1973 NL Game: Cin. @ SF

 April 14, 1973

  The Cincinnati Reds have won 2 in a row now after a slow start on the season. Johnny Bench led the way for the Reds in their 9-6 victory over San Francisco Giants today. Bench blasted 2 homeruns and had 6 RBI in the game.

Event Codes:  G
BOXSCORE: 1973 Cincinnati Reds At 1973 San Francisco Giants         4/14/1973
 
  Reds               AB  R  H RBI AVG     Giants             AB  R  H RBI AVG
  P.Rose LF           5  2  4  0 .457     B.Bonds RF          4  1  1  3 .132  
  J.Morgan 2B         4  2  3  0 .438     T.Fuentes 2B        4  0  1  2 .324  
  B.Tolan RF          5  1  2  1 .229     C.Speier SS         4  0  0  0 .162  
  J.Bench C           5  2  2  6 .182     W.McCovey 1B        5  0  1  1 .241  
  T.Perez 1B          4  1  3  1 .300     E.Goodson 3B        4  0  1  0 .375  
  C.Geronimo CF       5  1  1  0 .250     G.Maddox CF         4  0  0  0 .212  
  D.Chaney SS         4  0  0  0 .143     G.Thomasson LF      4  1  2  0 .333  
  C.Carroll P         0  0  0  0 ----     D.Rader C           3  3  2  0 .258  
  D.Menke 3B          4  0  0  1 .150     J.Barr P            1  0  0  0 .000  
  R.Nelson P          4  0  0  0 .000   A-J.Howarth PH        1  0  0  0 .250  
B-D.Concepcion SS     0  0  0  0 .294     R.Moffitt P         0  0  0  0 .500  
                                        C-D.Kingman PH        0  1  0  0 .000  
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      40  9 15  9                 Totals      34  6  8  6
 
A-Pinch Hit For Barr In 7th Inning
B-Subbed Defensively (SS) For Nelson In 9th Inning
C-Pinch Hit For Moffitt In 9th Inning
 
Reds............ 3 0 3  0 2 1  0 0 0  -  9 15  1
Giants.......... 0 0 0  0 1 0  2 0 3  -  6  8  1
 
Reds (3-5)               IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA
R.Nelson WIN(1-1)         8       5   3   3   3   3   1   9.31
C.Carroll                 1       3   3   3   1   0   0  15.43
Totals                    9       8   6   6   4   3   1
 
Giants (4-5)             IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA
J.Barr LOSS(0-1)          7      13   9   9   3   3   3  11.57
R.Moffitt                 2       2   0   0   1   3   0   1.42
Totals                    9      15   9   9   4   6   3
 
ATTENDANCE- 18,212 DATE- Saturday, April 14th 1973 TIME- Day WEATHER- Good
T- 2:50
LEFT ON BASE- Reds: 8  Giants: 8
DOUBLE PLAYS- Reds: 1  Giants: 3
ERRORS- P.Rose, B.Bonds
DOUBLES- J.Morgan(4th), B.Tolan(1st)
HOME RUNS- J.Bench-2(2nd), T.Perez(1st), B.Bonds(2nd)
RBIs- B.Tolan(5th), J.Bench-6(11th), T.Perez(2nd), D.Menke(2nd), B.Bonds-3(4th),
      T.Fuentes-2(4th), W.McCovey(9th)
STOLEN BASES- B.Tolan(1st)
SACRIFICE HITS- J.Barr
WALKS- J.Morgan, T.Perez, D.Chaney, D.Menke, B.Bonds, C.Speier, E.Goodson,
       D.Rader
HIT BY PITCH- T.Fuentes, D.Kingman
STRIKE OUTS- B.Tolan, J.Bench, C.Geronimo, D.Chaney, D.Menke, R.Nelson,
             W.McCovey, E.Goodson, G.Thomasson
GIDP- B.Tolan, C.Geronimo, D.Chaney, G.Maddox
WILD PITCHES- J.Barr-2, R.Moffitt
2-out RBI- T.Fuentes, B.Bonds-2, W.McCovey
RLISP 2-out- E.Goodson-3, P.Rose, B.Tolan, R.Nelson, T.Perez, J.Bench, D.Menke
TEAM RISP- Reds: 3 for 15  Giants: 2 for 7
 
Johnny Bench ripped 2 homeruns and had 6 RBI as the Cincinnati Reds defeated
the San Francisco Giants by a score of 9 to 6 at Candlestick Park.
 
Bench was a source of great heartache for the San Francisco faithful all day.
He just kept pounding out hits! He bombed a two-run dinger in the 1st inning
and belted a three-run homer in the 3rd inning.  San Francisco tried
unsuccessfully to come back in the 9th.  
 
The win was credited to Roger Nelson(1-1) who went 8 innings allowing 3 runs.
Jim Barr(0-1) was the loser.  He surrended 3 homeruns in his 7 innings.  
 

1973 NL Game Story: NL @ St.L.: Player of Note

 April 12,1973

 Tom Seaver pitched his 2nd scoreless game of the season tonight. After getting a shutout Win in his first start, Seaver went 11 shutout innings for the Win over the Cardinals tonight. The Mets scored a run in the top of the 12th and Tug McGraw came in to close out the game for the Save.

NEW YORK AT ST. LOUIS
Mets............ 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 1  -  1  9  4
Cardinals....... 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  0  5  0
Win:Seaver(2-0) Loss:Andrews(0-1) Save:McGraw(1st)
 
Tom Seaver didn't allow a hit until the 6th inning at Busch Stadium as the New
York Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals in 12 innings 1 to 0.
 
The game was a scoreless tie after nine.  New York was victorious in the 12th
inning.  Wayne Garrett drew a walk.  Rich Chiles struck out, unable to help
the rally.  Duffy Dyer then smacked a single.  Jim Beauchamp stepped in and
he singled scoring the run.  New York had a total of 9 hits for the game.
 
Seaver(2-0) was the winner allowing no runs in 11 innings.  The right-handed
Seaver lost his no-hit bid when Jose Cruz singled with two outs in the 6th
inning.  Tug McGraw preserved the game for Seaver, recording his 1st
save. John Andrews (0-1) absorbed the loss in relief.  

1973 Game Story: Hou. @ SF: Players of Note

April 12, 1973

 It should be noted that in today's Astros 12-4 victory over San Francisco, Cesar Cedeno had 4 stolen bases and Bob Watson had 5 RBI for Houston.

NEWSPAPER GAME STORIES FOR 1973 National League                Date: 4/12/1973
 
HOUSTON AT SAN FRANCISCO
Astros.......... 0 0 0  0 0 4  0 0 0  8 - 12 11  0
Giants.......... 0 1 0  0 0 1  0 0 2  0 -  4  8  4
Win:Ray(1-0) Loss:McDowell(1-1)
Homeruns- E.Goodson(1st), D.Rader(2nd)
 
In a lop-sided win the Houston Astros ripped the San Francisco Giants by a 12
to 4 count after a big 8 run outburst in the 12th.
 
The score was knotted at 4 after nine innings.  Houston won the game in the
10th inning.  The key at-bat was by Roger Metzger who silenced the crowd when
he tripled with all three runners coming home.  Houston had 11 hits for the
afternoon while San Francisco had 8.  
 
The victory was credited to Jim Ray(1-0) who went 1 and 1/3 innings, allowing
no runs. Sam McDowell(1-1) was tagged with the loss in relief.  
 
 

1973 Detroit Tigers Home Opening Game

April 11, 1973

  It was a beautiful sunny day at Tiger Stadium for Detroit's 1973 Home Opening game. The Tigers come home after opening the season on the road in Cleveland with a 2-0 record. They will be hosting the Baltimore Orioles who opened the season in Baltimore and are1-1. 

  Woodie Fryman would start the game for Detroit and Jim Palmer got the start for the Orioles. Baltimore's Brooks Robinson opened the scoring with a solo homerun in the 2nd inning. Fryman was in trouble every inning and gave up 5 runs (3 unearned) in the 5th inning before getting the hook. Robinson hit his 2nd homer of the game off Tom Timmermann in the 7th.

  Detroit could do nothing against Palmer who had given up just 1 hit going into the 8th inning. The score was 8-0 when Detroit finally got something going. They scored 3 in the 8th, chasing Palmer, and 2 in the 9th on a Bill Freehan 2-run shot. But it was all too little too late as Baltimore came away with a  8-5 victory. 

BOXSCORE: 1973 Baltimore Orioles At 1973 Detroit Tigers             4/11/1973
 
  Orioles            AB  R  H RBI AVG     Tigers             AB  R  H RBI AVG
  M.Rettenmund RF     3  2  2  1 .417     D.McAuliffe 2B      4  1  1  0 .308  
  B.Grich 2B          3  1  2  0 .455     M.Stanley CF        4  0  1  2 .231  
  B.Powell 1B         5  0  0  0 .167     J.Northrup LF       3  0  1  1 .231  
  E.Williams C        5  1  2  1 .308     N.Cash 1B           4  0  0  0 .182  
  D.Baylor LF         4  1  1  2 .083     A.Kaline RF         4  0  0  0 .083  
  B.Robinson 3B       5  2  4  2 .455     G.Brown DH          3  1  0  0 .182  
  P.Blair CF          5  0  1  2 .182     B.Freehan C         3  1  1  2 .400  
  T.Davis DH          4  0  2  0 .500     A.Rodriguez 3B      3  1  0  0 .182  
  M.Belanger SS       4  1  1  0 .200     E.Brinkman SS       4  1  2  0 .500  
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      38  8 15  8                 Totals      32  5  6  5
 
 
Orioles......... 0 1 0  0 5 1  1 0 0  -  8 15  1
Tigers.......... 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 3 2  -  5  6  1
 
Orioles (2-1)            IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA
J.Palmer WIN(1-0)         7 1/3   4   3   3   2   7   0   3.68
O.Pena                    1 2/3   2   2   2   1   0   1  10.80
Totals                    9       6   5   5   3   7   1
 
Tigers (2-1)             IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA
W.Fryman LOSS(0-1)        4 1/3  11   6   3   2   3   1   6.23
T.Timmermann              2 2/3   3   2   2   0   0   2   6.75
L.Lagrow                  2       1   0   0   2   0   0   0.00
Totals                    9      15   8   5   4   3   3
 
ATTENDANCE- 52,080 DATE- Wednesday, April 11th 1973 TIME- Day WEATHER- Good
T- 3:10
LEFT ON BASE- Orioles: 8  Tigers: 4
DOUBLE PLAYS- Orioles: 1  Tigers: 3
ERRORS- M.Belanger, N.Cash
DOUBLES- P.Blair(1st), M.Stanley(1st)
HOME RUNS- M.Rettenmund(2nd), B.Robinson-2(2nd), B.Freehan(1st)
RBIs- M.Rettenmund(3rd), E.Williams(3rd), D.Baylor-2(2nd), B.Robinson-2(2nd),
      P.Blair-2(3rd), M.Stanley-2(4th), J.Northrup(2nd), B.Freehan-2(4th)
CAUGHT STEALING- B.Robinson, M.Belanger
WALKS- M.Rettenmund-2, B.Grich-2, J.Northrup, G.Brown, A.Rodriguez
HIT BY PITCH- D.Baylor, B.Freehan
STRIKE OUTS- B.Powell-2, P.Blair, D.McAuliffe-2, M.Stanley, A.Kaline-2,
             A.Rodriguez-2
GIDP- D.Baylor, P.Blair, N.Cash
2-out RBI- P.Blair-2, B.Robinson
RLISP 2-out- M.Rettenmund, M.Stanley, B.Robinson, T.Davis, B.Powell, N.Cash
TEAM RISP- Orioles: 4 for 12  Tigers: 3 for 6
 
Third baseman Brooks Robinson rocketed 2 homeruns as the Baltimore Orioles
topped the Detroit Tigers by a score of 8 to 5 at Tiger Stadium.
 
Robinson provided the offensive punch.  He smashed a solo-shot out of the park
in the 2nd inning, laced a base-hit in the 4th inning, lofted a solo-blast
'downtown' in the 7th inning and slapped a single in the 9th inning.  For the
game Baltimore out-hit Detroit 15 to 6.  
 
Jim Palmer(1-0) got credit for the victory, pitching 7 and 1/3 innings and
allowing 3 runs. Woodie Fryman(0-1) was tagged with the loss.  He was knocked
around by Baltimore, allowing 11 hits and 2 walks in 4 and 1/3 innings.  
 

1973 NL Game: Tex. @ KC

April 10, 1973

  In the longest game so far early in this 1973 season, the Texas Rangers took 15 innings to defeat the KC Royals 7-6. 1st baseman Mike Epstein hit a solo homerun in the top of the 15th and Bill Gogolewski shut down the Royals in the bottom of the inning for the Win. Gogolewski pitched 6 scoreless innings while closing out the game. The teams combined for 38 hits in the game but only 1 was a homerun, Epstein's game winner.

BOXSCORE: 1973 Texas Rangers At 1973 Kansas City Royals             4/10/1973
 
  Rangers            AB  R  H RBI AVG     Royals             AB  R  H RBI AVG
  D.Nelson 2B         8  2  5  1 .455     F.Patek SS          7  0  2  1 .190  
  T.Harrah SS         5  0  1  2 .125     C.Rojas 2B          8  1  2  0 .381  
  M.Epstein 1B        7  1  1  1 .182     A.Otis CF           6  1  1  0 .286  
  R.Carty LF          7  0  2  1 .300     J.Mayberry 1B       5  3  4  1 .375  
  A.Johnson DH        7  0  1  0 .273     H.McRae RF          6  0  3  2 .375  
  J.Burroughs RF      7  0  4  0 .455     L.Piniella LF       6  0  1  2 .211  
  J.Lovitto 3B        7  1  2  0 .200     E.Kirkpatrick DH    7  0  2  0 .222  
  E.Maddox CF         5  3  2  0 .375     P.Schaal 3B         3  0  0  0 .250  
  K.Suarez C          6  0  4  2 .667     J.May C             7  1  1  0 .200  
A-L.Biittner PR       0  0  0  0 ----                                          
B-R.Stelmaszek C      1  0  0  0 .000                                          
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      60  7 22  7                 Totals      55  6 16  6
 
A-Pinch Ran For Suarez In 12th Inning
B-Subbed Defensively (C ) For Biittner In 12th Inning
 
Rangers......... 0 0 1  2 0 1  2 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 1  -  7 22  0
Royals.......... 0 1 0  0 0 2  1 1 1  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  6 16  2
 
Rangers (1-1)            IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA
P.Broberg                 5 1/3   6   3   3   3   4   0   5.06
J.Merritt BS(1st)         3 2/3   8   3   3   1   0   0   7.36
B.Gogolewski WIN(1-0)     6       2   0   0   4   4   0   0.00
Totals                   15      16   6   6   8   8   0
 
Royals (2-2)             IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA
P.Splittorff              6 2/3  13   6   6   5   2   0   8.10
G.Garber                  6 1/3   5   0   0   1   2   0   0.00
T.Burgmeier LOSS(0-1)     2       4   1   1   0   1   1   4.50
Totals                   15      22   7   7   6   5   1
 
ATTENDANCE- 27,761 DATE- Tuesday, April 10th 1973 TIME- Night WEATHER- Average
T- 4:01
LEFT ON BASE- Rangers:16  Royals:15
DOUBLE PLAYS- Rangers: 1  Royals: 2
ERRORS- F.Patek, P.Schaal
DOUBLES- D.Nelson(1st), T.Harrah(1st), R.Carty(1st), J.Lovitto(1st),
         K.Suarez(1st), C.Rojas(3rd), J.Mayberry(1st), H.McRae-2(3rd)
TRIPLES- J.May(2nd)
HOME RUNS- M.Epstein(1st)
RBIs- D.Nelson(2nd), T.Harrah-2(2nd), M.Epstein(1st), R.Carty(1st),
      K.Suarez-2(2nd), F.Patek(2nd), J.Mayberry(2nd), H.McRae-2(3rd),
      L.Piniella-2(2nd)
STOLEN BASES- F.Patek(2nd)
CAUGHT STEALING- K.Suarez-2, F.Patek, A.Otis
SACRIFICE HITS- T.Harrah-2
SACRIFICE FLIES- J.Mayberry, L.Piniella
WALKS- T.Harrah, M.Epstein, R.Carty, A.Johnson, E.Maddox-2, F.Patek, A.Otis-2,
       J.Mayberry, P.Schaal-4
HIT BY PITCH- H.McRae
STRIKE OUTS- D.Nelson, M.Epstein-2, J.Burroughs, R.Stelmaszek, F.Patek, A.Otis,
             H.McRae, E.Kirkpatrick, P.Schaal, J.May-3
GIDP- A.Johnson, J.Lovitto, A.Otis
2-out RBI- R.Carty, T.Harrah-2, K.Suarez-2
RLISP 2-out- A.Johnson, K.Suarez, J.May-7, J.Burroughs, H.McRae, M.Epstein-2,
             R.Carty, D.Nelson-3
TEAM RISP- Rangers: 5 for 22  Royals: 3 for 17
 
Dave Nelson had 5 hits as the Texas Rangers defeated the Kansas City Royals in
15 innings by the score of 7 to 6 at Kaufmann Stadium.
 
The score was knotted at 6 after nine innings.  Finally, Texas prevailed in
the 15th inning.  After an out was recorded, Mike Epstein smashed a solo-shot
out of the park.  Texas bats were hot in the 4th inning which saw them score
2 runs on 3 hits and the 7th inning with 2 runs.  Texas had 22 hits overall,
while Kansas City had 16.  
 
Bill Gogolewski(1-0) got the win allowing no runs in 6 innings. Tom
Burgmeier(0-1) ended up with the loss in relief.

1973 NL Game: St.L @ Pit.

April 8, 1973

  

 St. Louis pitcher Rick Wise had himself a nice 1st appearance of the season going the distance in the Cardinal's 16-2 pounding of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wise allowed just 8 hits and no walks. Wise also chipped in big at the plate going 3 for 5 with a homerun, and 5 RBI.

BOXSCORE: 1973 St. Louis Cardinals At 1973 Pittsburgh Pirates        4/8/1973
 
  Cardinals          AB  R  H RBI AVG     Pirates            AB  R  H RBI AVG
  L.Brock LF          5  1  0  0 .091     R.Stennett 2B       4  0  1  0 .333  
  T.Sizemore 2B       4  3  2  0 .444     M.Sanguillen RF     4  0  1  0 .222  
  J.Cruz CF           4  4  3  2 .778     A.Oliver CF         4  0  2  0 .500  
  J.Torre 1B          5  2  4  1 .625     W.Stargell LF       4  0  0  0 .125  
  T.Simmons C         5  0  2  3 .200     B.Robertson 1B      4  0  1  0 .143  
  K.Reitz 3B          6  0  0  0 .200     R.Hebner 3B         4  1  0  0 .125  
  B.Carbo RF          2  3  1  1 .250     G.Alley SS          4  1  1  0 .200  
  R.Busse SS          5  1  0  0 .200     M.May C             3  0  1  1 .286  
  R.Wise P            5  2  3  5 .600     N.Briles P          0  0  0  0 ----  
                                          L.Walker P          0  0  0  0 ----  
                                        A-D.Cash PH           1  0  1  0 .500  
                                          B.Johnson P         0  0  0  0 ----  
                                        B-G.Clines PH         1  0  0  0 .000  
                                          R.Hernandez P       0  0  0  0 ----  
                                        C-R.Zisk PH           1  0  0  1 .500  
                                          D.Giusti P          0  0  0  0 ----  
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      41 16 15 12                 Totals      34  2  8  2
 
A-Pinch Hit For Walker In 3rd Inning
B-Pinch Hit For Johnson In 5th Inning
C-Pinch Hit For Hernandez In 7th Inning
 
Cardinals....... 1 1 5  3 3 0  0 2 1  - 16 15  2
Pirates......... 0 0 0  0 0 0  2 0 0  -  2  8  5
 
Cardinals (2-0)          IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA
R.Wise WIN(1-0)           9       8   2   0   0   2   0   0.00
Totals                    9       8   2   0   0   2   0
 
Pirates (0-2)            IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA
N.Briles LOSS(0-1)        2 2/3   6   7   5   2   1   0  16.88
L.Walker                  0 1/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   0.00
B.Johnson                 2       4   6   4   3   2   0  11.25
R.Hernandez               2       2   0   0   1   2   0   0.00
D.Giusti                  2       3   3   3   1   2   1  13.50
Totals                    9      15  16  12   7   7   1
 
ATTENDANCE- 21,982 DATE- Sunday, April 8th 1973 TIME- Day WEATHER- Average
T- 3:07
LEFT ON BASE- Cardinals: 8  Pirates: 5
DOUBLE PLAYS- Cardinals: 3  Pirates: 1
ERRORS- L.Brock, R.Busse, M.Sanguillen, A.Oliver, W.Stargell, M.May, N.Briles
DOUBLES- J.Cruz-3(4th), T.Simmons(1st), R.Wise-2
HOME RUNS- R.Wise(1st)
RBIs- J.Cruz-2(4th), J.Torre(2nd), T.Simmons-3(3rd), B.Carbo(1st), R.Wise-5,
      M.May(2nd), R.Zisk(1st)
SACRIFICE HITS- T.Sizemore
SACRIFICE FLIES- J.Cruz, B.Carbo
WALKS- L.Brock, T.Sizemore, J.Cruz, J.Torre, T.Simmons, B.Carbo-2
STRIKE OUTS- L.Brock, T.Sizemore, J.Cruz, K.Reitz, R.Busse-3, W.Stargell-2
GIDP- R.Wise, W.Stargell, G.Alley, M.May
WILD PITCHES- B.Johnson
PASSED BALLS- M.May
2-out RBI- R.Wise-4
RLISP 2-out- K.Reitz-2, L.Brock, M.Sanguillen, R.Busse, R.Hebner, T.Simmons,
             R.Stennett
TEAM RISP- Cardinals: 8 for 20  Pirates: 1 for 7
 
Rick Wise blasted a homerun and had 5 RBI and he went the distance at Three
Rivers Stadium as the St. Louis Cardinals belted the Pittsburgh Pirates by
the count of 16 to 2.
 
Wise enjoyed a big day at the plate.  He doubled bringing home two baserunners
in the 3rd inning, doubled in the 5th inning and popped a two-run clout over
the fence in the 8th inning.  St. Louis provided plenty of action in the 3rd
inning which saw them score 5 runs on 5 hits.  The St. Louis offense
man-handled the Pittsburgh pitching staff as they scored in 7 of the 9
innings.  
 
Wise(1-0) got the victory, allowing 2 runs for the game. Nelson Briles(0-1)
suffered the loss.  He got hit hard, allowing 6 hits and 2 walks in 2 and 2/3
innings.  
 
'It's just about getting in a good hitting position and just going out there
and being prepared,' Wise said. 'You try to hit in your own capacity and not
do too much. I just try to have a good approach, day after day, game by game,
and pitch by pitch.'

1973 Detroit Tigers Season Opening Game @ Clev.

 April 7, 1973

  My Detroit Tigers opened the 1973 MLB season on the road in Cleveland. Veterans Gaylord Perry and Mickey Lolich were on the mound for their teams. Lolich gave up a 2-run homer to Buddy Bell and a solo shot by Rusty Torres in the 2nd inning to give the Indians a quick 3-0 lead. 

  Cleveland added a run in the 4th inning and Detroit couldn't get anything going against Perry until the 5th. Mickey Stanley put the Tigers on the board with a 2-run home run. Detroit added an unearned run in the 6th and the score was now 4-3. In the top of the 7th inning, with 2 outs, Jim Northrup reached base on Indian 2nd baseman Jack Brohamer's 2nd error of the game. Norm Cash came up next and he smashed a 2-run bomb to put Detroit in the lead for the first time in the game 5-4. 

  Neither team scored in the 8th and the game went into the bottom of the 9th with Detroit still in the lead. Lolich got the first out of the inning before giving up a single to pinch hitter Walt Williams. The next batter, pinch hitter Oscar Gamble, hit what looked like a game ending double play ball. But the usually sure handed Tiger shortstop Eddie Brinkman made a rare error. So with 2 men on and 1 out, Lolich's day was over and he was relieved by John Hiller. Hiller got a slow ground ball for the 2nd out that advanced both baserunners into scoring position. Then he got another groundball out to end the game and give the Tigers a season opening game victory 5-4. Exciting way to open the season!

BOXSCORE: 1973 Detroit Tigers At 1973 Cleveland Indians              4/7/1973
 
  Tigers             AB  R  H RBI AVG     Indians            AB  R  H RBI AVG
  D.McAuliffe 2B      4  0  0  0 .000     R.Torres RF         4  1  1  1 .250  
  M.Stanley CF        5  1  2  2 .400     G.Hendrick CF       4  0  0  0 .000  
  J.Northrup LF       5  1  1  0 .200     C.Chambliss 1B      4  0  2  0 .500  
  N.Cash 1B           4  2  2  2 .500     J.Ellis DH          4  0  0  0 .000  
  G.Brown DH          4  0  0  0 .000     C.Spikes LF         3  0  0  0 .000  
  A.Kaline RF         3  0  1  0 .333     D.Duncan C          4  1  1  0 .250  
  D.Sims C            3  0  0  0 .000     B.Bell 3B           3  2  2  2 .667  
  A.Rodriguez 3B      4  0  1  1 .250     J.Brohamer 2B       3  0  1  0 .333  
  E.Brinkman SS       3  1  2  0 .667   A-W.Williams PH       1  0  1  01.000  
                                          L.Cardenas SS       3  0  1  1 .333  
                                        B-O.Gamble PH         1  0  0  0 .000  
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      35  5  9  5                 Totals      34  4  9  4
 
A-Pinch Hit For Brohamer In 9th Inning
B-Pinch Hit For Cardenas In 9th Inning
 
Tigers.......... 0 0 0  0 2 1  2 0 0  -  5  9  2
Indians......... 0 3 0  1 0 0  0 0 0  -  4  9  2
 
Tigers (1-0)             IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA
M.Lolich WIN(1-0)         8 1/3   9   4   4   3   5   2   4.32
J.Hiller SAVE(1st)        0 2/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   0.00
Totals                    9       9   4   4   3   5   2
 
Indians (0-1)            IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA
G.Perry LOSS(0-1)         9       9   5   2   2   3   2   2.00
Totals                    9       9   5   2   2   3   2
 
ATTENDANCE- 16,264 DATE- Saturday, April 7th 1973 TIME- Day WEATHER- Good
T- 2:24
LEFT ON BASE- Tigers: 7  Indians: 6
DOUBLE PLAYS- Tigers: 1  Indians: 2
ERRORS- A.Rodriguez, E.Brinkman, J.Brohamer-2
DOUBLES- D.Duncan(1st), J.Brohamer(1st)
HOME RUNS- M.Stanley(1st), N.Cash(1st), R.Torres(1st), B.Bell(1st)
RBIs- M.Stanley-2(2nd), N.Cash-2(2nd), A.Rodriguez(1st), R.Torres(1st),
      B.Bell-2(2nd), L.Cardenas(1st)
CAUGHT STEALING- R.Torres
SACRIFICE HITS- D.McAuliffe
WALKS- A.Kaline, E.Brinkman, R.Torres, C.Spikes, B.Bell
HIT BY PITCH- D.Sims
STRIKE OUTS- D.McAuliffe, N.Cash, A.Rodriguez, R.Torres, J.Ellis-2, C.Spikes,
             L.Cardenas
GIDP- A.Kaline, D.Sims, R.Torres
2-out RBI- R.Torres, M.Stanley-2, A.Rodriguez, N.Cash-2
RLISP 2-out- C.Spikes-2, J.Northrup-2, E.Brinkman, R.Torres-2
TEAM RISP- Tigers: 1 for 6  Indians: 2 for 7
 
Norm Cash slammed a homerun and had 2 RBI at Cleveland Stadium where the
Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 5 to 4.
 
Detroit came up with 2 runs in the top of the 7th inning.  The critical plate
appearance was by Cash who quieted the crowd when he bombed a two-run dinger.
Cleveland made it exciting in the 9th, but they were unable to push the
needed runs across.  
 
The victory was credited to Mickey Lolich(1-0) who went 8 and 1/3 innings,
allowing 4 runs. John Hiller earned his 1st save.  Gaylord Perry(0-1) was hit
with the loss.  
 
Billy Martin was beaming after the game, 'Not only were we making good
contact, but a lot of balls we hit seemed to have 'eyes'! I just love winning
these tight ones! It was just our day - no doubt about it!'