RYAN LOSES NO-HITTER, SHUTOUT IN 9TH
Settles for Complete Game 1-Hitter
ANAHEIM, Cal., Sept. 20 (AP) - Nolan Ryan took a no-hitter into the ninth inning
only to lose it on a one-out double off the bat of pinch hitter Dave Moates.
An error on the play by right fielder Bruce Bochte ultimately cost Ryan the
shutout as well, but he settled for a complete game one-hitter as the California
Angels defeated the Texas Rangers 3-1 at Anaheim Stadium. Ryan is the
fourth major leaguer to lose a no-hitter in the ninth inning this season.
It's been a tough year for Ryan given the lack of run support from his
teammates, but the Angels touched Rangers starter Bert Blyleven for a pair of
tallies in the bottom of the third to take the lead. Dave Chalk drew a
lead-off walk and was sacrificed to second by Dave Collins. Jerry Remy
struck out but Mike Easler singled to center, scoring Chalk with the game's
first run. Tony Solaita's base hit advanced Easler to third and Bochte's
single to right plated Easler for a 2-0 Angels lead.
California added an insurance run in the seventh. Blyleven easily retired
Chalk and Collins to open the frame but consecutive singles by Remy, Easler and
Solaita made it 3-0.
Ryan, meanwhile, was on cruise control. He retired the first six Rangers
he faced then walked Tom Grieve to open the third. Juan Beniquez then
lined to Solaita at first and Grieve had no chance to get back to the base
before Solaita stepped on the bag for a double play. The line out twin
killing was the first of 18 consecutive batters retired by Ryan, who entered the
ninth having faced the minimum of 24 hitters, fanning seven in the process.
Grieve struck out to begin the top of the ninth--the eighth batter fanned by
Ryan in the game--and Moates was summoned to hit for Beniquez. On a 3-2
offering Moates lined a ball deep to right, over the head of Bochte and off the
wall, ending the no-hit bid. Bochte misplayed the carom for an error,
allowing Moates to reach third base. With the infield back, pinch hitter
Joe Lahoud rolled weakly to Mike Miley at short. Moates scored easily on
the play as Miley threw out Lahoud at first. Ryan then struck out Lenny
Randle--his ninth punch out of the game--to end the contest.
9/20/1976, Tex76-Cal76, Anaheim Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 1976 Rangers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1976 Angels 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 x 3 8 1 8 1 Rangers AB R H BI AVG Angels AB R H BI AVG Randle,L 2b 4 0 0 0 .241 Collins lf 3 0 1 0 .281 Harrah ss 3 0 0 0 .268 Remy 2b 3 1 1 0 .313 Hargrove 1b 3 0 0 0 .265 Easler dh 4 1 2 1 .321 Burroughs rf 3 0 0 0 .185 Solaita 1b 4 0 2 1 .250 Howell 3b 3 0 0 0 .207 Torres,R cf 0 0 0 0 .235 Clines dh 3 0 0 0 .266 Bochte rf 4 0 1 1 .273 Grieve lf 2 0 0 0 .260 Briggs cf 4 0 0 0 .183 Beniquez cf 2 0 0 0 .263 Humphrey c 3 0 0 0 .215 Moates ph 1 1 1 0 .287 Etchebaren c 0 0 0 0 .223 Sundberg c 2 0 0 0 .236 Miley ss 4 0 0 0 .111 Lahoud ph 1 0 0 1 .168 Chalk 3b 2 1 1 0 .231 27 1 1 1 31 3 8 3 Rangers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Blyleven L 15-15 6.2 8 3 3 2 7 111 72 2.89 Terpko 1.1 0 0 0 0 2 19 12 4.04 8.0 8 3 3 2 9 130 84 Angels INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Ryan W 12-19 9.0 1 1 0 1 9 121 73 3.12 9.0 1 1 0 1 9 121 73 Tex: Moates batted for Beniquez in the 9th Lahoud batted for Sundberg in the 9th Cal: Torres,R inserted at cf in the 8th Briggs moved to 1b in the 8th Etchebaren inserted at c in the 9th E-Bochte. 2B-Moates(9). RBI-Lahoud(13), Easler(1), Solaita(31), Bochte(52). K-Randle,L 3, Harrah, Hargrove, Howell, Clines, Grieve, Beniquez, Remy 2, Solaita, Bochte 2, Briggs 2, Humphrey 2. BB-Grieve, Remy, Chalk. SH-Collins. HBP-Humphrey. HB-Blyleven. GWRBI: Easler Temperature: 83, Sky: clear, Wind: left to right at 6 MPH. Attendance: 4,581 Game Time: 2:19