Games of Wednesday, Sept. 24

Chicago             86      63      .577     ---
Seattle               86      65       .570     1
Kansas City       79      72      .523      8
Cleveland          78      73      .517      9
California          74      75      .497    12
Montreal           67      82       .450    19
San Diego         67      85       .441    20.5
Philadelphia      64      85       .430    21.5

Thursday's game
Chicago (Peters) at San Diego (Niekro)

Cleveland 5, California 3: Tony Horton and Jose Cardenal each homered to back Dick Ellsworth's eight innings of five-hit pitching. Ellsworth retired 15 straight Angels at one point. Clyde Wright was battered for four runs on five hits and a walk in the third inning for the loss. Horacio Pina entered to get the final out in the ninth after Ron Law allowed two runs.

Montreal 9, Chicago 6: Mack Jones went 5-for-5 and John Bateman and Rusty Staub each homered as the Expos outslugged the White Sox. Don Shaw allowed one run in three innings of relief and was credited with the win. Gail Hopkins had three RBIs for Chicago, and Bill Melton homered and doubled among his three hits. Tommy John took the loss.

Philadelphia 11, San Diego 7: Tony Taylor and Larry Hisle each scored three times as the Phillies outslugged the Padres. Philadelphia racked up sixteen hits off four San Diego hurlers, including five doubles. Grant Jackson allowed two runs, one earned, in six innings for the win. Roberto Pena and Ed Speizio each homered for the Padres. Clay Kirby was the loser.

Player of the Day: Mack Jones, Montreal.

Chicago's magic number remains four.

Games of Tuesday, Sept. 23

Chicago             86      62      .581     ---
Seattle               86      65       .570     1.5
Kansas City       79      72      .523      8.5
Cleveland          77      73      .513    10
California          74      74      .500    12
Montreal           66      82       .446    20
San Diego         67      84       .443    20.5
Philadelphia      63      85       .426    22.5

Wednesday's games
California (Wright) at Cleveland (Ellsworth)
Montreal (Robertson) at Chicago (John)
Philadelphia (Jackson) at San Diego (Kirby)

Cleveland 3, California 1: Russ Snyder tripled home a run and scored the other in the Indians' decisive sixth-inning rally. He had two singles as well. Steve Hargan went 7.2 innings for the win, allowing three hits and five walks. Mike Paul got the final four outs for the save. Steve Kealey took the loss for the Angels.

Chicago 8, Montreal 4: Pinch-hitter Bob Christian had the go-ahead RBI for the second straight day as the White Sox battered the Expos bullpen for six runs in the seventh inning. Ed Herrmann capped the rally with a three-run double. Billy Wynne allowed two runs in seven innings for the win, and Dan McGinn was the loser.

Kansas City 7, Seattle 3: Jerry Adair drove in three runs and Jackie Hernandez hit a two-run homer to put the pennant-seeking Pilots in perilous straits. Roger Nelson went eight innings for the win. Mike Hegan went 4-for-4 for Seattle. Bob Meyer took the loss.

San Diego 3, Philadelphia 2: Dick Kelley allowed five hits in eight innings for the win; two of the hits were homers by Johnny Callison and Dick Allen. Al Ferrara doubled, walked and scored twice for the Padres. Two of the three runs allowed by loser Lowell Palmer were unearned.

Player of the Day: Jerry Adair, Kansas City

Chicago's magic number: 4