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NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Alou Launches Late-Inning Offensive for Expos

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From Associated Press

Montreal Expo outfielder Moises Alou entered Friday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds as a defensive replacement.

But it was his offense that made the difference.

Alou hit a three-run homer against Rob Dibble in the bottom of the eighth inning that helped the Expos to a 6-3 victory at Montreal.

The victory pulled the Expos to within three games of the division-leading Pittsburgh Pirates.

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Alou, in a 12-for-66 slump, hit Dibble’s first pitch for his sixth home run. Marquis Grissom had led off by drawing a walk from Tim Belcher (10-12) and Larry Walker singled before Alou homered.

“It was pressure for me because I’ve been bad for about a month,” Alou said. “The pitch was real fast. He’s got a good fastball and I was sitting on a fastball. I was just trying to be quick.”

Alou took over in left field with the Expos leading, 3-2. The Reds tied the score in the eighth on Reggie Sanders’ run-scoring single.

John Wetteland (3-3) blew his eighth save chance in 35 opportunities but got the victory.

The Expos took a 3-2 lead in the seventh when Tim Laker and pinch-hitter Darrin Fletcher singled and Delino DeShields had a run-scoring grounder.

St. Louis 5, Atlanta 2--Felix Jose singled to drive in the go-ahead run with two outs in the 10th inning at Atlanta.

The Braves blew a chance to win in the ninth when Mark Lemke grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.

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Ray Lankford started the Cardinals’ rally by drawing a leadoff walk from Kent Mercker (3-2). Lankford stole his 36th base before Jose singled, his third hit of the game. After a single by Andres Galarraga, Tracy Woodson hit a two-run double against Randy St. Claire.

Mike Perez (7-2) relieved in the ninth and escaped his own bases-loaded jam. Lee Smith pitched the 10th for his 32nd save.

Houston 6, Philadelphia 1--Brian Williams (5-4) gave up five hits, struck out seven and walked three in seven innings at Philadelphia as the Astros began the final series on their 26-game trip.

Craig Biggio, Luis Gonzalez and Ed Taubensee each drove in two runs for the Astros, who are 10-14 during their 28-day swing.

San Francisco 6, Pittsburgh 5--Robby Thompson hit a three-run homer during a six-run fifth inning at San Francisco as the Giants became the first team to beat rookie knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

Wakefield (3-1) had not given up more than two earned runs in any of his first four major league starts and had pitched at least eight innings each time. He lasted only six innings against the Giants, giving up eight hits and four walks.

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John Burkett (11-6) won his fifth consecutive start.

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