In the End, Expos Beat Cubs, 16-15

Big hits, big rallies and even a triple play. It just seemed like Sunday’s Chicago Cubs-Expos’ game at Montreal would come down to the final swing.

“It was ugly, it was exciting, and it turned out to be one of the toughest games I’ve ever played,” Montreal’s Jose Vidro said after the Expos came from behind for the fourth time to defeat the Cubs, 16-15.

Henry Rodriguez hit two home runs and drove in a career-high seven runs for the Cubs, but the Expos pulled off a triple play and a ninth-inning rally.

The Cubs led, 1-0, in the first inning on Sammy Sosa’s single. But with runners at first and third, Expo first baseman Lee Stevens fielded Rodriguez’s sharply hit grounder and stepped on first base for an out. Stevens threw to shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who tagged Sosa, trying to advance to second, for the second out.

Ricky Gutierrez, who walked after Eric Young’s leadoff single and advanced to third on Sosa’s hit, was then cut down at the plate by Cabrera’s throw to catcher Chris Widger to complete Montreal’s first triple play since Sept. 29, 1993, against Florida.

“That’s baseball,” Rodriguez said. “You never know what’s going to happen.”

Chicago wasted leads of 1-0, 6-2, 11-9 and 15-13. Montreal blew leads of 2-1, 9-7 and 13-11 before its final rally. The Expos also scored four times in the eighth.

Sosa had five hits and five runs batted in for the Cubs. He singled home a run in the ninth and Rodriguez hit a three-run homer with two out for a 15-13 lead.

“We were excited and thought we had the win,” Rodriguez said. “Then they came back. This was a tough game. That’s the game of baseball. They played great. We did our best. We came back, they came back, then us, then them. That was really good baseball but they got the win, and there’s nothing to do now.”

Rondell White hit a tying, two-run homer and Mike Mordecai singled home the game-winner. White also doubled twice.

Eric Young stole five bases, the most by a Cub since George Gore swiped seven on June 25, 1881. Six Cubs had stolen four since 1900, most recently Sosa on Sept. 29, 1993.

Stevens, who drove in five runs, Vladimir Guerrero and Andy Tracy also homered for Montreal, which had 16 hits.

“I’m just happy to come out on top,” Stevens said. “That’s what makes it nice. It’s not nice when you don’t win them, and it’s always nice when you win at the end like that.”

New York 5, Florida 1--Mike Piazza’s 10th career grand slam helped end the Marlins’ four-game winning streak.

Mike Hampton (4-4) was locked in a scoreless duel with Brad Penny (3-5) at Shea Stadium and the Mets had only one hit through five innings. With one out in the sixth, Hampton beat out a bunt, starting the winning rally.

Joe McEwing, leading off and playing left field in place of released Rickey Henderson, followed with a double to left, driving in Hampton with McEwing taking third on a throwing error by left fielder Danny Bautista.

Derek Bell then walked and stole second. When Penny fell behind Edgardo Alfonzo, he was walked intentionally, loading the bases for Piazza.

San Diego 3, Arizona 1--The Diamondbacks’ club-record win streak ended at nine and the Padres’ eight-game losing streak ended as Brian Meadows (4-3) pitched eight strong innings.

Tony Womack hit a leadoff homer on Meadows’ second pitch at San Diego. Steve Finley singled with one out and Arizona went on to load the bases, but Meadows got Damian Miller to fly out.

The Diamondbacks did not get another hit the rest of the game against Meadows and Trevor Hoffman, who got his sixth save.

Atlanta 11, Philadelphia 2--Chipper Jones homered from both sides of the plate and Andruw Jones almost hit for the cycle as the Braves completed a three-game sweep at Philadelphia.

It was the fourth time Chipper Jones has hit homers from both sides of the plate, the others coming last season. Andruw Jones hit a run-scoring double in the first, a two-run homer in the second and a triple in the fifth.

Pittsburgh 3, Milwaukee 0--Kris Benson (3-4) limited the Brewers to four hits in eight-plus innings and Bruce Aven and Brian Giles hit homers as the Pirates won for the second consecutive day after losing seven in a to them in Three Rivers Stadium since last season.

Houston 10, Cincinnati 3--Mitch Meluskey hit a three-run homer and Scott Elarton limited the Reds to four hits in seven innings as the Astros ended the Reds’ six-game winning streak. The Astros improved to 6-12 at Enron Field, their new ballpark.