The Royals had a second straight day off as they prepared for a doubleheader in Baltimore. The Orioles led the AL East with a 22-15 record, although they had only scored 130 runs in those 37 games, an average of 3.5.

Despite not having a game, the Royals did have some news items. Starting pitcher Andy Hassler was ready to return from the disabled list. He had not pitched for the Royals since taking a line drive off his knee in a game on April 26. Hassler, a lefthander, was 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA in five starts when he was injured.

To make room on the roster, the team designated relief pitcher Tom Hall for assignment. Hall, who had pitched in 31 games for Kansas City in 1976 with a 4.45 ERA, had only appeared in six games in the 1977 season, totaling 7 ⅔ innings, with a 3.52 ERA.

Another Royals pitcher trying to overcome an injury had less encouraging news. Steve Busby was headed to Los Angeles to see Dr. Frank Jobe, who had performed rotator cuff surgery on him in July 1976. Busby had pitched in a minor league game in Florida on May 17, but reported a lot of pain in his shoulder after the appearance. Busby and Jobe were in uncharted waters; the surgery was the first time a rotator cuff repair had been attempted on an active pitcher, although Jobe had performed the operation on tennis players. 

Today’s birthdays: Ellie Rodriguez (1946), Carlos Febles (1976)