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GAME LOG
MONTREAL (AP) – The Houston Astros got more mileage out of Shane Reynolds than they expected. Reynolds pitched seven strong innings, and Lance Berkman's two-run single keyed a four-run third inning in Houston's 4-3 victory over the Montreal Expos on Saturday night. The Astros won despite getting just three hits. Reynolds, 1-2 with a 10.54 ERA in his first three starts, allowed seven hits and three runs in his best outing of the season. "I felt a lot better," Reynolds said. "Throwing off the mound every day since my last start seemed to help, seemed to slow me down and get me in a rhythm. It helped my confidence, also. It was a battle. Some games like tonight are a battle. We had to battle the whole nine innings and it's a good win." Houston won its third straight game after losing five of six. "Shane did a good job of getting us seven innings," Astros manager Larry Dierker said. "He struggled a lot in the first four innings and the last three he pitched out of some trouble. He pitched a tough game. He got some real important outs with men on base." Reynolds (2-2) was making his fourth start since coming off the disabled list following offseason knee surgery. "I didn't expect to see him pitch that well for seven innings, but he did," Expos manager Felipe Alou said. "The guy came back from surgery and he hung in there long enough to get the win." Billy Wagner allowed Jose Vidro's one-out double in the ninth before striking out Fernando Tatis and Milton Bradley for his sixth save in as many chances. "This is not a fun team to face," Wagner said. "They're a good-hitting ballclub. They're young and getting better each and every game." The Astros sent 10 batters to the plate in the third and scored four unearned runs off Britt Reames (2-3) to erase Montreal's 1-0 lead. With one out, Tony Eusebio was hit by a pitch and advanced to second when first baseman Lee Stevens was charged with an error for throwing wildly to second on Reynolds' sacrifice attempt. Julio Lugo's RBI single tied the game and, one out later, Jeff Bagwell walked to load the bases. Berkman's two-run single made it 3-1 and advanced Bagwell to third. Bagwell scored on Michael Barrett's passed ball. "That was a rough inning," Reames said. "As a pitcher, you've got to eliminate the big inning. And four runs is a big inning. If you can limit that inning to two runs, you've done your job, and I didn't limit it tonight. It was just a tough inning." Reynolds' wild pitch in the bottom half allowed Montreal to pull to 4-2, and Vidro's RBI double cut the lead to one. Reames allowed all three of Houston's hits and six walks in five innings. He had given up eight runs while lasting just 1 1/3 innings in his last start, Tuesday against Arizona. The Expos, who lost their third straight game and sixth in seven outings, drew 20,541 fans -- their biggest crowd since 45,183 attended the team's April 6 home opener. Prices for tickets and hot dogs were reduced Saturday. Montreal is 12-18 overall after starting 6-1. "We've got to score more runs," Alou said. "We've got to get some more key hits, like I know we're capable of doing." Game notesHouston's Chris Truby struck out looking for the first and third outs of the fourth. Craig Biggio struck out swinging for the inning's other out. ... Astros right-hander Roy Oswalt, called up from Triple-A New Orleans following Friday night's game, was in uniform and available in the bullpen. Oswalt, 2-3 with a 4.35 ERA for New Orleans, was a starter on last year's gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team. ... The Astros are in a 15-game stretch against NL East teams. Houston is 5-6 so far. The Astros don't face their first NL West opponent until San Diego on May 21. ... Expos LF Curtis Pride batted leadoff and went 2-for-4 in his first appearance for Montreal since 1995. His contract was purchased from Triple-A Ottawa Friday after LF Tim Raines went on the 15-day disabled list. ... Pride joined Raines as one of 24 players who have done at least two tours of duty with the Expos. ... The game was interrupted twice by fans jumping onto the field in the late innings.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
| OTHER GAMES Baseball Scoreboard Houston Clubhouse Montreal Clubhouse RECAPS NY Yankees 5 Baltimore 2
Houston 4
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