MLB standings at the end of September 17, 1981
| A.L. East | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PCT | GB | RF | RA | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Detroit Tigers |
37 | 22 | 15 | 0 | .595 | 144 | 131 | 15-7 | 7-8 | 4-6 | Lost 4 | ||||||||
 Boston Red Sox |
36 | 21 | 15 | 0 | .583 | 0.5 | 172 | 145 | 13-6 | 8-9 | 7-3 | Won 4 | |||||||
 Milwaukee Brewers |
38 | 22 | 16 | 0 | .579 | 0.5 | 173 | 157 | 9-7 | 13-9 | 5-5 | Won 2 | |||||||
 Baltimore Orioles |
35 | 20 | 15 | 0 | .571 | 1.0 | 147 | 155 | 12-10 | 8-5 | 6-4 | Won 2 | |||||||
 New York Yankees |
36 | 20 | 16 | 0 | .556 | 1.5 | 146 | 88 | 10-8 | 10-8 | 6-4 | Lost 2 | |||||||
 Toronto Blue Jays |
34 | 16 | 18 | 0 | .471 | 4.5 | 102 | 133 | 7-11 | 9-7 | 4-6 | Lost 1 | |||||||
 Cleveland Indians |
37 | 17 | 20 | 0 | .459 | 5.0 | 174 | 194 | 11-11 | 6-9 | 3-7 | Lost 5 | |||||||
| A.L. West | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PCT | GB | RF | RA | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kansas City Royals |
36 | 21 | 15 | 0 | .583 | 136 | 117 | 7-6 | 14-9 | 8-2 | Won 5 | ||||||||
 Oakland A's |
34 | 17 | 17 | 0 | .500 | 3.0 | 146 | 153 | 10-7 | 7-10 | 5-5 | Won 1 | |||||||
 Minnesota Twins |
37 | 18 | 19 | 0 | .486 | 3.5 | 135 | 175 | 13-12 | 5-7 | 8-2 | Won 1 | |||||||
 Texas Rangers |
34 | 15 | 19 | 0 | .441 | 5.0 | 126 | 119 | 7-9 | 8-10 | 4-6 | Lost 1 | |||||||
 Chicago White Sox |
36 | 15 | 21 | 0 | .417 | 6.0 | 142 | 152 | 3-11 | 12-10 | 4-6 | Won 1 | |||||||
 Seattle Mariners |
36 | 14 | 22 | 0 | .389 | 7.0 | 159 | 174 | 4-10 | 10-12 | 4-6 | Lost 1 | |||||||
 California Angels |
34 | 12 | 22 | 0 | .353 | 8.0 | 137 | 146 | 7-7 | 5-15 | 1-9 | Lost 3 | |||||||
| N.L. East | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PCT | GB | RF | RA | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 St. Louis Cardinals |
35 | 21 | 14 | 0 | .600 | 153 | 128 | 8-7 | 13-7 | 6-4 | Won 1 | ||||||||
 Montreal Expos |
36 | 18 | 18 | 0 | .500 | 3.5 | 146 | 146 | 9-9 | 9-9 | 4-6 | Lost 1 | |||||||
 Chicago Cubs |
34 | 16 | 18 | 0 | .471 | 4.5 | 127 | 145 | 10-10 | 6-8 | 5-5 | Lost 3 | |||||||
 New York Mets |
36 | 16 | 20 | 0 | .444 | 5.5 | 107 | 132 | 8-7 | 8-13 | 3-7 | Lost 1 | |||||||
 Philadelphia Phillies |
35 | 15 | 20 | 0 | .429 | 6.0 | 150 | 165 | 9-8 | 6-12 | 5-5 | Won 1 | |||||||
 Pittsburgh Pirates |
36 | 15 | 21 | 0 | .417 | 6.5 | 130 | 159 | 8-11 | 7-10 | 7-3 | Won 3 | |||||||
| N.L. West | |||||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | PCT | GB | RF | RA | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Houston Astros |
37 | 24 | 13 | 0 | .649 | 143 | 104 | 12-3 | 12-10 | 6-4 | Won 2 | ||||||||
 Los Angeles Dodgers |
37 | 22 | 15 | 0 | .595 | 2.0 | 166 | 128 | 14-9 | 8-6 | 6-4 | Won 2 | |||||||
 Cincinnati Reds |
36 | 20 | 16 | 0 | .556 | 3.5 | 140 | 156 | 12-7 | 8-9 | 7-3 | Won 1 | |||||||
 San Francisco Giants |
36 | 20 | 16 | 0 | .556 | 3.5 | 140 | 123 | 12-5 | 8-11 | 4-6 | Lost 1 | |||||||
 Atlanta Braves |
36 | 18 | 18 | 0 | .500 | 5.5 | 144 | 123 | 9-7 | 9-11 | 4-6 | Lost 5 | |||||||
 San Diego Padres |
38 | 11 | 27 | 0 | .289 | 13.5 | 144 | 181 | 7-15 | 4-12 | 3-7 | Lost 2 | |||||||
Today's scores and summaries:
Red Sox 6, Tigers 1 at Boston (night game):
The Red Sox completed a sweep of the four-game series against the division-leading Tigers, 6-1, and moved within one-half game of first place in the American League East. Jim Rice had four hits, including a three-run homer in the eighth inning. The Red Sox went ahead to stay in the first on a sacrifice fly by Carney Lansford.
Orioles 6, Indians 2 at Cleveland (night game):
Eddie Murray contributed a two-run single in a four-run seventh inning that enabled the Orioles to overcome the Indians, 6-2. Baltimore starter Scott McGregor scattered 10 hits over 7 1/3 innings to raise his record to 11-3.
Dodgers 2, Braves 0 at Los Angeles (night game):
Fernando Valenzuela set a National League record for rookies by pitching his eighth shutout as the Dodgers turned back the Braves, 2-0. The Dodgers scored the only run Valenzuela needed in the second inning when Steve Garvey doubled, took third on an error by Rafael Ramirez and came home on Gary Weiss' sacrifice fly. Valenzuela had shared the N.L. record with Irving Young (1905 Braves), Grover Cleveland Alexander (1911 Phillies) and Jerry Koosman (1968 Mets).
Cardinals 7, Expos 4 at Montreal (night game):
A grand slam homer by Darrell Porter capped a five-run third inning as the Cardinals beat the Expos, 7-4, in the rubber game of a five-game series. St. Louis pitcher Joaquin Andujar went the distance for the first time this season as he raised his lifetime record against Montreal to 9-0.
Phillies 3, Mets 2 at New York (night game):
Dickie Noles, who had not won since June 30, 1980, pitched the Phillies to a 3-2 triumph over the Mets. The Phillies scored what proved to be the winning run in the fourth when Hubie Brooks bobbled Garry Maddox's grounder and threw wildly, sending Maddox to second. Maddox advanced as Larry Bowa grounded out and scored on Manny Trillo's sacrifice fly. Bowa had doubled home two runs in the second.
Astros 9, Padres 0 at San Diego (night game):
The Astros erupted for five runs in the first and routed the Padres, 9-0, behind the five-hit pitching of Joe Niekro. A two-run single by Danny Heep and a triple by Craig Reynolds with the bases filled accounted for the big first inning. Heep also singled to score two runs in the fourth.
Reds 1, Giants 0 at San Francisco (night game):
The Reds, with Tom Seaver and relievers Joe Price and Tom Hume combining on a five-hitter, edged the Giants, 1-0, when Dave Concepcion singled to score Paul Householder in the 10th inning. Concepcion delivered the game-winning blow after Householder doubled and advanced to third on Ken Griffey's single.