SF 3, Mil 2

Monday, May 18- Willie Mays abandoned his sluggish start at the best possible time, slugging a three-run homer in the seventh inning, wiping out a 1-0 deficit, and the first place San Francisco Giants beat the Milwaukee Braves, 3-2 at Seals Stadium.

It was just Mays' fourth home run of the season, lifting his average to a pedestrian .250.

The Giants (21-12) looked like they might suffer a rare (lately) loss, but Mays rescued them, plating Ed Bressoud and Andre Rodgers ahead of him after his towering drive to left center off Braves starter Warren Spahn (3-6).

The Braves (15-15) lost for just the third time in the past 10 games.

Eddie Mathews drilled his 8th home run in the ninth inning off reliever Gordon Jones, who despite the blast earned his third save in relief of Sam Jones (6-2).

The Giants opened up a three-game lead over idle St. Louis and Los Angeles, who beat Cincinnati.