NEW YORK, 15 September 2004 — Juan Pierre had three hits and scored a run as the Florida Marlins overcame the Montreal Expos 6-3 in a National League game played at the rival league Chicago White Sox’s home stadium on Monday.
The unusual setting was made necessary by Hurricane Ivan, which forced the Marlins out of Miami where the game was originally scheduled. The Marlins were in Chicago to play the Cubs at the weekend, so arrangements were made to play two games at US Cellular Field.
It was the first time since 1946 that an NL game was played in an AL park, when the Boston Braves played several games at Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox. A sparse crowd of 4,003 fans took in the game, with some of the proceeds going to the Florida Hurricane relief fund.
The teams was to play in Chicago again before resuming the series with a doubleheader in Miami a day later. The Expos carried a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning but four Montreal errors — by pitcher Gary Majewski, Tony Batista, Juan Rivera and Endy Chavez — led to five unearned runs and six in all.
Luis Castillo added two hits and scored a run for Florida, but five of the eighth inning runs scored directly on errors. Josh Beckett pitched seven strong innings to start the game for Florida and Matt Perisho (5-2) tossed a scoreless eighth for the win. Armando Benitez finished up.
Majewski (0-1) was charged with four runs — none of them earned — on one hit in one inning and was the loser. Tony Batista hit a home run in the ninth inning for Montreal and drove in a pair of runs.
In other games, Mike Piazza, Richard Hidalgo and Wilson Delgado all homered as the New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 9-7 in the first game of a doubleheader. Craig Brazell hit the go-ahead two-run double for the Mets. Aaron Heilman (1-1) allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings for the win, striking out six and walking two.
Jaret Wright (14-7) allowed six runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings for the loss. Andruw Jones hit a two-run homer and Marcus Giles had three hits and drove in a run for the Braves.
In the nightcap, J.D. Drew had four hits and drove in three runs as the Braves salvaged a split with a 7-1 win. Adam LaRoche had two RBI for the Braves. Paul Byrd (7-5) allowed one run on seven hits over eight innings for the win, striking out four and walking one.
Jae Weong Seo (4-10) allowed five runs on seven hits over four innings to take the loss. Mike Cameron homered for the Mets.
In Cincinnati, Jason LaRue’s grounder in the eighth inning drove in the winning run as the Reds ended the Philadelphia Phillies six-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory. Joe Valentine (2-3) got one out in relief for the win and Danny Graves pitched the ninth for his 39th save.
D’Angelo Jimenez and Adam Dunn both had two hits and an RBI. Felix Rodriguez (5-8) allowed one run on two hits in one inning to take the loss. Pat Burrell hit a two-run homer for the Phillies.
Sammy Sosa homered for the first time in more than two weeks to help the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2. Sosa hit his 30th homer of the season, giving him 10 consecutive seasons of at least 30 home runs, and 569 in total.
Moises Alou and Neifi Perez also homered for the Cubs, Derrek Lee drove in three runs, and Greg Maddux (14-9) pitched seven shutout innings for his 303rd career win. Frank Brooks (0-1) lasted just one inning, allowing five runs — four earned — on three hits. Daryle Ward drove in both Pirate runs.
In Phoenix, Vinny Castilla hit two home runs to lead the Colorado Rockies past the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2. Castilla reached 300 career homers and 1,000 RBI, while Luis Gonzalez, Brad Hawpe and Jeromy Burnitz all added homers for Colorado.
Joe Kennedy (8-6) allowed one run on five hits with eight strikeouts over five innings for the win. Casey Fossum (4-13) allowed four runs on seven hits over four innings and took the loss. Jerry Gil and Shea Hillenbrand both had two hits and an RBI for the D-Backs.
In Los Angeles, Phil Nevin hit a pair of home runs as the San Diego Padres edged the Dodgers 9-7. Nevin had four RBI, Ramon Hernandez also homered and Brian Giles had three hits for San Diego.
David Wells (11-7) went six innings for the win, five runs — three earned — on six hits with nine strikeouts and Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 36th save. Odalis Perez (6-5) gave up five runs on six hits in four innings to take the loss. Shawn Green hit a pair of homers for the Dodgers and Jayson Werth also homered for L.A.
