Northern Expos-ure

5/6/76
Expos 6, Padres 2
Dan Spillner vs Clay Kirby
Not exactly a marquee pitching matchup on paper, but both hurlers turned in respectable performances just the same.  Kirby would give up a 2 run shot to banjo hitting shortstop Hector Torres in the top of the second to put the Friars up 2-0.  That would be the only tally against Kirby, who righted his ship immediately until he ran out of gas in the 6th.  Steve Dunning did a great job bailing Kirby out in the 6th.  In fact the normally leaky Expo pen seemed waterproof on the day.  The same could not be said for the Padres pen, who needed to protect a 1 run lead over the final 3 innings.  Dan Spillner gave up just 1 run on a fielder's choice in the 4th.  Roger Metzger was called on for the second day in a row to protect a 1 run lead and once again was not up to the task.  Metzger would give up 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th to give Montreal a one run lead.  His replacement, Ken Reynolds, would completely let the game get away by allowing an additional 3 tallies.  Pinch hitter Jose Morales came through again in the clutch with an RBI single that put the Expos up 3-2.  Consecutive walks to Pepe Mangual and Jerry White forced in runs and and error by Reynolds on a dribbler by Mike Jorgensen was responsible for the 5th and final run of the inning.  The final score (6-2) indicates a one sided affair, but the reality is that this game was a nail biter up until the bottom of the 8th.  Montreal now has a modest 2 game winning streak to be proud of.