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.