Tigers Clinch ALCS In 4 Over Royals

AL LCS

Game 1

Detroit 9  Kansas City 4

W: Morris  L: Black

Detroit struck in the first on an RBI triple by Lance Parrish. Jack Morris was cruising along until the 4th. The Royals loaded the bases with 2 out, then Rank White singled, Don Slaught singled, Onyx Concepcion doubled, and suddenly it was 4-1 KC. The lead didn't last long. In the 5th, KC pitchers allowed only 1 hit. Unfortunately, the walked 7, and before the dust settled, the Tigers had scored 6 to retake the lead. Kirk Gibson ripped a 2-run HR in the 8th, and Morris settled down as the Tigers took game 1

Game 2

Kansas City 6  Detroit 4

W: Saberhagen  L: Petry  S: Quisenberry

Detroit jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first on back-to-back homeruns by Kirk Gibson and Lance Parrish. Kansas City scored single runs in the first and second, each time with 2 outs. After the Tigers pushed the lead to 4-2 in the 6th, the Royals got to Dan Petry on homeruns by Jorge Orta and Steve Balboni to take the lead. The Royals tacked on a run in the 7th, and Dan Quisenberry cruised the last 3 innings for the save.

Game 3

Detroit 7  Kansas City 0

W: Wilcox  L: Leibrandt  S: Monge

Switching the action to Tiger Stadium, Barbaro Garbey got the Tigers going with a 2-run homer in the 2nd, and they added another run in the 3rd. Detroit added 3 in the 5th and one more in the 8th. Meanwhile, Milt Wilcox allowed only 3 hits over 5 2/3, and Sid Monge threw 3 1/3 perfect innings to close out the win. 

Game 4

Detroit 3  Kansas City 0

W: Hernandez  L: Quisenberry

The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs in the 2nd, but settled for only one run on a double play ball. Juan Berenguer threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings, but the bullpen couldn't hold it. In the 7th, the Royals got to Aurelio Lopez for a walk and a single. Willie Hernandez came on, but allowed the tying run to score on a sac fly. Things looked great for the Royals to even the series when Hal McRae tagged Hernandez with a 2-out solo homer. However, in the 8th, Alan Trammel ripped a 2-run homer off Dan Quisenberry. Hernandez pitched a 1-2-3 9th, and the Tigers were in the World Series.

Kirk Gibson was named the MVP, hitting .389 with 2 doubles, a triple, 2 HRs, 5 runs and 6 RBI. Lou Whitaker also had a nice LCS, hitting .400 and scoring 5 runs.