Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 55

Catch With Red Sox Up Tigers Just Can't 1 Cards Continue From' 67 Detroitei's Lose, 7-3, Wins Houston In Opeiiel By BILL HALLS DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Tigers, who finished one game behind the American League champion Boston Red Sox last Francisco's winning runs with a ninth inning double that climaxed a three-run rally against the Mets. Ron Swo-boda drove in all four New York runs with a single and a homer. Tony Perez smacked a three-run homer and Tommy Helms had a two-run shot as Cincinnati battered Chicago. Perez' shot keyed a five-run Reds' rally in the fifth inning and Helms' homer wrapped it up in the eighth. By The Associated Press Bob Aspromonte is an original Astro the only player still left from the expansion pool that stocked Houston's National League back in November, 1961.

He's lived through 568 losses in six seasons and he just wasn't prepared to start the new season with another setback. So, he did something about it. year, found themselves in the same position today. Boston beat Detroit 7-3 Wednesday in the opener for both teams on a pain of home runs by Carl Yastrzemiski and the nine-hit pitching, of Dick iMisworin. But Manager Mayo.

Smith said he doesn't think prjehers like Ellsworth and Ray Culp, ac It was Aspromonte's two-out hit in the bottom of the 9th inning that gave the Astros a 54 opening night victory, over Pittsburgh Wednesday night. Elsewhere as the National League started its 93rd season, St. Louis' world champions pulled out a 2-1 victory over Atlanta, San Francisco pushed across three ninth inning runs and beat New York 5-4, Cincinnati battered Chicago 9-4 and Philadelphia blanked Los Angeles 2-0. Aspromonte, who's been with Houston so long he predates the Astrodome and goes back to the days when the Astros were called the Colts, climaxed a three-run rally in the ninth with his triple. Maury Wills' two-run single had moved Pittsburgh into a 4-2 lead in the top of the ninth.

Pat Jar-vis had St. Louis shut out for seven innings but the Cards pulled out their opener with single runs in the eighth and ninth innings against the Braves. Chris Short pitched a 4-hitter, 10 strikeouts, and rookie Don Money drove in both Philadelphia runs as the Phillies blanked the Dodgers. Jesus Alou drove in San quired in offseason deals with the National League, can make up the difference for Boston starter Jim Lonborjg, out for the first month of the season be cause of a skiing accident. Ellsworth, acquired in an off 4T season deal with, the Philadelphia Phillies, beat Detroit 7-3 on a nine-hitter in the American League opener Wednesday.

EARLY DL'ST AT Tir.ER STADIUM Tiger catcher Rill Freehan (11) waits for relay from Ray Oyler, while Red Sox Joe Lallouil slides safely into home on a two-run double by Rico Petrocelli in the second inning of the season opener Wednesday in Detroit. The umpire Ls Hank Soar, who watched Boston win. (I'PI Telephoto) Dick Williams, the man who managed the lM-to-1 shot Red Sox to the peunant last year, sports Lansing, Michigan April 11, 1968 F-3 said he thinks his team can still win, despite the loss of Lonborg. at least until May, Pxr. GB New York 1 0 1.000 Cleveland 1 0 1000 Minnesota 1 0 1.000 Boston 1 0 1.000 Baltimore 1 0 1.000 TIGERS 0 1 .000 1 Calif.

0.1 .000 1 Chicago 0 1 .000 1 Wash. 0 1 .000 1 Oakland 0 1 .000 1 and outfielder Tony Conigliaro, because of an injury. (That Was Only One' Mayo Philosophizes "We were 22) games over .500 See Page F-6, Col. 3 Bmton httoi Detroit brh Stanley lb 5 0 3 Andrew 4 111 MCAUIIM 2D 1 1 1 1 Philadelphia Topples Boston With Bench Aid 3 0 2 1 3 0 10 4 0 0 0 a Jones 3b YMrrnisk If Smith cl Scon lb LaHood rf Pftrocflli Howard Ellsworth 4 010 5 2 3 ifl i 1 'ft 1 0 1110 410 I 3 44) 0 0 4f0 0 0 3 0 0 0 aune ri Horton Freehan Northruo Cf Wert 3b Oyler ss Price ph Wilson Dobson Tracwsk ph Patterson Mathews ph Totals 000 2 111 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 3512 3517 117 Total aais Wednesday's Result Boston 7, Detroit 3 Minnesota 2, Washington 0 New York 1. California 0 Baltimore 3.

Oakland 1 Cleveland Chicago 0 Today'i Game Boston (Santiago (12-4) at Detroit (Mc-Lain 17-16) California (Clark 12-11) ajt Cleveland (McDowell 13-15) Minnesota (Mtrritt 13-7) at Washington (Coleman 8-) Only games scheduled. Friday's Garnet No games scheduled. National League Pxr. GB Cincinnati 1 I 1.000 San Fran 1 0 1.000 Houston 1 0 1.000 St. Louis 1 0 1.000 Philadelphia 1 0 1.000 Los Angeles 0 1 .000 1 Atlanta 0 1 .000 1 Pittsburgh 0 1 .000 I Boston Detroit 21-063-101 7 MI-OOt-020-4 By The Associated Press The Philadelphia 76ers are considered to have the best starting five in the National Basketball Association.

But their bench strength was the big question if the 76ers were to win a second straight championship. So what happened Wednes Awesome Yastrzemski picked up where he left off last year. His first hit of the 1968 season was a homer into the right field seats. Not content with that performance. Yaz later clobbered an inside the park homer over the head of centerfielder Jim North-rup.

"Mickey Stanley might have caught a couple of drives hit to center Wednesday. I doubt Yastrzemski's second hit would have been a homer if Mickey had been in center field," he said. Smith said, "chances are good Stanley will be in the outfield for the second game of the season. He said regular first sacker Norm Cash may get the call against Boston righthander Jose Santiago today. Stanley Slays in Lineup "But, whatever 1 do.

you can bet it will be something which keeps Stanley in the lineup. His hitting has been great and as long as he keeps it up he's going to have a starling assignment," Smith said. "He made a couple of bad plays at first." Smith said, "but that surprised me. Actually, Mickey is a good fielding first baseman. He has great reflexes and I won't let an opening game error set a pattern for the rest of the season." Though Smith was not critical of Tiger starting pitcher Earl Wilson, he was disappointed in his star pitcher's performance.

"Earl has looked good this spring. He looked strong in his last few outings this spring. I think his trouble today was that he E-Andrewx tetanley. DP-Boston 1. LOB-Boston 6.

Detrot 8. 2B-Petrocelli. Smith. Freehan. nfcAuiiffe.

Horton. HRS-Yastrwmski 2 Wilson (1). SB-Jones, Smithx SF-Smith ip rtrbbst Ellsworth 1-0 9 3 2 2 Wilson L. 5 8 5 2 3 Dobson 2 1112 3 Patterson 2 1110 2 Wilson faced 4 men in 6th. HBP by Ellsworth (Horton).

day night? The bench: Matt, Chicago 0 1 .000 1 Guokas, Billy Melchionni and Johnny Green, helped spark the 76ers to a 116-105 victory over the Boston Celtics at Boston to even the best-of-7 Eastern Division final playoff series at 1-1. In Los Angeles, the Lakers came up wilh a big fourth quarter to down San Francisco 115-112 and take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 Western Division final. In American Basketball Association playoff action, the Pittsburgh Pipers nipped Minnesota 107-99 for a 2-1 edge in their best-of-7 series in the East final. New Orleans topped Dallas 110-107 to go up 2-1 in the West final. Wally Jones paced the 76ers with 24 points on bombs from the outside.

Backcourt partners Hal Greer, Guokas and Melchionni chipped in with 15, 11 and nine points, respectively; Play continues tonight with Boston traveling to Philadelphia and Los Angeles at San Francisco. Optimistic Detroit Takes Loss Quietly In 1945. the last year Detroit won a pennant, the Tigers lost New York 0 1 .000 1 Wednesday's Results Cincinnati Chicago 4 San Francisco 5. New York 4 Houston 5. Pittsburgh 4 St.

Louis 2, Atlanta 1 Philadelphia 2, Los Angeles 0 Today's Games New York (Koosman 0-2) at Los Angeles (Singer 12-18), night Chicago (Jenkins 20-13) at Cincinnati (Queen 14-8) Philadelphia (Jackson 13-15) at Houston (Wilson 10-9), night Pittsburgh (Veale 16-8) at San Francisco (McCormick 22-10) Atlanta (Kelly 2-9) at St. Louis (Brilei 14-5), night Friday'I Games Philadelphia at Houston, night Cincinnati at Atlanta, night Only games scheduled. tne opening game to Cleveland, 4-1. The locker room scene after the Tiger loss to Boston opening day was one of quiet disappointment. It was in sharp contrast to the scene at the batting cage in the Tiger pre-game hitting warm-up.

"I feel good, excited. This Since 1945. th Tippr havp won 11 and lost 11 oneners. Thev The State Journal customarily covers the opening day at Tiger Stadium. Wednesday, The Onlooker look his turn at covering major league baseball.

He told of his "pre-game Jitters" in Wednesday's Onlooker column. By JIM HOUGH Stale Journal Staff Writer ZZ. DETROIT Mayo Smith slouched in his lockerroom office chair, forced a smile and said what every baselwll writer there knew he would say. "That was only one game. There are 161 left." But Smith's philosophy didn't hide his disappointment in the Tiger loss to last year's champion Boston Red Sox in the American league opener here Wednesday.

When the game ended with a 7-3 score, reporters could not help but note how things began this year much as they ended last year wilh Carl Yasirzcmski clobbering home runs and with the Tiger pitching staff in a struggle. 'Re rareful," Smith said, "not to place too much emphasis on winning the opening game. We lost the opener last year and we were still in the race all year." Recall 1967 Finish Manager Smith's philosophy of "one game does not a season make" becomes even more poignant when fans recall how the Bengals lost the pennant by one game last year. Smith was also quick to warn against counting Boston out of another pennant. "That's a great lineup.

If they get pitching like they did today, they'll be real tough," he said. However, Smith said Boston lefty Dick Ellsworth "got plenty of breaks out there and he was not pitching that well." Smith said a base running goof by Willie Horton and a line drive caught off the bat of Bill Freehan could have turned the came "upside down and put us in the win column," if they had not occurred. The Tiger boss said Ellsworth would have been out of the Came if Bill Freehan's line drive to right had fallen in safely following a homer by Earl Wilson and singles by Mickey Stanley and Willie Horton in the third inning. Instead, Freehan's liner was an inning-ending third out. Ellsworth Goes Route Ellsworth, a mediocre six wins and seven losses pitcher in the National League last year, held on and bested the Tigers by pitching nine innings.

He held the Dctroiters hitless after the tliird inning until the eighth when Dick McAuliffe doubled. That Tiger eighth was something Smith didn't want to talk much about. He was upset with a base running goof by his star left fielder. Horton. After McAuliffe's double.

Kaline singled to left but McAuliffe slopped at third. Horton then lined a double to left. The hit scored McAuliffe and sent Kaline to third, but Horton was thrown out when he overran second base. "That was a rally-breaker." Smith said. "That gave us two outs and a man on third, instead of one out and runners at second and third.

Willie was so happy at getting the double that he didn't pay attention to his base running. I intend to talk to him about that tomorrow." But Smith, whose club struggled with an ailing Willie Horton all year in 1967. quickly jumped in with an added quote: "Just think, though, how great it is to have Willie running like that, even if he did goof. he's running great. He looks healthy and he made a couple of fine catches in the outfield." won six of their last eight open- ners, Dut lost live straight before that.

JIM HOUGH could-be the year for us," said Dick McAuliffe as he left our in- fterview to take his turn in bat ting practice. Batting coach Wally Moses talked to Mac as BROOKS MEN'S SHOP the Tiger second sacker swung at the pitches. "Don try to aim the hits, Dick. Just poke the ball," Wally shouted. could not keep his curve down.

It kept hanging up there where those hitters like it," he said. Wilson may not have fared well in his pitching role, but he brought Tiger fans to their feet in the third inning when he blasted a 450-foot homer into the left field second deck. Before the game, Wilson told us he intended to get out his "line drive bat because the wind is strong from left field." As he talked. Earl poked several long blasts from the batting cage to the leftfield seats. Ray Oyler, weak-hitting shortstop, stood beside me wilh his mouth open.

Now and then he would say: "Look at that one." Smith said he was happy with the performance of two reliefers, Pat Dobson and Daryl Patterson, in the opener. "Dobson came in there with the bases loaded and nobody out and struck out the first two batters. Although he walked the third baiter and forced in a run. some of those pitches were close and he had to pitch carefully. Patterson did well too," Smith said.

He also disspclled rumors that Mickey Lolich was not ready for starting assignments when he commented that Lolich v.iil probably start the game Sunday. Celebrity Battery One Tiger fan said he knew the Detroit club would have pitching problems in the opener after he watched the -opening game ceremony in which Gov. George Romney pitchedthe first ball to Detroit Mayor and catcher Jerome Cavanagh.The first pitch went wild, though the Mayor made a good recovery. Rom-ney's second pitch was "right over." A crowd of 41.429, the largest opening day gathering since 1961, looked on as bands played, speakers spoke and the umpire yelled "play ball." The lineup of players, managers, coaches and umpires during the playing of the National Anthem the unvpircs sporting new American League uniforms this year (blue tops and gray eagerness over the first pitch. All those things are important this time of year to any baseball whether his team wins that opener or not.

Sporting a large chew of tobacco. Jim Northrup waited his turn at the batting cage. "I feel as good as I have ever felt this year. We oughta win it easily. But, man, if I get something like the mumps again this year we just have to stay healthy, that's all." Last year, Northrup missed a large chunk of the season when he suffered from the mumps.

Pitcher Earl Wilson's loss to Boston was the first loss in his last six starts against his former beantown teammates. Prior to the Wednesday game, Wilson has won five straight from Boston. Boxing Bout Set OAKLAND. Calif. (AP) SPRING BOWLING JAMBOREE CHOICE OF 34 SPRING LEAGUES FOR INFORMATION PHONE METRO BOWL LOGAN 4 JOLLY TELEPHONE TU 2-022 Emile Griffith and Andy Heil- Bruins Face Stiff Test; '67 Bosox Provide Hope man have signed to meet June 7 in a middleweight match, promoter Don Chargin said Chargin said the 12-round fight may lead to a world title fight here with the winner meeting By The Associated Press Itually hopeless task against the rlivisinn rhamm far-p the Carta.

The Boston Bruins hope to be- diens an in Boston, spurred champion Nino Benvenuti of on by the baseball Red Sox "Impossible Dream" 1967 pennant Dress up for Easter! against 100-to-l odds. gin a new Impossible Dream tonight. The Philadelphia Flyers hope to avoid another nightmare. The National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs continue tonight on four fronts Italy. Hcilman, 26, from Fargo, N.D., has a 36-3-3 since turning pro in 1962.

Griffith, former middleweight and welterweight champion, has a 54-9 record over 11 years. In other East semifinal, the Rangers, winners of the first two games in New York, play tne Black Hawks in Chicago, Most guys try io impress a date with the best restaurant in town. You drive 35 miles for roast pork on garlic bread. You've got style. League Spots Available at ALL STAR LANES hot the St.

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