Games of Wednesday, Sept. 17

Seattle               84      61       .579     ---
Chicago             80      60      .571      1.5
Kansas City       75      70      .517      9  
Cleveland          74      70      .514      9.5 
California          71      71      .500    10.5
Montreal           64      78       .451    18.5
San Diego         63      82       .434    21
Philadelphia      61      80      .433    21

Thursday's games
Montreal (Stoneman) at Cleveland (Hargan)
Kansas City (Nelson) at Chicago (Wynne)
Philadelphia (Fryman) at Seattle (Marshall)
California (Murphy) at San Diego (Kelley)

Cleveland 4, Montreal 3: Luis Tiant went the distance, allowing one earned run on four hits, but it took a two-out pinch hit single by Ken Suarez in the ninth to win it for Cleveland. John Bateman of Montreal and Ken Harrelson of Cleveland each homered. Dan McGinn took the loss in his third inning of relief.

Kansas City 7, Chicago 1: Jim Rooker held the White Sox scoreless into the ninth inning, and Ellie Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the second inning. The Royals scored twice on passed balls charged against Don Pavelitch. Rooker retired sixteen straight hitters at one point; he allowed five hits in 8.1 innings while striking out seven.

California 4, San Diego 1: Steve Kealey worked six innings out of the Angels bullpen for the win, allowing just an unearned run on seven hits. He was supported by three double play balls. The Angels scored three runs in the first, with Aurelio Rodriguez driving in a pair with a bases-loaded single off loser Joe Niekro. Tom Egan hit a solo homer in the sixth. Hoyt Wilhelm worked the final two innings for the save. Andy Messersmith was injured after a perfect first inning and is out for the rest of the season.

San Diego 2, California 1: Chris Cannizzaro singled home John Sipin in the bottom of the ninth to break the tie and make a winner of Al Santorini, who allowed one run on eight hits and two walks. Sipin's double to lead off the ninth was the only extra-base hit of the game. Eddie Fisher took the loss in relief.

Seattle 10, Philadelphia 3: The Pilots knocked Rick Wise out in the third inning getting back-to-back homers from Steve Whitaker and Don Mincher. Ray Oyler added a three-run homer in the fifth, and Tommy Harper had a solo shot. Diego Segui was pulled for the pinch-hitter after two scoreless innings, and the Seattle bullpen pieced the rest of the game together. Gene Brabender (one run in two innings) is credited with the victory. Larry Hisle homered for Philadelphia.

Player of the Day: Steve Kealey, California