1967 American League Pennant Race

May 25, 1967 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 9 (22-13), Red Sox 3 (18-18)

The Tigers avoided a sweep at the hand of the Red Sox and snapped a three game losing streak with a nine run attack.  The big inning for the Tigers was the fifth, in which they scored six runs.

Jim Northrup definitely got it done for the Tigers.  He went two for three with a homerun and five RBIs.  Dick McAuliffe also homered and he scored three times in the game.

Reggie Smith drove in two of the three Red Sox’ runs and finished with two hits.  Mike Ryan hit a solo shot in the third inning and that was the extent of the Red Sox offense.

Earl Wilson went the distance and improved to 6-3.  He gave up three runs on eight hits and three walks with five strikeouts.  Jose Santiago took the loss for the Red Sox.  He gave up six runs (five earned) on four hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings.

May 24, 1967 at Tiger Stadium
Red Sox 1 (18-17), Tigers 0  (21-13)

A solo shot by Dalton Jones in the second was the only run of the game in this pitcher’s dual.  Jim Lornberg threw a gem.  He gave up four hits and four walks with eleven strikeouts in the complete game shutout.

Denny McLain was good but he would have had to be perfect in this one.  He gave up only the single run on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts in seven innings.  Jose Tartabull and Jones were the only two players for either team to rack up two hits.

May 23, 1967 at Tiger Stadium
Red Sox 5 (17-17), Tigers 2 (21-12)

Dennis Bennett got the better of Mickey Lolich in this pitching battle.  The game was tied 1-1 until the Red Sox got to Lolich with two runs in the fifth.  That lead would hold even after Tiger reliever George Korince gave up two more to the Red Sox in the top of the eighth.

Rico Petrocelli and Carl Yastrzemski both homered for the Red Sox.  Yaz’s homerun was a two run shot.  Al Kaline drove in each of the Tiger’s two runs.

Bennett picked up the win and improved to 2-1.  He gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 7 1/3.  Lolich dropped to 5-3 and he struck out seven in seven innings.

May 14, 1967 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 8 (12-14), Tigers 5 (17-8)

The Red Sox snapped the Tigers seven game winning in the first game of a Sunday double header.  Denny McLain was pummelled and the primary suspects were George Scott and Rico Petrocelli.  Scott went two for four with three RBIs and Petrocelli went  two for three with two homeruns, three runs and three RBIs.  Jim Lonberg improved to 3-1 with six solid innings and Hank Fischer picked up his first save with three solid innings of relief.

Dick McAuliffe and West homered for the Tigers.  Roy Oyler finished the game three for three with a run and an RBI and McAuliffe scored twice and drove in two runs.

May 14, 1967 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 13 (13-14), Tigers 9 (17-9)

The Red Sox dismantled the Tigers as they swept their doubleheader.  This one was closer then it looked because of a five run eighth inning by the Tigers.  Prior to that, the Red Sox were up 12-4.

Every Red Sox pretty much contributed in this one.  Four Red Sox had at least two RBIs and four scored at least four runs.  Jose Santiago, Carl Yastrzemski and Joe Foy all homered and all nine starters either scored at least one run or drove in one run.

Santiago picked up the win despite getting tagged for seven runs.  He improved to 2-1.

Willie Horton led the offense for the Tigers. He homered twice.  Norm Cash homered and drove in three runs and Bill Freehan hit a solo shot.  Mickey Lolich was pulled in the second inning after getting tagged for five runs but the pen didn’t fare much better.  Each of the four Tiger relievers gave up at least one run with Korince leading the way with five.

May 13, 1967 at Fenway Park
Tigers 10 (17-7), Red Sox 8 (11-14)

The Tigers demolished the Red Sox in a ninth inning that saw both teams combine for nine runs.  The Tigers scored six of those though and that turned out to be the difference in the Tigers seventh straight win (10 of their last 11).

Bill Freehan hit his sixth homerun and Earl Wilson hit his first (as a pinch hitter) in this one.  Freehan drove in three and scored twice while Jim Northrup went four for five with two runs and an RBI.  Sparma got the start but lasted only five innings.  Reliever Korince picked up the win for the Tigers and Wickersham picked up his second save despite getting tagged for three runs.

Foy homered for the Red Sox and he finished with three hits and two runs.  Petrocelli went three for four with two doubles, a run and an RBI wihle Conigliaro had two hits, two runs and two RBIs.  Wyatt took ehte loss and was credited with all six of those ninth inning runs.  He dropped to 2-1 in relief of Bennett.

May 12, 1967 at Fenway Park
Tigers 5 (16-7), Red Sox 4 (11-13)

The Tigers held back a late inning surge by the Red Sox in the Tigers sixth straight win.  Earl Wilson locked horns with Braydon in this one and Wilson got the better of his Red Sox counterpart.

The Tiger drew first blood in the third inning.  Earl Wilson scored on a wild pitch and Dick McAuliffe scored when Al Kaline reached base on Petrocelli’s error.  The Tigers added a run in the fourth on Norm Cash’s third homerun of the season.

The Red Sox scored singled runs in the fourth and fifth.  Carl Yastrzemski scored on Conigliaro’s fielder’s choice in the fourth and Tartabull scored on Foy’s single in the fifth.

The Tigers matched that with runs in the seventh and eighth.  Cash scored on Freehan’s double to make it 4-2 and then Al Kaline scored on Willie Horton’s sac. fly in the eighth to make it 5-2.

Things looked promising for the Red Sox in the bottom of the ninth.  Conigliaro singled and Petrocelli followed that up with a walk.  Wilson was replaced by Gladding, who didn’t help matters by walking Jones.  Congligiaro scored on Horton’s fielders choice and then Petrocelli scored on Demeter’s single to make it a one run game.  Fortunately for the Tigers, Tartabull lined out and Foy grounded out to end the game.

Wilson improved to 4-2 and Gladding picked up his fifth save of the season.  Brandon dropped to 0-4.