Hermansen, Mackowiak homer to propel Bucs past Expos
MONTREAL (AP) – Chad Hermansen hit a leadoff home run, and Rob Mackowiak homered twice to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-2 win over the Montreal Expos on Tuesday night. Hermansen drove the second pitch from Carl Pavano (3-7) off the top of the center-field wall and over for his fifth homer of the season.
Mackowiak had a solo homer in the second to make it 2-0 before hitting a two-run shot – his seventh of the season – after Pavano hit Craig Wilson with a pitch leading off the fourth. It was Mackowiak’s first career multihomer game.
Jimmy Anderson (5-7) held Montreal scoreless through six before leaving after allowing consecutive one-out doubles to Fernando Tatis and Andres Galarraga in the seventh.
Anderson, who gave up 11 earned runs over 8 1-3 innings in his previous two starts, allowed five hits, including a pair of doubles to Tatis, and one run in 6 1-3 innings.
Mike Williams pitched the ninth for his 18th save in 19 opportunities.
Montreal’s Wil Cordero was ejected by plate umpire Joe West when he argued after taking a second straight called strike following Vladimir Guerrero’s RBI single in the eighth.
Pavano, who allowed four runs and four hits in seven innings, hit Jack Wilson in the back with a pitch one out after Mackowiak’s second homer, then hit Mackowiak in the sixth, prompting West to warn both dugouts.
Mike Lincoln relieved Anderson following Galarraga’s RBI double in the seventh and got one out before allowing Jose Macias’ pinch-hit single.
Left-hander Scott Sauerbeck replaced Lincoln and walked pinch-hitter Mike Mordecai to load the bases.
Orlando Cabrera hit a long foul down the left-field line before grounding to shortstop Abraham Nunez to end the threat.
Expos reliever Graeme Lloyd hit Brian Giles with a pitch leading off the eighth. Four Pirates were hit by a pitch in the game.
Giles stole second and advanced to third on Craig Wilson’s single before he was caught between third and home on pinch-hitter Adrian Brown’s failed squeeze attempt.
Catcher Michael Barrett ran Giles back to third and tagged him out as he stood on the base along with Craig Wilson, who had advanced from first.
Craig Wilson scored Pittsburgh’s fifth run one out later on Jack Wilson’s two-out RBI infield single.