Martinez, Expos Ice Astros

National League

Pedro Martinez is proving to be one of the best pitchers in baseball, just as Montreal Expos manager Felipe Alou expected.

Martinez pitched a three-hitter and lowered his ERA to 0.31, leading the Montreal Expos over the Houston Astros 4-0 Thursday at Montreal.

“We’ve been predicting this for years,” Alou said. “He’s got great behavior on the mound, great command of pitching.”

Martinez (4-0) has not allowed an earned run in 25 innings since making his first start April 15 at Houston. He struck out nine and walked two in his first complete game of the season.

Pirates 3, Giants 2 Pittsburgh

Al Martin, who had struck out in five consecutive at-bats, completed a three-run fifth inning off Shawn Estes with an RBI double as Pittsburgh rallied to beat San Francisco.

Rockies 5, Cubs 4 Denver

Dante Bichette and Quinton McCracken homered as Billy Swift and Colorado beat Chicago. Swift (3-1) allowed one run on only four hits in six innings.

Dodgers 5, Phillies 0 Philadelphia

Pedro Astacio, pitching on three days’ rest, scattered nine hits in Los Angeles’ first complete game of the season, a shutout victory over Philadelphia.

Braves 4, Reds 2 Cincinnati

Michael Tucker hit the first of Atlanta’s three homers and the Braves carried their remarkable April success to a new month by beating Cincinnati.

Cardinals 3, Marlins 2 St. Louis

Rookie Matt Morris retired his first 17 batters and allowed four hits in 7-1/3 innings as St. Louis beat Florida for its fifth straight victory.

Padres 7, Mets 3 New York

John Flaherty hit his first two home runs of the season and San Diego ended an eight-game losing streak with a four-homer barrage, defeating New York.

Clearing the bases

Doctors believe New York Mets pitcher Jason Isringhausen is suffering from a treatable form of tuberculosis. … Cincinnati manager Ray Knight, trying to inspire his team by being ejected, was tossed Thursday, but the Reds still lost.