bases up.  Don Buford then came up big with a single to drive in two to win the game.

Joe Horlen was solid but he didn’t get a decision.  He gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits in 6 1/3 innings.  Bob Locker picked up the win by getting the final five Indians out.

April 28, 1967 at Fenway Park

Red Sox 3 (7-5), Athletics 0

Jim Lonborg put on a show for the home fans in the Red Sox third straight win.  He struck out thirteen and held the A’s to six hits in a complete game shutout.  He didn’t walk a single batter and all six hits were singles.

The Red Sox didn’t need much on offense, but Mike Andrews provided most of it.  His double drove in a run and then he later scored on a Reggie Smith single.

April 28, 1967 at Yankee Stadium

Yankees 5, Angels 4  (7-7)

The Angels lost a tough on at the hands of the Yankees today.  They scored four runs in the second inning to take a 4-1 lead but the Yankees chipped away at the lead and finally tied the game in he seventh and then took the lead in the eighth.

Jim McGlothin left with the lead after five decent innings but the pen didn’t do their job.  Pete Cimino gave up two runs and then Minnie Rojas gave up the game winner to take the loss.

Don Mincher had the big hit for the Angels.  His three run homerun capped off the four run second inning.  All six Angel hits came by different players and all four runs were also scored by different players.

April 27, 1967 at Cleveland Stadium

Indians 5, Twins 4  (4-7)

Jim Kaat had a rough outing for the Twins.  While he didn’t take the loss, he gave up four runs (two earned) on five hits and walk with three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.  Reliever Al Worthington took the loss when he gave up the game winner in the eighth inning.

Bob Allison put the Twins on the board with a three run shot in the sixth.  At the time, they were down 4-0 and while the Twins ended up tying the Indians, the pen couldn’t hold on long enough for the Twins to win it.

April 26, 1967 at Yankee Stadium

White Sox 5, Yankees 1  (7-6)

Gary Peters got the job done and picked up his first win of the season in a complete game four hitter.  He gave up only the one run and he walked two with seven strikeouts.

Tommy McCraw had the big hit of the game.  He hit a three run shot in the third inning to give the White Sox ample cushion to walk away with the win.  Don Buford also had a nice game.  He had two hits, a run and an RBI.

April 25, 1967 at Cleveland Stadium

Indians 1, Twins 0  (4-6)

It’s really tough when your starter throws seven innings and holds your opponents to one run on four hits, yet you still lose.  That was the case today as the Twins failed to even up their record.  You have to give Indians starter Steve Hargan some credit though because he really pitched a gem.  Mudcat Grant was almost as good but he dropped to 0-2 on the season.

Tony Oliva and Zoilo Versalles were the only Twins to get hits.  Oliva actully reached base twice he also drew a walk.

April 25, 1967 at Yankee Stadium

Yankees 11, White Sox 2  (6-6)

Tommy John dropped to 0-2 in a pretty poor performance against the Yankees.  He gave up eight runs (seven earned) on ten hits and four walks with four strikeouts in only 4 2/3 innings of work.

Even worse, the White Sox could never get going against Whitey Ford.  The White Sox scored two runs in the second and that was it.  Dick Kenworthy tripled home a run and then he later scored in the inning on Jerry Adair’s single.

April 25, 1967 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5 (7-5), Athletics 0 

A four run first inning and some great pitching by Joe Sparma helped the Tigers win their series opener with the A’s.  Sparma threw a five hit shuout in which he walked four and struck out six.  He improved to 1-0 on the season.

Five different Tigers drove in the five runs.  Dick McAuliffe led the way and he went one for two with a homerun, two walks, two runs and an RBI.

April 25, 1967 at D.C. Stadium

Red Sox 9 (6-5), Senators 3

The Red Sox ran up the score on the Washington Senators today.  They scored runs in each of the first five innings and Reggie Smith, Mike Andrews and Tony Conigliaro all homered for the Red Sox.  Conigliaro and Carl Yastrzemski each drove in two runs and Andrews homerun was a three run shot.

Hank Fischer coasted to an easy win with all of the run support.  He improved to 1-1 and he gave up three runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts in the complete game.

April 25, 1967 at Memorial Stadium

Orioles 2, Angels 1  (7-6)

The Angels four game winning streak came to an end when they were shut down by Orioles starter Tom Phoebus.  In all, the Angels managed only a single run on seven hits, with the lone run being an RBI single by Paul Schaal in the seventh inning.

A solid start by George Brunet went to waste.  He gave up two runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in six innings of work.  Pete Cimino was also effective out the pen with two no-hit innings.

April 24, 1967 at D.C. Stadium

Red Sox 7 (5-5), Senators 4

Rico Petrocelli led the way for the Red Sox with the bat in their win over the Washington Senators.  He went two for three with a homerun, two RBIS and three runs in the win.  Dalton Jones also had a good game.  He had three hits and a run.

Dennis Bennett was knocked around on the mound but he escaped without a decision.  He gave up four runs on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in six innings of work.  John Wyatt picked up the win with three shutout innings to close out the game.

April 23, 1967 at D.C. Stadium

Senators 5, White Sox 1  (6-5)

The White Sox dropped their series finale with the Senators in a rather anemic offensive display.  The White Sox managed just a single run on seven hits and that run came in the ninth inning when Wayne Causey doubled home Tommie Agee with two outs.

Bruce Howard was knocked around and he took his first loss of the season.  He gave up four runs on seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

April 23, 1967 at Tiger Stadium
Twins 4 (4-5), Tigers 2 (6-5)

The Twins took the rubber game and beat the Tigers in their three game series.  The game started out as a pitchers dual until the Twins rattled off two runs in each of the final two frames to put the game away.

The Tigers actually got on the board first.  In the sixth inning, Earl Wilson helped out his own cause when he singled home Norm Cash.  Then after the Twins had taken a 2-1 lead in the eighth, Norm Cash hit his first homerun of the season to tie the game up.  The Twins then scored a pair of runs in each of the final two frames.  Bond hit a two run shot in the top of the eighth and then Zoilo Versalles tripled home Tony Oliva and Harmon Killebrew in the top of the ninth to provide the game winning run.

Earl Wilson was cruising in this one until the wheels fell of the wagon.  He had a three hit shutout going through seven innings but it looks like he pitched an inning or two too long.  The game winner came in the ninth when Wilson gave up the two run triple to Versalles to break the 2-2 tie. 

Dean Chance threw a nice game for the Twins but he didn’t get a decision.  He gave up one run on seven hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in seven innings.  Al Worthington gave up the tying run in the eighth but put the Tigers down in the ninth and picked up the win.

April 23, 1967 at Cleveland Stadium

Angels 9, Indians 6  (6-5)

The Angels won the first game of their doubleheader with the Indians in a game that saw the scoring come in bunches.  The Angels took a 5-2 lead with five runs in second but then the Indians took the lead back with four in the fifth.  Then the Angels won it with three runs in the twelth inning.

Don Mincher and Tom Satriano both scored twice in the win while Len Gabrielson drove in two.  Jay Johnstone and Knoop each had two hits in the game.

Pete Cimino picked up the win with two shutout innings in the eleventh and twelth innings.  He improved to 1-1 on the season.

April 23, 1967 at Cleveland Stadium

Angels 2, IndiansJack  1  (7-5)

This game was the exact opposite of the first and the Angels came out on top in a pitchers duel for their fourth straight win.  Jorge Rubio gave up the run and he left in the sixth while Minnie Rojas got the win with two shutout innings.  Jack Sanford picked up his first save with a perfect ninth.

Johnstone had two hits and an RBI and that was the extent of the hitting stars in this one.  An odd note is that Indians pitcher Jack Kralick took the loss in both games of the doubleheader.

April 23, 1967 at Fenway Park
Yankees 7, Red Sox 5 (4-5)

The Red sox failed to lock up a sweep against the Yankees and once again dipped below the .500 mark.  Bucky Brandon was hit hard and didn’t even last five innings before he gave up five runs.

Carl Yastrzemski hit his second homerun of the season and he drove in two runs.  Russ Gibson doubled and drove in two while George Thomas had two hits, a run and an RBI.

April 22, 1967 at D.C. Stadium

White Sox 1, Senators 0  (6-4)

Joe Horlen carried the White Sox to a win in what turned out to be phenomonal pitching performance.  He gave up just two hits and a walk and not a single Senator crossed the plate.  He took a no hitter into the eighth inning and allowd the White Sox to win despite scoring just one run themselves.

That lone run came on Tommie Agee’s solo shot in the second inning.  The only other hit came on a single by Pete Ward.

April 22, 1967 at Tiger Stadium
Twins 4 (3-5), Tigers 3 (6-4)

Bill Freehan was the Tigers offense today in a close game with the Twins.  Down 4-0, Bill Freehan hit a three run shot in the bottom of the ninth to make things close but a game ending double play got the Twins out of a jam to wrap the game up.

Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison led the way on offense for the Twins.  Allison hit a two run shot and Killebrew drove in two runs.  Cesar Tovar had three singles and he scored twice.  Jim Kaat picked up his first win of the season.  He gave up three runs on eight hits and three walks with one strikeout in 8 1/3 innings.

Freehan finished the game three for four.  Al Kaline had two singles and he scored on the Freehan homerun.  Mickey Lolich went eight innings and he gave up the four runs on seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts.

April 22, 1967 at Cleveland Stadium

Angels 11, Indians 4  (5-5)

The Angels turned on the offensive and racked up eleven runs against the Indians.  Rick Reichardt and Tom Satriano led the way for the Angels.  Reichardt went three for five with two RBIs and two runs whle Satriano went three for three with two RBIs and a run.

It’s hard to believe the Indians were actually up 4-0 in this one when you look at the final score.  Jim McGlothin gave up all four of those runs and he was bounced after only two innings.  Rickey Clark picked up the win with four shutout innings and then Pete Cimino picked up the save with three scoreless innings to close the game out.

April 22, 1967 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 5 (4-4), Yankees 4

The Red Sox took it to the Yankees again and in the process, evened their record at 4-4.  Carl Yastrzemski had a monster game and led the way for the Red Sox with the bats.  He went three for three with a homerun and three RBIs.

Jim Lonborg pitched 5 1/3 mediocre innings before yielding to the pen, who helped him out.  Don McMahon was particularly impressive.  He pitched the final three frames and held the Yankees to a single hit to pick up his second save of the season.