The Phils top the Pirates, 5 – 3, to cut Pittsburgh’s National League East lead to 2 1/2 games. A line drive by Willie Montanez fractures the hand of Pirates’ pitcher Dock Ellis, who will miss the rest of the season. Ellis is 12-9.

ByBaseball

The Phils top the Pirates, 5 – 3, to cut Pittsburgh’s National League East lead to 2 1/2 games. A line drive by Willie Montanez fractures the hand of Pirates’ pitcher Dock Ellis, who will miss the rest of the season. Ellis is 12-9.

At Shea Stadium, the Mets lose a 25-inning night game to the St. Louis Cardinals, 4 – 3. Ken Reitz’s two-strike, two-out home run ties the game in the 9th. Two Mets’ errors lead to the Cardinals’ winning run, starting with an errant pickoff throw from Hank Webb that allows Bake McBride to score all the way from first. The Mets go to the plate 103 times, the only time the century mark has been reached in a major league game; the Cards are not far behind with 99 plate appearances. A record 175 official at-bats are recorded, with a major-league record 45 runners stranded. The seven-hour, four minute marathon is the longest game played to a decision in major league history. Only a thousand fans are on hand when the game ends at 3:13 a.m.

ByBaseball

At Shea Stadium, the Mets lose a 25-inning night game to the St. Louis Cardinals, 4 – 3. Ken Reitz’s two-strike, two-out home run ties the game in the 9th. Two Mets’ errors lead to the Cardinals’ winning run, starting with an errant pickoff throw from Hank Webb that allows Bake McBride to score all the way from first. The Mets go to the plate 103 times, the only time the century mark has been reached in a major league game; the Cards are not far behind with 99 plate appearances. A record 175 official at-bats are recorded, with a major-league record 45 runners stranded. The seven-hour, four minute marathon is the longest game played to a decision in major league history. Only a thousand fans are on hand when the game ends at 3:13 a.m.