DETROIT 5, MINNESOTA 2 IN MINNESOTA

Date:  Saturday, June 26.

Batting stars:  Zoilo Versalles was 2-for-3 with a double and a hit-by-pitch, scoring once.  Tony Oliva was 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI.  Joe Nossek was 2-for-4.

Pitching stars:  Bill Pleis started and pitched four innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks.  Jim Perry struck out two in two shutout innings, giving  up one hit.

Opposition stars:  Mickey Lolich struck out ten in six innings, allowing one run on four hits and no walks.  Al Kaline was 1-for-2 with a double and three walks, scoring once.  Jerry Lumpe was 2-for-3 with two walks and a run.

The game:  There was no scoring until the fifth, when Willie Horton delivered a two-out two-run single.  Oliva singled in a run in the sixth, but the Tigers scored twice more in the seventh on only one hit, getting the benefit of three walks.  The Twins scored once in the eighth and brought the tying run to the plate with two out, but Bob Allison popped up and the Twins did not threaten again.

Of note:  Harmon Killebrew was 1-for-4.  Jimmie Hall was 0-for-3 with a walk, dropping his average to .319.

Record:  The loss dropped the Twins to 40-26, but losses by Chicago and Cleveland kept the Twins in first place by a half game over those two teams.

Notes:  This would be one of only two starts made by Pleis, who was normally a relief pitcher.  He would pitch one inning of relief the next day, then make another start June 30.  In retrospect, it seems odd that Pleis was given the start rather than Perry, who also pitched, but while Perry had starting experience he had made only one start in 1964 and none at this point in 1965.  He would soon be placed in the rotation, however, and would stay there the rest of the season.