Catcher's interference in the 18th inning led to an unearned run that gave the Rangers a 4-3 victory over the Royals in a four-hour, 56-minute marathon. With one out in the 18th, Joe Lovitto was awarded first base when catcher Dennis Paepke interfered with his swing.

Jim Panther bunted and when Ted Abernathy threw wildly, Lovitto moved to third. After an intentional pass to Jim Driscoll, Tom Murphy relieved Abernathy. Toby Harrah then hit a bouncer off Murphy's glove for a forceout at second as Lovitto scored. [The Sporting News]



Texas Rangers 4, Kansas City Royals 3
Game Played on Wednesday, May       17, 1972 (Night game) at Municipal Stadium
Rangers      3  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  1  -   4  9  0
Royals       0  1  0    1  0  0    1  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  0  -   3 16  5


Rangers              AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG      Royals               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG
Maddox cf             7   0   1   0     0   1   .200      Patek ss              7   0   1   0     0   1   .235
Nelson 3b             8   1   1   0     0   2   .284      Otis cf               6   0   2   0     1   0   .229
Mincher 1b            2   1   1   1     0   0   .123      Scheinblum rf         7   0   2   0     1   1   .261
  Burroughs ph,lf     4   0   0   0     1   2   .000      Piniella lf           8   1   2   0     0   0   .327
King c                3   1   1   1     0   0   .140      Rojas 2b              7   1   3   1     1   1   .280
  Suarez c            0   0   0   0     0   0   .182      Kirkpatrick c         3   0   1   1     0   0   .304
  Howard ph           1   0   0   0     0   0   .244        Knoop ph            1   0   0   0     0   0   .333
  Billings c          4   0   1   0     0   2   .244        Paepke c            3   0   0   0     1   1   .000
Biittner lf,1b        8   0   1   0     0   0   .191      Mayberry 1b           7   1   1   0     1   1   .208
xLovitto rf           5   1   2   1     2   1   .000      Schaal 3b             6   0   1   0     0   1   .194
Randle 2b             7   0   0   0     0   2   .196      Drago p               2   0   0   0     0   1   .063
  Panther p           0   0   0   0     0   0   .000        Hopkins ph          1   0   1   1     0   0   .333
Kubiak ss             3   0   0   0     0   1   .000        Keough pr           0   0   0   0     0   0   .000
  Pina p              0   0   0   0     0   0   .000        Burgmeier p         0   0   0   0     0   0   .250
  Lindblad p          2   0   0   0     0   1   .000        Dal Canton p        0   0   0   0     0   0   .000
  Shellenback p       2   0   0   0     0   1   .000        Hansen ph           0   0   0   0     1   0   .100
  Driscoll 2b         0   0   0   0     1   0   .000        Nelson p            2   0   1   0     0   1   .500
Bosman p              2   0   0   0     0   2   .000        May ph              1   0   1   0     0   0   .262
  Paul p              0   0   0   0     0   0   .000        Fitzmorris pr       0   0   0   0     0   0   .167
  Harrah ss           5   0   1   1     1   0   .239        Abernathy p         0   0   0   0     0   0   .000
                                                            Murphy p            0   0   0   0     0   0   .000

Totals               63   4   9   4     5  15             Totals               61   3  16   3     6   8

Time of Game: 4:56   Attendance:  7,114
Left on Base: Rangers 15, Royals 13
DP: Rangers 4, Royals 0
Errors: Patek, Rojas, Paepke, Abernathy 2
Doubles: Mincher (3), King (2), Maddox (5), Harrah (2), Kirkpatrick (1), Piniella (5), Hopkins (1), Rojas (6), May (4)
Triples: Nelson (2), Otis (1)
Stolen Bases: Biittner (1), Harrah (1), Maddox (5)
Caught Stealing: Mincher (1), Otis (3), Rojas (4)
Sacrifice Hits: Maddox 2 (2), Panther (2), Schaal (1), Patek (1)
GIDP: Piniella 2 (6), Mayberry (1)
Hit by Pitch: Mincher (1,by Drago), Otis (1,by Bosman)


Rangers                IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Bosman                  6.1   7   3   3   1   4   0  26   4.91
Paul                    0     1   0   0   0   0   0   1   2.77
Pina                    1.1   0   0   0   1   1   0   5   2.45
Lindblad                4.1   6   0   0   3   1   0  19   0.45
Shellenback             3.2   1   0   0   1   1   0  12   1.46
Panther W(2-1)          2.1   1   0   0   0   1   0   7   8.04
Totals                 18    16   3   3   6   8   0  70

Royals                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Drago                   7     5   3   3   0   5   0  26   2.55
Burgmeier               0.2   0   0   0   2   0   0   4   1.42
Dal Canton              1.1   0   0   0   1   1   0   5   3.56
Nelson                  7     3   0   0   1   8   0  27   1.69
Abernathy L(0-1)        1.1   1   1   0   1   1   0   9   1.08
Murphy                  0.2   0   0   0   0   0   0   2   4.63
Totals                 18     9   4   3   5  15   0  73

Hit by Pitch: Bosman (2), Drago (1)
Wild Pitches: Bosman (1)

Umpires: HP - Jerry Neudecker, 1B - Bill Kunkel, 2B - Red Flaherty, 3B - Bill Haller


RANGERS 1ST: Maddox flied out to right; Nelson tripled; Mincher
doubled to center [Nelson scored]; King doubled to left [Mincher
scored]; Biittner grounded out (second to first) [King to
third]; Lovitto singled to left [King scored]; Randle made an
out to shortstop; 3 R, 4 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 0.

ROYALS 1ST: Patek singled to left; Otis was hit by a pitch
[Patek to second]; Scheinblum forced Otis (first to shortstop)
[Patek to third]; Piniella grounded into a double play
(shortstop to second to first) [Scheinblum out at second]; 0 R,
1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 0.

RANGERS 2ND: Kubiak made an out to third; Bosman struck out;
Maddox grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Rangers 3, Royals 0.

ROYALS 2ND: Rojas singled to center; Kirkpatrick doubled [Rojas
scored]; Mayberry grounded out (first unassisted) [Kirkpatrick
to third]; Schaal lined to shortstop; Drago grounded out (second
to first); 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 1.

RANGERS 3RD: Nelson grounded out (second to first); Mincher was
hit by a pitch; Mincher was caught stealing second (catcher to
shortstop); King flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Rangers 3, Royals 1.

ROYALS 3RD: Patek flied out to right; Otis singled to left; Otis
was caught stealing second (catcher to shortstop); Scheinblum
lined to second; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 1.

RANGERS 4TH: Biittner grounded out (second to first); Lovitto
lined to center; Randle flied out to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0
LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 1.

ROYALS 4TH: Piniella doubled to left; Rojas singled to center
[Piniella scored]; Kirkpatrick grounded out (second to first)
[Rojas to second]; Bosman threw a wild pitch [Rojas to third];
Mayberry struck out; Schaal was called out on strikes; 1 R, 2 H,
0 E, 1 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 2.

RANGERS 5TH: Kubiak struck out; Bosman struck out; Maddox
grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Rangers 3,
Royals 2.

ROYALS 5TH: Drago struck out; Patek grounded out (second to
first); Otis tripled to center; Scheinblum struck out; 0 R, 1 H,
0 E, 1 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 2.

RANGERS 6TH: Nelson grounded out (third to first); Mincher
grounded out (first unassisted); King popped to shortstop in
foul territory; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 2.

ROYALS 6TH: SUAREZ REPLACED KING (PLAYING C ); Piniella grounded
out (shortstop to first); Rojas popped to catcher in foul
territory; Kirkpatrick flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Rangers 3, Royals 2.

RANGERS 7TH: Biittner singled to left; Lovitto was called out on
strikes; Biittner stole second; Randle struck out; Kubiak
grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Rangers
3, Royals 2.

ROYALS 7TH: Mayberry walked; Schaal out on a sacrifice bunt
(first to second) [Mayberry to second]; HOPKINS BATTED FOR
DRAGO; PAUL REPLACED BOSMAN (PITCHING); Hopkins doubled to left
[Mayberry scored]; KEOUGH RAN FOR HOPKINS; PINA REPLACED KUBIAK
(PITCHING); HARRAH REPLACED PAUL (PLAYING SS); Patek struck out;
Otis grounded out (third to first); 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Rangers 3, Royals 3.

RANGERS 8TH: BURGMEIER REPLACED KEOUGH (PITCHING); Harrah
walked; Maddox out on a sacrifice bunt (first to second) [Harrah
to second]; Nelson flied out to right; BURROUGHS BATTED FOR
MINCHER; Burroughs walked; DAL CANTON REPLACED BURGMEIER
(PITCHING); HOWARD BATTED FOR SUAREZ; Howard grounded out
(second to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 3.

ROYALS 8TH: BURROUGHS STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING LF); BILLINGS
REPLACED HOWARD (PLAYING C ); BIITTNER CHANGED POSITIONS
(PLAYING 1B); Scheinblum walked; Piniella forced Scheinblum
(first to shortstop); Rojas grounded out (third to first)
[Piniella to second]; LINDBLAD REPLACED PINA (PITCHING); KNOOP
BATTED FOR KIRKPATRICK; Knoop grounded out (third to first); 0
R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 3.

RANGERS 9TH: PAEPKE REPLACED KNOOP (PLAYING C ); Biittner flied
out to center; Lovitto walked; Randle grounded out (first
unassisted) [Lovitto to second]; Lindblad struck out; 0 R, 0 H,
0 E, 1 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 3.

ROYALS 9TH: Mayberry singled to second; Schaal singled [Mayberry
to third]; HANSEN BATTED FOR DAL CANTON; Hansen was walked
intentionally [Schaal to second]; Patek flied out to center;
Otis hit into a double play (center to catcher) [Mayberry out at
home]; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 3.

RANGERS 10TH: NELSON REPLACED HANSEN (PITCHING); Harrah grounded
out (shortstop to first); Maddox struck out; Nelson flied out to
right; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 3.

ROYALS 10TH: Scheinblum grounded out (third to first); Piniella
singled to shortstop; Rojas doubled to center [Piniella to
third]; Paepke was walked intentionally; Mayberry grounded into
a double play (second to catcher to first) [Piniella out at
home]; John Mayberry forgot there was just 1 out and quit
running; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 3.

RANGERS 11TH: Burroughs struck out; Billings singled to center;
Biittner reached on a fielder's choice [Billings to third (error
by Rojas)]; Lovitto walked [Biittner to second]; Randle forced
Billings (pitcher to catcher) [Biittner to third, Lovitto to
second]; Lindblad flied out to center; 0 R, 1 H, 1 E, 3 LOB.
Rangers 3, Royals 3.

ROYALS 11TH: Schaal flied out to left; Nelson singled to left;
Patek out on a sacrifice bunt (pitcher to first) [Nelson to
second]; Otis was walked intentionally; Scheinblum singled to
center [Nelson out at home (center to catcher), Otis to second];
0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 3.

RANGERS 12TH: Harrah reached on an error by Patek; Harrah stole
second; On a bunt Maddox made an out to third; Nelson struck
out; Burroughs grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 0 H, 1 E, 1
LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 3.

ROYALS 12TH: Piniella lined to center; Rojas struck out; Paepke
grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Rangers 3, Royals 3.

RANGERS 13TH: Billings struck out; Biittner grounded out (second
to first); Lovitto grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0
E, 0 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 3.

ROYALS 13TH: SHELLENBACK REPLACED LINDBLAD (PITCHING); Mayberry
flied out to center; Schaal lined to right; Nelson struck out; 0
R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 3.

RANGERS 14TH: Randle struck out; Shellenback was called out on
strikes; Harrah flied out to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Rangers 3, Royals 3.

ROYALS 14TH: Patek grounded out (second to first); Otis grounded
out (third to first); Scheinblum flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0
E, 0 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 3.

RANGERS 15TH: Maddox doubled to center; Nelson struck out;
Burroughs grounded out (pitcher to first) [Maddox to third];
Billings struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Rangers 3, Royals 3.

ROYALS 15TH: Piniella grounded out (second to first); Rojas
walked; Paepke flied out to center; Rojas was caught stealing
second (catcher to shortstop); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Rangers 3,
Royals 3.

RANGERS 16TH: Biittner grounded out (pitcher to first); Lovitto
singled to right; Randle flied out to center; Shellenback
grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Rangers
3, Royals 3.

ROYALS 16TH: Mayberry grounded out (first to second to pitcher);
Schaal lined to right; MAY BATTED FOR NELSON; May doubled to
left; FITZMORRIS RAN FOR MAY; PANTHER REPLACED RANDLE
(PITCHING); DRISCOLL REPLACED SHELLENBACK (PLAYING 2B); Patek
grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Rangers 3, Royals 3.

RANGERS 17TH: ABERNATHY REPLACED FITZMORRIS (PITCHING); Harrah
doubled; Maddox reached on an error by Abernathy on a sacrifice
bunt [Harrah to third]; Maddox stole second; Nelson popped to
first; Burroughs was called out on strikes; Billings grounded
out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 1 H, 1 E, 2 LOB.  Rangers 3,
Royals 3.

ROYALS 17TH: Otis flied to left; Scheinblum singled to pitcher;
Piniella grounded into a double play (second to first)
[Scheinblum out at second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Rangers 3,
Royals 3.

RANGERS 18TH: Biittner flied out to left; Lovitto reached on
catcher's interference by Paepke; Panther reached on an error by
Abernathy on a sacrifice bunt [Lovitto to third, Panther to
second]; Driscoll was walked intentionally; MURPHY REPLACED
ABERNATHY (PITCHING); Harrah forced Driscoll (pitcher to
shortstop to second) [Lovitto scored (unearned), Panther to
third]; Maddox flied out to center; 1 R (0 ER), 0 H, 2 E, 2 LOB.
 Rangers 4, Royals 3.

ROYALS 18TH: Rojas grounded out (second to first); Paepke was
called out on strikes; Mayberry grounded out (second to first);
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Rangers 4, Royals 3.