Ellie Rodriguez became a hero for California as his two-run homer in the eighth inning gave the Angels a 2-1 victory over Texas.
With the Angels trailing 1-0, Dave Chalk began the eighth with a single off Rangers starter Gaylord Perry. Rodriguez was up next and he blasted what turned out to be the game-winner.
Nolan Ryan went the distance for the Angels allowing three hits with eight strikeouts.
Roy Howell knocked in the Texas run in the second with a single.
Rodriguez and Bruce Bochte topped the Angels with two hits.
Blyleven Blanks White Sox
Minnesota’s Bert Blyleven tossed a four-hitter to lead the Twins to a 2-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Blyleven fanned seven as he gave up a double to Carlos May and singles to Brian Downing, Ken Henderson and Pat Kelly.
White Sox starting pitcher Jim Kaat was nearly equal to the task as he surrendered just five hits over eight innings. Kaat allowed a run-scoring double to Lyman Bostock and then Rod Carew followed with a RBI single that drove in Bostock.
Carew led the Twins with two hits, while Larry Hisle and Tony Oliva added singles.
American League West Results and Schedule
(4) Twins 2, (5) White Sox 0
(4) Twins at (1) A’s
(6) Angels 2, (3) Rangers 1
(6) Angels at (2) Royals
IN REAL LIFE:
In 1975, Ellie Rodriguez was near the end of his nine-year career. As a back-up catcher, he hit just three homers that season with none against Gaylord Perry. He did catch Nolan Ryan’s fourth no-hitter.
In his career from 1968 to 1976, Rodriguez hit just 16 long balls with three coming off Detroit’s Mickey Lolich. He got Lolich twice in one game in 1974 in his first year with the Angels.
Rodriguez was a two-time All-Star earning the honor with Kansas City in 1969 and Milwaukee in 1972. He also played with the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.
A unique stat from his career that most backstops would not accomplish is that his 17 stolen bases ended up being one more than his home run total.