4/7/73: Big Frank's big bat leads way as Halos knock off Royals, 11-3

Frank Robinson still had some life in that bat in 1973, and it was enough to pace the Angels to a 11-3 triumph over the Royals at the "Big A."

The Halos scored 2 off Royal starter Wayne Simpson in the 1st, with Robinson just getting a ballpark single to drop with 2 outs, sending leadoff hitter Billy Grabarkewitz to 2nd. Tommy McCraw and Jim Spencer got Billy G and Big Frank home with back-to-back RBI singles, the latter of which was a "clutch" result. 

The Angels got 3 more off of Simpson in the 3rd, starting off with a 1-out solo homer by Robinson, then Wayne Simpson started pitching like Homer Simpson, walking the bases loaded with 2 outs, 2 of the runs scoring on a single by Sandy Alomar. D'oh!

Royal skipper Jack McKeon ended Simpson's day in the 4th, replacing him with Al Fitzmorris. Hal McRae spoiled things by butchering a Bobby Valentine fly in right for a 3-base error. That man Robinson brought in Bobby V with a sac fly. 

It didn't get much better for Fitzmorris in the 6th as the Angels chased him with a 4-run inning, highlighted by the 1st of 2 triples by Vada Pinson bringing in Billy G and Bobby V who had singled, then That Man Robinson doubled in Pinson, giving F. Robby a 3-4/3 RBI line, leaving him a triple short of the cycle. Speaking of triples, Jim Spencer added a 2nd triple in the 6th and an RBI double in the 8th after Pinson's 2nd triple. Spencer was also a homer short of the cycle. 

Despite not recording a strikeout, LHP Clyde Wright pitched 8-2/3 solid innings against the Royals, giving way to reliever Lloyd Allen in the 9th, who got the "K" that eluded Wright, striking out John Mayberry to finish the win. Freddie Patek brought home 2 KC runs on bouncers in the 5th and 7th and Cookie Rojas brought in the 3rd KC run with a single in the 9th. A 4th KC run was thrown out at the plate in the 6th when Vada Pinson threw out Amos Otis trying to score from 2nd on a Lou Pinella single.

CAL 11-14-1 KCR 3-9-1 WP-Wright (1-0) LP-Simpson (0-1) HR-Robinson (1) CAL 1-1 KCR 1-1 

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