'68 Tigers split series with punchless 88-Dodgers

The 1988 LA Dodgers have offensive stats that fit right in with the 1968 season, where the Detroit Tigers boasted the best offensive team in what has affectionately become known as "the year of the pitcher". The Dodgers relied on great pitching, more specifically a great pitcher (Orel Hersheiser) and timely hitting. The Tigers had both pitching and hitting.

In the opener the Dodgers called upon journeyman Shawn Hillegas to take the hill vs Detroit's Joe Sparma. In real life Hillegas was 3-4 with a 4.13 ERA. He was barely a 5th starter at best. His counterpart, Joe Sparma, was 10-10 witha 3.71 ERA in an era were a 3.20 was considered just average. Nobody expected this game to be a low scoring event. Both offenses were held in check all day. Hillegas looked like Hersheiser and scattered 4 hits enroute to 8 shutout innings. The game remained scoreless until the 8th when John Shelby hit a sac fly to score Steve Sax. Jay Howell came on to pitch a scoreless 9th to notch the save.

Game 2 was another 1 run event. In fact it took 11 innings to decide it. Orel Hersheiser went went the distance, which would be unheard of today, and outdueled 31 game winner Denny McLain. Tiger slugger Willie Horton knotted the game at 2 when he hit a solo homer in the top of the 9th to force extra frames. Veteran catcher Mike Sciocia won the game by doubling home Mike Marshall in the bottom of the 11th.

The series switched to Tiger Stadium for the final 2 games. A change in venue helped the Motown team immeasurably. Game 3 saw their bats come alive as Dodger starter Tim Belcher gave up 6 runs. Tiger starter Earl Wilson was nearly perfect as he tossed a 2 hit shutout. The finale saw 1968 World Series hero Mickey Lolich blank the Dodgers and Tim Leary, who only yielded 2 runs himself. The Tigers scored both runs in the first, all with 2 out, and never looked back. Al Kaline started the rally with a benign single. Bill Freehand and Wayne Northrup knocked in both runs.

Detroit evened its record at 4-4, while LA stands at 2-6.