Expos’ Perez Joins Leaders in Shutouts

Carlos Perez pitched a five-hitter for his fifth career shutout and Rondell White and David Segui hit consecutive home runs in the fifth as the Montreal Expos defeated the San Diego Padres, 6-0, on Saturday.

Perez (11-6) got his fourth shutout this season, tying him with teammate Pedro Martinez and Houston’s Darryl Kile for the major league lead. He reached the 11-win plateau for the first time in his career.

Perez, who went 10-8 in his rookie year of 1995, then missed last year after shoulder surgery, gave up a bloop double to Tony Gwynn in the first, a single to Rickey Henderson in the sixth, a single to John Flaherty in the eighth, and another single to Gwynn in the ninth.

Perez struck out six, walked two and gave up a career-low five hits in his eighth career complete game, sixth this season.

With Montreal leading 2-0, Andy Stankiewicz led off the Expos fifth with a single off Pete Smith (4-2).

One out later White his 18th home run. Segui followed with his 11th home run to chase Smith.

White went three for four and has hit safely in six consecutive games, going 14-for-25 (.560) with two doubles, three home runs and nine runs batted in.

Darrin Fletcher added an run-scoring single in the seventh for Montreal, which won for the fourth time in 11 games.

San Diego is 15-8 since the All-Star break. The Padres lost for the fourth time in five games.

Montreal took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on Mark Grudzielanek’s run-scoring groundout and a throwing error by Padres first baseman Craig Shipley.

Gwynn went two for four and leads the majors with a .390 batting average.

Smith gave up five runs--four earned--and six hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Smith lost for the first time this season as a starting pitcher. He is 3-1 with a 3.42 earned-run average when starting, 1-2 with a 6.68 ERA out of the bullpen.

Montreal leads the majors in complete games (21) and shutouts (13).