The Royals scored four late runs to turn a close game into a 7-2 win over the Brewers on Father’s Day at County Stadium in Milwaukee.

Clinging to a 3-2 lead as they came to bat in the eighth, the Royals took advantage of possibly tired Milwaukee starter Moose Haas. Hal McRae singled before Amos Otis blasted his second home run of the game into the right field seats.

That ended Haas’ afternoon after 11 hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. Reliever Jerry Augustine took over, and despite issuing two walks, kept the Royals’ lead at 5-2. However, Kansas City got to Augustine for two runs in the ninth, as Hal McRae homered with two outs. Otis followed with a single and scored on Clint Hurdle’s double.

The late outburst made life easier for Royals starter Dennis Leonard, who finished off a complete game effort for his seventh win. Leonard struck out eight and didn’t walk anyone. He held the Brewers to five hits. Both Milwaukee runs came in the sixth, as Robin Yount and Don Money hit back-to-back home runs.

Those cut the Royals’ lead to 3-2, just after Kansas City had scored two runs in the top of the sixth. Those also came on solo home runs, by Willie Aikens to start the inning and by Otis with one out.

Kansas City’s first run came in the fifth, as U L Washington doubled with one out. Frank White’s single with two outs put the Royals on top 1-0.

With the win, the Royals improved to 37-22. They took two of three games in the series and also ended their road trip with an 8-2 mark. Kansas City had now opened up a seven-game lead over Chicago in the AL West.

George Brett watch: Still out of the lineup with an ankle injury. Season stats: .337/.407/.609

Box score and play-by-play: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL198006150.shtml

1980 sports news: In golf, Jack Nicklaus set a tournament scoring record as he won the U.S. Open by two strokes at Baltrusol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. Nicklaus topped Isao Aoki by two strokes after he set a course record in the first round with a 63 and held the lead after each of the first three rounds, although he and Aoki entered Sunday tied atop the leader board. Kansas City’s Tom Watson finished in a tie for third, four strokes back.

Today’s birthdays: Bruce Dal Canton (1941), Erik Kratz (1980)