Rocky Colavito pitches in relief and picks up a win and homers in the game
On August 25, 1968 — The Tigers, ahead 5 – 0, fail to score with two on in the 4th inning when the Yanks bring in Rocky Colavito to pitch. The 35-year-old slugger retires Al Kaline and Willie Horton and tosses 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. In Rocky’s only other appearance, in 1958, he also faced Kaline, and the victory by a non-pitcher will be the last this century. Bill Robinson and Bobby Cox crash successive homers to tie the score and, after a walk, Rocky comes around to score the winning run. In the 8th, Yankees reliever Lindy McDaniel ties the American League record for consecutive batters retired by setting down the first Tiger he faces, giving him 32 straight batters retired over four appearances. New York sweeps, winning 6 – 5 and then topping Mickey Lolich, 5 – 4. The four losses in New York leaves the Tigers just five games ahead of the Orioles.
The Yankees outfielder, who also homers in the game, will be the last position player to notch a major league victory until Colorado catcher Brent Mayne accomplishes the feat in 2000.
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