April 11, 1972. Kansas City 7, California 0.

Dick Drago made sure he wouldn't be taking another tough luck loss today as he shut out the Angels on 4 hits.  Only 3 Angel runners made it into scoring position today and third base coach Peanuts Lowery was lonely as the Maytag repairman as only one runner made it to 3rd base.

Andy Messersmith got shelled for a second straight start.  After getting Amos Otis out to start the 1st, the Royals had Messersmith's number.  John Mayberry hit a 2-run homer as part of a 3 run first. KC put up 3 more in the third and finished off the scoring with a Mayberry RBI single in the 4th.

One bright spot for the Angels was the pitching of Rickey Clark. California won't need a 5th starter for a while, so Del Rice turned to Clark when he lifted Messersmith and Rickey retired all 9 Royal hitters he faced.  Jim Spencer sent a ball headed for the right field seats, but KC right fielder Richie Scheinblum went back, jumped, and came down with the horsehide in his glove.  Pretty much sums up the day for Gene Autry's men.

A paltry crowd of 11,310 came out for Kansas City's last home opener at Municipal Stadium. Their new stadium at the Truman Sports Complex is being constructed and will be ready for the 1973 season.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CALIFORNIA ANGELS AT KANSAS CITY ROYALS GAME ID: 49 - TUESDAY, APRIL 11TH , 1972 - GAME LOG   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E California Angels (1-2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 Kansas City Royals (4-1) 3 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 X 7 9 1

Drago Shuts Down Angels, 7-0 Dick Drago dominated the California Angels with a brilliant 4-hit shutout in a Kansas City Royals 7-0 triumph at KC Municipal Stadium. The Kansas City hurler fanned 4 and walked 4 in the game and was singled out for praise afterward by the opposing manager. "He really kept us in check today," Angels skipper Del Rice said in postgame comments. "Everything looked to be moving. Seemed like the pitch was right down the middle and it went over down and away. We took some pathetic swings." Royals manager Bob Lemon commented, "I've been around a long time and you know I've seen some great pitchers and what you saw today is as good as you're going to see."

CALIFORNIA BATTING LINESCORE KANSAS CITY BATTING LINESCORE

Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI S. Alomar 2B 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .250 0 0 V. Pinson RF 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 0 0 K. McMullen 3B 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273 0 1 C. Vinson 1B 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 .000 0 0    d-L. Allen P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 K. Berry CF 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .429 0 3 C. Coletta LF 3 0 0 0 1 0 3 .000 0 0 L. Cardenas SS 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .167 0 0 J. Hutto C 2 0 0 0 1 2 2 .250 0 0 A. Messersmith P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0    a-F. Baker PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 0 0    b-R. Clark P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0    c-J. Spencer PH, 1B 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 Totals 29 0 4 0 4 4 14       a - F. Baker pinch hit for A. Messersmith in the 5th b - R. Clark substituted for F. Baker in the 5th c - J. Spencer pinch hit for R. Clark in the 8th d - L. Allen substituted for C. Vinson in the 8th BATTING Total Bases: S. Alomar , K. McMullen , K. Berry , L. Cardenas Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: S. Alomar , C. Vinson , C. Coletta GIDP: C. Coletta , L. Cardenas Sac Bunt: A. Messersmith Team LOB: 7 Player AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI A. Otis CF 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 .476 0 3 C. Rojas 2B 4 2 2 0 0 0 1 .316 0 2 L. Piniella LF 4 2 2 1 0 1 1 .409 0 8 J. Mayberry 1B 4 1 2 3 0 0 2 .368 1 6 P. Schaal 3B 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 .300 0 1 R. Scheinblum RF 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .083 0 0 E. Kirkpatrick C 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 .143 0 2 F. Patek SS 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 .133 0 2 D. Drago P 3 0 0 0 0 3 3 .000 0 0 Totals 33 7 9 7 2 6 8       BATTING Doubles: C. Rojas (2, 1st Inning off A. Messersmith, 0 on, 1 out) Home Runs: J. Mayberry (1, 1st Inning off A. Messersmith, 1 on, 1 out) Total Bases: C. Rojas 3 , L. Piniella 2 , J. Mayberry 5 , P. Schaal , E. Kirkpatrick , F. Patek 2-out RBI: J. Mayberry , P. Schaal , E. Kirkpatrick , F. Patek Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: P. Schaal , D. Drago Team LOB: 4 BASERUNNING SB: A. Otis (3) FIELDING Errors: C. Rojas (1) Double Plays: 2 (Patek-Rojas-Mayberry, Rojas-Patek-Mayberry)

CALIFORNIA PITCHING LINESCORE KANSAS CITY PITCHING LINESCORE

Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA    A. Messersmith L (0-2) 4.0 9 7 7 2 3 1 90 14.00    R. Clark 3.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 37 0.00    L. Allen 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 12 0.00    PITCHING Game Score: A. Messersmith 17 Batters Faced: A. Messersmith 23, R. Clark 9, L. Allen 3 Ground Outs - Fly Outs: A. Messersmith 3-6, R. Clark 4-3, L. Allen 2-0 Pitches - Strikes: A. Messersmith 90-55, R. Clark 37-26, L. Allen 12-7 Player IP H R ER BB K HR PI ERA    D. Drago W (1-1) 9.0 4 0 0 4 4 0 129 1.20    PITCHING Game Score: D. Drago 79 Batters Faced: D. Drago 34 Ground Outs - Fly Outs: D. Drago 11-10 Pitches - Strikes: D. Drago 129-73

GAME NOTES

Player of the Game: Dick Drago Ballpark: KC Municipal Stadium 1969-1972 Weather: Clear skies (47 degrees), wind blowing in from right at 12 mph Start Time: 8:05 PM CT Time: 2:41 Attendance: 11310

 

TOP OF THE 1ST California Angels batting - Pitching for Kansas City Royals : RHP Dick Drago Pitching: RHP Dick Drago Batting: SHB Sandy Alomar 0-0: Bunted foul 0-1: Ground out 6-3 (Groundball, 6M, EV 106.9 MPH) Batting: LHB Vada Pinson 0-0: Ball 1-0: Swinging Strike 1-1: Fly out, F4 (Flyball, 34D, EV 93.8 MPH) Batting: RHB Ken McMullen 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Ball 3-0: Called Strike 3-1: Fly out, F9 (Flyball, 9LSF, EV 94.4 MPH) Top of the 1st over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 0 BOTTOM OF THE 1ST Kansas City Royals batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Andy Messersmith Pitching: RHP Andy Messersmith Batting: RHB Amos Otis 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Swinging Strike 0-2: Fly out, F8 (Line Drive, 8LS, EV 95.0 MPH) Batting: RHB Cookie Rojas 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Foul Ball, location: 9LSF 2-1: DOUBLE (Groundball, 5L, EV 108.8 MPH) Batting: RHB Lou Piniella 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Swinging Strike 0-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: SINGLE (Flyball, 89S, EV 88.1 MPH) Cookie Rojas to third Runner from 3rd tries for Home, SAFE, throw by RF to home Lou Piniella to second Batting: LHB John Mayberry 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Ball 2-1: Called Strike 2-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-2: Ball 3-2: 2-RUN HOME RUN (Flyball, 9LD, EV 95.0 MPH), Distance : 360 ft Batting: RHB Paul Schaal 0-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Ball 1-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Ground out 6-3 (Groundball, 6M, EV 77.5 MPH) Batting: SHB Richie Scheinblum 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Called Strike 0-2: Ball 1-2: Ball 2-2: Fly out, F2 (Popup, 23F, EV 82.5 MPH) Bottom of the 1st over - 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 3 TOP OF THE 2ND California Angels batting - Pitching for Kansas City Royals : RHP Dick Drago Batting: LHB Charlie Vinson 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Ball 3-0: Called Strike 3-1: Base on Balls Batting: RHB Ken Berry 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Called Strike 0-2: Strikes out swinging Batting: LHB Chris Coletta 0-0: Grounds into double play, 6-4-3 (Groundball, 6, EV 102.5 MPH) Top of the 2nd over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 3 BOTTOM OF THE 2ND Kansas City Royals batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Andy Messersmith Batting: LHB Ed Kirkpatrick 0-0: Ball 1-0: Fly out, F7 (Flyball, 7D, EV 86.9 MPH) Batting: RHB Freddie Patek 0-0: Fly out, F9 (Flyball, 9LM, EV 85.0 MPH) Batting: RHB Dick Drago 0-0: Ball 1-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-1: Ball 2-1: Foul Ball, location: 5DF 2-2: Strikes out swinging Bottom of the 2nd over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 3 TOP OF THE 3RD California Angels batting - Pitching for Kansas City Royals : RHP Dick Drago Batting: RHB Leo Cardenas 0-0: SINGLE (Groundball, 56D, EV 98.8 MPH) Batting: RHB Jim Hutto 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Strikes out swinging Batting: RHB Andy Messersmith 0-0: Bunted foul 0-1: Bunted foul 0-2: Sac Bunt to 3S - play at first, batter OUT! 3-1 Leo Cardenas to second Batting: SHB Sandy Alomar 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ground out 6-3 (Groundball, 6, EV 88.8 MPH) Top of the 3rd over - 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 3 BOTTOM OF THE 3RD Kansas City Royals batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Andy Messersmith Batting: RHB Amos Otis 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Ground out 5-3 (Groundball, 56S, EV 87.5 MPH) Batting: RHB Cookie Rojas 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Swinging Strike 2-1: SINGLE (Flyball, 7S, EV 95.0 MPH) Batting: RHB Lou Piniella 0-0: Swinging Strike 0-1: Foul Ball, location: 3SF 0-2: Ball 1-2: SINGLE (Line Drive, 5D, EV 98.1 MPH) Cookie Rojas to second Batting: LHB John Mayberry 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Fly out, F7 (Line Drive, 7, EV 98.1 MPH) Batting: RHB Paul Schaal 0-0: SINGLE (Groundball, 56D, EV 94.4 MPH) Cookie Rojas to third Lou Piniella to second Runner from 3rd tries for Home, SAFE, throw by LF to home Batting: SHB Richie Scheinblum 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Called Strike 2-1: Ball 3-1: Base on Balls Lou Piniella to third Paul Schaal to second Batting: LHB Ed Kirkpatrick 0-0: Ball 1-0: Called Strike 1-1: Ball 2-1: Ball 3-1: SINGLE (Line Drive, 8RS, EV 99.4 MPH) Lou Piniella scores Paul Schaal to third Richie Scheinblum to second Batting: RHB Freddie Patek 0-0: Ball 1-0: SINGLE (Groundball, 34D, EV 79.4 MPH) (infield hit) Paul Schaal scores Richie Scheinblum to third Ed Kirkpatrick to second Batting: RHB Dick Drago 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Called Strike 0-2: Strikes out looking Bottom of the 3rd over - 3 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 6 TOP OF THE 4TH California Angels batting - Pitching for Kansas City Royals : RHP Dick Drago Batting: LHB Vada Pinson 0-0: Ball 1-0: Fly out, F8 (Line Drive, 8RM, EV 100.0 MPH) Batting: RHB Ken McMullen 0-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-1: Ball 1-1: Called Strike 1-2: Ball 2-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-2: Ground out 5-3 (Groundball, 56S, EV 81.2 MPH) Batting: LHB Charlie Vinson 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Ball 2-1: Ball 3-1: Base on Balls Batting: RHB Ken Berry 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Ball 3-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 3-1: SINGLE (Line Drive, 78S, EV 106.2 MPH) Charlie Vinson to second Batting: LHB Chris Coletta 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Ground out U3 (Groundball, 3S, EV 63.8 MPH) Top of the 4th over - 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 6 BOTTOM OF THE 4TH Kansas City Royals batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Andy Messersmith Batting: RHB Amos Otis 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Ball 2-1: Swinging Strike 2-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-2: Ball 3-2: Base on Balls Batting: RHB Cookie Rojas Pickoff Throw to First - No movement. Pickoff Throw to First - No movement. 0-0: Ball Pickoff Throw to First - No movement. 1-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F Pickoff Throw to First - No movement. Pickoff Throw to First - No movement. 1-1: Ball Pickoff Throw to First - No movement. 2-1: Fly out, F7 (Flyball, 78S, EV 81.9 MPH) Batting: RHB Lou Piniella 0-0: Ball Pickoff Throw to First - No movement. 1-0: Ball Amos Otis steals 2nd base 2-0: Ball 3-0: Called Strike 3-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 3-2: Strikes out swinging Batting: LHB John Mayberry 0-0: Ball 1-0: SINGLE (Groundball, 4D, EV 103.8 MPH) Amos Otis to third Runner from 3rd tries for Home, SAFE, throw by RF to home John Mayberry to second Batting: RHB Paul Schaal 0-0: Ball 1-0: Swinging Strike 1-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Ground out 4-3 (Groundball, 4, EV 83.8 MPH) Bottom of the 4th over - 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 7 TOP OF THE 5TH California Angels batting - Pitching for Kansas City Royals : RHP Dick Drago Batting: RHB Leo Cardenas 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Ground out 4-3 (Groundball, 4M, EV 96.9 MPH) Batting: RHB Jim Hutto 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Ball 3-0: Base on Balls Pinch Hitting: LHB Frank Baker 0-0: Swinging Strike 0-1: Swinging Strike 0-2: Ball 1-2: Strikes out swinging Batting: SHB Sandy Alomar 0-0: Foul Ball, location: 9LSF 0-1: Swinging Strike 0-2: Ball 1-2: Ball 2-2: Ball 3-2: Ground out 4-3 (Groundball, 4, EV 107.5 MPH) Top of the 5th over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 7 BOTTOM OF THE 5TH Kansas City Royals batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Andy Messersmith Pitching: RHP Rickey Clark Batting: SHB Richie Scheinblum 0-0: Swinging Strike 0-1: Fly out, F9 (Flyball, 9S, EV 96.9 MPH) Batting: LHB Ed Kirkpatrick 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Foul Ball, location: 7LSF 0-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Ground out 3-1 (Groundball, 34, EV 103.1 MPH) Batting: RHB Freddie Patek 0-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-1: Ball 1-1: Foul Ball, location: 7LMF 1-2: Fly out, F3 (Popup, 3L, EV 68.1 MPH) Bottom of the 5th over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 7 TOP OF THE 6TH California Angels batting - Pitching for Kansas City Royals : RHP Dick Drago Batting: LHB Vada Pinson 0-0: Fly out, F7 (Flyball, 7D, EV 96.2 MPH) Batting: RHB Ken McMullen 0-0: Ball 1-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-1: Swinging Strike 1-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Fly out, F3 (Popup, 3F, EV 62.5 MPH) Batting: LHB Charlie Vinson 0-0: Ball 1-0: Foul Ball, location: 9LSF 1-1: Fly out, F8 (Flyball, 8LD, EV 91.9 MPH) Top of the 6th over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 7 BOTTOM OF THE 6TH Kansas City Royals batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Rickey Clark Batting: RHB Dick Drago 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Ball 1-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Strikes out looking Batting: RHB Amos Otis 0-0: Ball 1-0: Called Strike 1-1: Ball 2-1: Ball 3-1: Fly out, F7 (Flyball, 7S, EV 77.5 MPH) Batting: RHB Cookie Rojas 0-0: Foul Ball, location: 2LF 0-1: Ball 1-1: Called Strike 1-2: Ball 2-2: Ball 3-2: Ground out 5-3 (Groundball, 56, EV 101.9 MPH) Bottom of the 6th over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 7 TOP OF THE 7TH California Angels batting - Pitching for Kansas City Royals : RHP Dick Drago Batting: RHB Ken Berry 0-0: Ball 1-0: Foul Ball, location: 2RF 1-1: Ball 2-1: Ball 3-1: Ground out 6-3 (Groundball, 6M, EV 103.1 MPH) Batting: LHB Chris Coletta 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Called Strike 0-2: Reached on error, E4 (Groundball, 4, EV 86.9 MPH) Batting: RHB Leo Cardenas 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Called Strike 1-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Ball 2-2: Fielders Choice at 2nd, 6-4 (Groundball, 6M, EV 104.4 MPH) Batting: RHB Jim Hutto 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Ball 3-0: Called Strike 3-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 3-2: Strikes out swinging Top of the 7th over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 7 BOTTOM OF THE 7TH Kansas City Royals batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Rickey Clark Batting: RHB Lou Piniella 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ground out 5-3 (Groundball, 56, EV 104.4 MPH) Batting: LHB John Mayberry 0-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-1: Swinging Strike 0-2: Ball 1-2: Ground out 4-3 (Groundball, 34, EV 85.6 MPH) Batting: RHB Paul Schaal 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 1-2: Strikes out swinging Bottom of the 7th over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 7 TOP OF THE 8TH California Angels batting - Pitching for Kansas City Royals : RHP Dick Drago Pinch Hitting: LHB Jim Spencer 0-0: Ball 1-0: Swinging Strike 1-1: Ball 2-1: Ball 3-1: Fly out, F9 (Flyball, BS6, EV 106.9 MPH) Batting: SHB Sandy Alomar 0-0: Ball 1-0: SINGLE (Groundball, 3S, EV 74.4 MPH) (infield hit) Batting: LHB Vada Pinson 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Fly out, F7 (Line Drive, 7LM, EV 91.2 MPH) Batting: RHB Ken McMullen 0-0: Swinging Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: SINGLE (Groundball, 56D, EV 104.4 MPH) Sandy Alomar to second Runner from 2nd tries for 3rd, SAFE, throw by LF made to third Batting: LHB Charlie Vinson 0-0: Ball 1-0: Swinging Strike 1-1: Called Strike 1-2: Ball 2-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-2: Fly out, F7 (Line Drive, 78M, EV 90.6 MPH) Top of the 8th over - 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 7 BOTTOM OF THE 8TH Kansas City Royals batting - Pitching for California Angels : RHP Rickey Clark Pitching: RHP Lloyd Allen Now at 1B: Jim Spencer Batting: SHB Richie Scheinblum 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Called Strike 1-2: Ball 2-2: Ground out 6-3 (Groundball, 6D, EV 112.5 MPH) Batting: LHB Ed Kirkpatrick 0-0: Ball 1-0: Called Strike 1-1: Ball 2-1: Swinging Strike 2-2: Strikes out swinging Batting: RHB Freddie Patek 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ground out U3 (Groundball, 23, EV 88.1 MPH) Bottom of the 8th over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 7 TOP OF THE 9TH California Angels batting - Pitching for Kansas City Royals : RHP Dick Drago Batting: RHB Ken Berry 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F 0-2: Fly out, F8 (Flyball, 8LM, EV 95.0 MPH) Batting: LHB Chris Coletta 0-0: Called Strike 0-1: Ball 1-1: Ball 2-1: Ball 3-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F 3-2: Base on Balls Batting: RHB Leo Cardenas 0-0: Ball 1-0: Ball 2-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F 2-1: Ball 3-1: Grounds into double play, 4-6-3 (Groundball, 4M, EV 80.0 MPH) Top of the 9th over - 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base; California 0 - Kansas City 7