An error by pitcher Jonn Matlack led to the winning run as the Royals edged the Rangers, 2-1. The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the third on an unusual bases-loaded double-play grounder by Bert Campaneris.

The ball was grounded to George Brett, who stepped on third but threw wildly to second. Alertly backing up the play, right fielder Al Cowens threw out Kurt Bevacqua attempting to go from first to third. John Wathan led off the Royal fifth with a home run. Clint Hurdle then reached first when Matlack dropped his pop bunt, moved to second on a sacrifice by Jerry Terrell and scored on a single by Frank White. [The Sporting News]

Kansas City Royals 2, Texas Rangers 1

Game Played on Sunday, August 20, 1978 (Day game) at Royals Stadium

Rangers 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 8 2 Royals 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 x - 2 6 0 Rangers AB R H RBI BB SO AVG Royals AB R H RBI BB SO AVG Hargrove 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 .257 Patek ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 .273 Jorgensen 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .122 Brett 3b 4 0 2 0 0 0 .309 Campaneris ss 4 0 0 1 0 1 .189 McRae dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 .277 Beniquez cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .256 Cowens rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .277 Bonds rf 4 0 2 0 0 0 .279 Otis cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .269 Zisk lf 4 0 2 0 0 0 .253 Wathan c 3 1 1 1 0 0 .292 Sundberg c 3 0 1 0 0 0 .296 Hurdle lf 3 1 0 0 0 2 .273 Gray dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 .233 Wilson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 Harrah 3b 2 1 0 0 1 1 .217 Terrell 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 .188 Bevacqua 2b 3 0 2 0 0 0 .230 White 2b 3 0 1 1 0 1 .274 Wills 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228 Splittorff p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Matlack p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 30 1 8 1 1 2 Totals 30 2 6 2 0 4 Time of Game: 1:56 Attendance: 38,423 Left on Base: Rangers 4, Royals 5 DP: Rangers 0, Royals 2 Errors: Bevacqua, Matlack Doubles: Bevacqua (10), Brett (36) Home Runs: Wathan (2) Stolen Bases: Terrell (6) Caught Stealing: Bonds 2 (16) Sacrifice Hits: Terrell (6) GIDP: Bonds (12), Gray (1) Hit by Pitch: Hargrove (6,by Splittorff) Rangers IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP ERA Matlack L(11-10) 8 6 2 1 0 4 1 31 2.21 Totals 8 6 2 1 0 4 1 31 Royals IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP ERA Splittorff W(15-10) 9 8 1 1 1 2 0 32 3.32 Totals 9 8 1 1 1 2 0 32 Hit by Pitch: Splittorff (3) Umpires: HP - Vic Voltaggio, 1B - Lou DiMuro, 2B - Larry Barnett, 3B - Jim McKean RANGERS 1ST: Hargrove grounded out (second to first); Campaneris grounded out (shortstop to first); Beniquez flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Rangers 0, Royals 0. ROYALS 1ST: Patek flied out to left; Brett grounded out (pitcher to first); McRae flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Rangers 0, Royals 0. RANGERS 2ND: Bonds singled to center; Bonds was picked off and caught stealing second (pitcher to first to second); Zisk singled to shortstop; Sundberg flied out to center; Gray popped to second; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Rangers 0, Royals 0. ROYALS 2ND: Cowens popped to shortstop; Otis flied out to center; Wathan lined to second; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Rangers 0, Royals 0. RANGERS 3RD: Harrah walked; Bevacqua singled to right [Harrah to third]; Hargrove was hit by a pitch [Bevacqua to second]; Campaneris forced Bevacqua (third unassisted) [Harrah scored, Hargrove to second]; Beniquez hit into a double play (third unassisted) [Campaneris out at second (right to third), Hargrove out at third]; 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Rangers 1, Royals 0. ROYALS 3RD: Hurdle was called out on strikes; Terrell singled to center; Terrell stole second; White struck out; Patek flied out to right; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Rangers 1, Royals 0. RANGERS 4TH: Bonds flied out to left; Zisk singled to center; Sundberg grounded out (pitcher to shortstop to first) [Zisk to second]; Gray popped to second; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Rangers 1, Royals 0. ROYALS 4TH: Brett singled to left; McRae grounded out (third to first) [Brett to third]; Cowens popped to catcher in foul territory; Otis popped to first in foul territory; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Rangers 1, Royals 0. RANGERS 5TH: Harrah struck out; Bevacqua doubled to left; Hargrove popped to third in foul territory; Campaneris grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Rangers 1, Royals 0. ROYALS 5TH: Wathan homered; Hurdle reached on an error by Matlack; Terrell out on a sacrifice bunt (third to second) [Hurdle to second]; White singled to center [Hurdle scored (unearned)]; Patek forced White (third to second) [Patek to second (error by Bevacqua)]; Brett popped to second; 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 2 E, 1 LOB. Rangers 1, Royals 2. RANGERS 6TH: Beniquez singled to center; Bonds grounded into a double play (pitcher to second to first) [Beniquez out at second]; Zisk flied out to left; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Rangers 1, Royals 2. ROYALS 6TH: McRae struck out; Cowens singled to left; Otis lined to shortstop; Wathan forced Cowens (second unassisted); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Rangers 1, Royals 2. RANGERS 7TH: Sundberg singled to left; Gray grounded into a double play (second to shortstop to first) [Sundberg out at second]; Harrah flied out to center; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Rangers 1, Royals 2. ROYALS 7TH: Hurdle struck out; Terrell grounded out (shortstop to first); White grounded out (first to pitcher); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Rangers 1, Royals 2. RANGERS 8TH: WILSON REPLACED HURDLE (PLAYING LF); Bevacqua popped to second; Hargrove grounded out (second to first); On a bunt Campaneris struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Rangers 1, Royals 2. ROYALS 8TH: JORGENSEN REPLACED HARGROVE (PLAYING 1B); WILLS REPLACED BEVACQUA (PLAYING 2B); Patek popped to shortstop; Brett doubled; McRae grounded out (shortstop to first); Cowens grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Rangers 1, Royals 2. RANGERS 9TH: Beniquez flied out to right; Bonds singled to center; Zisk popped to second; Bonds was picked off and caught stealing second (pitcher to first to second); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Rangers 1, Royals 2.

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