NEW YORK, 2 June 2004 — Newcomer Nick Green’s three-run homer launched a six-run seventh inning which propelled the hosts Atlanta Braves to an 8-2 pounding of the Montreal Expos in the National League Monday.
Green’s blast, his first in the majors, was served up by loser Livan Hernandez (3-5), who surrendered an early home run to JD Drew.
There were two men gone in the seventh when Hernandez walked Rafael Furcal to get to Green, who had struck out twice and sacrificed in three previous plate appearances.
This time he responded, driving the ball to deep left.
“The first two at-bats, I went down swinging,” Green told reporters. “That one he left out in the middle of the plate.
“I’m having a blast,” he added.
Johnny Estrada singled following Green’s shot to plate another Atlanta run before Andruw Jones doubled to make it a six-run frame. Montreal claimed both its runs on a Brian Schneider blast in the top of the seventh that knotted the score at 2-2.
Russ Ortiz (6-4) worked seven innings, scattering five hits while striking out six batters, to notch his third straight victory. The 29-year-old right-hander won 21 times in 2003.
CJ Nitkowski worked an inning of one-hit ball before Juan Cruz finished up.
In Philadelphia, in a game delayed more than 3 1/2 hours by rain, Mike Cameron doubled in the eighth inning to plate the deciding runs as the New York Mets snapped a four-game losing skid with a 5-3 win over the Phillies.
In Chicago, Greg Maddux scattered seven hits over 6 2/3 innings to earn his 293rd career victory as the Cubs edged the Houston Astros 3-1. Maddux (4-4) left the game early with a mild muscle strain in his right side but is expected to keep his spot in the rotation.
In Miami, Sean Casey stroked two of the five homers collected by the Cincinnati Reds in their 9-7 triumph over the Florida Marlins.
Ken Griffey Jr.’s three-run, seventh-inning blast, the 494th of his career, provided the winning runs. Barry Larkin and Wily Mo Pena also homered.
In Los Angeles, Cesar Izturis’ 10th-inning single gave the Dodgers a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Dodgers scored twice in the ninth to force extra innings, Juan Encarnacion and rookie Jason Grabowski each singling in a run. Eric Gagne (2-0) picked up the win, striking out two batters in his inning of work.
In Pittsburgh, Scott Rolen’s three-run homer in the third inning plated the decisive runs as the St. Louis Cardinals thumped the Pirates 8-3 to hand them their 15th home loss.
Rolen’s three RBI gave him 53 for the season, a major league best.
In Phoenix, Barry Bonds homered to deep right to put San Francisco on the board in the second inning and the Giants went on to pound the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-4 for their 10th straight win.
In San Diego, Jason Jennings (4-5) went eight innings, allowing four hits while striking out four batters, as the Colorado Rockies thumped the Padres 7-1.
