Expos' Rally Stuns Phillies
Closer Jeff Brantley couldn't close out the Montreal Expos.
Ryan McGuire's two-run single in the ninth tied the game and Rondell White drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly as the Expos scored four runs off Brantley to beat the Phillies 10-9 Wednesday night.
"It's nice to win, first and foremost, but there is some satisfaction when you look at the boxscore tomorrow and know that you contributed in helping the team win," McGuire said.
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White followed with a fly to center to score Mouton as Brantley failed for the first time in seven save opportunities.
Mike Mordecai reached on third baseman Scott Rolen's error to lead off the ninth and advanced to third on Orlando Cabrera's single, which caromed off second base into left-center. Pinch-hitter Wilton Guerrero and Mouton drew consecutive walks to cut the Phillies lead to 9-7 before McGuire's game-tying single.
"We won tonight and that's the best thing," McGuire said. "You go up there and try your best and sometimes it works."
Mike Lieberthal homered twice, including a grand slam, and went 3-for-4 with a career-high six RBIs for the Phillies.
Lieberthal, who hit a two-run homer in the third, hit his second career grand slam with one out in the fifth to break a 5-5 tie and chase Expos starter Dustin Hermanson.
"I got good pitches to hit," Lieberthal said. "Any time you score nine runs you figure you have enough to win."
Steve Kline (1-1), who struck out one, allowed one hit in two innings of relief for the win.
Montreal's Vladimir Guerrero had three extra-base hits and drove in three runs. Guerrero hit his ninth homer, a solo shot to tie the game at 5 in the third. He hit a two-run double in the first and doubled again leading off the sixth before scoring Montreal's sixth run when Jose Vidro followed with an RBI double.
Ron Gant doubled twice, including a two-run double preceding Lieberthal's tworun shot in the third.
Rolen drew a leadoff walk in the fifth and, one out later, moved to third on Gant's second straight double. Bobby Abreu walked to load the bases and Lieberthal hit a drive down the left-field line to put the Phillies ahead 9-5.
An announced crowd of 5,182 lowered Montreal's major league-worst average attendance through 22 home dates to 9,630. The Expos, who are 6-16 at Olympic Stadium, drew just 14,946 for the three-game series against the Phillies.
Guerrero's two-run double in the first erased Philadelphia's 1-0 lead and Mike Mordecai hit his first homer of the season in the second following Chris Widger's leadoff single as the Expos went ahead 4-1.
Philadelphia came right back with four runs in the third to take a 5-4 lead. Gant hit a two-run double off the center-field wall with one out to draw the Phillies to within one and Lieberthal followed Abreu's strikeout with his seventh homer.
"We continue to swing the bats well," Montreal manager Felipe Alou said. "We showed a lot of life but there's no question we have to address the pitching problem. We know the arms are here but so far the results have shown too many guys who were better last year."
Hermanson had his shortest outing of the season, allowing nine runs on seven hits in 4 1-3 innings. He has lost five of his last six decisions.
Philadelphia starter Chad Ogea allowed six runs on 10 hits in five-plus innings.
Kevin Sefcik tripled leading off the game and scored on Marlon Anderson's RBI grounder to second.
Guerrero followed with a sharply hit grounder down the third-base line line past Rolen's diving attempt, scoring McGuire and White, who slid home safely when Lieberthal couldn't hold on to shortstop Desi Relaford's relay throw.
Guerrero, who advanced to third on the relay, was easily doubled off when he broke for home on Jose Vidro's liner to first baseman Rico Brogna. Brogna threw to Rolen to complete the inning-ending double play as Guerrero stood at home plate.
Notes: The Phillies play an exhibition game against their Triple-A affiliate in Scranton, Pa. Thursday before completing their six-game road trip with a three-game series at Shea Stadium against the Mets. ... Lieberthal's grand slam was the Phillies' second this season. Abreu hit the other at home on April 16 off Florida's Rafael Medina. ... Anthony Telford struck out four and walked one in 2 2-3 innings of hitless relief for Montreal.
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