WALK-OFF SINGLE SNAGS TIGERS OPENER

DETROIT -- Bobby Higginson hit 2 doubles as the Detroit Tigers rallied impressively to win in dramatic style over Minnesota Twins, 7 to 6 in their home opener.

Detroit won the game with a rally in the 9th inning scoring 2 runs using 3 hits.  After an out was recorded, Damion Easley got things going when he slapped a single.  Higginson was next and he doubled.  Tony Clark then hit a single giving Detroit the victory and sending the 19,552 home-town fans home happy.  This was the kind of game that many fans love as the lead changed hands 5 times. 

Mike Myers(1-0) picked up the victory, allowing no runs in 2/3 of an inning.  Rick Aguilera(0-1) took the loss in relief.  He surrendered 2 runs and 3 hits in 1/3 of an inning.




BOXSCORE: 1997 Minnesota Twins At 1997 Detroit Tigers                4/7/1997

  Twins              AB  R  H RBI AVG     Tigers             AB  R  H RBI AVG
  C.Knoblauch 2B      5  0  1  1 .167     B.Hunter CF         4  1  1  0 .167 
  M.Lawton LF         5  0  0  0 .115     D.Easley 2B         4  1  1  0 .207 
  P.Molitor DH        4  2  3  1 .280     B.Higginson LF      4  2  3  1 .308 
  T.Steinbach C       4  1  1  0 .192     T.Clark 1B          5  0  2  2 .172 
  R.Coomer 3B,RF      3  0  1  1 .160     B.Hamelin DH        4  2  3  1 .333 
  S.Stahoviak 1B      3  1  1  1 .250     T.Fryman 3B         4  0  1  0 .357 
  P.Meares SS         4  0  0  1 .091     M.Nieves RF         4  1  1  2 .360 
  R.Becker CF         3  2  2  0 .261     R.Casanova C        3  0  1  1 .263 
  B.Brede RF          3  0  1  0 .333     O.Miller SS         4  0  0  0 .231 
A-D.Hocking PH,3B     1  0  1  1 .400                                         
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---     
         Totals      35  6 11  6                 Totals      36  7 13  7

A-Pinch Hit For Brede In 9th Inning

Twins........... 1 0 0  0 2 2  0 0 1  -  6 11  0
Tigers.......... 1 0 0  2 0 1  1 0 2  -  7 13  0

Twins (3-4)              IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
B.Tewksbury               5       7   4   4   4   3   1  89   4.50  A1 C6
G.Swindell BS(1st)        1 1/3   2   1   1   0   2   0  28   2.84  C7 D3
M.Trombley                1 2/3   1   0   0   0   2   0  22   0.00  D4 D9
R.Aguilera L(0-1) BS(1st) 0 1/3   3   2   2   0   0   0  16   9.00  E1
Totals                    8 1/3  13   7   7   4   7   1

Tigers (4-3)             IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
B.Moehler                 5 2/3   9   5   5   2   1   2  99   4.97  A1 C8
A.Sager                   2 2/3   1   1   1   0   2   0  31   1.59  C9 D8
M.Myers WIN(1-0)          0 2/3   1   0   0   0   1   0  13   0.00  D9
Totals                    9      11   6   6   2   4   2

ATTENDANCE- 19,552 DATE- Monday, April 7th 1997 TIME- Day WEATHER- Average
T- 3:23
LEFT ON BASE- Twins: 5  Tigers: 7
DOUBLE PLAYS- Twins: 0  Tigers: 1
DOUBLES- C.Knoblauch(1st), P.Molitor(2nd), B.Hunter(2nd), B.Higginson-2(4th),
         T.Fryman(3rd)
TRIPLES- R.Becker(1st)
HOME RUNS- P.Molitor(2nd), S.Stahoviak(2nd), M.Nieves(2nd)
STOLEN BASES- R.Becker(3rd)
CAUGHT STEALING- R.Coomer, B.Hunter
WALKS- R.Coomer, R.Becker, B.Hunter, D.Easley, B.Higginson, R.Casanova
HIT BY PITCH- S.Stahoviak
STRIKE OUTS- M.Lawton-2, P.Meares, B.Brede, B.Hunter, D.Easley, T.Clark,
             T.Fryman, M.Nieves-2, O.Miller
GIDP- C.Knoblauch