ALDS - Bombers outlast Motown in 4

GAME 1 - Lolich vs Guidry
Yankees 5, Tigers 0
Louisiana Lighting was lighting up the skies in the Bronx in the opener.  Ron Guidry fanned 8 on his way to 3 hitting the Tigers.  The Bombers scored their 5 runs off of Lolich in the first 3 innings and never looked back.  Bobby Murcer and Reggie Jackson accounted for all of the runs with the long ball.  Murcer hit a 3 run shot in the bottom of the 1st and Mr. October hit a 2 run shot in the 3rd.  "Sweet" Lou Piniella chipped in with a 3 for 4 day.
Yankees lead series 1-0

GAME 2 - Coleman vs Stottlemyre
Tigers 3, Yankees 2
Tied 2-2 and heading toward the 9th the Tigers had the perfect opportunity to steal a game in the Bronx and head home with a series split.  Detroit's Joe Coleman hung in their against Cy Young candidate Mel Stottlemyre.  Both hurlers gave up just 2 runs over 7 innings.  Coleman had a lead heading into the bottom of the 8th, but reliever John Hiller gave up the tying run to the Bombers when Mr. October doubled home Roy White with 1 out.  With the game knotted at 2-2 Alan Trammell led off the top of the 9th with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch uncorked by Lindy McDaniel.  Tony Taylor hit a deep fly to death valley that Murcer tracked down and Trammell crossed over to third.  Lead off man Ron LeFlore singled on a 2-2 pitch to score Trammell and give the Tigers a 1 run lead.  Tom Timmerman, who got the final out in the 8th threw a perfect 9th to close out the game.  Trammell (4-4) had a perfect day at the plate.  LeFlore (3-5) had the GWRBI.
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - Peterson vs Fidrych
Yankees 1, Tigers 0
With 2 outs in the 5th Tiger starter Mark Fidrych hurt his elbow and had to leave a scoreless game.  With Yankee starter Fritz Peterson throwing up goose eggs the Tiger pen needed to be perfect.  In the top of the 7th Chris Chambliss lined a 2 out RBI single off of Milt Wilcox to break the scoreless deadlock.  Sparky Lyle would pitch a scoreless 9th and end the game by fanning LeFlore to notch the save.  Tiger Stadium was electric as "the Bird" had them captivated once again.  When he came up lame the crowd felt like a balloon that had it's air let out.  Fans left wondering how this great pitcher's duel might have turned out if Fidrych didn't get hurt.
Yankees lead series 2-1
GAME 4 - Hunter vs Lolich
Yankees 4, Tigers 3
Detroit brought opening game starter Mickey Lolich back on short rest in hopes of staving off elimination.  Lolich, who average over 300 innings per season during the early 70's was no stranger to pitching early and often.  The "fat man" kept the Bombers off the board for 4 innings before tiring.  Leading 2-0 on a 4th inning Norm cash homer, Lolich gave up an RBI single to Mr. October (Reggie Jackson) to make it a 2-1 game after 5.  Lolich started the 6th hoping to get 1 or 2 more quality innings under his elongated belt, but that was not to be.  RBI hits by Chambliss (double), Randolph (triple) and Piniella (single) spelled doom for Motown.  A pinch hit homer by Willie Horton would make it a one run game after 6, but Catfish Hunter would not allow any further scoring before giving way to Lyle who notched his second save in successive night.
Yankees win series 3-1