NATIONAL LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Rueter Stays Unbeaten With Aid of Triple Play

Unbeaten rookie Kirk Rueter started a triple play, and the Montreal Expos supported him with two double plays in a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs Monday night at Montreal.

Rueter (4-0) started the sixth-inning triple play by catching a line drive hit by Rey Sanchez. The left-hander, who gave up five hits in 8 1/3 innings, leaped to catch the ball and relayed to shortstop Wil Cordero, who stepped on second to get Steve Lake before tagging Greg Hibbard coming in from first.

“As soon as I caught it, I was just trying to get the guy at second, but I saw him on third,” Rueter said. “And the guy on first was at second. . . . Luck was on my side.”

It was the Expos’ first triple play since Sept. 8, 1991, and the eighth in club history. John Wetteland got the final two outs for his 28th save.

The Expos scored in the second inning on a double by Moises Alou and a run-scoring single by Tim Spehr, who had three hits.

Colorado 3, Philadelphia 2--Dante Bichette’s home run in the 13th inning at Philadelphia gave the Rockies their fifth consecutive victory.

After Roger Mason (4-10) struck out Eric Young to start the 13th, Bichette hit the next pitch over the right-center-field fence to break a 2-2 tie. It was Bichette’s 19th homer and sent the Phillies to their third consecutive loss.

Gary Wayne (4-3) pitched one inning, and Darren Holmes got the final three outs for his 15th consecutive save, his 18th of the season.

Charlie Hayes hit his 20th homer for the Phillies.

Cincinnati 6, New York 2--Dwight Gooden was ejected for the first time in his career after hitting a batter in the third inning at New York.

Gooden (11-14) hit Brian Koelling leading off the third inning, and home plate umpire Gary Darling ruled it was a retaliatory pitch.

Reggie Sanders of the Reds hit his 16th homer during the second inning and added a two-run single and sacrifice fly. Hal Morris added a two-run double in the third.

Tim Pugh (8-12) pitched seven innings for the victory.

San Diego 7, St. Louis 5--Phil Plantier’s first grand slam highlighted the Padres’ five-run first inning at San Diego.

Plantier homered against Donovan Osborne (10-7), who lasted only one-third of an inning.

Phil Clark hit a bases-loaded single in the first to give the Padres a 1-0 lead. Plantier followed by hitting an 0-1 pitch for his 25th homer.

Plantier has 10 homers and has driven in 21 runs in his last 23 games.

Pedro Martinez (3-0) pitched 3 1/3 innings for the victory.