Vidro Gets It Done on the Double

Jose Vidro hit a three-run double in the seventh inning and the Montreal Expos handed Damian Moss (5-1) his first loss this season with a 4-3 victory over the Giants on Monday night at San Francisco.

Rich Aurilia and Barry Bonds hit consecutive doubles in the ninth inning to cut the deficit to 4-3, but Rocky Biddle struck out Jose Cruz Jr. and Benito Santiago to end it.

Zach Day (4-1) pitched six solid innings, winning his third consecutive decision in his 10th career start. The right-hander, who has not lost since April 8 at Chicago, gave up one run and eight hits.

The game was a reunion of sorts, with many hugs and handshakes as players with connections to the other team caught up with old friends.

Giants Marquis Grissom, Andres Galarraga, Jim Brower and Kirk Rueter used to play in Montreal, where Giant Manager Felipe Alou made his big league managerial debut in 1992. He was fired during the 2001 season.

Expo Manager Frank Robinson used to manage in San Francisco, and Montreal pitcher Livan Hernandez played for the Giants last season before being traded in March.

Alou celebrated his 68th birthday, receiving a birthday message on the center-field scoreboard before San Francisco batted in the second. Highlights from his playing days more than four decades ago were played.

Houston 9, Pittsburgh 4 -- Lance Berkman hit one of the Astros’ three solo homers and drove in three runs at Pittsburgh.

The Pirates, who trailed, 3-2, until the eighth inning, stranded 14 runners and were one for 17 with runners in scoring position in their ninth loss in 10 games. They have lost eight of nine at PNC Park.

Jeff Kent and Morgan Ensberg also homered for the Astros against Salomon Torres (2-1). Houston has won five in a row against Pittsburgh in eight days and nine in a row dating to last season.

The announced crowd of 9,095 was the Pirates’ first below five figures since PNC Park opened in 2001, and the actual turnout was only a few thousand.

Ricky Stone (4-0) retired the five batters he faced.

Chicago 11, Milwaukee 5 -- Moises Alou and Mark Grudzielanek each had four of the Cubs’ season-high 19 hits.

Mark Prior (5-1) struck out 11 batters in six innings for the Cubs, who began a 14-game trip, their longest in 20 years.

Alou, Damian Miller and Troy O’Leary homered for the Cubs, who have not had any trouble scoring without injured slugger Sammy Sosa.

The Cubs tagged Glendon Rusch (1-7) for eight runs and 13 hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Richie Sexson, Geoff Jenkins and Brooks Kieschnick homered for the Brewers.

New York 9, Colorado 6 -- Cliff Floyd homered and drove in four runs at Denver, and Steve Trachsel (1-2) won for the first time in eight starts as the Mets earned their third consecutive victory.

Roberto Alomar hit his second homer this season and Ty Wigginton had a three-run triple for the Mets, who won for only the sixth time in 17 road games.

Florida 6, San Diego 1 -- Ivan Rodriguez hit a two-run homer and Todd Hollandsworth hit a two-run double at San Diego to make Jack McKeon 2-0 as manager of the Marlins.

McKeon, 72, was hired Sunday after Jeff Torborg was fired. Florida beat Colorado, 7-2, in McKeon’s debut.

Rondell White had four hits and Mark Loretta three for the Padres (12-26), who are only 2 1/2 games ahead of Detroit for the worst record in the majors.