Paul bracket: 1973 Detroit Tigers defeat American Giants in five games

In the biggest upset so far in the first round, the first of the NeL teams to play got bounced in a quick, but closely competed series by the 1973 Detroit Tigers.

Game One: Tigers 7, Am. Giants 6 (10 innings): Leon Day was pulled after allowing five runs in two innings. Mickey Lolich was out after a five-run third inning. But Rube Foster of the Giants and Bob Miller of the Tigers gave their teams quality innings (one run in five innings from Foster, four scoreless for Miller). Will Bill Wright homered off John Hiller in the ninth to even the score at six, the third homer of the game from the Giants (others coming from Tank Carr and Willard Brown). Mickey Stanley singled home the game winner in the bottom of the 10th off Tom Williams, who was working his third inning of relief.

Game Two: Tigers 5, Am. Giants 4: Dick Sharon, pinch-hitting for Ed Brinkman with two outs and one on in the ninth, hammered the walk-off homer off Slim Jones. Willie Horton had three hits and two runs for the Tigers. Joe Coleman went the distance, allowing four runs on four hits.

Game Three: Tigers 6, Am. Giants 0: Jim Perry allowed five singles in his complete game shutout, with the Giants getting just one man into scoring position. The Tigers had a pair of three-run innings, in the second and ninth; all six runs were charged against Max Manning.

Game Four: Am. Giants 2, Tigers 1: Ted Trent went 8.6 innings, allowing six hits and an unearned run, for the win, with the only run coming in the ninth after shortstop Dick Seay booted a grounder. Wright tripled in a run in the first off Lolich and Quincy Trouppe homered in the eighth. 

Game Five: Tigers 2, Am. Giants 1: Light-hitting  Ed Brinkman was the unlikely batting hero in the end. Williams and Joe Coleman matched zeros for six innings. In the seventh, Newt Joseph doubled and scored on a Spot Poles triple.Coleman then stranded Poles on third by retiring Bonnie Serrell and Wright. In the top of the eighth, Brinkman led off with a single, advanded to second on a grounder and scored the tying run on Stanley's single. In the top of the ninth, Brinkman singled in Norm Cash with two outs to put the Tigers ahead. Hiller relieved in the bottom of the inning with one on and two out to retire Poles and Serrell to end the series.

Projected rotation: Lolich-Coleman-Perry-Lolich-(Coleman)-(Perry with penalty)-(Lolich). The bullpen will be fully rested for the second round.