Tigers sweep A’s to start season at 12-2

Friday August 29 at Tiger Stadium.  With Dave Bergman injured, the Tigers called up Randy O'Neal from their Triple-A affiliate, Evansville, where he had been 9-10 with a 3.57 era and immediately gave him the start in today's game.  O'Neal, the Tigers first round draft pick in the June 1981 supplemental draft (15th overall) showed that perhaps he had the stuff to stay in the majors for awhile as he allowed only two hits and one run over 6 and two thirds innings.  The Tigers scored two in the second inning courtesy of a dropped fly ball by A's centerfielder Billy North and Rupert Jones' third homer of the season.  The A's only run came in the 7th when Deron Johnson singled home Reggie Jackson who had walked and taken second on a wild pitch.  O'Neal got the win (1-0, 1.35) with relief help from Aurelio Lopez and Willlie Hernandez (2 saves, 0.00)  Blue Moon Odom took the loss (0-2, 8.05)  Tigers 2  Athletics 1

Saturday August 30 at Tiger Stadium.  The A's scored first on back to back doubles by Gene Tenace and Johnson in the second inning.  After that, neither team could break through against starters Kenny Holtzman and Juan Berenguer until the 8th.  Each starter entered the 8th, neither finished it out.  In the top of the 8th, with one out, Berenguer walked Billy North and that was it for Juan.  Doug Bair came in to strike out Joe Rudi for the second out, but along the way, allowed North to steal second (5).  With two out, Tiger manager Crash Davis wanted no part of Reggie Jackson and had him walked intentionally to face Sal Bando who came into the game boasting a horrific .111 average and had already gone 0 for 2.  Bando made Davis look like an idiot as he singled up the middle to give the A's a 2 run lead.  After the runners moved up on the throw to the plate, Davis had Bair intentionally walk Tenace who had been 2 for 3 in the game.  This time it worked as Deron Johnson struck out with the bases full.  In  the bottom of the 8th, Holtzman gave up a lead off single to Lou Whitaker and then gave way to Rollie Fingers.  Fingers struck out Alan Trammell but pinchhitter Darrell Evans doubled to right center, moving Sweet Lou to third.  A's manager Marc Weiss toyed with the idea of walking Lance Parrish but decided to pitch to him.  He should have walked him as "The Big Wheel" singled Whitaker home.  Fingers settled down and got the next two Tigers to take a 2-1 lead into the 9th.  In the bottom of the ninth, Kirk Gibson was summoned from the bench to pinch hit for lead off batter Rusty Kuntz.  Gibby had again been benched against a leftie and just like he did earlier in the year, he took out his frustration at the benching on the opposing pitcher, slamming his third homer of the season to send the game into extra innings.  In the bottom of the 10th, with one out, Larry Herndon and Chet Lemon both singled and then Gibby came to the plate again and, once again, came through, singling to right to score Herndon and end the game.  After the game, Gibby was heard to say, "I guess I can understand why I am not playing everyday, what with a .188 average and all but #$%$#%^& I want to play.  Maybe Crash will figure out that I can come through in the clutch."  Doug Bair got the win  (2-0, 0.82).  Rollie Fingers took the loss (0-1, 2.84, 1 blown save)  Tigers 3  Athletics 2

Sunday August 31, at Oakland Coliseum.  With two one run games already in the series, and Jack Morris facing Vida Blue, one would have thought this would also be a close game.  It wasn't.  Blue got the first two Tigers, but then gave up singles to Herndon and Parrish, walked Evans and the gave up two more singles to Lemon and Barbaro Garbey.  The end result was Morris taking the mound with a 4-0 lead.  It looked like Morris was going to give it all back as Campy Campaneris and North opened the frame for the A's with singles.  But Rudi hit into a double play and though it scored a run, it ended the Athletic offense.  The A's would not  reach Morris again until the 9th when Bando would hit his first homer of the season.  In between A's pitchers gave up 13 hits and 10 walks, including two homers to Alan Trammell (2,3).  5 Tigers had multiple hit games with Herndon going 4-5 and Lemon getting 3 hits.  Evans walked three times giving him 15 on the season in 45 official at bats.  Morris got the win (3-0, 2.45)  Blue took the loss (1-3, 6.53)  Tigers 13  Athletics 2 

--submitted by Tom “Crash” Davis--