Northern Expos-ure

Phillies 7, Expos 4
Clay Kirby vs Tom Underwood
One again Kirby served himself up as a human punching bag.  Montreal was down 6-0 after 3 innings and Kirby was gone after 4.  In the top of the 5th the "never say die" Expos exploded for 4 runs off of Underwood to make it a ballgame.  Larry Parrish's 2 run homer was followed by a two run double by Bombo Rivera.  Underwood was able to right the ship and blank the 'Spos until he left the game with 1 out in the 8th.  Ron Schueler would take it the rest of the way for the final 5 outs.  The prodigal son, Dick Allen hit a 3 run blast off of Kirby in the 3rd.  The secretary of defense, Garry Maddox hit a 2 run shot in the 1st to pace the Phightin's offense.

Phillies 3, Expos 2
Dan Warthen vs Larry Christenson
Larry Christenson had a 4 hitter heading into the 9th, when he decided to make the game interesting.  A leadoff walk to Pepe Mangual was followed by a clean single up the middle by Jim Lyttle.  After pinch hitter Jerry White struck out looking Mike Jorgensen doubled home Mangual to make it 3-1.  A sac fly by Barry Foote made it 3-2, but Montreal needed hits at this point and was not in a postion to trade outs for runs.  Gene Garber, who replaced Christenson after Lyttle's hit got Foli to ground weakly to short to end the game.

Expos 6, Dodgers 4
Tommy John vs Don Carrithers
Down 4-2 after 5 innings the Dodgers rallied for 2 runs off of Expo starter Don Carrithers to tie the game at 4-4.  Ron Cey's 2 run double with 1 out put Carrithers on the ropes.  After Russell was given and intentional pass Steve Yeager singled to load the bases.  Carrithers had a visit from his manager who told him that Dusty Baker would be the last batter he would face.  Carrithers made the most of his opportunity by getting Baker to ground into a 6-4-3 DP to end the inning.  Montreal rallied to score 2 in the bottom of the inning thanks to a RBI double by Tim Foli and an RBI single by pinch hitter Jim Cox.  Carrithers was done for the day and poised to get the win.  Chip Lang would hand that win to Carrithers by pitching three scoreless innings in relief for his second save of the season.  Montreal's sweep of the Dodgers now has the team only 3 games under .500.

Expos 5, Dodgers 3
Doug Rau vs Don Stanhouse
Montreal spotted overnight sensation Don Stanhouse (6-1, 2.58)  four big runs in the bottom of the second.  Jim Cox's bases clearing triple was the back breaker for Rau, who has had himself a fine season (9-3) to this point.  LA began to chip away, but could not overcome Montreal's lead.  Bombo Rivera would go 3 for 4 to improve his season average to .309.  Barry Foote banged out 2 more hits and is now hitting an incredible .331.  Dale Muray pitched a scoreless 9th to notch his 6th save of the season.  Murray, who had an abysmal start of the season now has his ERA below 4 (3.86).

Expos 3, Dodgers 1
Burt Hooton vs Woodie Fryman
Fryman was caught up again in another tense pitcher's duel.  Montreal was able to spot him 3 runs, which doesn't usually happen when he's on the hill.  Ron Roenicke's sac fly scored Pepe Mangual in the 4th to make it 1-0.  An error by Davey Lopes and a ground out by Pat Scanlon would plate 2 more in the bottom of the 6th.  Fryman would start the 8th and give up a lead off triple to Dodger shortstop Bill Russell.  Russell would score on a ground out and Fryman was done for the day having given up 1 run over 7 innings of work.  Granger, Scherman and Murray, who got Manny Mota to pop out to left to end the game, combined to relieve Fryman and not allow any additional scoring.

Dan Warthen (5 IP) and Steve Dunning (4 IP) combined for a 6 hit shutout of the only team with a more anemic offense than the Expos, the San Diego Padres.  Pete Mackanin's 2 run shot in the 4th broke a scoreless tie.  An RBI single by Jim Dwyer in the 5th and an RBI ground out by Pepe Frias in the 6th rounded out the score as the Expos ended a very successful 6-3 West Coast swing.  Barry Foote went 3 for 4 and improved his season average to .325 as he battles Gary Carter for the #1 catcher slot.

Padres 15, Expos 3
Don Carrithers vs Allan Foster
San Diego's 10 run explosion in the bottom of the second made it 14-2.  Sadly for Allan Foster he was not able to go the requisite 5 inning to notch the win.  That would be the only dark spot on a bright and shiny day for the home team.  Both Johnny Grubb and light hitting Enzo Hernandez posted 4 hit days.  The aging Willie "3-Dog" Davis had 6 RBI's thanks to a Grand Slam and a 2 run shot.  The lone bright spot for the 'Spos was the 4 shutout innings Clay Kirby tossed in relief vs his ex-mates.