Dwyer’s Single in 10th Lifts Expos Over Cubs

The Chicago Cubs, who never expected it to be easy, missed a chance to clinch a tie for the National League East championship Monday night when pinch-hitter Jim Dwyer singled with one out in the 10th inning to give the Montreal Expos a 4-3 victory over the Cubs.

The second-place St. Louis Cardinals lost earlier Monday night, 4-2 at Pittsburgh, and remain four games behind the Cubs.

The Cubs can clinch the division title outright tonight if they beat the Expos and the Cardinals lose to the Pirates.

Andre Dawson hit two home runs for the Cubs, including a controversial inside-the-park homer in the seventh inning to give Chicago a 3-2 lead.

Scott Sanderson (11-9) came in to pitch the 10th inning for the Cubs.

Mike Aldrete led off the 10th with a single. Rex Hudler pinch-ran and stole second, and Andres Galarraga was intentionally walked. After a sacrifice bunt by Marquis Grissom, Mitch Williams came on to face Dwyer, who lined a 1-and-2 pitch to right field.

The Cubs had taken the lead in the seventh inning when Dawson hit a drive to left field. Center fielder Dave Martinez made a diving attempt to catch the ball at the warning track and appeared to make the play, but second base umpire Paul Runge ruled that Martinez trapped the ball.

Martinez rolled on the ground, jumped to his feet and fell again in pain, having injured his collarbone.

As Dawson circled the bases, Martinez still had the ball in his glove and center fielder Tim Raines finally removed it, too late for a play on Dawson.

“The rule is cast in stone,” Runge said. “The player must voluntarily remove the ball from his glove after the catch.

“After he hit the ground and rolled around, I saw the ball roll out of his glove and Raines picked it up.”