SUNDAY APRIL 14, 1974
Today is listed as an off-day so I assume it was in real life a rain out, which gives Aaron and the Braves a day off before San Diego comes to town tomorrow. I decide to go to Fenway and take in the Tigers-Red Sox game. Al Kaline, who is closing in on both 400 homers and 3000 career hits, will DH and bat 4th for the Tigers. A pair of veteran pitchers are on the hill in Mickey Lolich of Detroit (2-0, 1.65) and 36 year old Juan Marichal - who is making his Boston debut after winning 238 games with the Giants over 14 seasons.
Only the weather could get to Marichal, who is forced out of the game in the top of the ninth due to a 56 minute rain delay. Marichal allowed just 3 Detroit hits and with the help of reliever Diego Segui shut out the Tigers 2-0. Lolich went the distance for Detroit and took his first loss of the season. Kaline was 0-for-3 in the game.
In other games Roy White hit his MLB leading 6th homer and Thurman Munson went deep for the second straight day as the Yankees beat winless Cleveland 7-4 in the opener of a doubleheader. Cleveland dropped to 0-9 on the year with a 4-3 loss in the nightcap. Frank Tanana outduelled Stan Bahnsen as California topped the White Sox 2-1. Kansas City edged Minnesota 4-3. Oakland rebounded after getting thumped by the Rangers yesterday to beat Texas 3-2 in the opener of their doubleheader but the Rangers Fergie Jenkins shut out the A's 3-0 in the second game.
Jon Matlack threw his second complete game shutout of the season to lead the Mets past Philadelphia 1-0 in the opener of a doubleheader. The Mets also took the second game by a 7-2 score. The Cardinals got 10 runs in the first inning and clobbered the Pirates 16-1 in the first of two games but Pittsburgh won the second contest 6-3. Houston moved to within a half game of the Dodgers in the NL West with a 3-2 win at home over LA. San Diego won for the second day in a row, beating San Francisco 6-1.