Guerrero Extends Streak to 31 Games With Homer

Vladimir Guerrero is giving the Montreal Expos plenty of hope for the future.

Guerrero hit a two-run homer in his second at-bat to extend his hitting streak to 31 games--the longest in the majors in 12 years--in the Expos’ 10-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night.

“He puts the bat on the ball so well, especially for a big guy,” Expo Manager Felipe Alou said. “Just wait until he hits his peak.”

Guerrero drove the first pitch he saw in the fourth inning from Juan Guzman (4-1) over the wall in right-center for his 32nd homer and the longest streak since San Diego’s Benito Santiago hit in 34 straight from Aug. 25-Oct. 2, 1987.

“He’s a good hitter, I can tell you,” Guzman said. “I tried to throw him a slider for the first pitch. I tried to make a good pitch and he got me.”

Milwaukee’s Paul Molitor had a 39-gamer earlier in 1987, the longest streak since Pete Rose tied Wee Willie Keeler’s NL mark with a 44-game streak in 1978.

Guerrero came out for a curtain call for the second straight night to acknowledge the ovation from the crowd of 6,796. Guerrero also homered Wednesday to extend his streak.

The Reds improved to a major league best 39-20 on the road and ended a season-long four-game road losing streak. Cincinnati drew to within one game of Houston in the NL Central, and three games of the New York Mets in the NL wild-card race.

San Diego 4, Milwaukee 3--Reggie Sanders hit a go-ahead, two-run triple in the seventh inning to back Andy Ashby and lift the Padres to victory at San Diego.

Ashby (12-7) gave up three runs--one earned--and eight hits in seven innings. The right-hander struck out six and did not walk a batter.

Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 33rd save.

Pittsburgh 8, Colorado 4--Brian Giles drove in four runs as the Pirates roughed up Colorado ace Pedro Astacio for six runs in the first two innings at Pittsburgh.

Al Martin had three hits and two RBIs to back rookie left-hander Jimmy Anderson (2-1), who retired the first 10 hitters before being lifted after 5 2/3 innings in his third career start.

Astacio (14-10) had won four consecutive decisions.