Bombers sweep Tigers in 4 close games

Game 1:  Yankees 2, Tigers 0

Dave "Rags" Righetti throws 3-hit ball for 7 innings and Goose picks up his first save with a perfect 9th.   Bobby Murcer's sac fly in the 4th scored the first run, and Rick Cerone's 2-out double (his only hit of the series) capped the scoring. Game MVP: Dave Righetti 7ip, 3H, 1W, 6K

Game 2:  Yankees 5, Tigers 2


Rick Reuschel gave up 2 runs over 8 innings, but found himself behind as George Cappuzzello and Aurelio Lopez shut out the Yankees for 7 innings.  The Tigers had scored runs in the 6th and 7th on RBI singles by Steve Kemp and Sweet Lou Whitaker.  The Yanks plated a run in the 8th on a 2-out RBI single by Nettles, but the big blow came in the top of the 9th.  Jerry Mumphrey's single tied the score and Reggie Jackson crushed a monstrous 3-run homer off lefty Kevin Saucier for the 5-2 lead. Dave LaRouche and George Frazier pitched the 9th and kept the TIgers off the scoreboard.  Game MVP: Reggie Jackson 1-5, HR, 3 RBI


Game 3: Yankees 8, Tigers 7

The Tigers score 3 runs early off Ron Guidry on a solo HR by John Wockenfuss, and RBI singles by Al Cowens and Lance Parrish after a 2 out error by Graig Nettles in the 3rd.   Nettles was able to get one back on a solo HR off Jack Morris in the 4th.  The Yankees got hot and put up 5 runs in the 6th on 3 walks and 4 hits off Morris.  The Tigers didn't give up though, and scored twice in the 6th to chase Guidry and twice in the 7th off Doug Bird to tie the game.  Dave Winfields sac fly in the 8th scored Jerry Mumphrey for the lead, and Ron Davis pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the win.  Game MVP: Jerry Mumphrey 4-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI.

Game 4: Yankees 4, Tigers 3


This was a pitcher's duel between Rudy May and Dan Petry for 6 shutout innings.  The Tigers scored a run on a single by Whitaker and two more on a pinch single by Kirk Gibson for a 3-0 lead in the 7th.  The Yankees came back yet again scoring on a bases-loaded groundout by Nettles, and a 3 run HR by Oscar Gamble off Aurelio Lopez, Gamble's first hit of the year (1 for 12).  Frazier, LaRouche and Gossage pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th to complete the sweep. Game MVP: Oscar Gamble 1-3, HR, 3RBI


The Yankees head home to host the White Sox, and the Tigers await the arrival of the Twins.  --submitted by John Clingan--