Expos take 2 of 3 in battle for 1st in NL East

Sportsman’s Park – St. Louis, MO – 8/28 – 8/31

GAME 1 – Expos 3, Cards 2 (10 inn)

Recent call up Herm Wehmeir looked to be on the short side of the ledger vs Expo veteran Bryn Smith until Wally Moon chased Smith with 2 outs to go in the 9th with a “Moon shot” to right to tie the game at 2 all.  Cardinal reliever Jim Konstanty blew it in the 10th when Tim Raines stole second with 1 out and scored on a Bryan Little single.  Bob James came on for the save in the 10th, because regular closer Jeff Reardon pitched the 9th and got the win.

GAME 2 – Expos 12, Cards 3

Don’t let the score fool you, this one was tied at 3 going into the 7th when Montreal exploded for 3 unanswered runs.  Chris Speier led off with a single and Al Oliver reached 1st on an error by normally sure handed Don Blasingame at second.  Up stepped future HOF’er Andre “the Hawk” Dawson and you can just about guess what the result was (a 3 run shot).  Six more runs in the top of the 9th made this game look like a cake walk, which is was not.  Steve Rogers (2-1, 2.76) went the distance for the win.  Gary Carter was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored, 2 RBI’s and a homer.

GAME 3 – Cards 7, Expos 5

If ever an August game was considered a “must win”, this one was one of those.  A loss would have dropped the Redbirds 2 back of division leading Montreal.  A win would move them to within 1.  Thankfully Montreal starter, Bill Gullickson was putrid (7 runs in 7 innings) and Montreal’s manager was too stubborn to lift him.  That dreadful combination allowed the Expos to come up short of another come back win.  After scoring 3 in the top of the 8th to come within 1 the Expos smelled victory like a shark smells blood in the water.  Pinch hitter Alvin Dark smelled victory himself when he singled home catcher Bill Sarni, who led off the inning with a double.  This gave Larry Jackson a 2 run cushion to defend in the 9th.  Jackson got pinch hitters Manny Trillo and Mike Vail to fly out and then he got Raines to weakly ground out to 3rd to end the game.  Stan Musial was give 3 free passes on the day as his season average dipped to .241.  After a horrendous start, Andre Dawson has raised his average to .275.