Games of Thursday, April 24

                           W      L        Pct.     GB
Philadelphia         4       2      .667     ---
St. Louis              6       4       .600     ---
Chicago               6       4       .600     ---
New York            4       3       .571     0.5
Atlanta                 3       3       .500     1
Houston               4       4       .500     1
Montreal              2       5       .286     2.5
Pittsburgh             2      6       .250     3

Friday's games
New York (Koosman) at Montreal (Torrez)
Houston (Wilson) at Pittsburgh (Moose)
St. Louis (Gibson) at Chicago (Hooton)

Montreal 6, New York 5
Three Expos pinch-hitters reached base in the ninth inning as Montreal scored four runs off Tug McGraw to beat the Mets. Tom Seaver allowed two runs in eight innings on seven hits before leaving for a pinch-hitter. Mike Marshall pitched one inning for the win. Willie Mays went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk for the Mets, while Tim Foli went 3-for-4 with an RBI and pair of runs scored, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth.

Atlanta 4, Philadelphia 3
Darrell Evans singled in two runs in the third inning to put the Braves in front and the Phillies never caught up. Phil Niekro shut out Philadelphia into the seventh inning, when Del Unser hit a two-run homer and the Phillies pulled within a run, but Ron Schueler and Tom House held the lead over the final eight outs. Steve Carlton took the loss.

Chicago 7, St. Louis 4
Ron Santo tripled in a run and scored twice for the Cubs, and Rick Reuschel threw six scoreless inning before weakening in the seventh. Joe Torre hit a two-run homer for St. Louis in the eighth. Reuschel allowed two runs on five hits in six-plus innings for the win, and Jack Aker picked up the save with a scoreless ninth. Tom Murphy took the loss. Bake McBride is out until May 10 and has been replaced on the active roster by Scipio Spinks.

Houston 5, Pittsburgh 4
Roger Metzger collected three hits, including a triple, and both scored and drove in a run for the Astros. Jerry Reuss went 7.2 innings for the win, allowing four runs on 14 hits; Jim Ray got the final out of the eighth and Jim Crawford struck out both Willie Stargell and Al Oliver in the ninth. Dave Cash scored three runs for Pittsburgh. Bob Watson must miss the Astros' next game.