The Most Frustrating Game?

[Mike Coveyou]

I've been a Tigers fan for 68 years (yes, I am old !) and this may be a result of clouded memories, but I don't recall a more frustrating game than this one.  Obviously, I've seen many worse Tiger teams, but not holding off an opponent after being up 7-0 is exceptionally hard to swallow.  And it's hard to accept losing a game with the two Tiger milestones reached today.

It's very hard to imagine a scenario in which it will make any sense for the Tigers to hold onto Skubal.  Which, of course, does not ensure what actually will happen.

Mike Coveyou

[Peter Welch]

Hinch is getting heat on social media for lifting Skubal with 2 outs in the 7^th with 2 runners on, but I don't necessarily think that was a bad idea.  Skubal was obviously starting to fade.  The Tigers were up 7-1 when Skubal was lifted for Finnegan.  You'd think even the mediocre Finnegan would be able to get the final out and not give up 4 more runs with 2 outs.  Sigh.

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Mike Coveyou <mcov...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2026 5:01 PM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: The Most Frustrating Game?

 

I've been a Tigers fan for 68 years (yes, I am old !) and this may be a result of clouded memories, but I don't recall a more frustrating game than this one.  Obviously, I've seen many worse Tiger teams, but not holding off an opponent after being up 7-0 is exceptionally hard to swallow.  And it's hard to accept losing a game with the two Tiger milestones reached today.

It's very hard to imagine a scenario in which it will make any sense for the Tigers to hold onto Skubal.  Which, of course, does not ensure what actually will happen.

Mike Coveyou

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[Roger King]

Not holding onto a 7-0 lead **with 2 outs in the 7th**!

Again, the team has blown it. Players saying they wanted to be buyers at the deadline, but they didn’t come through. They were given every opportunity to get back into this race legitimately. Injuries are no longer even an excuse because almost everyone is healthy now. It’s just not a good enough team to compete, straight up. 

3-4 on a home stand against KC & Baltimore. The exclamation point on this mediocre season.

Obviously, the symbolism of Skubal’s last start before the trade deadline and if we go back further, the return of JV. Everything was lined up for a potential special season, but not to be.

Roger King
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[Roger King]

Yeah, that’s absurd. Finnegan is being paid to get outs late in the game. Hinch was simply  expecting him to do his job. Beyond pathetic that he couldn’t even get one out to finish off the inning. 

Roger King
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[Mark Pattison]

Mike,

I remember a road game in Minnesota where the Tigers were leading -7-0 going into the bottom of the ninth and Fernando Rodney couldn't hold it -- nor anybody else.

Mark Pattison

[Michael W]

There was a game against the Angels in 80s where the Tiger blew an 8 run or 9 run lead in the ninth.  These things happen, but it's brutal to watch.

Michael

[Michael W]

It was August 29, 1986.  The Tigers led 8-1 early, and 12-5 going into the bottom of the ninth, but lost 13-12 when the Angels scored 8 runs in the inning.

Willie Hernandez had two out and an 0-2 pitch to Dick Schofield but gave up the walk-off grand slam.

Probably people criticized Sparky Anderson's robotic moves and Bill Lajoie's horrible bullpen construction.  Willie Hernandez indeed!

Michael

[Peter Welch]

Yep, I listened to that game on the radio right to the bitter end.  Curse Dick Schofield!

Willie just wasn't the same pitcher he was in 84-85 and was vulnerable to giving up homers (he allowed 13 homers in 88 innings that year).

The Tigers also blew a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the 9^th the next night and lost 5-4 on a walk-off 2-run homer by Doug DeCinces against Bill Campbell.  Campbell pitched in the 8^th and 9^th in relief of Dan Petry, who allowed 3 runs on 3 hits in 7 IP.

The Tigers got swept 3-0 by the Angels in that series.  Just one of many of our bad results on the West Coast over the years.

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Michael W <miw...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2026 5:48 PM
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Subject: Re: The Most Frustrating Game?

 

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[Peter Welch]

Randy O'Neal came in for Frank Tanana in the 7^th with a 11-3 lead.  O'Neal allowed 2 runs in the bottom of the 7^th to cut the lead to 11-5.  The Tigers scored another run in the 8th to take a 12-5 lead.

O'Neal pitched a 1-2-3 8th, and Sparky left O'Neal in to start the 9^th, but he loaded the bases with 1 out and allowed a 2-run double to Jack Howell to cut the lead to 12-7.  Willie Hernandez was brought in and allowed back-to-back RBI singles to George Hendrick and Bobby Grich to cut the lead to 12-9.  Hernandez got future Tiger Gary Pettis to hit into a force out so there were 2 outs with.2 men on.  Pettis took 2nd on defensive indifference.  Hernandez then walked ex-Tiger Ruppert Jones to load the bases for Dick Schofield who hit the walk-off grand slam.  

Hernandez clearly had nothing but Sparky left him in.  I don't know who else the Tigers had in the bullpen who could have relieved Hernandez.  Maybe Bill Campbell, Eric King or Mark Thurmond?  Campbell blew the save the next night.

Peter

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Subject: Re: The Most Frustrating Game?

 

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[Paul Meloche]

I don’t remember this at all. Do you remember what year?

Paul M.

On Jul 29, 2026, at 2:28 PM, 'Mark Pattison' via Detroit Tigers e-mail list <detroit...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



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[Peter Welch]

Worst loss of the season in the most important game of the season.  Way to blow it for Skubal in possibly his final game with Detroit.

Skubal pitched a solid game (he got a bit lucky early in the game with some long flyouts that would have been homers in several other parks) and, for once, the Tigers actually gave him some decent run support, but the bullpen absolutely stunk it up, and the Tigers' situational hitting in extra-innings was horrible.  Valencia hitting into a double play with the winning run at 3^rd in the 10^th was pathetic.  A strikeout would even have been a better result.  Greene had a horrible at-bat in the 12^th with runners at 1^st and 2^nd and one out.  Dingler struck out with runners at 1^st and 2^nd and nobody out in the 12th.

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Mike Coveyou <mcov...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2026 5:01 PM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: The Most Frustrating Game?

 

I've been a Tigers fan for 68 years (yes, I am old !) and this may be a result of clouded memories, but I don't recall a more frustrating game than this one.  Obviously, I've seen many worse Tiger teams, but not holding off an opponent after being up 7-0 is exceptionally hard to swallow.  And it's hard to accept losing a game with the two Tiger milestones reached today.

It's very hard to imagine a scenario in which it will make any sense for the Tigers to hold onto Skubal.  Which, of course, does not ensure what actually will happen.

Mike Coveyou

[Paul Meloche]

Besides the horrible Angels game we rehash periodically on this list…

I remember a game against the Brewers in I think ‘85 where we had a 7-1 lead in the 8th and lost 11-7 on a walkoff GS by Ted Simmons. 

And a game against the White Sox early in ‘97 where we led 7-0 and ended up losing in extras. I don’t think we lost the majority of that lead late, though. For some reason I remember Vince Coleman being involved in that game for us. Of all the things to remember…. lol

Paul M.

On Jul 29, 2026, at 2:01 PM, Mike Coveyou <mcov...@gmail.com> wrote:

I've been a Tigers fan for 68 years (yes, I am old !) and this may be a result of clouded memories, but I don't recall a more frustrating game than this one.  Obviously, I've seen many worse Tiger teams, but not holding off an opponent after being up 7-0 is exceptionally hard to swallow.  And it's hard to accept losing a game with the two Tiger milestones reached today.

It's very hard to imagine a scenario in which it will make any sense for the Tigers to hold onto Skubal.  Which, of course, does not ensure what actually will happen.

Mike Coveyou