The first two games went down in a split, meaning Cedar Park still trails Tigers by 2.5, while Detroit trails by 10.5 games.
Game 3
Charlie Hough is now good to go after a extra day of rest, he went 6-12, with a 3.54 ERA for the Valdosta Bombers -- he hopes to try to even up that record at least by the end of the season; Hough faces off against Gubicza who's record is the exact opposite of Hough at 12-6, with a sparkling 2.20 ERA! What a one-two punch for Danny Jackson & Mark Gubicza have been for the Detroit Stars this season.
Top of the 1st
Hough strikes out the first two batters (Coleman & Butler), while the DH George Bell sneaks a single past Rafael Ramirez, and Julio Franco draws a walk. Terry Francona steps up & strikes out -- three K's to start off his Tiger debut, Hough has to be happy with that as the fans are loving it.
Bottom of the 2nd
Back-to-back one-out doubles by Joe Carter and Paul Molitor, Carter scores, as Tigers take the first lead of the game. Barfield pops up for second out. Gubicza can't find the strike zone, as he walks Ron Hassey. Runners on 1st & 2nd, as Rafael Ramirez steps up to the plate, Gubicza rocks & fires, Ramirez hits this one into the left-center gap, Tracy Jones cuts this off deep in the gap, as Molitor rounds third, Hassey will hold second, and Molitor scores easily. Mookie Wilson ends the inning by grounding out to Jose Uribe. Traverse City strikes first, 2-0!
Top of the 3rd
Charlie Hough walks his 3rd guy already in Brett Butler. George Bell comes up and ground out to second while Butler had the wheels going (no play at second), as Bell is out at first. Julio Franco hits a deep grounder to Pete O'Brien, but has to hold onto it, as the old man Hough couldn't make it down to first in time -- runners at 1st & 3rd, one out. Lefty, Terry Francona will face the righty Hough -- the pitch, swung on & missed, two away & that's already the 5th K rung up by Hough. Presley grounds out & ends the threat.
Top of the 4th
Tracy Jones hits a two-out single to right. Hough follows that up by allowing free passes to Vince Coleman & Brett Butler. Bases loaded for slugger George Bell -- Bell is not having the monster season he had with Detroit last year, when he hit 50 bombs & 158 RBI for the Stars. Hough sets, gets ready & delivers -- the pitch is over the plate, big strikeout! Bell can't believe it, he's sitting there trying to explain umping skills to the ump, as one of his coaches comes running out and pulling him by the arm -- the ump is giving him the stink eye! 6 K's now for Hough. Traverse City 2, Detroit 0
Top of the 5th
Julio Franco collects his second hit of the game to lead off the 5th, as Tiger second baseman Johnny Ray couldn't get the throw off in time. Terry Francona executes a textbook hit-and-run, as there is now runners on the corners with no outs. Jim Presley hits into a double play, but will do his job by getting Franco in to score from third, to cut the lead in half. Jose Uribe grounds out to the mound for the 3rd out.
Traverse City 2, Detroit 1
Top of the 7th
Brett Butler leads off with a single to shallow right for his 100th hit of the season. Butler is off and running with the next pitch, Bell hits what seemed to be a routine grounder, and it's off Ray's glove and into right, as Butler makes it to third, Bell is safe at first, an E-4 on Ray -- wondering if Butler's movements towards second distracted Ray, runners on the corners, as Ray makes it tough for Charlie Hough, as Julio Franco steps up to the plate. The Stars bring in pinch-runner Bobby Meacham for George Bell, Meacham will take over the DH duties in this one. Hough walks Franco, and that loads them up with no outs. Tigers will go to their pen, and go for a southpaw to face "Tito" Francona -- he'll go with Ken Dayley. Hough allowed 7 hits & walked 6, while striking out 7 batters; Dayley enters with a 2.80 ERA in 28 innings of work, he's got his work cut out for him. Dayley hands out a hat trick to Francona, as Francona has now struck out three times -- big K, but the threat is still very much alive. Dayley pitches to Presley, he grounds it to Ramirez, Ramirez to Barrett (who entered the inning as a defensive upgrade for Ray) for one over to first... double play! Dayley is pumped while walking off the mound. Hough is clapping in the dugout & is the first to high-five Dayley as he approaches the steps in the dugout! The score remains 2-1, Tigers!
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| Molitor: Out of Action. |
Bottom of the 7th
Ron Hassey hits a ball to Julio Franco, where Franco biffed the play, and Hassey is safe, single-on-error by Hassey. Tigers mess up & pinch-hit Felix Fermin for Rafael Ramirez, he was supposed to pinch-run for Hassey, so Tigers now send achy Tim Raines out to first to pinch-run -- we'll see if Traverse City can get an insurance run despite the coaching miscues. Fermin finds his pitch, a perfectly executed control single as it skips by Franco into right, Raines makes it easily to third. Tigers had Fermin & Raines going as the pitch comes to the plate, Mookie Wilson lines it to Franco, snared, throws it quickly to first -- double play!
Top of the 8th
Brian Holton, the Tigers' setup man comes in with a stellar 1.79 ERA, with a 4-1 record (1 SV), as Fermin stays in at short, while Bob Boone takes over the catching duties for Hassey. Jose Uribe pops up for first out. The Stars will have Lou Whitaker pinch-hit for Bruce Benedict to face Holton; Holton sets up and fires, as Whitaker hits a routine grounder to Marty Barrett for out number two. Holton retires side as Tracy Jones pops out to shallow center with Barfield taking it in. Traverse City still holds a sliver of a lead, 2-1.
Bottom of the 8th
One-out single by Pete O'Brien that happens to trickle past the shortstop Uribe into left. Tigers decide to have Nick Esasky pinch-run for the slow O'Brien, and will likely take over the reigns at first for the night. Gubicza strikes out big Dave Winfield for the second out. Joe Carter is plunked in the leg with a pitch, he's down on the ground, still down, trainers come out, and he will gingerly get up and trot down to first. Gubicza settles back down & strikes out Paul Molitor.
Top of the 9th
Tigers call on their closer Doug Jones to hold down this tight game, he comes in with a 1.56 ERA in 40 innings & 23 Saves! Detroit decides to have switch-hitting Wallace Johnson come into the game to bat for Vince Coleman. The delivery, hot smash to Barrett, and just out of reach, Wallace continues his wonderful pinch-hitting success for the Stars, one on, no outs. Brett Butler steps up & sends a towering fly ball to left, Wilson is on the run, will it be deep enough? Nope, just a loud out. The Stars try to stir up some magic by having Dave Parker pinch-hit for Bobby Meacham, Parker was a nuisance in Game 2 for the Tigers -- hitting a HR & double, while collecting 2 RBI in the 6-0 victory. Jones sets & delivers, Parker sends this to straight-away center, as Barfield chases it down for the catch, two outs. It's all up to Julio Franco, gets the pitch, and sends this one to center, as Barfield tracks down the catch for the final out of the ballgame!
One earned run allowed by Charlie Hough as he will get the victory, 24th save for Jones -- and Gubicza pitches great in a losing effort
FINAL SCORE: Traverse City 2, Detroit 1
Game 4
Word prior to the game that Paul Molitor is injured, and will not be able to play for four games -- The Tigers knew they were pushing it, as he's been playing pretty tired, his .324 batting average sure doesn't reflect it. Tigers will send Dave LaPoint (5-6, 3.71) to the mound against Andy Hawkins (4-11, 5.40).
Top of the 1st
Lead-off single to speedy Vince Coleman to start the game. Brett Butler smacks one to Tom O'Malley, O'Malley sets and fires it past Pete O'Brien, runners on first & second, and a E-5 on O'Malley in for the injured Molitor. George Bell pops up in the infield, for the first out to Ramirez. Julio Franco swings & misses, strike three, two down. Terry Francona pops up behind the plate, as Boone catches it next to the screen -- LaPoint & the Tigers get out this one unscathed!
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| Hawkins made it count for Detroit. |
Top of the 2nd
O'Malley picks up his second error by throwing this one in the dirt & pulling first baseman Pete O'Brien off the bag for slow runner Jim Presley to make it safe at first on the error. Jose Uribe pops it behind the plate for the first out. Bruce Benedict hits a grounder to Ramirez, Ramirez to Ray for one, over to second, Benedict beats out the throw, a FC as they get the lead runner, two away. Tracy Jones hits a long fly out to Barfield in center. No runs, on what is becoming an interesting & scary fielding display by the Tigers, two errors early that have yet to cost them.
Top of the 4th
Two-out RBI single to right by Jose Uribe, as Julio Franco scores from second. Bruce Benedict hits a single to the left-center gap, Raines cuts it off on the bounce, Uribe holds second. 1st & 2nd for Tracy Jones, the pitch, as he pops it into foul territory behind first, 2B-Johnny Ray is over & catches for the final out... but not before the Detroit Stars strike first, 1-0.
Top of the 5th
Lead-off single by Vince Coleman, his second hit of the game. Julio Franco, hits a two-out single, and moves Coleman to second. Terry Francona hits a single to right, the runners were off with the pitch, Joe Carter throws it to home, and Coleman slides around the tag & is safe! Boone throws it to third -- SAFE! Runners on the corners, with two outs. Jim Presley hits a routine grounder to Ray, as Ray tosses it to Ramirez for the force. Detroit 2, Traverse City 0
Bottom of the 5th
Tigers trying to find answers to Andy Hawkins, who only has allowed 3 hits to this point, have Johnny Ray on first (on a free pass) with Dave Winfield up with two outs. Ray is off with the pitch, as Winfield fails to make contact, a strike -- the throw to second, and he's safe! Ray's first steal of the season. Winfield ends up grounding out though, as the Stars still lead 2-0.
Bottom of the 6th
The Tigers may not be getting hits, but they are getting on base & not being able to take a advantage after a 5th walk allowed by Andy Hawkins. Traverse City scoreless through six.
Bottom of the 7th
A lead-off triple by Rafael Ramirez off Hawkins, let's see if T.C. can capitalize on this one. Tim Raines hits one deep to the shortstop Jose Uribe, Uribe turns down the throw to the plate and goes to first for the easier out, one away, but the Tigers are finally on the board as Ramirez scores. Johnny Ray gives this one a ride to center, but Coleman is there to chase it down, two away. The lefty Pete O'Brien laces a tweener into the right-center gap, as O'Brien will make second. The Stars will go to the pen, for Andy McGaffigan, who is 1-0, with a 2.67 ERA in 26 appearances for Detroit, he's looking for one out, as he faces Dave Winfield. McGaffigan sets up & fires, he's off the mark, and walks Winfield. The Stars' skipper is out again, and he will go with the stellar Bobby Thigpen (1.45 ERA, 2 SVs). The Tigers decide to bring in pinch-runner for O'Brien, O'Brien leaves the game with three hits, as Felix Fermin will run for him. Thigpen does his job & gets Jor Carter to end the inning on a routine fly to right. Detroit 2, Traverse City 1
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| Thigpen sealed the Game 4 victory for Stars. |
Top of the 8th
The Tigers have Nick Esasky at first, and call for a change at the mound, taking out Dave LaPoint, who pitched a fine 7-inning performance of 2 runs allowed. They call on Eric King for his 3rd appearance this series in relief, entering with a 3.83 ERA. King goes on to pitch a scoreless 1-2-3 inning to keep the Tigers' hopes alive.
Bottom of the 8th
Tigers pinch-hit lefty Ron Hassey to face righty Bobby Thigpen in a attempt to stir up a little magic, he'll come in for Bob Boone. Hassey ends up flying out to left-center, one down. Nothing more happens, as a easy 1-2-3 inning for Thigpen.
Top of the 9th
Ron Hassey stays in at backstop for T.C., as southpaw Juan Agosto takes over for King on the mound. Agosto cruises through a 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom of the 9th
Rafael Ramirez leads off with a routine ground out to first. Tim Raines lays off a off-speed pitch and draws a walk. Johnny Ray steps up to the plate, Raines is off-and-running & Ray doesn't make contact, and Raines is caught in a rundown, as he is tagged out trying to retreat to first -- it appears that Ray either missed a sign or just didn't like the pitch he liked, but it looked like a hit-and-run was in effect, two away! Ray still up at the plate, waits for the pitch, hits one that's hugging the line at third, Presley lets it roll foul, but the ball refuses to nudge over the line -- Ray is safe at first, Tigers are still alive, as this one will look like a line-drive in tomorrow morning's box score. It's all up to Nick Esasky, who hits a routine grounder to Franco, Franco over to second for the easy force out, and that's the game folks!
Big save for Bobby Thigpen, and big win for Andy Hawkins, who despite the walks, pitched one of his best outings of the season when it counted.
FINAL SCORE: Detroit 2, Traverse City 1
Game 5
The series is tied 2-2, and the Tigers send their best to the mound in Greg Maddux (10-6, 3.12 ERA) against the Stars' Jose DeLeon (6-10, 3.87 ERA).
Top of the 1st
Brett Butler hits a deep fly to center that tails away from Jesse Barfield and drops in for a hit, Butler is on with a lead-off double. Lou Whitaker follows up with a RBI double. John Kruk hits a high hop grounder to deep third, O'Malley juggles it, the long throw to first, out! While Whitaker advances to third. Dave Parker taps it back to the mound, Maddux looks Whitaker over, over to first for the second out. Maddux walks Julio Franco. Runners on the corners for Jose Uribe, the pitch, breaking ball, called strike three. Detroit draws first blood, 1-0.
Bottom of the 2nd
Dave Winfield leads off with a single to the gap in left. With two outs, Ron Hassey hits a ball to deep third, Presley throws the ball past first baseman Kruk, as Winfield advances to third & Hassey moves over to second, E-5. Tom O'Malley hits a dying quail to right, drops in front of Butler, Winfield scores easily, as the Tigers hold Hassey at third. Ramirez hits into the inning-ending force, Tigers end up tying it up though, 1-1.
Bottom of the 3rd
Seeing-eye single to center between Uribe & Franco for Mookie Wilson to lead off the inning. Uribe takes a grounder off the chest by Ray, over to first out, as Wilson stands in at second. Pete O'Brien hits one to left that drops right in front of Parker, Wilson is around third, the throw to the plate, and he scores just under the tag -- Wilson just kept on running. Winfield hits one into the gap between Parker & Coleman, O'Brien could have a chance, but they'll be a bit conservative here, as Winfield trucks into second. Runners on 2nd & 3rd, with one out for Joe Carter, the pitch -- Carter chops this one down the first base line, Kruk is up with it, the under-hand throw to DeLeon & Carter is out, but O'Brien scores, Winfield moves up to third. Barfield grounds out to short for final out. Traverse City 3, Detroit 1
Bottom of the 4th
Ron Hassey leads off with a single to right, his second safety of the game. Tom O'Malley hits into a fielder's choice, as the Stars get the lead runner in Hassey at second for the out. Rafael Ramirez sends a deep fly to center, and Coleman chases it to the track, catches the ball & slams into the wall, and he's down. O'Malley will tag up and move to second, the ump calls time, and the Stars will take Vince Coleman out for precautionary measure -- Tracy Jones replaces Coleman at center. Two outs with a runner on second for Mookie Wilson, Wilson hits a room service bounce to Presley at third, the throw to first, side retired. Score remains -- Traverse City 3, Detroit 1
Report from the Detroit clubhouse, Vince Coleman will miss the next game of the series.
Bottom of the 5th
Lead-off single by Johnny Ray. DeLeon would retire the next two batters in O'Brien & Winfield (Winfield struck out). Joe Carter steps up, and shoots this one into the right field corner, Ray is chugging along, he'll score, Carter is stretching this one for a triple, the relay to third, and he's safe! Carter who has been struggling took it to another righty in DeLeon with two outs. Jesse Barfield scoots this one past Presley, Carter scores, and DeLeon will be heading to the showers early as the Detroit skipper comes walking out to the mound. Who's it going to be? The young 22 year-old prospect Jack McDowell, he comes in with a 4.78 ERA in 58.1 innings this season, he will try to do his best to keep the Stars in this game. Hassey grounds out to short for the final out. Traverse City 5, Detroit 1 -- The Tigers already have 10 hits in this one.
Top of the 6th
With Maddux on the mound, the last thing you want to do is give him a comfortable lead. Dave Parker drills one to right, that is robbed at the wall by Joe Carter for the second out. Julio Franco, the very next batter puts a charge into this one to the left field wall, Mookie times his jump, and comes back down it! Back-to-back terrific plays, it's not looking like Detroit's day.
Top of the 8th
Lead-off single for Tracy Jones of Detroit -- only the 4th hit by the Stars off Maddux. Brett Butler hits a single to left that drops in front of Mookie Wilson. Tigers will get the bullpen warming up just in case. Tigers try to stall momentarily, elects to have Maddux face lefty Lou Whitaker. The Stars' manager now calls Whitaker to the bench, and Terry Francona will hit for him instead. The Tigers now call for a change with lefty Juan Agosto (2.36 ERA in 38 appearances) -- Agosto sets up with the pitch, delivers, this one is smacked to left lands in front of Wilson, Jones is around third, he's going towards home & scores -- Butler moves to third. Runners on the corners, no outs, tying run at the plate in John Kruk. Stars go to the bench & call on righty George Bell, in which Traverse City counters with RHP Brian Holton, and upgrades second base defensively with Marty Barrett. Bell smacks this one deep to right, this could be trouble, Carter now has a read on it, and makes the catch, Tracy Jones decides not to test Carter's cannon of a arm, he has seen too much footage of Carter gunning people down at home. One out, Parker is now at the plate, and Tigers call on lefty Dave Leiper to try & get Parker to hit into a double play, or at least strike him out. Parker grounds out to O'Brien at first, he's out, but a run scores, as Francona moves to second. Tigers go to the pen once again for Jose Rijo to face righty Julio Franco. Rijo gets him to ground out to third for final out.
Traverse City holds a 5-3 edge.
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| Rijo: One of 5 relievers to finish off Detroit. |
Bottom of the 8th
Stars elect to go to the bullpen with Andy McGaffigan on the mound. Jesse Barfield legs out a one-out single, and then advances to second on a wild pitch by McGaffigan. McGaffigan walks Ron Hassey. O'Malley hits it to left, and Barfield rounds third and scores. Runners on 1st & 2nd, for Ramirez with one out; Ramirez will have to face righty Bobby Thigpen though -- which ends up being a routine fly out to center. Thigpen strikes out Mookie, but Traverse City tacks on another, 6-3 lead.
Top of the 9th
It's time for the Tigers' closer Doug Jones to do his thing against Detroit. With one out, Jim Presley hits a solo shot over Mookie's head, trimming Tigers' lead down to 6-4. Jones strikes out the next batter in Cerone, it's now up to Tracy Jones. Tracy Jones waits on Doug's pitch, hit to shallow center, Barfield is there for the final out.
Greg Maddux cruised through 7 innings, as Traverse City closed it out with 5 different relievers over a two-inning span, all doing their part.
FINAL SCORE: Traverse City 6, Detroit 4
Tigers lead the series 3-2
Price's 5 extra K's & the fact he's leading the league in most pitching categories gives him the edge.
