National League Roundup : Expos Win, Sweep Four From Pirates

Dann Bilardello’s single broke a tie in the top of the ninth inning Thursday night, earning the Montreal Expos a 5-4 victory over the Pirates and a four-game series sweep at Pittsburgh.

It marked the first time that the Pirates have been swept in a four-game home series since the Cincinnati Reds did so in August, 1980.

Bilardello was batting .165 at the start of the game. With catcher Mike Fitzgerald out for the season because of an injury, Bilardello and Tom Nieto are sharing catching duties.

“It’s been a hard year for me . . . a hard couple of years,” Bilardello said. “It’s nice to contribute to the team and remember what that feels like. It was one at-bat but it’s a positive step for me.”

With one out, Tom Foley doubled to left-center off Don Robinson (2-1), the fifth Pirate pitcher. Foley scored when Bilardello singled to center.

“I don’t expect us to win many easy games the rest of the year,” Expo Manager Bob Rodgers said. “Our firepower is a little limited now, and we’re going to need all 24 guys, including the last one off the bench.”

Andy McGaffigan (6-4) worked two scoreless innings of relief for the victory. Tim Burke and Bob McClure pitched the ninth. McClure, who earned his fifth save, got Barry Bonds to fly out with the tying run at third base.

The Expos tied the score at 4-4 in the seventh when pinch-hitter Wallace Johnson doubled off Cecilio Guante and scored on Mitch Webster’s single against Pat Clements.

New York 12-7, Chicago 3-6--In the second game, Gary Carter hit a three-run homer, the Mets collected 16 hits and Rick Aguilera scattered seven hits, leading the Mets to their third straight win over the Cubs at Chicago.

Aguilera (6-3) struck out six and did not walk a batter in picking up his sixth straight victory. The Mets turned the game into a rout with six runs in the eighth inning when Ray Knight, who went 4 for 5, hit a two-run single. It was followed by run-scoring singles by Keith Hernandez and Rafael Santana.

Carter had three runs batted in, including a two-run homer, in the first game.

, which had been suspended in the eighth inning Wednesday because of darkness with the Mets ahead, 6-4.

St. Louis 6, Philadelphia 5--John Tudor bunted home the go-ahead run and allowed 7 hits in 8 innings, enabling the Cardinals to stretch their winning streak at home to a club-record 10 games.

The Phillies played the game under protest because of a controversial play in the first inning. Vince Coleman of the Cardinals bunted and was ruled safe by first base umpire Larry Poncino on a close play.