The Kansas City Royals began their quest for the pennant with a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park today, proving that size does matter in more ways than one.
Pitcher Henry Fitzpatrick, a 6-foot-4, 265 lb. a 23-year old rookie from New Hyde Park, New York, made his 1976 debut, and picked up the win pitching three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit in his stint. While the big righthander was dominating the Pale Hose, baseball's smallest player, Freddie Patek, was the other hero in the game as his single in the 11th inning brought home Hal McRae with the tie-breaking run, as Kansas City, a team most people choose as the team that would end the Oakland A's 5-year reign as A.L. West champs, start this new season 1-0.
KC jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning, starting with a George Brett RBI double, then John Mayberry would bring him home on his double. But in the bottom of the 4th, Chicago third baseman Kevin Bell laced a 2-run double scoring Jim Spencer and Chet Lemon to tie the score at 2. Starting pitchers Paul Splitorff and Wilbur Wood would throw nothing but goose eggs the rest of the way, with Splitorff allowing just 5 hits in 6 innings and Wood surrendering 7 safeties, but he struck out 4 and did not walk anyone. The Sox had a chance to win it in the 9th, after Fitzpatrick struck out Bell for his first Major League strikeout, Ralph Garr singled, and moved to 2nd on a grounder by Bill Stein. But Bucky Dent flied out to left fielder Jim Wohlford to send the game to extra innings.
In the 11th inning, Hal McRae led off the frame with a double off Jack Hamilton. After Al Cowens grounded out, Jorge Orta misjudged a fly ball hit by Buck Maritnez, and the small but talented Patek made the Sox pay for their mistake by singling home McRae. However, closer Mark Littell allowed 2 hits in the bottom of the 11th inning but Stein grounded out to Brett to end the game.
Fitzpatrick (1-0) was impressive in his debut, allowing just 1 hit in 3 innings while striking out 3, and Littlell allowed 2 hits, but registered his 1st save of the young '76 campaign. Hamilton (0-1) would suffer the loss, allowing 3 hits in 2 innings. All 3 Kansas City runs were all earned.
Of the Royals' 10 hits, Brett, Mayberry and Patek had 2 hits, while Amos Otis, Wohlford, McRae and Martinez had a hit each. Brett, Mayberry and Patek all drove in a run for KC. Chicago had 8 hits, with Garr collecting 3 and Spencer 2. Kevin Bell had both Sox RBI.
The Royals take on the California Angels April 11th at Royals Stadium.
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