Expos surge, clip Cards

MONTREAL -- Vladimir Guerrero and Zach Day showed the Montreal Expos what they'd been missing.

Guerrero homered and drove in all three runs, moving into second place on Montreal's career home run list as the Expos beat the Cardinals 3-2 Thursday.

Guerrero homered twice Monday to tie new Hall of Famer Gary Carter on the Expos' list, then hit his 221st in the second inning Thursday, a two-run drive off Woody Williams (14-4). Guerrero, who returned from a herniated disc July 21, needs four homers to match Andre Dawson, who played for the Expos from 1976-86.

"It's nice to have the big guy in the lineup," Day said. "He's a presence in the lineup, especially in games like this when it's a close game and you know that it's going to be a battle."

Day (5-4), in his second start since a stint on the DL caused by a strained right shoulder, allowed one run and five hits in six innings.

"The sinker was working good today," Expos manager Frank Robinson said. "His location was good and he kept his pitch count to a minimum, and made them hit the ball and we got them out."

Rocky Biddle pitched a perfect ninth for his 26th save in 31 chances.

Williams, won had won his four previous starts, failed in his attempt to become the NL's second 15-game winner. He allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings.

"I'd rather give up five runs and win, than three and lose," Williams said.

Albert Pujols singled off Luis Ayala in the eighth to extend his hitting streak to 15 games. He hit three grounders while going 0-for-3 against Day.

"He threw a great game," said Pujols, whose .372 average leads the major leagues. "That's what sinkerballers do. He got me three times. I was chasing some bad pitches too."

The Expos avoided having the Cardinals sweep a three-game series from them for the second time this season. Montreal, which lost three straight in St. Louis from May 2 to 4, dropped five of six to the Cardinals this season and was outscored 32-9.

"They're a tough ballclub to play against," Expos manager Frank Robinson said. "If you give them just a little opening, they'll take advantage of it."

After Guerrero's homer, Bo Hart's RBI single in the fifth pulled St. Louis to 2-1.

Guerrero lined a one-hop RBI single in the bottom half that struck Pujols in the groin, leaving the left fielder doubled over in pain. After relaying the ball to the infield, Pujols held the back of his head while assistant trainer Mark O'Neal ran from the dugout to tend to him.

"I was hurting when I threw the ball, but I had to suck it up and get the ball in," Pujols said.

Tino Martinez hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth off Luis Ayala.

Noteworthy

Guerrero's homer was the only one allowed by the Cardinals this season.

Day shattered a pair of Cardinals' bats while inducing consecutive grounders in the first. Drew's broken bat head went flying toward 2B Jose Vidro and Pujols' bat narrowly missed hitting SS Orlando Cabrera.

The Expos had not been swept at Olympic Stadium since losing three straight to Atlanta last Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.