1967 American League Pennant Race

June 28, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 3 (36-34), Red Sox 2 (36-34)

The Twins won the rubber game in their three game series with the Red Sox behind a strong outing by Dave Boswell.  He improved to 5-5 and he gave up two runs on four hits and a walk with thirteen strikeouts in the complete game.  Lee Stange took the loss for the Red Sox and he gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts in seven innings.

The game winning run came in the seventh inning for the Twins.  Cesar Tovar singled home Ted Uhlaender for that game winning run.  Russ Nixon had the other big hit with a two run single in the fourth inning to put the Twins on the board.

The Red Sox scored both of their runs on solo homeruns.  Jerry Adair and Reggie Smith both went yard for the Red Sox in the game.

June 27, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Red Sox 3 (36-33), Twins 2 (35-34)

Gary Waslewski, with three innings from John Wyatt, was just a little bit better then Dean Chance in the Red Sox win over the Twins.  Waslewski gave up one run on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts in six innings and Wyatt gave up one run in three innings of relief to pick up his eighth save.  Dean Chance dropped to 10-6 on the season and he gave up three runs on ten hits with four strikeouts in eight innings.

The big hit of the  game was a two run homer by Tony Conigliaro in the first inning that gave the Red Sox the lead early.  Tony C. was also the only Red Sox hitter with two hits in the game.  Tony Oliva did the damage for the Twins.  He went two for four with a solo homerun and two RBIs in the loss.

June 26, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 2 (35-33), Red Sox 1  (35-33)

The Twins tied the Red Sox in American League standings as Jim Kaat was just a little bit better then Jim Lonborg in a 2-1 pitcher’s duel.  Kaat gave up one run on six hits with eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings and the win improves his record to 5-8 on the season.  Lonborg dropped to 9-3 and he gave up two runs on six hits and four walks with ten strikeouts in seven innings of work.

The Twins scored both of their runs in the fourth inning.  Tony Oliva led off with a double and then he scored on Zoilo Versalles’ single.  Then Versalles scored on Ted Uhlaender’s triple.

The Red Sox lone run came in the very first inning.  George Scott singled home Mike Andrews and those two players accounted for five of the Red Sox eight hits in the game.

June 25, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 3 (34-33), White Sox (39-26)

The Twins rallied for three runs in the eighth inning to take the rubber game in their three game series with the White Sox.  The game winning run came on a two run pinch hit triple by Ear Battey.  Cesar Tovar then drove home a third insurance run the inning.

A pretty good start by Tommy John went to waste.  He threw seven shutout innings but then it was the eighth where he had his problems.  He gave up the three runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts in eight innings and the loss drops him to 6-4 on the season.  Jim Merritt improved to 5-0 with the win.  He gave up one run on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

Don Buford drove in the only White Sox run of the game.  He went one for four and he had one of only three White Sox hits.

June 24, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
White Sox 5 (39-25), Twins 2 (33-33)

Yesterday it was Dean Chance who pitched the Twins to a win and this time was Gary Peters who pitched the White Sox to one. He improved to 10-3 on the season and he gave up two runs on five hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in the complete game.

Dave Boswell was hit hard and he took the loss for the Twins.  He dropped to 4-5 on the season and he gave up five runs on five hits and three walks with seven strikeouts. 

Peters helped out his own cause for the White Sox at the plate.  He went two for four and he drove in two runs.  Ron Hansen went two for four with an RBI and a run.  All five White Sox runs were scored in the seventh inning.  For the Twins, Bob Allison led the way and he went two for four with a solo homerun.

June 23, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 1 (33-32), White Sox 0  (38-25)

The Twins edged the first place White Sox and it was Dean Chance who was the big story.  He held the White Sox to three hits in a shutout win, his tenth of the season.  A solid start by Joe Horlen went to waste and he took the loss.  He dropped his first start of the season and fell to 8-1 and he gave up one run on six hits with two strikeouts in seven innings.

The lone run of the game on either side came on a solo homerun by Harmon Killebrew. It was his 22nd homerun of the season.  Bob Allison and Jerry Zimmerman both went two for three for the Twins.

The White Sox managed just the three hits and a walk and nobody reached base more then once.  Tommie Agee had the only extra base hit with a double.

June 22, 1967 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5 (36-28), Twins 2 (32-32)

The Tigers won their third straight as they continued to try to get back on track in the American League.  Joe Sparma threw a nice game and he improved to 7-1 on the season.  He gave up two runs on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts in nine innings of work.

Jim Kaat took the loss for the Twins.  He dropped to 4-8 and he gave up five runs on three hits and three walks in less then three innings.  Al Kaline took him deep twice and Kaline drove in three runs.  Norm Cash also went yard and he drove in two runs.

Jim Kaat helped out his own cause when he doubled home a run in the third inning.  It wasn’t enough though as the only other run came on Zoilo Varsalles sac. fly in the seventh inning.

June 21, 1967 at Tiger Stadium
Tigers 5 (35-28), Twins 5 (32-31)

The Tigers and Twins played to 5-5 tie before the game was called after nine innings on account of rain with one out in the top of the ninth.  The Tigers scored two runs in the seventh inning on Dick McAuliffe’s two run homerun to force the tie.

Harmon Killebrew homered twice and drove in three runs while Rod Carew had three hits, two runs and an RBI.  Jim Merritt got the start and he gave up all five runs in 6 2/3 innings of work.

Al Kaline hit homerun number 13 for the Tigers.  Both he and McAuliffe drove in two runs and they each scored two runs.  Earl Wilson was hit hard and he gave up four runs in 3 2/3 innings of work.

June 19, 1967 at Memorial Stadium
Twins 4 (32-30), Orioles 0

Dave Boswell threw a three hit gem as the Twins took game one of their doubleheader against the Orioles.  He walked three and struck out six and the win improved his record to 4-4 on the season.

Tony Oliva hit a two run homer in the sixth inning that put the Twins on the board.  Zoilo Versalles singled home two runs in the eighth and Harmon Killebrew drew threw walks and he scored twice.

June 19, 1967 at Memorial Stadium
Orioles 9, Twins 5 (32-31)

Mudcat Grant was shelled for five runs in his two innings as the Twins lost game two of their doubleheader.  Grant dropped to 4-6 on the season and Jim Perry was also tagged for three runs in three innings of relief.

Rod Carew hit a three run homer to account for most of the Twins offense.  Harmon Killebrew also went yard with his nineteenth homerun of the season and Bob Allison hit his ninth homerun.

June 18, 1967 at Cleveland Stadium
Twins 4 (31-30), Indians 2 

Jim Kaat improved to 4-7 on the season with a nice start.  He gave two runs on seven hits and three walks with six strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.  Ron Kline got the final four batters out (two by strikeout) and he picked up his second save of the season.

Tony Oliva had the big hit of the game.  His bases loaded clearing three run double capped off a four run eighth inning.  No Twin had more then one his as the team was held to five overall.

June 17, 1967 at Cleveland Stadium
Indians 7, Twins 3  (30-30)

The Twins lost their second straight game despite having their ace on the mound.  Dean Chance had his second straight rough outing, lost his third in a row and he fell to 9-5 on the season.  He gave up six runs on ten hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

Harmon Killebrew hit his eighteenth homerun of the season in the loss.  Cesar Tovar was the only Twin with two hits and he went two for five.

June 16, 1967 at Cleveland Stadium
Indians 2, Twins 1 (30-29)

A great start by Jim Merritt went to waste as the Twins lost 2-1 in ten innings to Cleveland.  He gave up just one run on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts in nine innings.  Al Worthington gave up the losing run in the tenth after he gave up three hits and he got just a single batter out.

The Twins had a tough time at the plate as Luis Tiant shut them down.  Cesar Tovar had three hits and Rod Carew accounted for the only run with a solo homerun in the sixth inning.

June 15, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 6 (30-28), Tigers 4  (32-25)

The Twins won their third game in a four game set with the Tigers to take the series.  This was the closest game of the series and it wasn’t until the Twins scored four runs in the seventh inning until either side broke away from the other.

Dave Boswell struck out nine in five innings of work but he left the game without getting a decision.  Ron Kline picked up the win and he improved to 3-0.  He gave up one run in his three innings of relief pitching.  Harmon Killebrew homered and drove in two runs while Rod Carew singled twice.  Carew scored and drove in one run.

Joe Sparma pitched 6 1/3 innings before giving the ball to Fred Gladding, who for blew his second game in around a week.  He gave up three runs (one earned) on three hits in 1 2/3 innings.  Bill Freehan singled twice in the game and drove in a run while Don Wert singled twice and scored.

June 14, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 7 (29-28), Tigers 0  (32-24)

Just one game after giving up 15 runs, the Twins pitching staff got it done and shut out the Tigers.  Jim Kaat threw the gem. He gave up only five hits without a walk with six strikeouts.

Harmon Killebrew hit his sixteenth homerun of the season.  He drove in two runs as did Rod Carew.  Cesar Tovar continued to hit well and he had two hits and two runs.

Earl Wilson dropped to 8-6 and he was gone before the season inning ended.  Bill Freehan and Norm Cash each had two hits.

June 13, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Tigers 15 (32-23), Twins 10  (28-28)

The Tigers snapped their five game winning streak in a crazy game that saw the two teams combine for 25 runs and 31 hits.  The Tigers jumped out to an 11-5 lead after a ten run sixth inning but saw that nearly disappear when the Twins made it 11-10 with five runs in the bottom of the sixth.  That’s all the Twins would get though, while the Tigers continued to pile on runs.

Five different Tigers had at least two RBIs and five had at least two runs.  Dick McAuliffe, Al Kaline and Willie Horton all had three hits and Norm Cash and MaAuliffe each hit homeruns.

For the Twins, Tony Oliva homered, tripled and drove in three runs while Cesar Tovar had three hits and two runs.  Rod Carew also had a solid game with two singles and two runs.

Denny McLain actually picked up the win in this one and he improved to 7-7. He did this despite giving up five runs in five innings.  Dean Chance took the loss for the Twins.  He was tagged for six runs on nine hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings.

June 12, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 11 (28-27), Tigers 5  (31-23)

The Twins handed the Tigers their fifth straight loss in a blow out.  The big inning was the third, in which the Twins scored eight runs, most of which were off of Mickey Lolich.

Jim Merritt wasn’t really sharp but he had plenty of run support to work with.  He gave up five runs on eleven hits and three walks with eight strikeouts in the complete game.  Harmon Killebrew had a huge game.  He homered for the fifteenth time this season and he drove in four runs.  Rich Rollins hit a grand slam and Cesar Tovar went two for five with a double, three RBIs and two runs in the game.

Lolich dropped to 5-8 on the season.  He gave up seven runs (six earned) on five hits and a walk.  He pitched into the third inning but he didn’t get anyone out.  Larry Sherry was also shelled.  He gave up three runs in the sixth inning.  Bill Freehan hit homerun number ten and Norm Cash went yard as well.  Al Kaline went three for three with a run.

June 11, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Orioles 5, Twins 2  (26-27)

The Twins were held to just six hits and despite a solid outing by Dave Boswell, the Twins lost the front end of their doubleheader against the Orioles.  Boswell gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits and six walks with a eleven strikeouts in seven solid innings.

Rod Carew doubled twice in the loss.  Zoilo Versalles tripled home both Twins runs in the fourth inning and that was all the Twins could muster the entire game.

June 11, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 10 (27-27), Orioles 7 

The Twins got their bats going and despite a poor start by Mudcat Grant, the Twins salvaged a split with the Orioles in both their doubleheader and the four game series.  Tony Oliva had three hits including a solo homerun and reliever Jim Perry helped out his own cause when he went two for three with a homerun and three RBIs.

Grant gave up four runs in 2 1/3 but the hitters bailed him out.   Perry picked up the win and he improved to 2-4 on the season.  He gave up three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 3 2/3 shutout innings.

June 10, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 8 (26-26), Orioles 1

Jim Kaat threw a six hitter as the Twins got back to .500 on the season.  He gave up just a single run and he didn’t walk anyone.  He struck out nine and the win improved his record to 2-7.

Tony Oliva provided most of the offense with an incredible day. He went two for four with a homerun and six RBIs.  Rich Rollins accounted for the other runs with a pair of solo homeruns.  Oddly, the two homeruns were his first of the season.

June 9, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Orioles 11, Twins 2  (25-26)

The Twins were roughed up in a blowout loss to the Orioles and while Dean Chance took the loss, he was hardly the only offender on the mound.  Chance gave up four runs (just one earned) on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts in five innings and he fell to 9-3 on the season.  All three relievers who three gave up at least one run with two of them giving up three.

Rich Rollins had two hits and he scored a run in the loss.  Harmon Killebrew didn’t have hit, but he drew a walk and drove in one of the two runs.

June 8, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Indians 7, Twins 5  (25-25)

The Twins went into the bottom of the eighth down 3-1 and they rallied for four runs to make it 5-3 heading into the final frame.  Then Al Worthington was shelled for four runs in the top of the ninth and a nice comeback turned into a disappointing loss in the blink of an eye.

Zoilo Versalles had a nice day at the plate.  He went one for four with two RBIs.  Tony Oliva went two for four with a run and an RBI while Earl Battey had two hits and an RBI.

June 6, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Indians 6, Twins 4  (24-24)

The Twins three game winning streak came to end in a wild ten inning loss to the Indians.  Down 4-1, the Twins rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie it only to lose it the following inning when Jim Perry gave up two runs in the tenth.  A pretty good start by Jim Kaat went to waste as well and while he gave up four runs, only three were earned and it was over eight innings.  In addition, Kaat struck out ten.

Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison hit ninth inning homeruns that when combined, sent the game into extra innings.  Jim Kaat even helped out his own cause and he went two for three with a run.

June 6, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 7, Indians 1  (25-24)

The Twins rolled over the Indians in the second game of their doubleheader.  Harmon Killebrew hit homerun number fourteen and he drove in three runs.  Tony Oliva had a nice game as well and he went two for four with a double, a run and an RBI.

Dave Boswell got it done on the mound with a nice start.  He gave up one run on five hits and two walks with ten strikeouts in a complete game and the win pushed his record to 3-3 on the season.

June 5, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 5, Indians 4  (24-23)

The Twins won their third straight game and the team popped back over .500 with a ninth inning win over the Indians.  With the game tied 4-4, Cesar Tovar scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth to win it.  Tony Oliva had a big day at the plate and he went two for three with two RBIs and a run while Bob Allison went two for four with a solo homerun.

Dean Chance had a rough start and he was pulled in the fifth inning after he gave up four runs.  Al Worthington picked up the win and he held the Indians scoreless in 1 2/3 innings.

June 4, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 8 (23-23), Angels 7 (19-30)

Bob Allison hit a walk off RBI single in the bottom of the tenth inning for the Twins in their win over the Angels.  This came after the Twins blew a four run that put the game into extra frames.

Zoilo Versalles continued to hit the ball well and he went yard with a three run shot.  Hamon Killebrew also had a great game and he went three for three with two runs and an RBI.  For the Angels, slugger Rick Reichardt hit a two run homer and Jim Fregosi went two for four with two RBIs.

Jim Perry picked up the win for the Twins after throwing a shutout tenth.  Minnie Rojas took the loss for the Angels when he gave up the tenth inning run.

June 3, 1967 at Comiskey Park
Athletics 3, White Sox 1  (25-17)

The White Sox lost their second straight game and it was their fifth loss in their last six games.  This time, the offense was shutdown and Tommy McCraw had the only RBI of the game.  He and Ken Berry each had two hits in the game.

Gary Peters dropped to 6-3 with the loss.  He gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

June 3, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Twins 8 (22-23), Angels 6 (19-29)

Harmon Killebrew hit a big three run homer in the fourth inning that gave the Twins the lead for good.  Bob Allison doubled and drove in three runs while Rod Carew went two for four with a walk, an RBI and three runs.

Rick Reichadt led the offense for the Angels.  He went two for five with a homerun and three RBIs.  Tom Statriano also had a nice game and he went two for five with a homerun and two RBIs.

George Brunet was shelled and he didn’t even make it through the fourth inning.  The loss dropped him to an unimpressive 1-9 on the season and he gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts.  Dave Boswell picked up the win for the Twins despite giving up four runs in five innings.

June 2, 1967 at Metropolitan Stadium
Angels 2 (19-28), Twins 0 (21-23)

The Angels ended their four game skid behind the arm of their one reliable starter, Jim McGlothlin.  He gave up just five hits and and four walks with seven strikeouts in a the complete game shutout.  For the Twins, Jim Kaat dropped to 1-7 although he was hardly terrible, he just didn’t get the run support.  He gave up two runs on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts in five innings of work.

Paul Schaal doubled home both Angels’ runs in the fifth inning and he finished with two hits.  Jose Cardenal also had a nice game and he went two for three with a run.  For the Twins, Rich Rollins was the only hitter with two hits.  He went two for four in the game.

June 1, 1967 at Fenway Park
Twins 4 (21-22), Red Sox 0 (22-21)

Dean Chance improved to 9-2 with another incredible start for the Twins.  It was his second straight shutout and in this one he gave up only five hits and two walks while he struck out ten.  For the Red Sox, Billy Rohr was once again hit hard and he dropped to 2-3 on the season.  He gave up three runs on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five innings.  This would be Rohr’s eighth start of the season and his career, but it would also be his last. He’d take some time off to serve in the armed forces reserves and then he’d be sent back down to the minors.  He’d then be traded to the Indians in 1968 where he’d throw in just 18 1/3 innings before his major league career ended.

Russ Nixon led the way at the plate for the Twins.  He went one for two with a homerun, two RBIs and two runs.  Bob Allison also went yard for the Twins and he finished with two runs.  Mike Andrews was the only Red Sox hitter with two hits.  Rico Petrocelli had the only extra base hit with a double.