CLEVELAND (AP) – After throwing a pair of complete games for Detroit in the 1968 World Series, Mickey Lolich remembered Detroit manager Mayo Smith turning to him during the Tigers’ 10-run third inning in Game 6.
“Can you start Game 7? I only want you pitch five innings,” Lolich recalled the manager asking.
“Sure, that wouldn’t bother me at all,” the pitcher remembered responding, then quickly added: “Well, you know the rest of the story.”
Lolich pitched a five-hitter, throwing shutout ball into the ninth inning to beat Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1. Just nine pitchers have won three starts in a single Series, none since Lolich went 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA and 21 strikeouts while pitching three complete games in 1968.
Corey Kluber has a chance to become a throwback to baseball’s old days Wednesday if Cleveland is forced to a Game 7 by the Chicago Cubs. Major league ERA leader Kyle Hendricks was set to start against him at Progressive Field on Wednesday night, if necessary