You Cant' Win Them All, Especially with the Greatest Pitcher of All Time on the Hill for the Halos...

6

5

April 15th, 1976 @ Royals Stadium
CALIFORNIA ANGELS (Nolan Ryan) vs. KANSAS CITY ROYALS (Paul Splitorff, 0-0)
ANGELS COME BACK TO HAND ROYALS FIRST LOSS
Five unanswered runs and solid pitching help Halos
Dave Collins' groundout to 2nd base scored Jerry Remy in the ninth inning as the California Angels beat the Royals 6-5, handing Kansas City their first loss of the season. The Angels drew first blood when Remy scored in the 1st inning on a Rusty Torres single, giving California a 1-0 lead. But the Fighting Men in Blue fought back as John Mayberry slammed a 2-run homer in the 3rd inning for his 1st home run of '76. 2-1 KC. In the next inning KC made it 4-1 as Frank White cracked a 2-run double and Jim Wohlford doubled him home to give the Royals a 5-1 lead. But the Halos fought back with 2 runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by RBI doubles by Tony Solaita and Bill Melton. 5-3 Royals. Then in the eighth, Ron Jackson slugged a 2-run double to tie the game at 5-5. And then in the ninth, Jerry Remy had a lead off triple, and Dave Collins grounded to second, scoring Remy, making it California 6, Royals 5. Dick Drago had an easy 1-2-3 ninth, and the Royals lost for the first time this year.
PITCHING:
Paul Splitorff pitched 7 1/3 frames, allowing 5 runs and 10 hits, striking out 5 and walking 3, but did not get a decision. His record is 0-0 with a 4.40 ERA.
Steve Mingori gave up the winning run in his 1976 debut, he pitched 1 2/3 innings allowing 2 hits, striking out 1. His record is 0-1.
Nolan Ryan pitched 7 innings, allowed 9 hits, a home run, walked 3 and (as usual) struck out 8,but had no decision.
John Verhoeven had a 1-2-3 eighth, striking out one, and picked up the win.
Dick Drago had a perfect ninth, and picked up the save.
HITTING:
Bobby Bonds had 4 hits today, leading a 13 hit attack. Jerry Remy was 3-for-4, had a triple and scored 2 runs. Bill Melton was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. California had 3 doubles and a triple and 9 singles today.
The Royals had 9 hits, with 1 home run. Hal McRae and Al Cowens had 2 hits each to lead Kansas City. George Brett and Jim Wohlford each had a double, Brett now has 4 doubles while Wohlford now has 3.
A LOOK AHEAD:
The Royals host the Cleveland Indians this weekend at Royals Stadium, here are the pitching matchups for this series.
Friday 4/16: Fritz Peterson vs. Doug Bird 7:30 pm.
Saturday 4/17: Dennis Eckersley vs. Al Fitzmorris 7:30
Sunday 4/18: Pat Dobson vs. Steve Busby 1:00
FINAL SCORE:
CALIFORNIA 100-002-021=6 13 1
ROYALS 002-300-000=5 9 1
Ryan, Verhoeven (8),Drago and Etchebarren
Splitorff, Mingori (0-1) and Martinez