Al Kaline, the Tigers' leader in just about every major offensive category, has been lost for 4-6 weeks with a broken hand.
Kaline slammed his bat in anger into the bat rack after a fifth inning strikeout, and the impact caused a hairline fracture in his right pinky and extending to the wrist.
Ray Oyler was the unlikely hitting hero, garnering three hits, including the game-winner---a drive into the left field corner that scored Bill Freehan from third base in the bottom of the 13th.
The Tigers (37-31) rallied for three runs in the eighth to tie the game, 5-5. The big blow was a two-run double by Willie Horton.
The Indians turned a 2-2 tie into a 5-2 lead in the seventh. The big hit was a two-run homer by Duke Sims.
Fred Whitfield also hit a two-run homer for Cleveland.
Tigers starter Earl Wilson struck out 10 in 6.2 innings, but gave up all five Indians runs.
Fred Gladding (1-0) got the win in relief after wiggling out of a jam in his only inning of work. The Indians put runners on first and third with one out, but Gladding got Vern Fuller to ground into a force out at the plate, and Larry Brown tapped to Don Wert, who stepped on third base to end the inning.
But the euphoria over the win was overshadowed in the Tigers clubhouse when news of Kaline's injury spread.
| Game 68 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | R | H | E |
| CLE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 1 |
| DET | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 0 |
| Two out when winning run scored |
WP- Gladding (1-0)
LP- Allen
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