Phils Fall Again to Expos

Lee Stevens and Orlando Cabrera hit RBI singles in a four-run eighth inning, and the Montreal Expos beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 Thursday after wasting a late lead.

Montreal led 1-0 in the eighth before Scott Rolen hit a run-scoring single off Tony Armas Jr. and scored on Travis Lee`s double against Graeme Lloyd, a drive that glance off the outstretched glove of left fielder Brad Wilkerson.

Peter Bergeron, who went 3-for-4 while extending his career-best hitting streak to 15 games, hit his second double of the game leading off the bottom half against Rheal Cormier (5-3).

Jose Vidro sacrificed and Philadelphia intentionally walked Vladimir Guerrero, who had a broken-bat RBI single in the third.

Stevens singled off second baseman Marlon Anderson`s glove to tie the game, Cabrera hit a go-ahead single and Geoff Blum hit a two-run double into the left-field corner.

Scott Strickland (2-4) got Pat Burrell on an inning-ending flyout in the eighth, and Ugueth Urbina pitched the ninth for his 14th save _ he blew his third opportunity the previous night.

Armas scattered four hits in seven shutout innings before tiring and wound up allowing two runs and five hits in 7 2-3 innings. He struck out a career-high nine, including seven in the first three innings.

Philadelphia`s Nelson Figueroa allowed five hits in six innings.< ^Notes:@ Burrell, benched for Wednesday night`s game, went 0-for-4 and is hitting .138 (4-for-29) since the All-Star break. ... Armas` previous single-game high was eight strikeouts on April 26 at St. Louis, and May 17 against Los Angeles. ... The Montreal Expos purchased left-hander Joey Eischen`s contract from Triple-A Ottawa after recalling right-hander Britt Reames following Wednesday night`s 7-6 win. Both pitchers are back for their second stints of the season with Montreal. Right-handed reliever Darwin Cubillan was optioned to Ottawa and RHP Bob Scanlan was designated for assignment.

Courtesy Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2001.

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)