The Royals continued to struggle offensively, collecting eight hits (seven of them singles) as they lost 5-1 to the Pilots at Sick’s Stadium in Seattle.

A day after being shut out on three hits, Kansas City again had trouble getting anything going. Seattle starter Marty Pattin continued Gene Brabender’s success in the previous game with two perfect innings before allowing a one-out single in the third. Nothing came of it as Pattin continued to get ground balls; 11 of the Royals’ first 15 outs were grounders.

Meanwhile, the Pilots grabbed a quick 1-0 lead with a Tommy Harper walk and Mike Hegan double in the first inning against Royals starter Dick Drago. Seattle added a Tommy Davis home run in the fourth for a 2-0 lead.

The Royals had a chance to gain momentum in the sixth, as pinch-hitter Hawk Taylor led off with a single and Juan Rios added a one-out single. But the heart of the order, Pat Kelly and Joe Foy, could not bring the runners home and Pattin kept his shutout.

Then Seattle took advantage of first baseman Chuck Harrison’s error in the bottom of the inning to add another run. Wayne Comer led off with a single before Harrison muffed a Davis grounder. Although reliever Don O’Riley got a double play, John Donaldson singled to drive in Comer.

Kansas City finally got on the board in the seventh, as Bob Oliver homered with one out. Harrison followed with a single, but reliever Bob Locker sandwiched two grounders around a single, ending the inning with the tying runs on base.

The Pilots capitalized on reliever Galen Cisco’s wildness to score two insurance runs in the eighth, putting the game out of reach. Cisco walked two batters, and with two outs a passed ball scored Hegan. Donaldson followed with another RBI single for the fifth and final run.

The loss dropped the Royals to 26-40. They were in fifth place in the AL West, 12 games behind Minnesota.

Box score and play-by-play: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SE1/SE1196906220.shtml

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