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Game 1 – Angels Stadium - Ryan vs. Jones, M.
For the opening game of this championship series, the Ryan Express continued its dominance displayed throughout the tournament. Nolan Ryan tossed a complete game 5-hit, 7 strikeout shutout. The California offense provided run support early, scoring 5 times off Mike Jones in the first 4 innings. Ken Berry, Sandy Alomar and Rudy Meoli each had 2 hits for the Angels, as did Hal McRae for the Royals. But this one was all Ryan. Final score: California 5, Kansas City 0. Angels lead the series 1-0.
Game 2 – Angels Stadium - Wright vs. Splittorff.
Amos Otis and Willie Wilson banged out 3 hits each, and Hal McRae had a HR and 3 RBI as Kansas City came roaring back to take game 2. Royals starter Paul Splittorff was ejected in the 5th inning for arguing balls and strikes. But Jim Wright did a nice job coming out of the pen to pitch 2.2 innings of shutout relief to pick up the win. Frank Robinson homered late in the game when it meant nothing, as California starter Clyde Wright once again struggled as he has done for the entire tournament. Royals scored 12 times on 14 hits and easily won the contest. Final score: Kansas City 12, California 2. Series tied 1-1.
Game 3 – Royals Stadium - Gura vs. Singer
Both starters pitching well made for a tight battle in game 3. RBI hits by Vada Pinson and
Dave Gallagher put California up 2-0 in the 4th. Kansas City responded by getting 1 back in the bottom of the frame on Hal McRae sacrifice fly, and then taking the lead on a bases-loaded, 2-out single by Frank White in the 6th inning. Larry Gura seemed to be fully in control until he walked Frank Robinson to lead of the 8th inning. Next batter Bob Oliver then stunned the home crowd with a 384 foot shot down the left field line to put the Angels back on top. From that point California relief ace Steve Barber went to work, retiring 6 of the next 7 Kansas City batters to save the game for Bill Singer. Final score: California 4, Kansas City 3. Angels lead the series 2-1.
Game 4 – Royals Stadium - Leonard vs. May
A Darryl Motley double in the 2nd inning and an unearned California run in the 5th kept this game tight into the 6th inning. With the score tied at 1 and the bases full of Royals with 2 out, an umpire got sick, causing a delay of almost half an hour. The interruption had reverberations on the game itself when Angels’ pitcher Rudy May appeared to have stiffened up a bit during the delay and walked next batter Darryl Motley for force home the go-ahead run for Kansas City. The Royals padded their lead in the bottom of the 8th when hot-hitting Hal McRae belted a 2-run shot off reliever Dave Sells. But it probably wouldn’t have mattered to Royals starter Dennis Leonard, who remained steadily in control allowing no more than the 1 unearned run, and yielding only 5 hits and no walks for the complete game victory. Final score: Kansas City 4, California 4. Series tied 2-2.
Game 5 – Royals Stadium - Jones, M.vs. Ryan.
As the game 1 starters returned, an over-worked Mike Jones labored from the beginning,
and gave up a 1st inning HR to Frank Robinson. He wouldn’t even make it through the 2nd inning, when he was given an early hook and replaced with Rich Gale. Meanwhile, Nolan Ryan was on the mound and looked to benefit. He would labor mightily through 7 innings, although he only gave up 6 singles, 2 walks, and a lone unearned run. But what Ryan could not have anticipated was the near-collapse of his defense. The Angels committed 7 errors on the day, forcing him to pitch out of one jam after the other. But helped by some timely double-plays, he always managed to escape without serious damage, leaving the Royals and their fans frustrated with their inability to get the one key hit they needed. For their own part, the Kansas City bullpen pitched well, allowing only 2 runs in 7.1 innings of relief. However once Ryan yielded to Steve Barber, the reliever continued his stellar tournament performance, and faced only 7 batters over the last two innings to earn his 5th save. Final score: California 3, Kansas City 1. Angels lead the series 3-2.
Game 6 – Angels Stadium - Wright vs. Splittorff.
The series moved back to southern California, as the game 2 starters returned. And although the Royals jumped on top in the 1st inning on yet another Hal McRae RBI hit, the California bats came alive against Paul Splittorff in the 2nd and 3rd innings, scoring 3 times in each thanks primarily to a Frank Robinson home run, and a Rudy Meoli triple. Still, KC refused to roll over, as they chipped away at Clyde Wright and the Angels’ lead. Yet another Hal McRae hit score 1 in the 6th inning, and George Brett’s single and an Amos Otis sacrifice fly scored 2 more in the 8th inning to close to lead to just 2 runs. To nobody’s shock, on came Steve Barber to put out the fire without any further damage. What did shock everyone was what happened next. In the top of the 9th, Barber suddenly lost the strike zone, walking 3 of the first 4 batters he faced to load the bases. Willie Wilson then grounded a tailor-made double play ball to Dave Chalk. But the shotstop’s throw went into centerfield, the 12th team error of the series! Now the Royals were only 1 run behind with only 1 out and the bases loaded. Barber regained his composure to strike out George Brett in a tense battle. But Amos Otis worked the 4th walk of the inning to force home to tying run. Aurelio Monteagudo came on to get the last out. But the game was now tied. Amazingly, after Bob Oliver led off the bottom of the 9th with a single, the parade of walks continued. Vada Pinson and Jim Spencer worked walks against Renie Martin. And with the bases now loaded Richie Sheinblum worked a walk off Dan Quisenberry to bring home the winning run. Final score: California 7, Kansas City 6. Angels wins the series 4-2.
--submitted by Douglas Zaner--
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