The Royals capped a late-inning comeback with a run in the 12th, capturing a 5-4 walkoff win over the Chicago White Sox at Municipal Stadium.
Down 4-1 when they came to bat in the seventh, Kansas City finally broke through against Chicago starter Joe Horlen. With one out, Bob Oliver and Jackie Hernandez each singled. Lou Piniella, hitting for pitcher Dave Morehead, lined a double to left-center, scoring both runners and pulling the Royals to within one run.
Although Piniella was thrown out trying to stretch that double into a triple, ending the rally, the Royals tied the score in the ninth. Now facing Chicago relief ace Wilbur Wood, Kansas City got a one-out single from Hernandez, who advanced to second on an error by left fielder May. With two outs, pinch-hitter Hawk Taylor singled, bringing Hernandez home to tie the game.
After surviving a wild top of the 10th when the White Sox had a runner at third with one out, and then runners at second and third and the bases loaded with two outs, Kansas City manufactured the winning run in the 12th. Chuck Harrison led off with a single, stole second, and scored on Joe Foy’s two-out single.
Kansas City was climbing uphill from the start, as Chicago’s Carlos May homered off Jim Rooker to start the game. The Royals tied the score in the second, as Joe Keough led off with a walk, stole second, reached third on an error, and scored on a bunt single by Hernandez.
Chicago took the lead back in the fourth with an RBI single by Horlen, and increased the lead to 4-1 when Don Pavletich homered with a man on in the fifth.
The win evened the Royals’ record at 10-10 and moved them into third place in the AL West, 3.5 games behind Minnesota.
Box score and play-by-play: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA196905010.shtml
Today’s birthdays: Jose Lind (1964), Phil Hiatt (1969)
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