SAN JUAN - GAME RECAPS

April 11th - Montreal Expos 10, New York Mets 0 - Attendance 17,906

The first of 22 games to be played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, this Friday night tilt featured the Mets taking on the hometown Expos. Tomo Ohka started for Montreal and was superb, giving up only a broken-bat single through 8 innings. Mets starter David Cone wasn't so fortunate, however, giving up 7 runs in the 3rd inning, including a grand slam by Brad Wilkerson. Puerto Rico native Jose Vidro added a 2-run shot in the 8th off Graeme Lloyd and the final was a convincing 10-0 victory for the Expos.

Tony Armas Jr.

April 12th - Montreal Expos 5, New York Mets 4 - Attendance 18,264

After a fantastic game on Friday (at least for Montreal fans), Saturday's affair was long and sloppy. Livan Hernandez started for Los Expos against Jae Seo and the Mets. The Mets got a man to second base with only one out in each of the first two innings, but couldn't score as their clutch hitting deserted them. As for the Expos, they manufactured a couple of runs in the second. With one out, Wilkerson singled. Michael Barrett then hit a sharp grounder to Seo, who tried to start a DP but threw the ball past Alomar, allowing Wilkerson to reach third. Jamey Carroll then executed a perfect squeeze bunt to give the Expos a 1-0 lead. Hernandez followed with a looping single that scored Barrett and the Expos were up 2-0.

In the 3rd, the Expos added another run on a Vladimir Guerrero single and a Fernando Tatis double, but the Mets responded in the 4th. Mo Vaughn and Ty Wigginton led off with singles, and Jeromy Burnitz doubled home Vaughn to cut the lead to 3-1. After a Rey Sanchez strikeout, Seo hit a grounder to first that Jeff Liefer bobbled, allowing Wigginton to score.

The Expos regained their 2 run lead in the 6th on a Barrett home run and back-to-back doubles by Carroll and pinch-hitter Ron Calloway. But the Mets again replied immediately, and again an error by Liefer was a key factor. With one out, Roberto Alomar walked and Cliff Floyd singled. Luis Ayala came in and struck out Mike Piazza, but he then walked Vaughn to load the bases. Ty Wigginton then slashed a hard ball at Liefer, and he couldn't handle it. Alomar and Shinjo (pinch running for Floyd, who was hurt) scored and the Mets were back within one. But Ayala struck out Burnitz to end the threat, and pitched to 2 hitters in the 8th. Scott Stewart came in and hit Jay Bell and gave up a single to Alomar before getting Shinjo to fly out. In the 9th, Rocky Biddle gave up 2 walks, but induced a Joe McEwing groundout to get the save and keep the Expos perfect in Puerto Rico.

There were 4 errors in this game, and the Mets left 13 runners on base (9 of them in scoring position), squandering so many opportunities that Mets' fans have to wonder about this season being any better than last. All in all, not a great game, but at least Los Expos won.