1967 American League Pennant Race

August 31, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 10 (75-58), Orioles 9

In a game that saw six lead changes, the Twins hung on and finally beat the Orioles in the bottom of the ninth.  The game winner was a walk off, two run pinch hit homer by Rich Reese in the bottom of the ninth.  Cesar Tovar led the way at the plate though.  He went three for five with a double and three runs.

Jim Merritt was roughed up for five runs in 4 2/3 innings.  Ron Kline improved to 7-0 despite giving up three runs and the lead in the top of the ninth inning.

August 31, 1967 at Fenway Park
White Sox 4 (73-59), Red Sox 2 (76-59)

Once again the American League tightened to where the first place team and fourth place team were seperated by just a game and a half as the White Sox took care of the Red Sox in their series opener.  Rookie Cisco Carlos didn’t pick up the win, but he kept the White Sox in the game in just his second big league start.  He gave up two runs on one hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.  It was Don McMahon who picked up the win with two innings of shutout relief to close out the game.  Gary Bell went the distance for the Red Sox but he took the loss.  He dropped to 10-11 and he gave up four runs on nine hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

Most of the White Sox offense came via the long ball.  Tommie Agee belted a solo homerun while Pete Ward went yard with a two run shot.  The Red Sox managed just two hits in the game and one of them was an RBI double by Rico Petrocelli.

August 30, 1967 at Anaheim Stadium
Angels 3 (66-65), Tigers 2 (74-59)

The Angels avoided a four game sweep at the hands of the Tigers and it wasn’t until a dramatic ninth inning until they did so.  The Tigers tagged Angels starter McGlothlin for two runs in the sixth inning to take a 2-1 lead and that score stood when the Angels entered the bottom of the ninth.  Through eight innings, Earl Wilson had given up only one run on three hits.

Jim Fregosi led off the ninth with a ground out but Wilson lost Hall to a walk.  Then Morton came up huge with an RBI double to tie up the game.  Bubba Morton ended up moving over to third on an error by Al Kaline.  Fred Lasher replaced Wilson, who got Moose Skowron to ground out but the play at the plate was late and the Angels walked away with the win.

Wilson dropped to 18-10 on the season.  Angels reliever Bill Kelso walked away with his fifth win.

August 30, 1967 at D.C. Stadium
White Sox 5 (72-59), Senators 1

Fred Klages got the job done as the White Sox won for just the second time in six games.  He improved to 3-3 and he gave up five hits and a walk in six shutout innings.  Bob Locker gave up a run in his three innings to close out the game and he picked up his sixteenth save of the season.

Tommie Agee went three for four with a double, an RBI and two runs to lead the White Sox both at the plate and in the batting order.  Don Buford went two for three with a triple, a run and an RBI.

August 30, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Orioles 4, Twins 2 (73-58)

The Twins lost to the Orioles in ten innings and in the process, fell back another game to five the Red Sox a game and a half lead in the American League.  Dean Chance gave up the go ahead run as he pitched a ten inning complete game.  He fell to 17-10 and he gave up four runs (three earned) on nine hits and a walk with seven strikeouts.

Bob Allison belted a pinch hit solo homerun for the Twins.  Rod Carew singled, drew a walk and drove in a run.

August 30, 1967 at Yankee Stadium
Red Sox 2 (76-58), Yankees 1

After playing 28 innings yesterday, the Red Sox and Yankees played eleven more in an extra frame win for the Red Sox.  Carl Yastrzemski had the game winning hit with a solo homerun in the eleventh.  It was his 35th long ball of the season.  Reggie Smith also had a nice game and he went two for five with a double and a run.

Jerry Stephenson almost saw a nice start go to waste.  He gave up just one run on four hits with four strikeouts in seven innings.  John Wyatt improved to 8-6 and he gave up two hits and a walk with two strikeouts in four innings of shutout relief.

August 29, 1967 at D.C. Stadium
Senators 3, White Sox 0  (71-59)

The White Sox couldn’t push a single runner across the plate as they lost another game to te Senators.  Wayne Causey was the only baserunner to reach base twice.  He singled twice.

Tommy John was roughed up for three runs in four innings as he fell to 8-9.  The pen threw four shutout innings, but the hitters just couldn’t put runs on the board to comeback from the three run deficit.

August 29, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Orioles 4, Twins 3 (73-57)

The Twins scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth but their comeback attempt fell a run short as they dropped out of their tie for first place with the Red Sox.  Dave Boswell had a tough time finding the plate as he took the loss.  He gave up four runs on three hits and eight walks with six strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.

Ted Uhlaender went three for four in the loss.  Russ Nixon doubled twice, drove in a run and scored.

August 29, 1967 at Yankee Stadium
Red Sox 2 (75-57), Yankees 1

Jim Lonborg did it again as the Red Sox won their second straight and took the first game of their doubleheader with the Yankees.  He improved to 18-6 and he gave up one run on three hits with eleven strikeouts in the complete game victory.

Lonborg even helped out his own cause with a single and an RBI.  Reggie Smith singled, drew two walks and scored a run.

August 29, 1967 at Yankee Stadium
Yankees 4, Red Sox 3  (75-58)

Doubleheaders can be tough, but when the second game is the equivalent of more then two games because it goes 20 innings, it makes for a long day.  Bucky Brandon, in his sixth inning of work, gave up the deciding run in the bottom of the 20th inning as the Yankees salvaged a sweep with the Red Sox.

The newly acquired Ken Harrelson made his debut and made an impact by belting a solo homerun in the second inning.  Harrelson was released by the Athletics after he was quoted (he says he was misquoted) as saying A’s owner Charlie Finley was a menance.  He went to the highest bidder and that team was the Red Sox, who ponied up $150,000 for the outfielder.

August 29, 1967 at Anaheim Stadium
Tigers 4 (73-58), Angels 2 (65-64)

The Tigers doubled up the Angels in the first game of a weekday double header.  Denny McLain continued to pitch well and he gave up only three hits the entire game.  He did give up two runs but one was unearned and he struck out five.

George Brunet took the loss for the Angels.  He gave up three runs but he his control was way off.  He walked six in only 3 2/3 innings.

Dick McAuliffe hit homerun number 22 and he drove in two runs.  Al Kaline walked three times and scored tiwce while Bill Freehan singled twice and drove in a run.

Rick Reichardt, Buck Rodgers and Roger Repoz were the only Angels to get hits.  Reichardt doubled home a run and Rodgers drove in a run on a sac. fly.

August 29, 1967 at Anaheim Stadium
Tigers 2 (74-58), Angels 1 (65-65)

The Tigers won their third straight and finished a sweep of their doubleheader over the Angels.  John Hiller continued to pitch well and he gave up only one run on eight hits in eight innings to improve to 4-0.  Fred Lasher pitched a perfect ninth and he picked up third save of the season.

Rickey Clark threw a solid game for the Angels but he dropped to 9-10.  He gave up only one run on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts in eight innings.

Bill Freehan homered for the Tigers to start the scoring for each team.  Woodie Held and Bubba Morton had two hits each for the Angels.

August 28, 1967 at Anaheim Stadium
Tigers 10 (72-58), Angels 0 (65-63)

The Tigers turned on the offense as they blew out the Angels in a west coast series opener.  Lenny Green had a big day with the bat.  He went three for five with four RBIs and two runs.  Bill Freehan had three hits and three RBIs while Jim Northrup touched home plate three times.

Lost in the offensive onslaught was a five hit shutout by Mickey Lolich.  He improved to 8-12 and he gave up two walks with six strikeouts.

Jack Hamilton took the loss for the Angels.  He gave up four runs and was pulled in the second inning.  The next three relievers all gave up runs as well.  Jim Fregosi and Bubba Morton each had two hits against Lolich.

August 28, 1967 at D.C. Stadium
Senators 2, White Sox 1 (71-58)

The White Sox outhit the Senators 8-5 but when it came to pushing runners across the plate, the Senators squeaked out a win.  Don Buford was the hitting star for the White Sox in the loss.  He went two for four with a double and a solo homerun.

Joe Horlen had a solid start go to waste.  He gave up two runs on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts and the loss pushed his record to 14-6 on the season.

August 28, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 3 (73-56), Orioles 2

Jim Perry improved to 7-6 on the season with a nice start in the Twins win in their series opener with the Orioles.  He gave up just two runs on three hits and four walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.  Al Worthington closed out the game with two shutout frames and he earned his sixteenth save of the season.

Zoilo Versalles had the big hit with a two run homer in the second inning, just his fifth of the year.  Rich Rollins singled twice and he scored two fo the Twins three runs.

August 28, 1967 at Yankee Stadium
Red Sox 3 (74-57), Yankees 0

The Red Sox remained tied for first with a nice shutout loss by Dave Morehead and Sparky Lyle.  Morehead picked up the win and he improved to 4-2.  He gave up four hits and four walks with four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings while Lyle shut the Yankees out through 3 2/3 innings to pick up his fourth saveof the season.

Reggie Smith drove in one of the three Red Sox runs with a solo homerun.  Jerry Adair continued to hit the ball well and he went two for four.

August 27, 1967 at Cleveland Stadium
Twins 6 (72-56), Indians 3

Jim Merritt went the distance and he won his tenth game as the Twins once again moved into first place (tied with the Red Sox).  Merritt gave up just three runs on seven hits and a walk with eight strikeouts.

Rod Carew had a big day at the plate.  He went two for two with two walks, a homerun and two runs.  Rich Rollins was the other Twin to go yard with a solo shot in the sixth inning.

August 27, 1967 at Municipal Stadium
Athletics 2, Tigers 1  (71-58)

The Athletics avoided a sweep at the hands of the Tigers in a 2-1 pitchers dual in the series finale.  Joe Sparma was very good for the Tigers but not as good as the combination of Roberto Rodriguez and Paul Lindblad.  Sparma dropped to 13-7 despite giving up only two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts.

The only run for the Tigers came on Jim Northrup’s solo homerun. It was his sixth homerun of the season.  The Tigers were held to only five hits the entire game and Northrup’s homerun was the only hit for extra bases.

August 27, 1967 at Comiskey Park
Red Sox 4 (73-56), White Sox 3 (70-57)

It was the Red Sox and White Sox second doubleheader in three days and like the previous doubleheader on Friday, the Red Sox kicked things off with a win.  Gary Bell improved to 10-10 with a nice start and he gave up three runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings.  John Wyatt got the final two batters out and he picked up his 18th save while Fred Klages took the loss for the White Sox.  He fell to 2-3 and he gave up three runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts in five innings pitched.

Carl Yastrzemski led the way for the Red Sox with a pair of solo homeruns.  The two homers brought his season total up to 34 on the season.  Pete Ward went two for three with a walk and an RBI for the White Sox.

August 27, 1967 at Comiskey Park
White Sox 1 (71-57), Red Sox 0 (73-57)

Gary Peters pitched his head off as the White Sox salvaged a split in their doubleheader with the Red Sox and in the process, they cost the Red Sox sole possession of first place in the American League.  Peters threw a eleven inning complete game shutout in which he gave up just four hits and three walks.  The win pushed Peters record to 15-7 while a fantastic start by Jose Santiago went to waste for the Red Sox.  Santiago gave up three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings while Bucky Brandon took the loss when he gave up the lone run in the eleventh inning when he walked Rocky Colavito with the bases loaded.

Colavito had the lone RBI for either side as the White Sox managed just three hits.  George Thomas was the hitting star for the Red Sox and he went two for four.

August 26, 1967 at Cleveland Stadium
Indians 5, Twins 2  (71-56)

The Twins fell out of first place as Jim Kaat was roughed up by the Indians.  He fell to 9-13 and he gave up five runs on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Harmon Killebrew went two for four and he drove in one of the Twins two runs.  Russ Nixon was the only other Twins with two hits in the game.

August 26, 1967 at Municipal Stadium
Tigers 5 (71-57), Athletics 2

A three run third inning set the stage for the Tigers as they cruised to an easy win over the A’s.  Earl Wilson picked up win number 18 as he went the distance.  He gave up two runs on six hits and two walks with ten strikeouts.

Al Kaline doubled in two runs and Norm Cash went two for four with a homerun, an RBI and two runs.  Attendance was less then 9,000 as few fans came out to see the last place place A’s.

August 26, 1967 at Comiskey Park
Red Sox 6 (72-56), White Sox (70-56)

The Red Sox passed the Twins as it seemed like every day saw a new first place team in the American League.  Jerry Stephenson improved to 2-0 with a nice start.  He gave up two runs on just three hits and five walks with three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.  Bucky Brandon shutout the White Sox through the final 3 1/3 and he picked up his third save of the season.  For the White Sox, Joe Horlen fell to 14-5.  He gave up five runs on ten hits and one walk in 4 1/3 innings.

George Scott and Reggie Smith both had three hits, a run and an RBI in the win.  For the White Sox, Don Buford went two for three with a walk and a run.

August 26, 1967 at Memorial Stadium
Angels 5 (65-62), Orioles 4

The Angels scored in just one inning but it was a big five run sixth.  Don Mincher had the big hit with a three run homer, his 20th of the season.  Jimmie Hall singled, drove in two and scored on the Mincher homerun.

Jim McGlothlin picked up the win and he improved to 11-5.  He gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings of work.  Minnie Rojas threw three shutout innings to close out the game and he picked up his 23rd save of the season.

August 25, 1967 at Cleveland Stadium
Twins 6 (70-55), Indians 5

The Twins needed ten innings but they picked up their third straight win in the first game of their doubleheader with the Indians.  The go ahead run came on a one run triple by Harmon Killebrew but a sac. fly by Sandy Valdespino that scored Killebrew turned out to be the game winner because Ron Kline gave up a run in the bottom of the tenth.  Killebrew finished the game three for four with two RBIs and a run while Ted Uhlaender went two for five with a homerun, two RBIs and three runs.

Mudcat Grant was roughed up for four runs in 5 2/3 innings but the pen, mostly Ron Kline, picked him up.  Kline improved to 6-0 and he gave up just the one tenth inning run on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts in four shutout innings.

August 25, 1967 at Cleveland Stadium
Twins 2 (71-55), Indians 1

Dean Chance threw a no hitter and he pitched the Twins to a sweep over the Indians and more importantly, the win moved the Twins into sole possession of first place in the American League.  Chance improved to 17-9 and he gave up just one run on five walks with eight strikeouts.  The lone run against him came in the first inning.  He walked two, another base runner reached base on an error and then he gave up a wild pitch to allow the run to score.

Tony Oliva went two for three with a walk and a run in the win.  Rod Carew had the only extra base hit with a double, his only hit of the game.

August 25, 1967 at Municipal Stadium
Tigers 3 (70-57), Athletics 0 

John Hiller pitched a six hit shutout as the Tigers snapped their two game losing streak.  He improved to 3-0 on the season and struck out four with no walks.

The Tigers scored all three of their runs on solo homeruns.  Dick McAuliffe, Bill Freehan and Eddie Mathews all went deep for the Tigers.

August 25, 1967 at Comiskey Park
Red Sox 7 (71-55), White Sox 1 (69-55)

Jim Lonborg won his seventeenth game of the season as the Red Sox kicked off a doubleheader against the team they started the day in first place with.  Lonborg gave up just one run on seven hits with six strikeouts in the complete game win.  For the White Sox, Gary Peters took the loss and he fell to 14-7.  He was knocked around for four runs and he didn’t even make it out of the season inning.

George Scott went four for five with two runs and two RBIs while Carl Yastrzemski went three for three with a walk, a triple and three runs for the Red Sox.  For the White Sox, the lone run came on a solo homerun by Pete Ward.

August 25, 1967 at Comiskey Park
White Sox 2 (70-55), Red Sox 1 (71-56)

The White Sox managed a split in their doubleheader with the Red Sox behind a nice outing by Cisco Carlos and some nice relief pitching from Bob Locker.  It was Carlos’ major league debut and while he didn’t pick up the win, he did all he could to keep the White Sox in it.  He gave up just four hits and a walk with three strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.  Bob Locker gave up a run in 2 2/3 innings and he improved to 6-3.

For the Red Sox, it was Lee Stange who’s solid start was wasted.  He gave up one run on seven hits and a walk with one strikeouts in six innings.  John Wyatt gave up a run in the ninth and he fell to 7-6 on the season with the loss.

The game winning run came on a walk off RBI single by Ken Berry in the bottom of the ninth.  Berry finished the game with two hits and he drove in the other White Sox run with his sixth homerun of the season.  Reggie Smith singled for the Red Sox and he drove in their lone run.

Oddly, the split cost both teams their share of first place because the Twins, who sat just a half game back of both teams, catapulted both of them with a doubleheader sweep.  The Tigers also sat right there in contention just a game and a half back of the now first place Twins.

August 24, 1967 at Cleveland Stadium
Indians 2, Angels 1  (64-62)

Rickey Clark was on the short end of a pitcher’s duel as the Angels dropped further from contention in the American League.  He fell to 9-9 and he gave up one run on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts in six innings of work.

Hawk Taylor was the only Angels hitter with two hits.  Johnny Werhas drove in the only run for the Angels with a sac. fly in the ninth inning.

August 24, 1967 at Comiskey Park
Yankees 5, White Sox 0 (69-54)

The White Sox once again yielded sole possession of first place as they were completely shut down at the plate by Yankees starter Bill Monbouquette.  Ken Berry was the only White Sox hitter to reach base with a single and a walk.

Tommy John took the loss and he fell to 8-8 on the season.  He gave up two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in six innings of work.

August 24, 1967 at Tiger Stadium
Twins 4 (69-55), Tigers 2  (69-57)

The Twins took the final game of a five game series between the Tigers and Twins behind a strong outings by Dave Boswell and Al Worthington.  Worthington set the stage and held the Tigers to two runs on five hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in six innings but he left with the game tied 2-2.  Worthington picked up from there and pitched three innings of one hit ball to improve to 8-8 on the season.

Denny McLain held on as long as he could but he yieled three runs on eleven hits in 7 1/3 innings.  he walked one and struck out three.

The game winner came off of Harmon Killebrew’s bat.  His solo homerun in the eighth inning broke a 2-2 tie.  It was his 34th dinger of the season.  Ted Uhlaender had a solid game as well.  He went three for five with an RBI.

Norm Cash homered for the seventeenth time and Willie Horton had two doubles and an RBI in the loss for the Tigers.

August 24, 1967 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 7 (70-55), Senators 5

The Red Sox scored a majority of their runs via the long ball as they moved back into a tie for first place with the White Sox in the American League.  Elston Howard had the big shot with a three run homer while Jerry Adair and Jim Landis both belted solo homers in the win.

Dave Morehead picked up the win with a solid start and he improved to 3-2 on the season.  He gave up two runs on five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.  John Wyatt got a couple of batters out in a tough ninth inning and he picked up his seventeenth save of the season.

August 23, 1967 at Cleveland Stadium
Angels 16 (64-61), Indians 5

The Angels had their best offensive game of the season as they scored 16 runs and put 25 hits on the board in a blowout win over the Indians.  While just about everyone was a hitting star, Rick Reichardt was a notch above the rest as he went three for six with a homerun, five RBIs and two runs.  Hawk Taylor also had a great game and he went four for six with a homerun, three RBIs and two runs while Jim Fregosi was a perfect four for four and he scored four runs.

Jack Hamilton was the primary beneficiary of all of those runs.  He gave up five runs on ten hits and three walks with five strikeouts in eight innings.  The win pushed his record to 7-3 on the season.

August 23, 1967 at Comiskey Park
White Sox 5 (69-53), Yankees 2

The White Sox moved back into sole possession of first place as they took care of the Yankees behind a strong outing by the rookie Fred Klages.  He gave up two runs on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.  Bob Locker got the final five batters out and he picked up save number fifteen.

Ken Berry went two for four with a run and an RBI.  J.C. Martin doubled, scored and drove in a run.