Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 55

ID iLHillilJiO Vi A TO Oy ii.IL 0 0 0 JL 1 ii ilAOJL ack Back oar ankee 9 I KOI I i'R! 1 sS Si to 6 Games Games Pet. Behind Left Boston 81 67 .547 7 DETROIT 81 68 .544 V2 7 New York 78 71 .523 3'2 6 Baltimore 78 71 .525 32 5 BY JIM HAWKINS Free Press Sporti Writer Ralph Houk couldn't, believe The wliola New York Yankee team seemed stunned. And the 5,000 or so fans that fled Tiger Stadium early Wednesday evening, convinced they were watching a loss, are in for quite a surprise when they pick up their morning paper. It looked more like a pennant clincher or the seventh game of a World Series as the Tigers swarmed out of the dugout, even as Yankee centerfielder Bobby Murcer was winging the ball into the empty leftfield seats disgust. Led by Ike Brown and Dick McAuliffc, the Tigers mauled Duke Sims, knocking off his glasses and mussing up his long biond hair moments after his game-winning single had dropped into left-centerfield on what only last Sunday served as the Lions' 10-yard line.

It was the third time Sims has won a ball-game with his bat but it was by far the biggest as the Tigers somehow rallied from five runs down to defeat the Yankees and their relief ace Sparky Lyle 6-5. The victory kept the Tigers half a game back of also successful Boston and the Yanks who had suddenly come alive again with three wins in a row from creeping any closer. AND WHAT'S maybe ever more important, it came when a Tiger victory looked like a lost cause. The Yankees seemed to have everything going for them as they sought to register their sixth straight triumph Over the Tigers. The scored five times in the first three innings as first Joe Coleman and then Fred Scherman had trouble finding the plate.

By the time the chilly evening was finally finished, the Yanks had left 17 runners stranded just three short of the major league record, which they happen to hold. They had the advantage of a dozen walks, the most the Tigers pitching staff has passed nut to anybody all year. And on top of that, there were 10 hits, beginning with Johnny Cal-lison's three-run homer in the top of the first. Billy Martin employed seven pitchers in all, six pinch hitlers, and three pinch runners in pulling out the victory. But until the bottom of the eighth, the Tigers looked as good as dead.

THEN WILLIE MORTON opened the inning with a single. A Kaline drove Hoirton home from second with a base hit of his own. And after Sims singled, pinch-hitter Frank Howard knocked in anottier Tiger run. A walk to Ike Brown, batting for Northrup, filled bases, and Mickey Stanley promptly pulled the Tigers to within one run with a sacrifice fly. But Aurelio Rodriguez struck out and Lyle stood three outs away from a record 36th save.

And, after all, until Wednesday night he hadn't given up a run in seven games against the Tigers this season, including five saves and a win. But in the last of the ninth, Eddie Brinkrnan the inning with a single and Horton -luickly came through with another. TONY TAYLOR, batting for McAuliffe, dropped a perfect bunt down the third-base line to load 'em up and Kaline came through with a game tying sacrifice fly. Still Houk stuck with Lyle just long enough for Sims to slam his single and then pandemonium. What was left of the crowd of 21,850 hung around and applauded long after the Tigers had hugged one another off the field.

Every announcement over the public address brought a roar from the crowd, as for the first time they began to feel real pennant fever. Colenan, who lost his chance for 20 wins when i'c wasn't around for the victory Wednesday, began the game by walking Roy turn to Page 51), Column 2 WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS DETROIT 6, New York 5. Boston 7, Milwaukee 5. Cleveland 3, Baltimore 0. Complete Standings on Page Bosox Trim Brewers, 7-5 A's Win; Magic No.

Is2-4D Excited? 'You BeW i Says Stunned Billy Sorry, Espo; 1 Was Wron BY JOE FA! I Is res Press Sports Editor Excited? Who's, Well, how about Billy Martin for cpeners? "You bet I'm excited. Come back in rbout three I'll tell you yl about the same," the very limn maruecr of the liters sighed after Wednesday night's incredible victory over the Yankess. Martin was dfl, but drained 7 IS 7 Tiger. Hero Sims Is Mobl)ed-5D At An apnliigy is in order Phil Eposito. Until the other night, I've had my mind fixed exactly what kind of guy what sort of hockey player Phil Eposito is.

I had him pegged as selfish, self-centered individual who didn't care for much else except how Phil Eposito was doing in the old goal-scoring race in the NIIL. In other words, I could almost hear him saying: "Well, wc lost but I got two more goals." Sorry, Phil. I saw my first Team Canada-Team Russia game on television (game No. 6) and never did I see a player who cared more for his team and how it perfurmed than Espo. Not only was he all over the ice, absolutely breaking his neck, but he was imploring everyone around him to give their best.

For the good of Phil Eposito? I didn't get that idea at all. As corny as it may sound. 1 felt he was doing it for excuse it the honor and glory of Canada. That's beautiful. It's been a strange thing about this international hockey I've taken the whole thing personally.

The guys in my office have been taking it lightly and even laughing at the plight of the Canadians. I haven't felt that way a' all. I've felt it is our team representing if not the country we live in, the things we believe in and 1 was as embarrassed as anyone over the results in the Canadian portion of the series. Not only embarrassed but also a little humiliated. I Just never dreamed the Russians could do that to us.

It's been hard to take. The worst part has been the i that has beset the Canadian team. I hated to see Vic Hadfield and the others quit. I wish they had remained in Russia, even if they were unhappy, and fulfilled their committment. of i following the Tigers' triumph ovfer the Yankees.

He sat quietly in his ffice and let his players make ull the noise out in room. i' "Another laugher," said Martin, Then he managed a small "But a good one to win," he said. V' You s'u spec t'e Martin wanted to stand on top of his. desk and bellow at the top -of. his voice.

Instead, he just kept sitting there talking in almost hushed tones. "WEIL, have to admit I was a little more excited in this one than I've been in a long time," he said. 1 A reporter asked him if he noticed how many.peopl had left the ball park before the end of the game. It seemed fully 5,000 walked out on the Tigers. 'r never dead: they should know that," said Mar tin.

But III say this those who; stayed were really cheering and that was just great." Just then the telephone Martin picked it up and answered it. 's that, President Nixon?" asked one of the re-, porters. said Martin with a "ONE OF the hi? plays was Tony laylor's bunt single with runners on first, and setwI mVx nobody out in the ninth. Manfii said he had given Taylor the option of swining away or buntin for a hit. Sot chaser 2nd ad SIDEBAR Please turn to Page 5D, Col.

2 I 6 BOSTON-(AP) Luis Apar-icio, confident of playing in the World Series once again, gave the old folks another boost Wednesday in sparking the Boston Red Sox to a vital 7-5 victory over the lowly, but pesky, Milwaukee Brewers. Now 28 and completing his 17th season in the major leagues, Aparicio collected three hits, including a decisive two-run triple, as the Red Sox came from behind to preserve their lead in the tight American League East. Pending the outcome of the Detroit-New York game Wednesday night the Red Sox led by a full game. "I FEEL GOOD, just the same as always at this stage of the season," the slick little shortstop said. "Maybe I get a Bovecore Page ID couple of hours extra sleep now and then, but what the heck I have all winter to rest." Aparicio, who predicted several weeks ago that the Red Sox would win their division, said he'now thinks that the race will go down to the final three-game series in Detroit next week.

"All we have to do is win every ball game and we have no worries," he said with a smile. "I thought we'd have it wrapped up before we went into Detroit next Monday, but now I don't think so. I can't see Detroit losing say four in a row because of their pitching." "THIS IS ONE I felt we had to win," Boston manager Eddie Kasko said. "Right now we have to stay at least even with Detroit. I would like to pick up a game before we go into Detroit.

Then we would be a game and a half in front and they'd have to sweep the three-game series." The Red Sox jumped to a 2-0 lead against Milwaukee, but the Brewers came back in the third. One run scored as Aparicio had trouble with a grounder and managed just a force play at second on what he figures was an inning-ending double play. Bum 'i-mr-r rfi i ir inimxiiriimM ni ih irnn "famtf 'iritm iM Fret Prsu PholODV ALAN KAMUOA (T i mm The Same as Our Guys Dick McAuliffe slides into second, but fails to break up i- double play as Yanks' Horace Clarke fires to first to double up Al Kaline In first inning. BRAND NEW DOUBLE-KNIT SPORT COATS FOR FALL AND WINTER, SPECIALLY I 1 Then John Briggs followed with a three-run homer, his 20th, finishing Boston starter Lynn McGlothin. Reliever Bill Lee blanked the Brewers until the ninth and earned his first victory since July 12 with relief help from Bob Bolin.

APARICIO HAD a single wasted in the third. In the fifth, after Tommy Harper walked, he singled Carl Yas-trzembski singled home Harper and Reggie Smith followed with a double off the wall in left center to put the Red Sox ahead, 5-4. An infield hit by Doug Griffin, a single on a chopper after a faked bunt by Lee annd Apa-ricio's line triple to right center scored two more nurs in the sixth. -1 TOED AT JUST 4985 i So there was Espo all over the ice the other night, playing his heart out, and I loved him for it. What is he really getting out of it? I don't know, maybe a few thousand bucks.

That can't mean much to him, for all the dough he is making with the Boston Bruins. The Russians, of course, are awfully good. We are an image-conscious people and my image of Russian athletes has been Hint they're a bunch of big brutes with crude appearances and sonie even wearing those big walrus-like mustaches. I know that's absurd, but that's what I've thought. It was distressing in Munich to see so many of the Russians stand so tall and handsome, so big and strong, but it never hit me how wrong I was as when they were playing the Soviet National Anthem the other night and the camera panned across the faces of the Russian players.

They're the same as our guys. Some big, some small. Some 15. some not so Thov're people, and as people, why can't they excel at what they do? We don't have a market on excellence, even though I wouldn't trade what we have in this country with anyone. So then I watched the Canadian players perform.

They made me feel proud, not so much because they pulled the game out on Paul Henderson's late goal but because they played so hard. They have been caught in a buzz-saw, stunned beyond anything thev ever expected. Remember how they were saying 8-0 or nothing? In a situation like this, they could have given up very easily. Some did. Like Hadfield.

But most of them didn't. After the initial shock, they began fighting back and, win or lose Thursday night's deciding game, I think they've got as much right to be proud as the Russians do for the way they've carried the play to the Canadiens. All it's been so far is Russia, Russia, Russia how very good they are and how our spoiled our pros were and good for them for whatever they got. I suppose that's true. But you watch Esno pnd Henderson and John Paul Parise and Gary Bergman and Rod Gilbert and Tony Esposi to -mostly these and you realize they are professionals in more ways than in name only, They've Mastered Our G(nue They are all fighting for their pride.

They've been asked to peak at the Mart of a season, instead of the end, and they're giving it all they've got. You suspect they just don't want to get on that plane to come home knowing they are losers. know now an 8-0 weep was foolishness: probably superior capitalistic foolishness, whatever that means. We ma" as veil face the fact the Rusjians have mastered our game, just as they've mastered everything else we've invented. As for the Russians, it is hard to believe they can be so good, in such relatively new sport.

My strongest impression is that they have many players of equal ability all exceptional. Maybe the Soviets can't yet produce the individual greatness of an Esposito or a Bobby Orr but they don't seem to have any weak players either. Finally, a word about this old gaffer, Foster Hewitt. You can talk rbout hockey broadcasters and then you can talk about hockey broadcasters. When you're finished, you can talk about oster Hewitt.

He is still the best of them a man who understands the game to such a degree thai he not only is able to tell what is happening, but why it is happening. And most of all I've never heard a more eminently fair broadcaster in any sport. Look in Thursday (at a.m. or 8 p.m.) and listen to old 1 'oster. He is so good so aware that you don't even know he is talking to yw after a wlvle.

He goes with the ebb and flow of the play so smoothly it as if he is part of the game himself. Let's see them top that in tlv CCCP. Pure polyester double-knits: easy-going and wririkle-free, in two-button and blazer models. The two-button styles are in checks, plaids, stripes; the blazers in solids. KNIT SPORT COAT GROUP NO.

2: pure polyester double-knits in solids, patterns- 42.85 KNIT SPORT COAT GROUP NO. 3: finer quality' clbuble-knits in assorted styles A JX- 58.85 iff. PERKY WINS 2.1KD Indians Push Birds 3V2 Back BALTIMORE (UPI) Cleveland played the spoiler again Wednesday night and Chris Champliss held the lead role for the second straight game by tripling across two runs and scor; ing another as the Indians clipped the Orioles' chances in the" American League East pennant race, downing Baltimore, 3-0, behind Gaylord Perry's 23rd victory. The defeat drooped tbrt Orioles 3', games behind front-running Boston, which opens a three-game series in Baltimore Friday night. The Orioles have five games remaining.

Perry (23-16) gave up three singles in the first inning but settled down to strand 10 Orioles while the Indians defeated Baltimore for the seventh time in nine games since the All-Star break. Dave McNally (13-17) started on the mound for Baltimore but was jolted for all the Indians' runs in the first inning. Buddy Bell opened the game with a single off McNally. John Brohamer reached first on a Boog Powell error and Chambliss, DOUBLE-KNIT SLACKS IN A FLARE-LEG STYLE WITH BELT-LOOPS. NAVY, BROWN OR TAN, IN WAIST SIZES 32 TO 42.

VERY SPECIALLY PRICED (5)85 no charge for alterations dm 1 I A IE IE who knocked in two runs Tuesday night, tripled up the left-centerfield alley to score Bell and Brohamer. Fosse followed with a single to score Chambliss. Roric Harrison relieved McNally and pitched five innings of two-hit ball. The Orioles, division champs for the past three seasons, can be eliminated by any combination of Boston victories and Baltimore losses totaling three. The Orioles have lost five of six games, and have gone 10-12, since last holding the division lead on Sept.

3. 'm miSto Md iiiiMi nitoto im Boxscore on Page 1D UttJU 1 fi 1 rrf ri irt rt. iri ttm.