Tuesday, September 27, 1938

Tigers bats lead way in twinbill sweep over Browns

TIGERS 8-7, St. Louis 7-3
at Detroit, MI

Game 1
STL   400 001 011 = 7-10-0
DET  400 000 031 = 8-15-0
WP- Rowe (10-7); LP- Cole
HR- Kress, STL (1st inning; 2 on, 2 out); McQuinn, STL (9th inning; 0 on, 1 out)

Game 2
STL   000 000 201 = 3-8-2
DET   220 000 03x = 7-14-0
WP- Coffman (5-3); LP- Cox
HR- Cullenbine, DET (1; 8th inning; 2 on, 1 out)

The Tigers scored 15 runs and banged out 29 hits in sweeping a doubleheader from the last-place Browns. Hank Greenberg didn't add to his home run total of 56, but Roy Cullenbine hit his first---a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the eighth inning of the nightcap to break the game open. In Game 1, the Browns jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, but the Tigers' potent offense answered with four runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning. The Browns tied the game, 7-7 in the ninth, but Birdie Tebbetts' single in the bottom of the ninth drove home Billy Rogell for the victory. The Tigers are 12-6 on this 20-game home stand.

TIGERS: 83-66; Home: 43-36; Away: 40-30


Cullenbine's first homer of the season broke game 2 open

Sunday, September 25, 1938

Greenberg slugs two homers in Tigers' win

TIGERS 8, Cleveland 3
at Detroit, MI

CLE   030 000 000 = 3-5-1
DET   010 501 10x = 8-11-0
WP- Poffenberger (6-7); LP- Galehouse
HR- Trosky, CLE (2nd inning; 1 on, 0 out); Keltner, CLE (2nd inning; 0 on, 1 out); Greenberg, DET 2 (55; 2nd inning; 0 on, 0 out); (56; 7th inning; 0 on, 0 out); Christman, DET (2; 4th inning; 2 on, 2 out)

Hank Greenberg hit his 55th and 56th home runs of the season, and Boots Poffenberger pitched a complete game as the Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians, 8-3, to take three games of a four-game weekend series at Briggs Stadium. Both of Greenberg's homers led off innings. He has 160 RBI and his slugging percentage is an astounding .684. He needs four home runs in his last seven games to tie Babe Ruth's single season record of 60. Mark Christman added a three-run homer for the fourth-place Tigers, who are 27-14 in their past 41 games.Poffenberger scattered five hits and only had one bad inning---the second, in which he surrendered two home runs. In all three wins over the Tribe, Detroit erased deficits.

Greenberg watch: 56 home runs, seven games to play

TIGERS: 81-66; Home: 41-36; Away: 40-30


Greenberg is closing in on the Bambino

Saturday, September 24, 1938

Tribe ambushes Tigers pitchers, 20-3

Cleveland 20, TIGERS 3
at Detroit, MI

CLE   020 203 346 = 20-16-0
DET   100 020 000 = 3-10-1
WP- Harder; LP- Bridges (8-7)
HR- Keltner, CLE (2nd inning; 1 on, 2 out); Heath, CLE (8th inning; 3 on, 0 out); Averill, CLE (9th inning; 3 on, 0 out)

The Cleveland Indians hit two grand slams and used wildness from Tigers pitchers to steamroll to a 20-3 victory on Saturday. Twelve walks were issued to Indians hitters, and the Tigers gave up at least 20 runs in a game for the second time this season. Roxie Lawson was the Tigers' biggest offender, as he gave up 10 runs and eight walks in three innings of work. The Tigers' pitching staff, thanks to a slew of doubleheaders, was taxed so Lawson was left in to take the majority of the punishment. Jeff Heath and Earl Averill both hit grand slams, in the eighth and ninth inning, respectively.

Greenberg watch: 54 home runs, eight games to play

TIGERS: 80-66; Home: 40-36; Away: 40-30


Lawson was left in to give up 10 runs and eight walks in three innings

Friday, September 23, 1938

Tigers come from behind twice to sweep Tribe

TIGERS 7-6, Cleveland 6-4 (DH)
at Detroit, MI

Game 1
CLE   010 001 031 = 6-9-3
DET   000 000 403 = 7-10-1
One out when winning run scored.
WP- Rowe (9-7); LP- Humphries
HR- Heath, CLE (8th inning; 2 on, 1 out); York, DET (32; 9th inning; 1 on, 1 out)

Game 2
CLE   201 001 000 = 4-8-1
DET   020 040 00x = 6-9-0
WP- Benton (10-2); LP- Whitehill
HR- none

Rudy York's dramatic two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth won Game 1, and the Tigers overcame an early 3-2 deficit in the nightcap to sweep a doubleheader from the Cleveland Indians. York connected off Johnny Humphries, scoring Hank Greenberg in front of him. The Tigers had gone into their half of the ninth trailing, 6-4. In Game 2, a four-run fifth inning put the Tigers ahead 6-3. Detroit took advantage of wildness from Indians pitcher Earl Whitehill, who walked three batters in the inning. All three scored. Al Benton upped his record to 10-2 with the win in the second game. Hank Greenberg failed to hit a home run, so he still has 54 with nine games to play.

TIGERS: 80-65; Home: 40-35; Away: 40-30

Wednesday, September 21, 1938

Tigers, A's split DH

TIGERS 7-2, Philadelphia 6-12 (DH)
at Detroit, MI

Game 1
PHI   041 010 000 = 6-11-2
DET  211 300 00x = 7-7-1
WP- Coffman (4-3); SV- Rowe (9); LP- Dean

Game 2
PHI   007 102 002 = 12-14-2
DET  000 200 000 = 2-7-3
WP- Ross; LP- Poffenberger (5-7)
HR- Johnson, PHI (6th inning; 1 on, 0 out)

In Game 1, the Tigers got four stellar innings of relief from Schoolboy Rowe to hang on for the win. Rowe threw four shutout innings, surrendering just one hit, to preserve a one-run lead. A three-run fourth inning gave Detroit a 7-5 lead. In the nightcap, the Athletics gashed Tigers starter Boots Poffenberger for seven runs in the third inning, though four of those runs were unearned thanks to two errors. Hank Greenberg remained stuck at 54 home runs.

TIGERS: 78-65; Home: 38-35; Away: 40-30

Monday, September 19, 1938

Kennedy silences Senators, 3-0

TIGERS 3, Washington 0
at Detroit, MI

WAS   000 000 000 = 0-6-0
DET    200 100 00x = 3-10-0
WP- Kennedy (12-8); LP- Appleton
HR- Greenberg, DET (54; 1st inning; 1 on, 2 out)

Vern Kennedy spun a six-hit shutout, Hank Greenberg slammed his 54th home run, and the Tigers beat the Washington Senators, 3-0, to sweep a two-game series. Greenberg's pursuit of Babe Ruth's single season home run record of 60 continued, as Hank needs six in the Tigers' final 13 games to tie the Bambino. Kennedy was brilliant, walking two and recording two strikeouts. Only one Senators base runner reached third base and only one other reached second base. Rudy York and Dixie Walker had two hits each for the Tigers, who have won nine of 13.

TIGERS: 77-64; Home: 37-34; Away: 40-30


Kennedy lifted his record to 12-8 with a sterling performance

Sunday, September 18, 1938

Bridges pitches complete game as Tigers stifle Senators

TIGERS 7, Washington 1
at Detroit, MI

WAS   100 000 000 = 1-6-3
DET    060 100 00x = 7-10-0
WP- Bridges (8-6); LP- Chase
HR- Gehringer, DET (26; 2nd inning; 2 on, 2 out)

Tommy Bridges overcame a rough first inning to pitch a complete game, six-hitter, and the Tigers erupted for six runs in the second inning---three of them unearned---in waltzing to a 7-1 win over the Washington Senators at Briggs Stadium. Three of the first four Senators batters reached base and Bridges eventually walked in a run. But Bridges scattered four harmless hits the rest of the way to improve to 8-6. He also overcame issuing eight walks. Roy Cullenbine, in a rare start, had two hits, including a two-run triple. Hank Greenberg was 1-for-4 with an RBI but no home runs, keeping him at 53 for the season.

TIGERS: 76-64; Home: 36-34; Away: 40-30


Roy Cullenbine got a rare start and had two hits and two RBI

Saturday, September 17, 1938

Yankees steamroll past Tigers; Greenberg homer-less

New York 7, TIGERS 1
at Detroit, MI

NY    101 203 000 = 7-10-1
DET  010 000 000 = 1-5-2
WP- Pearson; LP- Benton (9-2)
HR- Rolfe, NY (3rd inning; 0 on, 1 out); Gordon, NY (4th inning; 1 on, 2 out); Gehrig, NY (6th inning; 1 on,0 out)

Monte Pearson pitched a complete game, three Yankees hit home runs and it added up to a 7-1 rout of the Tigers at Briggs Stadium on Saturday. Red Rolfe, Joe Gordon and Lou Gehrig all went deep for the Bronx Bombers. The Tigers briefly tied the game, 1-1, when an error by left fielder George Selkirk led to a run, but other than that, it was all Yankees, who took the series, 2-1. Hank Greenberg remains at 53 home runs in his pursuit of Babe Ruth's single season record.

TIGERS: 75-64; Home: 35-34; Away: 40-30


Monte Pearson

Friday, September 16, 1938

Gomez handcuffs Tigers, 3-0

New York 3, TIGERS 0
at Detroit, MI

NY    000 001 200 = 3-8-0
DET  000 000 000 = 0-3-2
WP- Gomez; LP- Gill (8-11)
HR- none

Lefty Gomez spun a three-hit shutout and the New York Yankees squared their series with the Tigers with a 3-0 win at Briggs Stadium. Gomez walked three and struck out four as the Tigers only managed to get a runner as far as third base, once. Bill Dickey's two-run single in the seventh gave Gomez some breathing room, not that he needed it. Hank Greenberg remains stuck at 53 home runs.

TIGERS: 75-63; Home: 35-33; Away: 40-30


Gomez gave no quarter on Friday

Thursday, September 15, 1938

Tigers blow big lead, are rescued by Greenberg

TIGERS 8, New York 7
at Detroit, MI

NY    000 002 131 = 7-11-1
DET  520 000 001 = 8-12-0
None out when winning run scored.
WP- Rowe (8-7); LP- Andrews
HR- Crosetti, NY (6th inning; 1 on, 0 out); Greenberg, DET (53; 9th inning, 0 on, 0 out)

The Tigers didn't need Hank Greenberg in the early innings as they built a 7-0 lead over the New York Yankees. Good thing, too, as Hank struck out in his first three plate appearances. But the Tigers squandered the lead, just as they blew an 8-0 lead in New York on August 31. But unlike that game, which the Yankees won, Greenberg rode to the rescue and blasted his 53rd home run of the season leading off the ninth inning, lifting the Tigers to an 8-7 win over New York. Greenberg launched the second pitch he saw from Yanks reliever Ivy Andrews into the upper deck in left field. Greenberg needs seven homers in the Tigers' last 17 games to tie Babe Ruth's season record of 60, set in 1927.
The Yankees didn't even manage their first base hit until the sixth inning, but still scored seven runs by the ninth inning. The Tigers won their fourth straight game and the third straight in their last at-bat.

TIGERS: 75-62; Home: 35-32; Away: 40-30


Greenberg kept his pursuit of Ruth going, while also winning the game for the Tigers

Wednesday, September 14, 1938

Tigers stun Red Sox in ninth, 6-5

TIGERS 6, Boston 5
at Detroit, MI

BOS   203 000 000 = 5-10-1
DET   030 100 002 = 6-11-1
None out when winning run scored.
WP- Rowe (7-7); LP- Heving
HR- Foxx, BOS (1st inning; 1 on, 1 out)

Rudy York singled home Dixie Walker to cap a two-run rally in the ninth inning, and the Tigers upended the Boston Red Sox, 6-5 at Briggs Stadium. The Red Sox scored their runs by the third inning and it looked like they were going to hang on for the win. But Chet Morgan led off the ninth with a single, and Walker tripled him home, tying the game, 5-5. Charlie Gehringer walked, and Hank Greenberg was walked intentionally, to a chorus of boos, to load the bases. Greenberg has 52 home runs and is chasing Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60. With the infield drawn in, York punched a hit past shortstop Joe Cronin and into center field to score the winning run.

TIGERS: 74-62; Home: 34-32; Away: 40-30


York's second hit of the game was the most important

Tuesday, September 13, 1938

Greenberg is Tigers hero, but not with a home run

TIGERS 3, Boston 2
at Detroit, MI

BOS    020 000 000 = 2-4-0
DET    000 020 001 = 3-12-2
Two out when winning run scored.
WP- Kennedy (11-8); LP- McKain

Hank Greenberg is pursuing Babe Ruth's single season home run record, but on Tuesday it was a measly single from Greenberg that beat the Boston Red Sox at Briggs Stadium. Greenberg's single with two out in the bottom of the ninth scored Dixie Walker to lead the Tigers to a 3-2 victory. The game-winning rally started with nobody on base. Walker singled, as did Charlie Gehringer. That brought up Greenberg, who has 52 homers. But a home run wasn't needed and the Tigers tied a season high by moving to 11 games above .500. Vern Kennedy pitched a complete game and was rewarded with his 11th win.

TIGERS: 73-62; Home: 33-32; Away: 40-30


Kennedy was the beneficiary of Greenberg's heroics

Monday, September 12, 1938

Greenberg hits no. 52 as Tigers edge White Sox

TIGERS 3, Chicago 2
at Detroit, MI

CHI   101 000 000 = 2-8-1
DET  001 011 00x = 3-6-0
WP- Benton (9-1); SV- Rowe (8); LP- Knott
HR- Greenberg, DET (52; 6th inning; 0 on, 0 out)

Hank Greenberg's 52nd home run of the year broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning, and Schoolboy Rowe pitched two innings of scoreless relief to save Al Benton's win as the Tigers nipped the Chicago White Sox, 3-2, to avoid a three-game sweep. Greenberg needs eight home runs in the Tigers' final 20 games to tie Babe Ruth's single-season record. The White Sox led, 2-0, in the third inning when Chet Morgan's RBI single cut the lead in half. The Tigers tied the game in the fifth inning when Morgan doubled home Mark Christman, who reached base on an error. Benton pitched seven innings, scattering seven hits.

TIGERS 72-62; Home: 32-32; Away: 40-30

Sunday, September 11, 1938

Tigers come up short in extra innings twice, lose DH to Chisox

Chicago 8-8, TIGERS 7-5 (DH; Game 1 11 innings, Game 2 10 innings)

Game 1
CHI    000 000 403 01 = 8-15-0
DET   003 200 200 00 = 7-10-0
WP- Boyles; LP- Rowe (6-7)
HR- Greenberg, DET 2 (50; 3rd inning; 2 on, 2 out); (51; 7th inning; 1 on, 1 out); Walker, CHI 2 (7th inning; 1 on, 1 out); (9th inning; 2 on, 1 out)

Game 2
CHI    002 001 010 4 = 8-10-1
DET   000 001 021 1 = 5-9-2
WP- Gabler; LP- Poffenberger (5-6)
HR- York, DET (31; 6th inning; 0 on, 2 out); Gehringer, DET (25; 8th inning; 1 on, 1 out)

The Tigers lost two extra inning games in a Sunday doubleheader at Briggs Stadium, kicking off a 20-game home stand. In Game 1, Gee Walker's three-run homer in the ninth inning tied the game, capping a comeback from a 5-0 deficit, and Luke Appling's single in the tenth drove home what proved to be the winning run. In the loss, Hank Greenberg slugged his 50th and 51st homers of the season. Walker's blast in the ninth was his second of the game as well.

In the nightcap, the Tigers fell behind, 3-0, battled back to tie the game, 4-4, with a run in the ninth inning, but the White Sox prevailed by erupting for four runs in the tenth inning. Boots Poffenberger was victimized by the outburst, surrendering four runs, three hits and two walks. The big blow in the inning was a bases loaded triple by pinch-hitter Merv Connors.

TIGERS: 71-62; Home: 31-32; Away: 40-30

Friday, September 9, 1938

Greenberg's four hits, four RBI leads Tigers past Indians

TIGERS 5, Cleveland 3
at Cleveland, OH

DET   102 000 200 = 5-10-1
CLE   000 011 001 = 3-10-1
WP- Bridges (7-6); SV- Eisenstat (7); LP- Hudlin

Hank Greenberg went 4-for-5 with four RBI, including his 49th home run, and the Tigers held off the Cleveland Indians, 5-3, at League Park. Greenberg added two singles and a triple to his four-bagger as the Tigers took three straight from the Tribe after losing on Tuesday. Greenberg needs 11 home runs in the Tigers' last 23 games to tie Babe Ruth's single season home run record. Greenberg's two-run shot in the seventh inning turned a 3-2 Tigers lead into a 5-2 cushion. Tommy Bridges scattered nine hits in eight innings of work for the win. Lyn Lary had four hits and two RBI for the Tribe. The Tigers will begin a 20-game home stand with a Sunday doubleheader vs. Chicago.

TIGERS: 71-60; Home: 31-30; Away: 40-30


Greenberg watches his 49th home run fly over the left field wall on Friday

Thursday, September 8, 1938

Tigers storm to 11-0 lead, clobber Tribe

TIGERS 12, Cleveland 5
at Cleveland, OH

DET    300 044 001 = 12-17-0
CLE    000 000 032 = 5-11-0
WP- Benton (8-1); LP- Whitehill
HR- Gehringer, DET (24; 1st inning; 1 on, 1 out); Greenberg, DET (48; 6th inning; 3 on, 0 out)

The Tigers had an 11-0 lead by the sixth inning, the Cleveland Indians only had two hits, and it was a coast the rest of the way to a 12-5 win for Detroit. Charlie Gehringer kicked things off with a two-run homer in the first inning. Hank Greenberg added a grand slam in the sixth inning, his 48th homer of the year. Tigers starter Al Benton pitched eight innings before tiring, and moved his record to 8-1. The Tigers banged out 17 hits off three Indians pitchers. Dixie Walker had four hits and scored four runs.

TIGERS: 70-60; Home: 31-30; Away: 39-30

Wednesday, September 7, 1938

Greenberg, Coffman (!) lead Tigers attack in win over Tribe

TIGERS 8, Cleveland 6
at Detroit, MI

CLE   000 010 410 = 6-9-1
DET   003 102 20x = 8-12-1
WP- Coffman (3-3); SV- Rowe (7); LP- Harder
HR- Kroner, CLE (7th inning, 0 on, 0 out)

Hank Greenberg's bases-clearing, three-run triple in the third inning drew first blood, and pitcher Slick Coffman helped his own cause with a two-run double in the sixth, as the Tigers held off the Cleveland Indians, 8-6, at Briggs Stadium. Greenberg's two-out drive into the left-center field gap plated Chet Morgan, Dixie Walker and Charlie Gehringer, who all singled with two outs. In the sixth, Coffman flared a hit that dropped just inside the right field line, about 15 feet out of the infield. That hit, also with two outs, scored two runs to make the score 6-1. Coffman was then charged with four runs in the seventh inning, but the Tigers responded with a two-run, two-out single from Pete Fox in their half of the inning to make the score 8-5. Schoolboy Rowe ended a pitching slump with three innings of one-run ball to notch his seventh save. Seven of the eight Tigers RBI came with two outs.

TIGERS: 69-60; Home: 31-30; Away: 38-30


Pete Fox's two-out, two-run single in the seventh restored some insurance for the Tigers

Tuesday, September 6, 1938

Tribe uses balanced attack to rout Tigers, 10-4

Cleveland 10, TIGERS 4
at Detroit, MI

CLE   212 002 030 = 10-18-3
DET   000 110 002 = 4-8-2
WP- Feller; LP- Eisenstat (11-5)
HR- Hale, CLE (2nd inning; 0 on, 1 out)

The Tigers' return home after a 15-game road trip wasn't happy, as the Cleveland Indians jumped all over starter Harry Eisenstat on their way to a 10-4 win at Briggs Stadium. Eight different Indians hitters each had at least one RBI in the balanced attack. The Tribe had a 5-0 lead by the third inning and it was all downhill from there for Detroit. Nineteen year-old Bob Feller pitched six strong innings to earn the win.

TIGERS: 68-60; Home: 30-30; Away: 38-30


The high-kicking Feller, just 19, tossed six innings of five-hit ball, and neither of the two runs he allowed were earned

Monday, September 5, 1938

Early runs carry Tigers over Browns, 8-5

TIGERS 8, St. Louis 5
at St. Louis, MO

DET   033 100 010 = 8-9-1
STL    010 001 210 = 5-10-1
WP- Gill (8-10); SV- Eisenstat (7); LP- L. Mills
HR- McQuinn, STL (7th inning; 1 on, 2 out); Gehringer, DET (23; 8th inning; 0 on, 2 out); Bell, STL (8th inning; 0 on, 1 out)

The Tigers tore into Browns starter Lefty Mills for seven runs by the fourth inning on their way to an 8-5 win in a makeup game played on Labor Day in St. Louis. Mills' own error contributed to the destruction in the third inning, the second straight inning in which the Tigers scored three runs. Chet Morgan had three RBI for the Tigers and George Gill pitched eight innings for his eighth win. Charlie Gehringer hit his 23rd home run in the eighth inning after the Browns had closed to within 7-4. The game marked the end of a 15-game road trip, in which the Tigers went 9-6.

TIGERS: 68-59; Home: 30-29; Away: 38-30


Mills walked 10 and gave up seven runs (five earned) in seven innings of work on Monday

Sunday, September 4, 1938

Tigers maul White Sox behind 17-hit attack

TIGERS 12, Chicago 3
at Chicago, IL

DET   000 430 401 = 12-17-1
CHI    000 003 000 = 3-8-1
WP- Benton (7-1); LP- Rigney
HR- Gehringer, DET (22; 7th inning; 2 on, 0 out); York, DET (30; 7th inning; 0 on,1 out); Greenberg, DET (47; 9th inning; 0 on, 1 out)

The Tigers broke open a scoreless game with seven runs in the fourth and fifth innings, on their way to a 12-3 rout of the White Sox at Comiskey Park. Charlie Gehringer had three hits and four RBI, including a three-run homer. Dixie Walker had four hits and Chick Morgan added three singles as Detroit unleashed a 17-hit barrage. Al Benton, despite an ERA over 6.00, improved to 7-1 on the year with 7.1 innings of effective pitching. Hank Greenberg and Rudy York each hit solo homers for the Tigers.

TIGERS: 67-59; Home: 30-29; Away: 37-30


Walker's four hits led a 17-hit Detroit onslaught

Saturday, September 3, 1938

Tigers no-hit into seventh, fall to Knott, Chisox

Chicago 5, TIGERS 3
at Chicago, IL

DET   000 000 102 = 3-4-1
CHI    004 000 10x = 5-10-1
WP- Knott; SV- Rigney; LP- Bridges (6-6)
HR- Greenberg, DET (46; 9th inning, 0 on, 0 out); Fox, DET (6; 9th inning; 0 on, 1 out)

Jack Knott didn't allow a base hit until one out in the seventh inning, and by that time, his Chicago White Sox had a 4-0 lead over the Tigers. Rudy York's double spoiled Knott's no-hit bid. In the third inning, the Chisox scored four times off Tommy Bridges. Five consecutive White Sox hitters reached base during the rally. The Tigers made things interesting in the ninth inning, when Hank Greenberg and Pete Fox each hit solo homers to make the score 5-3. But Johnny Rigney was summoned from the bullpen and he set down Billy Rogell and Mark Christman to end the game.

TIGERS: 66-59; Home: 30-29; Away: 36-30


Chicago's Knott, warming up prior to Saturday's game, handcuffed the Tigers until the seventh inning

Thursday, September 1, 1938

Tigers turn tables on Yanks, rally late to win

TIGERS 4, New York 3
at The Bronx, NY

DET    000 100 021 = 4-9-3
NY      120 000 000 = 3-9-0
WP- Poffenberger (5-5); SV- Wade (1); LP- Pearson
HR- Greenberg, DET (45; 8th inning; 1 on, 2 out)

Maybe the Tigers should have let the Yankees score first after all. After blowing late leads on Tuesday and Wednesday, Detroit staged a late rally of their own on Thursday to nip the Bronx Bombers, 4-3. Hank Greenberg slugged his 45th home run with a man on and two out in the eighth inning to tie the game, 3-3. Then in the Tigers ninth, pinch-hitter Jo-Jo White's single scored Tony Piet from second base to give the Tigers their eventual game-winning run. Boots Poffenberger, despite loading the bases in the seventh and eighth innings with walks, tossed two scoreless innings before giving way to Tommy Bridges and Jake Wade, who combined to set the Yankees down in order in the ninth. Greenberg added a double and he scored two runs.

TIGERS: 66-58; Home: 30-29; Away: 36-29


Slick Coffman made his first start of the season on Thursday, after 37 appearances in relief in 1938

Wednesday, August 31, 1938

Tigers blow 8-0 lead, lose to Yanks

New York 10, TIGERS 8
at The Bronx, NY

DET   303 200 000 = 8-14-0
NY     000 006 022 = 10-12-0
None out when winning run scored.
WP- Murphy; LP- Rowe (6-6)
HR- Greenberg, DET (44; 1st inning; 1 on, 2 out); York, DET 2 (28; 1st inning; 0 on, 2 out); (29; 4th inning; 1 on, 2 out); Crosetti, NY (8th inning; 1 on, 2 out); DiMaggio, NY (9th inning; 1 on, 0 out)

Joe DiMaggio's two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning capped an incredible Yankees comeback in a 10-8 win over the Tigers. Trailing 8-0, the Yankees scored six runs in the sixth inning as seven consecutive batters reached base. In the eighth, after the Tigers went quietly in the seventh and eighth innings, New York tied the game on a two-run homer by Frank Crosetti. The Tigers got a runner to second base in the ninth but couldn't score. In the Yankee ninth, Myril Hoag led off with a double, and DiMaggio followed with a drive over the left field wall off Schoolboy Rowe. The Tigers jumped to their big lead behind the power of Hank Greenberg and Rudy York, who combined for three homers and seven RBI.

TIGERS 65-58; Home: 30-29; Away: 35-29


DiMaggio's homer in the ninth completed an incredible Yankees comeback

Tuesday, August 30, 1938

Yankees bust loose late, topple Tigers

New York 6, TIGERS 2
at The Bronx, NY

DET   200 000 000 = 2-2-0
NY     000 000 33x = 6-8-0
WP- Chandler; LP- Gill (7-10)
HR- Greenberg, DET (43; 1st inning; 1 on, 2 out)

The Yankees lineup is hard to contain for an entire game, so when George Gill had the Yanks shut out through six innings on two hits, you wondered whether Gill could sustain his performance. He couldn't, and the Yankees beat the Tigers, 6-2. Detroit only got two hits, and only advanced two runners as far as second base after the first inning. Meanwhile, Gill was shutting down the Yankees' vaunted lineup through six. In the seventh, a walk, a hit batsman, a triple and a single produced three Yankees runs. New York added three more runs in the eighth off reliever Al Benton. The big blow in the eighth was Joe DiMaggio's two-run triple. Bill Dickey tripled home two runs in the seventh. The Tigers fell to an even 20 games behind the 85-37 Bronx Bombers.

TIGERS: 65-57; Home: 30-29; Away: 35-28


Gill was masterful through six innings, but then the Yankees finally broke through

Monday, August 29, 1938

Gehringer's clutch home run rescues Tigers

TIGERS 6, Boston 3
at Boston, MA

DET   100 010 040 = 6-9-0
BOS   210 000 000 = 3-13-1
WP- Kennedy (10-8); LP- Wilson
HR- Foxx, BOS (1st inning; 1 on, 1 out); Gehringer, DET (21; 8th inning; 2 on, 0 out)

Charlie Gehringer's three-run homer in the eighth inning erased a 3-2 deficit, and the Tigers overcame the Red Sox, 6-3. The Tigers added another run in the eighth to give some breathing room to Vern Kennedy, who was making his first appearance in relief after 25 starts. The Tigers turned a triple play in the third inning, when with runners on first and second, Ray Chapman hit a sinking line drive to center field on which Chet Morgan made a diving catch. Morgan fired the ball to shortstop Mark Christman, who doubled off the runner on second. Christman then threw to first baseman Hank Greenberg to complete the triple killing.

TIGERS 65-56; Home: 30-29; Away: 35-27


Gehringer, shown before Monday's game, saved the Tigers with his eighth inning home run