1967 American League Pennant Race

July 31, 1967 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 4 (56-44), Twins 0 (53-47)

Lee Stange completed shut down the Twins offense in an impressive three hit shutout.  He struck out three and the win pushed his record to 7-6 on the season.  For the Twins, Dave Boswell took the loss.  He fell to 8-8 and he gave up four runs on three hits and four walks with six strikeouts in five innings.

Carl Yastrzemski accounted for most of the offense in the game with a three run homer in the third inning.  Joe Foy went two for four with a run for the Sox while no Twin hitter reached base more then once.

July 30, 1967 at Fenway Park
Twins 7 (53-46), Red Sox 5 (55-44)

The Red Sox scored five runs in the final frames but it wasn’t enough as they lost to the Twins 7-5.  Jim Merritt picked up the win and he improved to 7-3 on the season.  He gave up one run on five hits and four walks in eight innings of work.  Ron Kline gave up four runs in the ninth but Jim Roland was able to get the final out and he picked up his second save of the season.  Bucky Brandon gave up four runs and he didn’t even make it through the fourth and he fell to 4-8 on the season.

Rod Carew went four for five with a homerun and three runs scored.  Harmon Killebrew went two for four his 32nd homerun and he scored two runs in the game.  For the Red Sox, Russ Gibson doubled twice, drove in two and scored a run.  Reggie Smith doubled, singled and scored twice.

July 28, 1967 at Fenway Park
Twins 9 (51-45), Red Sox 2 (54-42)

What started out as a matchup between two of the best pitchers in the American League turned into a blowout as the Twins tagged Jim Lonborg for six of the seven runs that the team scored in the fourth inning.  Lonborg dropped to 14-4 on the season and he gave up seven runs on six hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings.  Dean Chance picked up the win and he improved to 12-8.  He gave up two runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts in the complete game win.

Harmon Killebrew belted his 30th homerun of the season for the Twins.  He finished the game with two runs and two RBIs while Jerry Zimmerman singled twice and scored two runs.  For the Red Sox, Mike Andrews and Reggie Smith went two for four with a run a piece.

July 29, 1967 at Fenway Park
Red Sox 6 (55-42), Twins 3 (51-46)

The Red Sox took the first game of a twin billing with the Twins and it was a four run eighth that gave them the win.  George Scott went two for four with two runs while Joe Foy singled and drove in two.  Rico Pettrocelli went yard with a solo shot to put the Red Sox on the board in the second inning.

Tony Oliva led the way at the plate for the Twins.  He went two for four with a solo homerun and two runs.  The long ball was his tenth of the season.

It was the pen who took the wins and losses in this one.  Al Worthington gave up three runs in the eighth after a solid start by Jim Kaat while John Wyatt picked up the win for the Red Sox with two innings of shutout relief. 

July 29, 1967 at Fenway Park
Twins 10 (52-46), Red Sox 3 (55-43)

The Twins answered in game two and blew out the Red Sox to split their doubleheader.  Bob Allison homered twice and drove in three runs while Harmon Killebrew pitched in with homerun number 31.  For the Red Sox, George Scott led the way.  He went two for four with a two run homer.

Jim Perry picked up the win for the Twins with a complete game.  He improved to 3-5 and he gave up three runs on nine hits and one walk with five strikeouts.  Gary Waslewski took the loss for the Red Sox.  He gave up three runs and he didn’t even last through the second inning.

July 27, 1967 at Yankee Stadium
Yankees 6, Twins 2  (50-45)

Mel Stottlemyre shut down the Twins and Dave Boswell was hit hard by the Yankees in a tough loss in their series finale.  Boswell gave up four runs on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts in five innings of work and the loss dropped him to 8-7 on the season.

Zoilo Versalles had a nice day at the plate and he went two for five with a double, a run and an RBI.  Tony Oliva singled twice and he drove in a run.

July 26, 1967 at Yankee Stadium
Yankees 6, Twins 1  (49-44)

The Twins dropped the first game of their doubleheader with the Yankees and despite matching the Yankees with seven hits, they were outscored 6-1.  Jim Perry took the loss in his start and he fell to 2-5 on the season.  He gave up three runs on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Bob Allison drove in the lone Twins run with a solo homerun.  Cesar Tovar went three for three with a double.

July 26, 1967 at Yankee Stadium
Twins 3 (50-44), Yankees 2

The Twins evened up their doubleheader with the Yankees in an 18 inning pitcher’s duel.  From the sixth inning through the seventeenth inning, neither team scored a run.  Then finally in the top of the eighteenth inning, Rollins singled home Rod Carew for the game winning run in a game that lasted nearly four and a half hours.

Jim Merritt gave up two runs in his thirteen inning start.  Al Worthington picked up the win and he improved to 6-5 on the season with two shutout innings of relief.

July 25, 1967 at Yankee Stadium
Twins 1 (49-43), Yankees 1

The Twins and Yankees game ended in a 1-1 tie after the game was called on account of rain.  The Yankees got their run in just in time as they picked up a run in the bottom of the ninth to tie it on Mickey Mantle’s solo homerun.  The Twins scored their lone run on Harmon Killebrew’s 29th homerun of the season.

Jim Kaat pitched all nine innings and he was impressive in all of them.  He gave up the one run on nine hits with two strikeouts.

July 23, 1967 at Anaheim Stadium
Angels 2 (53-44), Twins 1  (49-43)

Jack Hamilton outdueled Dean Chance as the Angels won their sixth straight game and in the process, the Twins dropped their sixth straight.  Hamilton improved to 5-1 and he gave up one run on two hits and five walks with four strikeouts in six innings of work.  Chance fell to 11-8 and he gave up two unearned runs on four its and a walk with three strikeouts in six innings.

Jose Cardenal had a hand in both Angels runs.  He went one for four with a run and an RBI.  Roger Repoz went two for four.  Zoile Versalles went one for three and he drove in the only Twins run.

July 22, 1967 at Anaheim Stadium
Angels 2 (52-44), Twins (49-42)

The Angels and the Twins have gone in different directions the last five games.  The Angels won their fifth straight and the Twins have dropped their last five and for the second straight game, the Angels outdueled the Twins 2-1.  Jim McGlothlin got it done for the Angels and he gave up one run on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts in eight innings while Bill Kelso threw a perfect ninth for his fifth save of the season.  Jim Merritt took the loss for the Twins and he fell to 6-3 despite a solid start.  He gave up two runs on six hits with five strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.

Johnny Werhas went two for four with an RBI to lead the way for the Angels.  For the Twins, Cesar Tovar went three for four with an RBI.  The three hits by Tovar were impressive because the team had just six hits.

July 21, 1967 at Anaheim Stadium
Angels 2 (51-44), Twins 1 (49-41)

The Angels won their fourth straight game and in the process, handed the Twins their fourth straight loss as the Angels continued their nearly miraculous come back from being in last place in the American League.  They got an impressive outing from George Brunet, who was just a little bit better then Dave Boswell.  Brunet, who seemed a lock to lose 20 games, won for the sixth time in seven decisions and he improved to 9-12.  He gave up one run on seven hits in three walks with six strikeouts and he came an out short of pitching a complete game.  Boswell fell to 8-6 and he gave up six hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in five innings.

Bobby Knoop went two for three with a double and an RBI to lead the way for the Angels.  Harmon Killebrew was the only Twin with two hits and he drove in the only run with a solo homerun in the ninth inning.  It was his 28th homerun of the season.

July 19, 1967 at Municipal Stadium
Royals 9, Twins 6  (49-40)

The Twins continued their slide as the Twins pen was roughed up in the team’s third straight loss.  Dean Chance left the game after six innings of work with a 6-5 lead but then Al Worthington was roughed up for four runs in the eighth inning as he dropped to 5-5 on the season.

Cesar Tovar went two for four with a double, two RBIs and a run. Bob Allison belted a solo homerun and he also drew a walk and scored another run.

July 18, 1967 at Municipal Stadium
Athletics 5, Twins 2  (49-39)

The Twins had a tough time producing runs and they were held to just three hits in their loss to the Athletics.  Harmon Killebrew hit his 27th homer of the season and he drove in both Twins runs in the loss.

Jim Kaat fell to 8-10 on the season.  He gave up five runs (two earned) on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts in the complete game loss.

July 17, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Angels 2 (48-44), Twins 0 (49-38)

The Angels picked up one game on the Twins after the doubleheader sweep yesterday behind a great outing by George Brunet.  He gave up just four hits and three walks with six strikeouts in the complete game shutout.  The win pushed his Brunet’s record to 8-12 on the season.  Jim Merritt took the loss for the Twins.  He gave up two runs on ten hits with nine strikeouts in eight innings and the loss dropped his record to 6-2 on the season.

Jim Fregosi and Buck Rodgers were the hitting stars for the Angels.  They both finished with two hits and an RBI a piece.  For the Twins, Harmon Killebrew was the only hitter to reach base more then once.  He singled and drew two walks.

July 16, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 5 (48-37), Angels 1 (47-43)

Two of the hottest teams in the league squared off in a doubleheader and the Twins came out in front in the first game behind an excellent start by Dave Boswell.  He gave up one run on four hits and one walk with six strikeouts and the complete game improved his record to 8-5 on the season.  For the Angels, Bill Kelso took the loss and he dropped to 4-2.  He gave up four runs on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

Bob Allison was the hitting start for the Twins despite getting just one at bat.  He belted a pinch hit three run homer in the seventh inning to help with the win.  Zoilo Versalles doubled and scored a run in a game in which the Twins managed just five hits.  For the Angels, Don Mincher went two for four and Jim Fregosi singled and scored the only run.

July 16, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 7 (49-37), Angels 6 (47-44)

The Twins handed the Angels back to back losses for the first time in almost a month as they finished a sweep of their doubleheader.  The Twins went down 6-0 early but fought back inning by inning.  Bob Allison tied the game up with a two run homer in the seventh and then Rich Rollins belted a solo homerun to win it for the Twins in the ninth.

The big bat for the Angels was Jim Fregosi.  He went two for five and he played a part in four of the Angels six runs with three RBIs and a run.  Jose Cardenal went three for four with a run and an RBI.

A rough start by Mud Cat Grant turned into a no decision when the hitters picked him up.  Al Worthington closed out the game with two shutout innings and he picked up the win.  Rookie Ken Turner gave up the solo homerun in the ninth and he took the loss. 

July 15, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 3 (47-37), Athletics 2

The Twins needed back to back homers in the ninth inning to top the Athletics.  Harmon Killebrew put the Twins on the board in the first inning with a solo homerun, then in the ninth, he belted his second homerun to tie the game at 2-2.  Tony Oliva then followed that with a walk off solo homer to win it for the Twins.

A solid start by Dean Chance almost went to waste.  He gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts in eight innings.  Ron Kline threw a shutout ninth and he improved to 4-0 on the season.

July 14, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Athletics 3, Twins 2 (46-37)

The Twins three game winning streak came to an end as Chuck Dobson was just a little bit better then Jim Kaat in the Athletics win over the Twins.  Kaat took the loss and he fell to 8-9 on the season.  He gave up three runs (two earned) on ten hits and two walks with two strikeouts in eight innings.

Rod Carew went three for five with a double and a run.  Rich Rollins had a pinch hit double in his only at bat and he came around to score.

July 13, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 3 (46-36), Athletics 2

The Twins won their third straight game in a closely fought battle with the Athletics to open up the second half of the season.  Jim Merritt struck out ten and gave up two runs through seven innings of work but he left with the game tied.  Al Worthington closed out the game with two shutout innings and he improved to 4-4 on the season with the win.

Harmon Killebrew belted a solo homerun to lead off the eighth inning and that run turned out to be the game winner.  It was Killebrew’s second homer of the game as he had homered to put the Twins on the board in the sixth inning.

July 9, 1967 at Comiskey Park
Twins 7 (44-36), White Sox 4 (47-32)

The Twins snapped their two game losing streak after they beat the White Sox in game one of their doubleheader.  Jim Kaat not only got it done on the mound, but he also helped out his own cause with the bat.  He improved to 8-8 on the season and he gave up four runs (two earned) on eight hits and eight strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.  At the plate, he went two for four with a homerun, two RBIs and two runs.

Joe Horlen took the loss for the White Sox with a tough start.  He gave up three runs on eight hits and two walks with a strikeout in 4 2/3 innings.

Bob Allison had a nice day at the plate.  He went two for four with two runs.  The White Sox hitting star was Tommy McCraw, who went two for four with three runs.

July 9, 1967 at Comiskey Park
Twins 5 (45-36), White Sox 1 (47-33)

The Twins went out on a winning note while the White Sox went out on a losing note as the Twins finished a twin bill sweep with a nice start by Dave Boswell.  The righthander gave up just a single run on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings.  Bruce Howard took the loss for the White Sox.  He gave up three runs on three hits and four walks with a strikeout in three innings.

Boswell helped out his cause as the plate with a nice game.  He went two for four with an RBI.  Zoilo Versalles went one for three with two runs.  For the White Sox, Wayne Causey went two for three.

July 8, 1967 at Comiskey Park
White Sox 1 (47-31), Twins 0 (43-36)

Tommy John had his best start of the season to date with a three hit shutout over the streaking Twins.  He gave up three walks and he struck out four and the win pushed his record to 8-5 on the season.  A fantastic start by Jim Merritt was wasted as he took the loss for the Twins.  He gave up a run on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts. 

The only run of the game didn’t come until the ninth inning.  Dick Kenworthy led off with a double and then Ken Berry was given a free pass.  Ron Hansen moved them both over and then after Buddy Bradford was given a free pass to load the bases, Wayne Causey belted a sac. fly to center to win it.

July 7, 1967 at Comiskey Park
White Sox 2 (46-31), Twins 1 (43-35)

The White Sox didn’t score until the ninth inning and even when they did, it was an error.  It still proved to be enough though in the 2-1 win over the Twins.  With the bases loaded and two outs, Ron Hansen reached on an error by Zoilo Versalles that scored both the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the ninth.  The loss blew a spectacular outing by Dean Chance, who was credited with giving up the two unearned runs on six hits.  Gary Peters gave up just one run on two hits in eight innings and he didn’t even pick up the the win.  That went to Hoyt Wilhelm, who threw a shutout ninth inning.

Tommy McCraw had three of the White Sox six hits in the game and he also scored on the error in the ninth.  Tony Oliva singled and he drove in the only run of the game for the Twins.

July 4, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 8 (41-34), Yankees 3 

The Twins ran up the score on the Yankees and notched their sixth straight win in game one of their doubleheader.  Cesar Tovar had a big day at the plate and he went three for five with three RBIs and a run.  Tony Oliva homered and drove in two runs while Zoilo Versalles had three hits and two runs in the win.

Mudcat Grant picked up the win and he improved to 5-6 on the season.  He gave up three runs on eight hits and two walks with six strikeouts in a complete game.

July 4, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 7 (42-34), Yankees 6

The Twins made it seven straight as they swept their doubleheader over the Yankees in a tight game.  The Twins gave up a two run lead in the top of the ninth only to win it in the bottom of the ninth on Cesar Tovar’s RBI single.  Tony Oliva went three for five two RBIs and a run while Ted Uhlaender went three for four with a homerun and two runs.

Al Worthington picked up the win despite a rocky relief appearance in the ninth.  He wasn’t tagged for any runs, but he inherited the two tying runs and allowed them to score in the ninth.  He buckled down after that and got it done though.

July 3, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 3 (40-34), Yankeees 0

Dave Boswell completely shut down the Yankees today and outside of getting into trouble in the ninth, he threw a gem.  He gave up five hits and four walks with ten strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings.  Ron Kline got the final batter of the game out after Boswell put two runs on in the ninth.

Harmon Killebrew went two for three with a run, an RBI and a walk in the win.  Tony Oliva went two for four with a triple and an RBI.

July 2, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 4 (38-34), Senators 1

Dean Chance pitches the Twins to their third straight win in the opening game of a doubleheader with the Senators.  He went the distance and he gave up just one run on five hits with twelve strikeouts. 

Ted Uhlaender was the hitting star with a double and three RBIs.  Bob Allison walked twice, scored two runs and drove in one.

July 2, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 6 (39-34), Senators 1

The Twins finished up both a sweep of their doubleheader with the Senators and their series as they won their fourth straight game.  This time is was Jim Merritt who shutdown the opposition as he improved to a perfect 6-0.  He gave up one run on seven hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in the complete game.

Bob Allison had another nice game and he went three for four with a run and an RBI.  Russ Nixon went two for three with a run and an RBI.

July 1, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 4 (37-34), Senators 0

Jim Kaat pitched the Twins to a win in their series opener against the Senators.  He gave up six hits and he struck out seven in eight shutout innings.  Al Worthington pitched a shutout ninth and he picked up his eleventh save of the season.

Harmon Killebrew singled and he drove in two of the Twins four runs.  In all, the Twins had just four hits but they helped themselves out with five walks.