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OFF DAY, Tuesday July 26, 1977 ~
Left-handed catcher Darrell Porter comes off the injured list.
We ship reserve catcher Steve Patchin back to the minors where he belongs, put 19 year-old Clint Hurdle back on the bench where he belongs, and activate Porter, who was hitting .290 with 15 HRs and 43 RBIs when he went on DL back in June. He will be a big help.
This will be a big week for getting healthy. Shortstop Freddie Patek, out since late May, will be eligible to come off the IL on Thursday, July 28. He was hitting .277 with 3 HR and 17 RBI and 10 stolen bases when he went down. Not sure how I’ll make room for him, since Kiko Garcia has been an overall plus at SS, especially defensively. And at last, LHP Andy Hassler, out since early April (he threw only 10 pitches!) will be eligible to return early next week, around Aug. 1 or Aug. 2. Hassler was 5-6 with a 2.99 ERA for the Royals in 1976, in 99 innings pitched. We could use that right now.
Relief pitcher Doug Bird (5-2, 2 saves, 2.78 ERA) should have come off the IL a week or so ago, but his elbow is still bothering him and his return date is still unknown.
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Game 96, Wednesday July 27, 1977 ~
At Kansas City
Royals 5, Indians 4
WP: Paul Splittorff (8-8, 3.87); LP: Rick Waits (5-13, 4.37); Sv: Mark Littell (9, 6.43)
For the first time in this alternate Royals SIM history, speedy young Willie Wilson was penciled into the starting lineup, at the leadoff spot.
He went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, an RBI and two runs scored.
Paul Splittorff got through 6.2 innings, then faded rapidly. Fortunately, three wobbly relievers (Gura, Shanahan, Littell) managed to get us across the finish line.
Catcher Darrell Porter returned to the lineup, but went 0-for-4. He doesn’t hit lefties well, and Cleveland started a lefty (Waits).
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Game 97, Thursday July 28, 1977 ~
At Kansas City
Royals 4, Indians 2
WP: Jim Colborn (13-4, 3.48); LP: Earl Bass (0-1, 9.00*); Sv: Mark Littell (10, 6.28)
Al Cowens broke out of a two-week slump with a 2-run INSIDE-THE-PARK home run in the bottom of the first inning, and George Brett hit a tie-breaking RBI double in the bottom of the eighth as Jim Colborn notched his 13th win.
Freddy Patek played his first game since late May. He started at shortstop and went 0 for 3. In the eighth, with the score tied 2-2, I substituted Kiko Garcia for Patek, and then Garcia dropped a two-out infield pop up in the ninth inning.
Fortunately, Mark Littell got the next batter and earned his third save in as many chances, a season high.
Colborn allowed 2 runs on 4 hits through eight innings. He walked 3 and struck out 8.
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