The Royals had a day off as they headed to the West Coast for eight games, with four against the California Angels and four against the Oakland A’s. 

The Angels offered the Royals no help in their hopes of clinching the AL West title. In fact, California was held hitless by Texas Rangers pitcher Bert Blyleven, who tossed the third no-hitter of the 1977 season in a 6-0 win in Anaheim.

Blyleven walked one and struck out seven, including Thad Bosley to end the game. One Angel, Ron Jackson, reached on an error in the third inning but was promptly erased on a double play. Blyleven had been battling a groin injury and slightly aggravated it in the eighth, but was able to stay in and finish the only no-hitter of his Hall of Fame career.

The Rangers’ win meant the Royals would still a win of their own or a Texas loss to clinch the AL West title outright.

In the only division race that was still close, Baltimore beat Toronto to move within 1.5 games of New York in the AL East. Boston lost, falling to three games behind the Yankees.

Today’s birthdays: Bob Lemon (1920), Vince Coleman (1961), Mike Matheny (1970), Chris Ellis (1992)