Yanks take 2 of 3 from Tigers

Yanks try to stay alive in wild card chase as Cleveland takes a three game lead in the East with 12 games remaining.

Game 1 - Yanks 6 Tigers 4

Steve Kline holds on for a complete game win, spreading out 9 hits and not allowing any big scoring innings from Detroit. This while the Yankee offence put together enough runs to win, with the help of Tiger reliever Harry Byrd who blew his second save of the year.

Game 2 - Tigers 5 Yanks 0

The Yankees are almost identical to Detroit as far as a bullpen is concerned - they have none. Game five was a pitching duel between the starters. Mel Stottlemyre finally broke down in the eighth and gave up 5 runs desperately trying to get that final out of the inning. Meanwhile Billy Hoeft pitched an excellent complete game shutout for Detroit, for his only win of the year.

Game 3 - Yanks 6 Tigers 4

For Detroit Jim Bunning pitches 5 innings, allowing only 1 run. The relievers for Detroit spot the Yankees another 5 runs though, giving the Yanks a 6 -0 lead. Fritz Peterson sailed along for 6 innings not allowing any runs. With him nearing his pith count and not wanting a similar occurrence of game 2, of staying with the starter too long, the Yankee manager calls on the bullpen. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Four runs later and four reliever later, with the tying runs on base in the ninth, Roger Hambright finally puts an end to the Tigers comeback attempt.

--submitted by Joe Mach--