The World Champs come into the season with hopes to repeat on their historic season from a year ago which saw them start the year at 35-5 and take the world Series in 5 games. Led by Shortstop Alan Trammell and Starter Jack Morris the Tigers look like a team that could repeat. Todays game had Jack Morris and Neal Heaton as the starting pitchers.
The Indians would open the scoring in the 3rd with a Tony Bernazard Triple and he would score on a Julio Franco Sac Fly. The Tigers could not answer back as they went 1-2-3 in their half of the inning. The Indians would open the 5th with a Chris Bando walk and Tony Bernazard would crush a Jack Morris pitch into the left field seats putting the Indians up 3-0. Heaton had a no-hitter through 5 innings
The Tigers would jump all over Heaton in the 6th. Chet Lemon led off the inning with a Single and Tom Brookens would Sacrifice him to second, Lou Whitaker would Walk and Alan Trammell would Single loading the bases for Kirk Gibson who would lace a single scoring Lemon and Whitaker. Gibson would then get thrown out trying to steal second. Lance Parrish then tagged Heaton for a 2-run shot scoring Trammell and himself, giving the Tigers a 4-3. Nelson Simmons would then pop out to end the inning.
The Indians comeback in the 8th off of Morris. He loaded the bases with a 2 out walk to George Vuckovich. The Tigers decided to pull Morris and bring in Aurelio Lopez to pitch to pinch hitter Mike Hargrove. Hargrove laces a Lopez pitch for a single scoring Joe Carter and Pat Tabler to give the Indians a 5-4 lead. Senor Smoke get Tony Bernazard to ground out to Trammell. Putting him a Double short of the cycle.
The Tigers would go down quietly the next to innings to reliver Tom Waddell.
Final score was a 5-4 Indians win.
Tony Bernazard went 3-4 with a Home Run, and 2 RBI, was a Double shy of the cycle.
Kirk Gibson went 2-4 with 2 RBI
WP Neal Heaton 1-0
LP Jack Morris 0-1
SV Tom Waddell 1