Adam Ulrey's Montreal Expos Diary

September 9, 2002 - Game 144

Alex Gonzalez hit his third game-winning homerun with his 17th in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Expos 3-2. Both teams got some great starting pitching with the Expos' Tony Armas Jr. going seven innings, giving up just five hits and eight strikeouts. He now has had two solid outings in a row. Matt Clement was pitching a terrific game, going four innings giving up just three hits and striking out six, but left after getting back spasms after leaving the mound in the fourth. Mike Barrett hit his 12th homer of the year and Matt Cepicky doubled in a run for all the scoring by the Expos. Corey Patterson hit his 14th as the Cubs finally got back into the win column. The Expos are just leaving too many men on base, as they again left 11 men on base. The Expos have been playing pretty solid all year long until the last eight games where their inexperience has caught up with them. They hope to turn it around and end the season over .500.