Big Crowd Motivates Martinez and Expos

Pumped up by the largest crowd at Olympic Stadium in two years and a big early lead, Pedro Martinez seemed unhittable.

Martinez matched his career high with 10 strikeouts--seven in the first four innings--to lead the Montreal Expos past the Chicago Cubs, 6-2, Monday night.

Martinez (4-1) gave up two runs and six hits and walked one before tiring in the eighth for his fourth victory in as many starts.

“I feel good when I see so many fans and I want to do a little extra,” said Martinez, who has given up only five runs in 32 innings over his last four starts.

The Expos opened a seven-game homestand with a promotion featuring discounted seats and $1 hot dogs, drawing 46,893, the largest crowd since Opening Day of 1994.

On the field, the Expos continued to pound opposing pitchers, scoring four runs in the first off Jim Bullinger (1-3) en route to their eighth consecutive home victory.

Moises Alou and F.P. Santangelo each drove in two runs in the first. It marked the second consecutive start Bullinger has given up four runs in the first inning.

Mark Grudzielanek and Mike Lansing drew leadoff walks and, one out later, both scored on Alou’s bloop single to center.

Bullinger then walked David Segui before Santangelo delivered a two-out, two-run double.

“After the first he threw good,” Cub Manager Jim Riggleman said of Bullinger. “But after the first inning, it was an upward battle the way Pedro was throwing.”

Atlanta 4, Colorado 1--Steve Avery continued his strong pitching with a six-hitter and Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer to give the Braves a victory at Atlanta.

Avery (3-2) had a season-high nine strikeouts, walked no one, and other than the sixth, didn’t give up more than one hit in an inning. Avery threw 100 pitches in his first complete game of the season.

The rest of the Braves, meanwhile, continued to pile up the hits. They had 12 Monday, giving them 42 in their last three games. Colorado starter Mark Thompson (2-2) yielded 11 hits in six innings.

Avery even got in the hitting mode, singling to lead off the third. He scored two outs later when Jones hit an opposite-field homer on the first pitch from Thompson. The 401-foot drive was Jones’ fourth homer of the year.

Houston 11, Philadelphia 5--James Mouton had a two-run home run and a two-run double and Doug Drabek (1-2) gave up three hits over seven innings as the Astros won at Philadelphia.

The Astros scored four runs in the second off starter Rich Hunter (1-2). A single by Sean Berry and two walks loaded the bases, and after Orlando Miller struck out, Drabek singled to left on a check swing to score Berry.

Hunter then threw a wild pitch that allowed another run to score and Craig Biggio’s two-out single drove in two more.

Biggio walked to lead off the fifth and Jeff Bagwell followed with his 10th homer. Toby Borland relieved Hunter and gave up Mouton’s two-run shot.

Florida 4, New York 1--Al Leiter struck out nine en route to his fifth victory, and the Marlins defeated the Mets at Miami.

The Marlins, who rank last in the major leagues in runs and batting, nibbled away at Mark Clark (1-4), who gave up nine hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings.

A bad-hop double and two run-scoring infield hits, both misplayed by the Mets, helped Florida score three runs in the fourth.

After Greg Colbrunn led off with a double that took a funny bounce past first baseman Butch Huskey, Gary Sheffield singled him home and took third on Jeff Conine’s double.

Then came the run-scoring infield singles by Terry Pendleton and Alex Arias. On both grounders, hit to second baseman Jose Vizcaino and Huskey, Clark failed to cover first base.