Adam Ulrey's Montreal Expos Diary

The Expos, after sweeping the Phillies last weekend, came into Philadelphia and won the first game of the series to give them their fourth win in a row against them. Javier Vazquez was so surprised to get a five-run lead that he almost gave it away. Troy O'Leary, who has been hot, homered and drove in four runs, and Fernando Tatis added a two-run homer, his 5th, to lead the Expos past the Phillies 8-7.

Vazquez (3-2) allowed six runs and nine hits in seven innings, but earned just his fifth decision in 12 starts. "I like pitching with a big lead. I don't get it often," Vazquez said. "It gives you more room for error." Vazquez, who has allowed 11 runs in his last two starts, hasn't had much run support. In the eight starts in which he's allowed two earned runs or less, he is only 2-1. "It's good to get a win like this, "Vazquez said. "When I was pitching well, I wasn't getting any wins. You've got to take whatever you can get." Brad Wilkerson, who since moving to the top of the lineup has been on fire, had his second straight night with two hits and is now 6-for-11 since moving to the leadoff spot.

O'Leary has been more than the Expos could have hoped for as he continues to blister the ball with his team leading .386 average. He now has 10 RBIs in just over three weeks. Fernando Tatis has started to show the power that made him such a force with the Cardinals by clubbing his 5th homer of the year. If he can continue to hit the ball hard at the bottom of the order, the Expos lineup is just that much better. He also extended his modest hitting streak to seven games.