Floyd Is a Force for Expos

Cliff Floyd came off the bench and provided a cure for Montreal.

Floyd, who entered the game when Henry Rodriguez became ill, homered and drove in three runs Sunday as the Expos held on for a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres at Montreal.

“I really didn’t have time to think about it,” said Floyd, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the first when Rodriguez left because of an upset stomach. “One second I’m in [the clubhouse] watching video, and all of a sudden I hear my name called and I’m up there swinging.”

Floyd led off the fourth with a homer against Padre starter Andy Ashby (8-3), doubled in another run during Montreal’s five-run sixth, and had a sacrifice fly in the seventh that put the Expos ahead, 7-1.

“I think the team was looking for me to pick them up today,” Floyd said. “It’s a good feeling to help the team win today. We needed it.”

The Padres rallied with four runs in the eighth and pulled to 7-6 in the ninth on Steve Finley’s lead-off homer. But after giving up Finley’s 22nd homer, Mel Rojas finished for his 27th save and 100th of his career.

New York 6, San Francisco 5--John Franco, ejected for arguing after letting the Giants take the lead, picked up a victory when the Mets rallied for two runs in the 10th inning at New York.

Franco was tossed by home plate umpire Larry Poncino after giving up an RBI double to Rick Wilkins. Franco thought he had struck out Wilkins on a 1-2 pitch, and let Poncino know it.

After exchanging words with the umpire, Franco then gave up Wilkins’ double on the next pitch.

Franco retired the Giants and continued to argue with Poncino and was ejected.

Before leaving the dugout, the left-hander, who had two losses and a blown save in his last three outings, tossed a water cooler onto the field.

St. Louis 15, Colorado 6--Gary Gaetti drove in the go-ahead run during a six-run rally in the seventh inning as the Cardinals routed the Rockies at St. Louis.

Trailing, 6-2, the Cardinals scored three runs in the fifth and then broke it open in the seventh against Brian Rekar (2-4).

Pittsburgh 9, Houston 5--Jermaine Allensworth’s go-ahead two-run single keyed a six-run seventh inning as the Pirates beat ex-teammate Danny Darwin at Pittsburgh.

Jeff King, Carlos Garcia and Al Martin hit solo homers against Darwin (9-11), winless in three starts since he was traded by the Pirates on July 23.

Florida 6, Cincinnati 1--Gary Sheffield hit a two-run homer as the Marlins won at Cincinnati to complete their most successful trip of the season.

The Marlins won five of six on the trip, including two of three at Riverfront Stadium.

Chicago 2, Atlanta 1--Luis Gonzalez doubled with two outs in the 12th inning and scored on second baseman Mark Lemke’s throwing error as the Cubs defeated the Braves at Chicago.