Games of Tuesday, June 3

The standings

Philadelphia      22     15        .595     ---
Kansas City       20     16       .555      1.5
Chicago             20     17       .541      2
San Diego         21     18        .538     2 
Seattle               22     20        .524     2.5
Montreal           18     20        .478     4.5
California          15     22       .405      7
Cleveland          13     23       .361      8.5

Wednesday's games
Philadelphia (Wise) at Cleveland (McDowell)
California (McGlothlin) at Chicago (Horlen)
Montreal (Wegener) at Seattle (Brabender)
Kansas City (Hedlund) at San Diego (Santorini)

Chicago 9, California 6: Buddy Bradford's two-out, three-run homer in the ninth gave the White Sox the win in a game in which they blew a 5-1 lead. The Sox tagged Andy Messersmith for four runs in the first inning, collecting doubles from Luis Aparicio, Carlos May and Bill Melton in the process, and added another tally in the second. But Messersmith then threw five scoreless innings, and the Angels chipped away at Gary Peters and eventually took the lead in the sixth inning. But Hoyt Wilhelm surrendered the lead in the eighth, and Eddie Fisher couldn't get through the bottom of the ninth. Wilbur Wood got the win with a perfect top of the ninth. Jim Spencer homered for California, which has now lost seven straight games.

Montreal 8, Seattle 3: Ty Cline led off the game with a home run, and the Expos were never caught. Montreal plated two runs in the first inning, one in the second and two more in the third off Marty Pattin, while Gary Waslewski held Seattle to three hits through the first five innings. The Expos got a home run from John Bateman in the third inning, while the Pilots' Don Mincher and Greg Goossen each homered in the sixth. Howie Reed threw three perfect innings for the save.  Cline was 3-for-4 with a run, a walk and three RBIs.

Kansas City 3, San Diego 2:  Mike Fiore and Lou Piniella hit consecutive RBI doubles in the eighth inning to give the Royals the lead, and Moe Drabowski relieved after a one-out triple in the bottom of the ninth to strand the tying run. Kansas City starter Dick Drago opened with four perfect innings, but he allowed two hits in each of the next three innings as the Padres took a 2-1 lead. Steve Jones, who finished the seventh, got the win; Tommy Sisk, who took over for Joe Niekro after a pinch-hitter, was the loser. Bob Oliver of the Royals must sit a game with injury. He will remain on the roster.

Player of the Day: Buddy Bradford, Chicago