The league's leading hitter with runners in scoring position (.420), Vidro cleared the bases with a ninth-inning double as Expos roared from behind to take a 4-3 decision over the Braves at Atlanta on Wednesday (May 29).

With two out in the ninth and down by one run, the Expos appeared headed for their 13th loss in 14 road games. But three straight hits against Braves closer John Smoltz, the last one Vidro's sinking liner that eluded RF Darren Braggs, gave the never-quit Expos another comeback win.

Eight days earlier, Expos scored a ninth-inning run against Smoltz in a game they won in the 10th. Vidro singled home that run against Smoltz. Over the weekend they came from behind in three games while sweeping the Phillies.

But all of that was at Olympic Stadium.

They had lost the first two of a four-game series in Atlanta, and by the time Vidro came to bat with the bases loaded Wednesday he had gone hitless in eight straight at-bats.

A single by 3B Fernando Tatis was sandwiched by two outs in the ninth. Pinch-hitting Wil Cordero singled and pinch-hitting Jose Macias used all of his tremendous speed to beat out a bouncer and load the bases.

The Macias hit, along with tremendous pitching by starter Tomo Ohka and relievers T.J. Tucker (4-0) and Scott Stewart, who earned his third save, were as important as the highlight three-run hit by Vidro. labored through a scary ninth before holding the Braves to just one run. He left the bases loaded.

Ohka solidified his position as No. 3 in the rotation with seven strong innings. His only support was the 14th homer of the season by RF Vladimir Guerrero.

It will be no surprise if in the weeks ahead RHP Tucker and LHP Stewart wind up as interchangeable pieces to the closer role.

--It is definitely a reach to say a team can find positives from their 12th loss in 13 road games.

But in fact Expos were able to find a couple of things which may help in the immediate future during their 5-2 loss to the Braves at Atlanta on Tuesday (May 28).

The Expos did not have a regular starting pitcher for the game. RHP Britt Reames, on shaky ground in the bullpen, started and actually pitched well enough that he may figure in a similar role again soon.

Reames did not allow a hit in three innings during which he made 50 pitches. He walked two, both on borderline calls, and struck out three.

This was a critical outing for Reames. If he did well he figured to get another chance. If he failed, it seemed pretty certain he would be on the way to Triple-A Ottawa.

After this performance, Reames deserves to get the ball when this position comes around in the rotation again.

The Expos couldn't muster enough offense against a crippled Braves squad. Gary Sheffield started on the bench (hamstring) though he did get a critical walk in a pinch hitting role. He was immediately replaced by a pinch runner.

Chipper Jones had to be helped off the field after fouling a ball off his leg. And Marcus Giles had to be almost carried off after apparently damaging an ankle when he tumbled in a vain attempt to beat out an infield grounder.

--Scott Stewart has quietly become a revelation if not a lifesaver for the Expos' bullpen.

The 26-year-old lefthander fit almost anonymously into the bullpen last season, but wound up appearing in 62 games in short relief and setup roles.

Suddenly, Stewart has become one of the most reliable from the pen. He retired the five he faced while earning his second save Sunday (May 26) and in his last five appearances covering 6.2 innings, Stewart has retired the 20 batters he faced, 10 by strikeout.

"He continues to amaze me," manager Frank Robinson says about the man who may soon be the key set up man -- if he doesn't hold that role already.

--In preparation for their game Monday (May 27) against LHP Tom Glavine at Atlanta, the Expos have been taking live batting practice under legitimate game conditions.

They feel they'll be able to supply some holiday fireworks for the veteran lefty who has been treating the Expos as his personal patsies for several years.

Thursday (May 23), Glavine limited the Expos to four singles on the way to a 2-0 win at Olympic Stadium. To get ready for their return chance against him, the Expos swept the Phillies over the weekend, pounding out 14, 10 and 12 hits as they charged from behind in each game.

2B Jose Vidro led the way as he stretched his hitting streak to a major league season-high 20 games. Vidro had two hits in the Expos' 4-1 win of the first game, a single and game-winning walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning of the 13-9 second-game win and four hits in the 6-5 win that completed the sweep.

Vidro is the major league leader with 23 multi-hit games.

"Any comeback is nice," Expos manager Frank Robinson said. "We came from behind in three games this time, and the sweep is just what we needed. It should give us a little momentum for the road trip ahead."

They'll need any momentum they can get. During their last road trip, the Expos managed just one win in seven games. By winning four of five in a short homestand, they have stayed in the tight NL East race and are over .500 again at 25-24.

An oddity as the Expos completed the sweep was the fact that ace Javier Vazquez had a poor performance. Though he is only 2-2, this should not suggest Vazquez has struggled -- until Sunday (May 26), that is.

The 10 hits and three walks allowed by Vazquez equaled his season high in both cases. The three strikeouts matched his lowest total

"You could tell right from the start that he didn't have it today," Robinson said. "He showed what makes some pitchers great by battling and keeping us in the game when he didn't have his best stuff.

"We picked him up today."

There was one particularly interesting pitching performance for the Expos. Scott Stewart retired the five men he faced -- two by strikeout, two on groundballs and one on a lazy flyball to center.

Stewart is on a remarkable roll. He has retired the last 20 men he has faced, 11 by strikeout.

"What can I say about Stewart?" Robinson asked. "He continues to amaze me. He knows what he wants to do and he does it."

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