John Candelaria (13-11, 3.91) v Len Barker (18-10, 3.81)
Our simple philosophy for this series is one of my favourite all-time sayings:
Scared money never wins.
Sadly, said philosophy doesn’t seem to be carried onto the field as we play very tentatively and drop a 1-0 squeaker with Len Barker just outduelling John Candelaria and we are shut out on 7 singles.
Game 2 in Pittsburgh
Jerry Reuss (15-10, 2.75) v Frank Tanana (19-8, 4.16)
Tigers lead series 1-0
Jerry Reuss gets us home in another well-pitched and low-scoring affair with a final score of 2-1, going the distance and allowing just 3 hits in a fine performance. Wally Backman goes 3-for-3 and Dave Kingman mashes a solo tater.
Game 3 in Detroit
Charlie Lea (17-11, 4.53) v Ron Guidry (11-15, 3.61)
Series tied 1-1
DHs employed for the next three games in Detroit, with Tony Armas in that role for us here as Ron Guidry takes on the underrated Charlie Lea.
The third one-run game of the series sees us blow a 3-0 lead to eventually lose 4-3. Kong goes yard again, as does Dave Parker, but our generally light hitting continues with just 7 hits all told.
Game 4 in Detroit
Dan Spillner (13-6, 4.05) v Larry McWilliams (13-6, 3.30)
Tigers lead series 2-1
A bit of a must-win game for us given Barker awaits us tomorrow and it is up to Larry McWilliams – who has been good, if somewhat inconsistent this season – to procure it for us, as our bats seem to have gone AWOL for now. Hendu in at CF for this one and Sixto Lezcano moves to DH.
Larry does well, allowing just one unearned run on five hits over six, and the bats awaken just a smidge to get us a 5-2 win that guarantees us a return to Pittsburgh. Dave Kingman hits his third homer of the series and Sixto goes 3-for-4 with a walk and a triple.
Game 5 in Detroit
Len Barker (2-0, 2.13) v John Candelaria (0-1, 2.45)
Series tied 2-2
Candy has so far put the lie to his inability to deliver in big games and we just need one more good’un from him in his final start for 1982.
He gives us one, but it goes unrewarded as Barker stymies our offence again – limiting them to just 4 hits – and the Tigers get their noses back in front with a hard-fought 2-1 win.
Game 6 in Pittsburgh
Jerry Reuss (1-0, 2.93) v Frank Tanana (0-2, 4.61)
Tigers lead series 3-2
Jerry Reuss is the only thing standing between us an elimination here and we simply need to find a way to support him with some runs or we are toast.
It’s not to be as the Tigers wear him down and our bats stay cold, with a 6-2 win earning Detroit their 7th MLB Championship. A valiant effort by our guys all year and no shame in bowing out in the way we have to a really strong club that looks set to be competitive for a few years yet.
Tigers outfielder George Wright is named series MVP.
