PERRY TOSSES 10-INNING SHUTOUT
Grimsley Suffers Tough No-Decision

ARLINGTON, Tex., July 22 (AP) – Gaylord Perry became the first American League pitcher this season to throw a complete game shutout of more than nine innings and the Texas Rangers squeaked past the Baltimore Orioles 1-0 at Arlington Stadium.  Perry allowed just four hits—all of them singles—and walked one while striking out nine in his second 10-inning complete game of the year.  Perry went 10 innings on April 27 in a 2-1 loss to the New York Yankees.  It was the fourth straight win, the fifth straight complete game and the second shutout in the last four starts for Perry.

Orioles starter Ross Grimsley tossed nine shutout innings of four-hit shutout ball himself but settled for a no-decision when he was removed prior to the start of the tenth.

Gene Clines had a pair of doubles—the only two extra base hits of the contest—and scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the tenth.

The Rangers saw the game’s best scoring chance in regulation go by the boards in the second inning.  Tom Grieve and Toby Harrah swatted back-to-back singles with one out, leaving runners on the corners.  But Lenny Randle fouled to first baseman Tony Muser for the second out of the inning.  Harrah then stole second base and Grimsley walked Juan Beniquez to load the bases.  Jim Sundberg ended the inning, however, when he popped to second baseman Bobby Grich for the final out.

The Orioles didn’t advance a runner past first base until the sixth inning.  Lee May reached on a two-out infield single and Ken Singleton rolled a grounder through the right side allowing the lumbering May to reach third without a throw.  But Muser bounced into a fielder’s choice to end the threat.  The Orioles didn’t manage another baserunner for the duration of the contest as Perry retired the final 14 batters he faced.

Fred Holdsworth entered the game in relief of Grimsley in the bottom of the tenth and, after retiring Sundberg on an infield pop up, surrendered Clines’ second double of the game—a shot into the left field corner.  Roy Howell was called upon to pinch hit for Danny Thompson and, on a 2-1 pitch, looped a base hit to left.  Clines got a good read on the ball, began running almost immediately and scored easily, winning the game for the Rangers.

7/22/1976, Bal76-Tex76, Arlington Stadium
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10     R  H  E   LOB DP
1976 Orioles           0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0     0  4  2     7  0
1976 Rangers           0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1     1  6  2     9  0
 
Orioles              AB  R  H BI   AVG    Rangers              AB  R  H BI   AVG
Bumbry            cf  5  0  0  0  .239    Clines            lf  4  1  2  0  .275
Grich             2b  4  0  0  0  .237    Thompson,D        3b  4  0  0  0  .158
Jackson,Re        rf  4  0  0  0  .313     Howell           ph  1  0  1  1  .238
May,L             dh  4  0  1  0  .258    Hargrove          1b  4  0  0  0  .280
Singleton         lf  4  0  2  0  .297    Burroughs         rf  4  0  0  0  .178
Muser             1b  4  0  0  0  .263    Grieve            dh  4  0  1  0  .275
Belanger          ss  3  0  0  0  .242    Harrah            ss  3  0  2  0  .280
DeCinces          3b  4  0  0  0  .183    Randle,L          2b  4  0  0  0  .209
Duncan            c   4  0  1  0  .242    Beniquez          cf  3  0  0  0  .248
                     36  0  4  0          Sundberg          c   4  0  0  0  .224
                                                               35  1  6  1
 
Orioles                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Grimsley                         9.0  4  0  0  2  1 105  70  3.98
Holdsworth       L 0-1           0.1  2  1  1  0  0  11   6  2.35
                                 9.1  6  1  1  2  1 116  76
 
Rangers                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Perry            W 10-7         10.0  4  0  0  1  9 118  83  2.60
                                10.0  4  0  0  1  9 118  83
 
Tex: Howell batted for Thompson,D in the 10th
 
E-Muser, Grimsley, Harrah 2. 2B-Clines 2(4). RBI-Howell(34). SB-Harrah(6).
K-Bumbry 2, Grich, Jackson,Re 2, Singleton, DeCinces 2, Duncan, Grieve.
BB-Belanger, Harrah, Beniquez. SH-Clines.
GWRBI: Howell
Temperature: 98, Sky: clear, Wind: left to right at 8 MPH.
Attendance: 11,526
Game Time: 2:06