Expo Shines In First Game

National League

Henry Rodriguez was an instant hit with the Montreal Expos.

Rodriguez, in his debut with Montreal, hit a twoout, two-run home run in the eighth inning Wednesday night to rally the Expos over the San Diego Padres 3-2 in Montreal.

“I’m just trying to make people here happy and trying to make myself happy too,” said Rodriguez, acquired with Jeff Treadway from Los Angeles on Tuesday for Roberto Kelly and Joey Eischen.

Rodriguez’s homer off Andres Berumen (1-1) spoiled a strong outing by San Diego starter Joey Hamilton, who retired 17 in a row before tiring in the eighth.

Hamilton gave up five hits to the first nine men he faced, but got out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning with a double play, then stranded two more runners in the second before settling down and retiring 17 straight.

The victory was Montreal’s 15th straight over the Padres dating back to July 24, 1993.

Jeff Shaw (1-3) pitched 1 2/3 innings for the victory and Luis Aquino pitched the ninth for his second save.

Reds 4, Astros 2

Cincinnati

Hal Morris returned from an injury and broke out of a slump with four hits, leading Cincinnati to the victory and three-game sweep of Houston.

Braves 9, Cardinals 5

St. Louis

Tom Glavine shook off another poor start by retiring 18 batters in a row as Atlanta beat St. Louis for its sixth straight victory.

Dodgers 5, Mets 0

New York

Pedro Astacio pitched a six-hit shutout and Tim Wallach continued his hot hitting with a 3-for-3 night as Los Angeles beat New York, extending the Mets’ losing streak to four games.

Phillies 2, Giants 1

Philadelphia

Substitute leadoff hitter Dave Gallagher went 3-for-3 and scored the winning run in the eighth inning as Philadelphia beat San Francisco.

Cubs 5, Rockies 3

Colorado

Shawon Dunston raced home with the go-ahead run on second baseman Roberto Mejia’s throwing error in the ninth inning, helping Chicago beat Colorado.

Marlins at Pirates, ppd.

Pittsburgh

Florida’s road game was rained out and will be played as part of a doubleheader on Aug. 18.

Santiago on shelf

Benito Santiago’s elbow swelled again overnight, making surgery likely.

The Cincinnati Reds catcher will be examined today in Birmingham, Ala., by Dr. James Andrews. If Andrews recommends surgery, it will be performed immediately.

General manager Jim Bowden said Santiago could be out two to eight weeks, depending upon what the doctors do.

Braves find new home

The Atlanta Braves have confirmed they and the Montreal Expos will share a new $25 million spring training facility in Jupiter, Fla., just north of their current site in West Palm Beach.

The agreement came after both clubs and the developer agreed to pay operating costs for the new taxpayer-built stadium.

The 20-year deal, however, hinges on the city of West Palm Beach providing a ballpark for the teams in 1996 and 1997 while the Jupiter complex is being built.

Clearing the bases

Mets pitcher Bret Saberhagen underwent an MRI but no damage was found to his right shoulder. He will start Saturday against San Francisco as scheduled… . Phillies center fielder Lenny Dykstra, who has missed the last two games with spinal stenosis, will take batting practice Friday with the hope that he will return to the lineup Saturday.