Expos Score 4 Runs in 8th, Top Mets, 6-4

New York lost its third straight home game as Montreal rallied for four runs in the eighth inning to beat the Mets and Frank Viola, 6-4, today in the first game of a doubleheader.

The Mets have lost four of their last five home games after winning 11 straight. New York, 51-26 at Shea Stadium, entered the day trailing first-place Pittsburgh by one game in the National League East.

The Expos, who entered the day trailing the Pirates by five games, have won five in a row.

Viola was five outs away from his 20th victory when he tired in the eighth, and once again, relief ace John Franco could not stop the rally.

The Mets led 4-2 when Spike Owen tripled with one out and Mike Fitzgerald followed with a pinch-hit RBI single. Tim Raines’ single chased Viola, and Franco, the losing pitcher Tuesday against Montreal, relieved.

Otis Nixon’s single scored pinch-runner Moises Alou with the tying run and moved Raines to third. Andres Galarraga put the Expos ahead with a sacrifice fly. Tim Wallach knocked in the fourth run of the inning with an infield single after Nixon moved up on a steal and a passed ball.

Viola (19-10) gave up six hits and five runs in 7 1/3 innings in losing to the Expos for the first time in five career decisions.

Mel Rojas (3-1) pitched one inning for the victory, and Tim Burke finished for his 20th save.

With the score 2-2, Keith Miller led off the Mets’ fifth against rookie left-hander Brian Barnes with a double, and Tommy Herr followed with a run-scoring single.