Adam Ulrey's Montreal Expos Diary

July 17, 2002 - Game 94
The Bullpen gives the game away again as Mets win 9-6

The New York Mets are beginning to get offense they expected out of their potent lineup. Mo Vaughn had an RBI single and Edgardo Alfonzo hit a two-run double to spark a five-run eighth inning as the Mets beat the Montreal Expos 9-6 Wednesday for their fourth straight win. The bullpen of the Expos, which for the most part has been pretty consistent over the season, has gone bad in a hurry, giving up eight runs in the ninth last night and tonight gave up five in the eighth.

Scott Stewart, the Expos closer, had been almost automatic in save situations all season long until the last three times he has appeared, and tonight he was just horrible. He gave up three hits and four runs in just a 1/3 of an inning to give the Mets the win. Matt Herges had pitched four shutout innings after starter Tomo Ohka could only last three innings. Vladimir Guerrero tried to do all he could as he went 4-for-5 with two runs and three RBI on two homers, as he hit his 24th and 25th on the year. The Expos left nine men on base and had 13 hits only to watch as the Mets bats accounted for 15 hits and 9 runs. Vaughn, Alfonzo and Jay Payton all had three hits and five RBIs between them. Roberto Alomar also had two more hits to see his average rise above .270. Guerrero homered in the fourth and Fernando Tatis doubled in a run as Montreal closed to 4-3, and Vidro's sixth-inning homer tied it.

The game drew 13,402 - the ninth straight crowd over 10,000 at Olympic Stadium. Brad Wilkerson threw another runner out at home for his 11th assist on the season. The Expos will look to rebound tomorrow when they send out Bartolo Colon.