| In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors. |
Expos 4, Giants 0
Tuesday August 19, 2003MONTREAL (AP) Javier Vazquez put the Montreal Expos into another team's record book.
Vazquez pitched a three-hitter as the Expos beat San Francisco 4-0 Monday to complete the first season sweep of the Giants in the franchise's history.
Vazquez (11-8) struck out seven and walked three, winning for the fifth time in seven starts and pitching his third complete game over that span. It was his sixth career shutout and first since Aug. 28, 2001.
``It feels great,'' he said. ``It's one of those days that I felt great in the 'pen before the game, and in the game too.''
San Francisco finished 0-7 against Montreal overall, the first time in the franchise's 121-year history it was swept in a season series involving more than three games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The Giants, who went 0-3 against Texas in 1999, still lead the NL West by 8{ games over Arizona despite a season-high, six-game losing streak.
``If I lose to one team and beat everyone else, I don't care,'' Giants manager Felipe Alou said. ``We want to win games but I didn't know that.''
Montreal swept a three-game series at Pacific Bell Park from May 12-14.
The Expos, who completed their second four-game sweep of the season, extended their winning streak to five, ending a 6-1 homestand.
``We're feeling good and spirits are up,'' Montreal manager Frank Robinson said. ``You couldn't ask for a better situation going on the road.''
San Francisco went 0-6 on a road trip that began with a pair of losses in New York before Thursday's game against the Mets was postponed by the blackout that struck much of the Northeast.
The losing streak is the Giants' longest since they lost eight in a row from May 12-20, 2000.
``I'm concerned about the health of my team,'' Alou said. ``If we had all our guys and lost I'd be concerned, but now the No. 1 concern is that half our regulars are out.''
Barry Bonds, out of the lineup for a fourth straight game, remained on bereavement leave to be with his ailing father. Alou said Bonds would probably be back Tuesday.
Reliever Felix Rodriguez was activated from the 15-day disabled list following the game, and shortstop Rich Aurilia will be activated when he is eligible on Tuesday.
Expos right fielder Vladimir Guerrero didn't start. Robinson said that Guerrero, who missed 39 games with a herniated disc, asked to be rested.
``I can understand that,'' Robinson said. ``I'm glad that we got him through this series with just one day off, missing one game, so he'll be ready to go (Tuesday).''
Jose Vidro extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI single off Dustin Hermanson (2-3) in the sixth after Endy Chavez's leadoff double.
Chavez went 3-for-4, including an RBI double after Vazquez's run-scoring grounder in the seventh to increase the lead to 3-0.
Brian Schneider hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth to drive in Montreal's fourth run.
Making his third start since he was called up from Triple-A Fresno, Hermanson allowed four hits and one run in six innings.< ^Notes:@ Giants CF Marquis Grissom was rested. Grissom bruised his left hand when he was hit by a pitch in Saturday's 4-1 loss, though X-rays revealed there was no break. ... LF Todd Linden became the seventh Giants rookie to make his major league debut this season. He went 0-for-4. ... Vazquez has 15 career complete games. ... It was the Expos' eighth shutout this season. ... Montreal swept a four-game series from the New York Mets in April in Puerto Rico. ... The Giants optioned SS Cody Ransom and LHP Chad Zerbe to Fresno following the game.
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