Guerrero’s Homer Lifts Expos, 12-9

Vladimir Guerrero fought off a few fastballs and waited for something to hit. When he got it, he didn’t miss.

Guerrero connected for a three-run homer in the 10th inning, giving the Montreal Expos a 12-9 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night at Montreal.

“He’s one of the best players in the game and we just missed having him strike out,” Padre Manager Bruce Bochy said.

“We couldn’t quite hang on to a foul tip and he got another pitch he could handle.”

The game drew 5,111, the smallest crowd at Olympic Stadium since last Sept. 12 against the New York Mets. San Diego has lost four in a row and nine of 10.

With runners on first and second and one out, Guerrero homered off reliever Jaret Wright to give Montreal its fourth game-ending home run of the season.

“Every time he comes to the plate, if he doesn’t hit one out, he’s going to hit it hard somewhere,” Expo left fielder Brad Wilkerson said.

Trailing 9-7, San Diego tied it in the ninth on Ramon Vazquez’s two-run double off closer Rocky Biddle (3-1).

“I didn’t get the job done,” Biddle said. “I threw a couple of bad pitches. I blew it and I was able to recover and the guys picked me up. At least we won -- that’s all that matters.”

San Francisco 3, Florida 2 -- Unbeaten Damian Moss pitched six innings and counterpart Josh Beckett left after one with a potentially serious elbow problem at Miami.

Moss is the first Giant pitcher to begin a season 5-0 since John Burkett started 7-0 in 1993.

The reeling Marlins, who already have two starting pitchers on the disabled list, pulled Beckett (2-3) after one inning when he complained of discomfort in his elbow. They quickly scheduled an appointment for the right-hander today with orthopedist Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

As expected Wednesday, Giant relief ace Robb Nen underwent season-ending shoulder surgery to repair a partial tear in his right rotator cuff.

Chicago 2, Milwaukee 1 -- Shawn Estes gave up three hits in seven innings and Damian Miller drove in the go-ahead run as the Cubs avoided a three-game sweep at Chicago.

After Geoff Jenkins took a called third strike leading off the ninth, singles by Brady Clark and Wes Helms put runners at the corners.

Cub closer Joe Borowski then threw a called third strike past pinch-hitter John Vander Wal and got Royce Clayton to strike out swinging.

Philadelphia 5, Arizona 2 -- Kevin Millwood allowed four hits in seven-plus innings, and Bobby Abreu and Tyler Houston homered for the Phillies at Phoenix.

Abreu hit a two-run homer, and Houston added a solo shot off rookie Brandon Webb in the fourth inning to help the Phillies avoid a three-game sweep.

Millwood (5-1) improved to 3-0 in his last four starts, including a no-hitter April 27 against San Francisco.

Abreu’s fifth home run of the season got an assist from left fielder Quinton McCracken, who jumped above the wall and had the ball in his glove before it bounced out.

Houston 13, Pittsburgh 4 -- Jeff Kent had four hits and five runs batted in and Geoff Blum singled home the go-ahead run during a seventh-inning rally at Houston.

Lance Berkman drove in four runs for the Astros (17-16), who set a season high for runs and moved over .500 for the first time since April 23 (10-9).

Kent went four for five and raised his average to .328 with a two-run homer in the sixth, a run-scoring single in the seventh and a two-run double in the eighth.

Houston’s Nos. 2-5 hitters -- Morgan Ensberg/Blum, Jeff Bagwell, Kent and Berkman, combined to go 10 for 16 with 13 RBIs.

Cincinnati 4, St. Louis 2 -- Aaron Boone and Adam Dunn homered for the Reds at Cincinnati as the Reds connected early for a change.

After beating the Cardinals with ninth-inning homers in the first two games of the series, the Reds won their third in a row in more run-of-the-mill fashion.

Closer-turned-starter Danny Graves (2-2) made his second consecutive impressive start, holding the NL’s top offense to five hits in 7 2/3 innings. After struggling in his first five starts, Graves has finally settled into his new role, giving up two runs and 10 hits over 15 2/3 innings in the last two games.

Colorado at Atlanta, ppd., rain -- The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.

“Just go out and play two tomorrow. That’s what we get paid for. That’s what we love to do,” Brave center fielder Andruw Jones said.