A night after the Royals picked up a walkoff win, they gave up one as they dropped a 9-8 decision to the Minnesota Twins in 10 innings at Metropolitan Stadium.

Larry Hisle homered to lead off the 10th, tagging Larry Gura with the loss. This came after Gura allowed a game-tying home run to Glenn Borgmann in the ninth.

The scoring started and ended with a home run, as John Mayberry hit his ninth homer of the season in the first inning. It came with two outs and George Brett aboard, giving the Royals a 2-0 lead.

But the Twins came up with their own home run in the bottom of the inning. Royals starter Paul Splittorff gave up singles to Bob Randall and Rod Carew before Hisle belted one over the left-center field fence for a 3-2 lead. 

An unlikely power source tied the game in the second. Royals shortstop Freddie Patek led off with a homer, his first of the year. But the Twins jumped back in front in the bottom of the second. Borgmann walked with one out and scored on a Carew triple.

The offensive onslaught continued in the third. With one out, Mayberry and Al Cowens singled. Amos Otis tripled, putting the Royals back in front, 5-4, and sending Twins starter Paul Thormodsgard to the showers.

Splittorff pitched a perfect third, but Jerry Terrell doubled in the fourth and Borgmann walked with one out. With two outs, Carew doubled, scoring both runners, although he was thrown out trying to reach third.

Again the Royals responded. With one out in the fifth, Cowens singled off Twins reliever Ron Schueler, then stole second. After Otis walked, John Wathan singled to tie the game at 6-6.

Kansas City then took the lead in the sixth. Relief pitcher Tom Burgmeier allowed a one-out single to Hal McRae before Mayberry homered again, giving the Royals an 8-6 lead.

Despite Marty Pattin pitching three scoreless innings, the Royals ultimately could not hold the lead. Gura tossed a perfect eighth inning, but walked Roy Smalley to start the ninth. With one out, Borgmann tied the game on his second home run of the year. Then Hisle finished out the game with his home run in the 10th.

The loss dropped the Royals to 25-27. They dropped two spots in the AL West, falling to sixth place. They were seven games behind the first-place Twins.

Box score and play-by-play:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN197706080.shtml

Today’s birthdays: Matt Whisenant (1971), Terrance Gore (1991)