Expos Reward Fans With Win

The Montreal Expos gave their few die-hard fans--and a lot of newcomers--something to cheer about.

Brad Wilkerson, Vladimir Guerrero and Cliff Floyd each hit solo homers in the fifth inning, and Bartolo Colon pitched his first complete game in the National League to win his Montreal home debut as the Expos beat the Atlanta Braves, 6-3, Saturday night before a crowd of 17,335.

Without a promotion to bring in a bigger crowd, the game drew the fourth-largest crowd of the season as the second-place Expos moved within 10 1/2 games of Atlanta in the NL East.

“That one tonight was for the fans that have been coming out here and supporting us all year long, and the extra fans that came out tonight,” Expo Manager Frank Robinson said. “It really gave us a real boost, seeing them all in the seats out there, and their cheering for us really made us feel good, picked us up.”

All three homers came off Tom Glavine (11-5), who surrendered three homers in the same inning for the first time in his major league career.

Colon (2-0) gave up eight hits--including Chipper Jones’ eighth-inning homer--and three runs to send the Braves to only their fourth loss in 21 games.

Wilkerson led off the fifth with his 10th homer to break a 2-2 tie and, one out later, Guerrero hit Glavine’s first pitch for his 23rd homer and his fourth in three games to make it 4-2.

Floyd, who made his Expo season debut in Friday’s 8-3 loss, drove Glavine’s next pitch 418 feet over the center-field wall for his 19th homer of the season and first in a Montreal uniform since 1996.

Chicago 9, Florida 2--Matt Clement pitched three-hit ball into the eighth inning against his former team as the Cubs and an angry Sammy Sosa won at Chicago.

Clement (7-6) struck out nine and outpitched the player he was traded for in March--Julian Tavarez, who drew the ire of Sosa by plunking him in the back with a pitch in the fourth inning. Benches emptied briefly, but no punches were thrown and order was quickly restored.

Philadelphia 7, New York 6--Travis Lee hit an RBI single off Scott Strickland (6-6) in the 12th inning at New York as the Phillies overcame another bullpen meltdown.

Hector Mercado (1-2) pitched out of a jam in the 11th, stranding the winning run at third base. Carlos Silva worked the 12th for his first career save.

Houston 2, Cincinnati 1--Craig Biggio hit a go-ahead RBI double in the seventh inning at Houston, and Pete Munro pitched the Astros to their fifth consecutive victory.

Lance Berkman got his major league-leading 82nd RBI for the Astros, who have won eight of their last nine and 11 of 13.

St. Louis 2, San Diego 1--Kerry Robinson hit a run-scoring single in the top of the 10th inning to give the Cardinals a victory at San Diego.

The Padres squandered a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth when they had runners on second and third with one out against Mike Crudale (2-0). Bubba Trammell hit a popup to second and Deivi Cruz flied out to right to end the threat.

Pittsburgh 5, Milwaukee 3--Brian Giles hit his 25th home run, and the Pirates won in Milwaukee again. Pittsburgh is 6-0 this season at Miller Park.