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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
HOUSTON (AP) -- Chris Truby, trying to earn a job for next
season, is making a case for himself.
"I just want to go out and give them something to look at,"
the rookie said after hitting his first grand slam and driving in a
career-high six runs Sunday in the Houston Astros' 8-1 victory over the
Montreal Expos. "Hopefully, I'll play well enough to at least get
a shot next year."
Truby, who came up June 16 after Ken Caminiti injured a wrist,
homered twice in three at-bats Friday, then didn't play Saturday
because of a bruised wrist.
"He knows there's an opportunity here to put himself in
position to go for a spot next spring training," manager Larry
Dierker said. "One game won't do it and one series won't do it.
"He hit well earlier and then had a little slump. But he's been
doing it with his fielding and his hitting lately. It takes a long
time to judge but his stock is going up again."
The third baseman was 5-for-6 in the series.
"The last few days have been unbelievable," he said. "Hitting
a grand slam in the majors is a dream. I just don't want to put any
pressure on myself the rest of the way."
He put plenty of pressure on the Expos.
"That guy has beaten us twice," manager Felipe Alou said. "We
didn't know much about him, but now we know a lot about him. He's a
good hitter and fielder. He's going to be a good player."
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| Elarton |
Scott Elarton (12-4) pitched a four-hitter for his first
complete game. He won for the eighth time in nine starts, including
three in a row. After giving up a leadoff double, he retired 10
straight through the fourth inning, then got out nine in a row from
the fifth through the eighth.
"He just continues to roll along," Dierker said. "It looks
more and more like we got a guy we can count on."
Andy Tracy's sacrifice fly put Montreal ahead in the first, but
Houston took a 5-1 lead in the third on Richard Hidalgo's
bases-loaded, infield single and Truby's homer, which came on a 1-2
pitch.
It was Houston's fifth slam of the season, one short of the club
record set in 1989. Truby's six RBI tied Houston's season high,
set by Bill Spiers against St. Louis on July 23.
"I tried to get a fastball in on his hands," said Mike Thurman
(2-3), who gave up six runs and hits in five innings. "I thought
he would be looking for a breaking ball, but obviously he wasn't.
He was looking for something hard in and he was able to get it out
of the park."
Game notes
Jay Powell returned to the Astros bullpen from the disabled
list Sunday after missing a total of 57 games. He is the only
member of the opening-day bullpen still with the team. Jose Cabrera
was sent to Triple-A, Billy Wagner was injured, Doug Henry was
traded, and Mike Maddux and Yorkis Perez were released ... Moises
Alou played in his 999th major league game. ... Expos LHP Graeme
Lloyd threw for 10 minutes on the side before the game. Lloyd will
continue his strength and throwing program with the team after
rehabbing at Dr. Frank Jobe's clinic in Los Angeles following May 5
shoulder surgery ... Newly acquired Scott Downs will become the
46th player to suit up for the Expos this year. He is scheduled to
pitch Tuesday against Arizona. Montreal's record is 48 players, set
in 1993.
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