Al Kaline, the man who waited 16 years to play in the World Series, smashed a two-run single in the seventh inning yesterday to push Detroit past St. Louis 5-3 and revive the Tiger's flickering series chances.

Kaline's single sparked a three-run seventh inning rally, typical of the Tigers all season, and sent the Series back to St. Louis for a sixth game Wednesday with the Cardinals still needing one win to end it.

Kaline's heroics would not have helped much if Mickey Lolich, rocked for three runs in the first inning when Orlando Cepeda smacked a two-run homer, hadn't blanked the Cardinals the rest of the way.

Lolich, who hit a homer in pitching Detroit to its only previous victory in the second game, started the winning surge in the seventh with a single.

The Tigers had won 40 regular season games in which they were tied or behind in the seventh.

If the Tigers can square the Series in the sixth game at Busch Stadium, it may be Lolich who will face Bob Gibson, the double winner with the record strikeout total, in the seventh game.

Ray Washburn, winner of the third game, has been named to pitch for the Cards Wednesday afternoon. Tiger Manager Mayo Smith has not decided between Joe Sparma and Earl Wilson, who pulled a hamstring muscle while losing Saturday's third game.