Fernandez, Jays Crush Expos

Although Tony Fernandez homered and drove in three runs, he doesn't want to bat cleanup again.

Fernandez, batting in the fourth spot of the lineup for the first time in his career, had three hits as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Montreal Expos 9-2 Sunday.

"Do I look like a No. 4 hitter to you guys?" asked Fernandez, who also doesn't like hitting in his normal fifth slot. "Obviously, it doesn't matter what I think."

With Shawn Green injured, Toronto manager Jim Fregosi moved leadoff hitter Shannon Stewart into the third spot. But after Stewart struggled, Fregosi decided to bump Carlos Delgado into the third spot and bat Fernandez cleanup.

Darrin Fletcher also homered for the Blue Jays, who won the three-game series in front of 24,392, almost one thousand below the average. The Blue Jays are 7-3 against the Expos since the start of interleague play in 1997.

"The novelty has worn off," said Fletcher, a former Expos player. "But I still think it's exciting. I think the fans that do come to the games and do listen and watch on radio and TV genuinely like this matchup."

Kelvim Escobar (5-3), who got the win despite struggling with his command, gave up two runs on eight hits in eight innings. He walked five and struck out one.

"Sometimes you win when you don't feel good," Escobar said.

Every Blue Jays batter had at least one hit.

Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the second on Fletcher's homer and Jacob Brumfield's sacrifice fly.

The Expos tied the game in the third on Rondell White's RBI single and Jose Vidro's run-scoring double.

Fernandez's double and RBI singles by Fletcher, Homer Bush, and Brumfield gave Toronto a 7-2 lead in the bottom of the inning.

Dustin Hermanson, Montreal's ace last season, has just two wins since April 16. Hermanson (4-4) gave up six runs on seven hits in just two innings. It was his shortest outing since the Chicago Cubs chased hm in the first inning on April 28, 1997.

"I felt good today, but I just didn't locate my pitches," Hermanson said. "I'm still trying to find the mechanics I had last year."

Carlos Delgado's sacrifice fly in the sixth made it 9-2.

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