Cardinals’ Tatis Continues Surge

Fernando Tatis hit a three-run home run in the first inning and slid home with the go-ahead run in the 10th as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Montreal Expos, 8-7, Sunday at Montreal.

Tatis, who hit two grand slams in one inning against the Dodgers on April 23, opened the 10th with a single against Expo reliever Ugueth Urbina (2-3) and advanced to third on Willie McGee’s single to right. McGee reached second on the throw. Tatis broke for home as Eli Marrero made contact for a routine grounder to short and beat Michael Barrett’s throw as he slid under catcher Chris Widger’s sweep tag. McGee then scored on Urbina’s wild pitch.

“Nobody said it was going to be easy,” Marrero said. “They battled right up to the last out. That was a good win against a tough closer.”

Widger homered for the Expos in the bottom of the 10th against winner Juan Acevedo (2-1), who blew his first save in four chances, giving up four runs in 1 1/3 innings. Scott Radinsky got the final two outs for his second save.

Montreal tied the score against Acevedo in the ninth when Wilton Guerrero singled, James Mouton walked and Jose Vidro delivered a pinch-hit home run.

The Cardinals jumped ahead early as Tatis homered for the second consecutive game and Ray Lankford had a two-run single.

Tatis, who also homered in the first inning Saturday to spark the Cardinals’ 19-hit attack, hit his ninth home run against Miguel Batista with one out in the first.

Mark McGwire did not start for the second time this season. McGwire, who came into the game to play first base in the 10th inning, has not homered in his last 10 games.