ECKERSLEY FANS 13, TRIBE FALLS LATE TO ROYALS
LaRoche's Pitching, Fielding Fail in 10th
KANSAS CITY, Apr. 17 (AP) - Dennis Eckersley struck out 13 batters as part of
nine shutout innings of work but was credited with a no-decision when the Kansas
City Royals rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to defeat the
Cleveland Indians, 2-1, at Royals Stadium. Eckersley's scoreless frames
were matched for nine innings by Kansas City starter Al Fitzmorris, who pitched
into the tenth before being relieved. Cleveland pushed a run across in the
top of the inning but the Royals responded in the bottom half, with the
assistance of an error committed by reliever Dave LaRoche.
Eckersley is just the second pitcher thus far in the young season to reach
double digits in strikeouts. Frank Tanana of the California Angels fanned
12 in his team's opening day loss to the Oakland Athletics on April 9. At
one point, Eckersley struck out four straight batters, something only
accomplished once earlier this season--by Tanana, during his 12-strikeout stint.
Fitzmorris had a no-hitter through five innings before surrendering a one-out
double to Buddy Bell. The Kansas City right-hander pitched out of trouble,
after walking Boog Powell, when George Hendrick's double play grounder ended the
inning.
Through nine innings, neither team advanced a runner past second base. In
the top of the tenth, Fitzmorris retired Rico Carty on a ground ball to open the
inning, but then yielded a single to Charlie Spikes, who stole second.
Alan Ashby followed with a single to left, scoring Spikes, who beat the throw to
the plate from Hal McRae. After Frank Duffy's base hit advanced Ashby to
second, Royals manager Whitey Herzog replaced Fitzmorris with Steve Mingori who
retired Rick Manning and Duane Kuiper to end the inning.
LaRoche replaced Eckersley on the mound for the Indians in the bottom of the
tenth and faced pinch hitter Jim Wohlford, who rolled a ball to the left of the
mound that LaRoche booted for an error. Fred Patek laid down a bunt that
was so well placed that it went for an infield hit, putting runners on first and
second. Frank White then sacrificed the runners to second and third.
LaRoche walked Al Cowens on four pitches to load the bases but retired Amos Otis
on a 3-2 infield pop fly, giving him a chance to escape damage and earn the
save. But George Brett bounced a single between Bell and Duffy into left
field, scoring Wohlford and Patek to win the game for the Royals.
It was Cleveland's fourth straight loss following their opening day victory.
4/17/1976, Cle76-KC 76, Royals Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E LOB DP 1976 Indians 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 8 1 7 0 1976 Royals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 4 0 8 2 Indians AB R H BI AVG Royals AB R H BI AVG Manning cf 5 0 0 0 .190 Cowens rf 4 0 0 0 .250 Kuiper 2b 5 0 0 0 .150 Otis cf 5 0 1 0 .259 Bell,B 3b 4 0 2 0 .474 Brett,G 3b 4 0 1 2 .304 Powell 1b 2 0 1 0 .111 Mayberry 1b 3 0 0 0 .087 Hendrick lf 4 0 0 0 .211 McRae lf 3 0 1 0 .250 Carty dh 4 0 0 0 .100 Solaita dh 4 0 0 0 .000 Spikes rf 4 1 3 0 .625 Stinson c 3 0 0 0 .000 Ashby c 3 0 1 1 .333 Wohlford ph 1 1 0 0 .286 Duffy ss 4 0 1 0 .125 Patek ss 2 1 1 0 .158 35 1 8 1 White,F 2b 3 0 0 0 .118 32 2 4 2 Indians INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Eckersley 9.0 2 0 0 5 13 145 87 1.13 LaRoche BS 1, L 0-1 0.2 2 2 0 1 0 20 9 0.00 9.2 4 2 0 6 13 165 96 Royals INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Fitzmorris 9.1 8 1 1 2 1 116 78 1.47 Mingori W 1-0 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 0.00 10.0 8 1 1 2 1 121 83 KC : Wohlford batted for Stinson in the 10th E-LaRoche. 2B-Bell,B(2). RBI-Ashby(1), Brett,G 2(4). SB-Spikes(1), McRae(2), Patek(3). CS-Otis. K-Duffy, Cowens 2, Otis 3, Brett,G, Mayberry, Solaita 3, White,F 3. BB-Powell 2, Cowens, Brett,G, Mayberry, McRae, Patek 2. SH-Ashby, White,F. GWRBI: Brett,G Temperature: 59, Sky: clear, Wind: left to right at 4 MPH. Attendance: 23,501 Game Time: 2:29