Adam Ulrey's Montreal Expos Diary

July 26, 2002 - Game 103
Expos pull out victory in the 10th 6-5

The Montreal Expos were grateful that right fielder Vladimir Guerrero's arm gave them the opportunity to avoid a crushing defeat. Jose Vidro was the hitting star, cranking a leadoff homer off Vladimir Nunez in the bottom of the tenth to give the Expos the 6-5 victory over the Marlins. After Guerrero threw out Tim Raines at the plate to end the top of the 10th, Vidro won it with his 11th homer of the year.

"I'd like to dedicate this win to - I think - the best player in the world," Vidro said. "He gave us a chance to win."

Vidro was hitless in his first four at bats after coming back from being out for five games with a bad back. He connected off of Nunez for only Montreal's third win in their last 12 games.

"I'm glad we won this game," Vidro said. "I had a good at-bat after looking bad in the previous four at-bats."

With the Marlins trailing 5-3 with two outs in the ninth, Florida's Preston Wilson hit a two-run homer off of Expos closer Scott Stewart to tie the game and send it into extra innings. The Marlins missed a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 10th when Guerrero came up firing to throw out Tim Raines, who was trying to score from first on Mike Redmond's two-out double into the right-field corner. It was the 13th assist for the All-Star outfielder.

"It's one of the best throws I've ever seen," Marlins third base coach Ozzie Guillen said. "It took a perfect throw and he threw a one-hopper to the plate. You don't see that too often."

Montreal's Cliff Floyd homered against his former team and Andres Galarraga homered for the second straight game in a match up of teams that began the night with identical 50-51 records. Dropped from third to sixth in the order as a result of his 1-for-21 slump, Floyd hit his 20th homer with two out in the fourth. Tony Armas Jr. left the game after just 2 2/3 innings with a strain muscle in his back and then was placed on the 15-day disabled list. T.J. Tucker pitched the 10th inning to get his fifth win of the year.

For the Marlins Derek Lee extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single in the fourth inning.