Sunday, September 05, 1999Astros 5, Expos 2, 10 innings
MONTREAL — Jeff Bagwell scored the go-ahead run on Ugueth Urbina's wild pitch in the 10th inning and Derek Bell followed with a two-run homer as the Houston Astros beat the Montreal Expos 5-2 Saturday night.
Bagwell hit a two-out double off Urbina (6-6), broke for third on Urbina's 3-1 pitch to Russ Johnson and rounded third as the pitch got away from catcher Chris Widger.
Widger threw to Urbina, who couldn't handle the ball as he blocked the plate.
With his view of blocked by Urbina, plate umpire Tim Timmons made a safe call well before Bagwell managed to push his foot between Urbina's legs to touch the plate. Bell followed with his 12th homer.
Jose Cabrera (4-0) allowed one hit in two innings.
Expos starter Javier Vazquez gave up just three hits and two walks in eight innings and struck out seven, retiring 11 straight in one stretch. Houston's Shane Reynolds gave up four hits in seven shutout innings.
Montreal, which leads the major leagues with 138 errors, made four, including three in the eighth as Houston took a 2-0 lead.
After third baseman Shane Andrews threw away Reynolds' grounder for a two-base error, Jose Vidro misplayed Stan Javier's grounder as a run scored.
The ball got by right fielder Vladimir Guerrero for his 17th error, and Jeff Bagwell followed with a sacrifice fly.
With three more errors, Guerrero would become the first outfielder to reach 20 since Bob Johnson of the 1935 Philadelphia Athletics. The post-World War II high in 19 by Lou Brock (1966) and Chili Davis (1988).
Montreal scored twice in the bottom half as Billy Wagner blew a save for the third time in 36 chances. Rondell White hit a sacrifice fly and Wilton Guerrero hit an RBI single as Orlando Merced slid past the tag off catcher Tony Eusebio. Bell's throw from right pulled Eusebio off the plate.
Notes: Matt Mieske's bat flew out of his hands and struck a female spectator as he struck out ending the fourth. The game was delayed for five minutes as the woman was attended to and carried away on a stretcher. ... Fireworks usually reserved for Expos' home runs accidentally went off after Vazquez grounded out in the sixth. ... Only 8,471 attended, lowering Montreal's major league-low average to 9,725 through 71 games at Olympic Stadium.
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Astros 5, Expos 2, 10 innings