Matos Makes Second Delivery

Pascual Matos went from ecstasy to agony to, well, ecstasy, in a minutes-long emotional roller-coaster ride.

Denied a three-run homer when umpires reversed a call, the rookie catcher followed with a two-run single in the eighth inning to give the Braves a 5-3 victory over Houston at Atlanta on Monday night.

“If I die tomorrow,” Matos said after his first major-league hit, “that’s OK.”

More likely he will be dispatched to Richmond of the triple-A International League.

The Braves, who had spent the previous six days in second place, unaccustomed for them at this point of the season, reclaimed the top spot in the NL East after New York was routed, 9-2, by the Dodgers.

Matos was called up last weekend to replace suspended Eddie Perez. Though certain to go back to the minors after Perez returns, Matos provided one of the most memorable moments of the season after entering the game when the Braves used a pinch-runner for catcher Greg Myers.

On Doug Henry’s first pitch to him, Matos, who was 0 for 7 in his major league career, sent a towering drive down the left-field line that was ruled a homer by third-base umpire Larry Vanover.

“I saw it curve in front of the foul pole five or seven inches,” Matos said. “When he called it fair, I told myself to run the bases fast or maybe he’ll change his mind.”

Matos was celebrating in the dugout while the Astros were arguing the call. After a brief discussion, the umpires called Matos back from the dugout.

He grabbed his bat and singled home Ryan Klesko and Andruw Jones to break a 3-3 tie.

“I told myself, ‘Oh, man, I’ve got to hit again,’ ” Matos recalled. “But I tried again to hit the ball hard and I got it between third and shortstop. I was still happy.”

Montreal 8, San Diego 0--Jeremy Powell (1-4) gave up six hits in eight innings and Jose Vidro hit his first grand slam to lead the Expos at Montreal.

The Expos’ Geoff Blum hit a two-run double in his major league debut and Brad Fullmer homered, doubled and drove in two runs.

Montreal won the final three games of the four-game series to win its fourth series in a row. The Expos have won eight of 10 overall.

Florida 5, San Francisco 4--Mike Lowell spoiled the return of pitcher Livan Hernandez with the first grand slam of his career and Dave Berg had an RBI single in the ninth inning for the Marlins, who rallied from a four-run deficit at Miami.

St. Louis 12, Philadelphia 6--Fernando Tatis hit his third grand slam of the season and the Cardinals won at Philadelphia. Tatis’ other two grand slams came in the same inning April 23 at Dodger Stadium.

Cincinnati 4, Pittsburgh 2--Denny Neagle (3-3) limited the Pirates to one hit in seven-plus innings--his longest start in an injury-interrupted season--and the Reds won at Pittsburgh.

Arizona 10, Chicago 7--Matt Williams hit a tiebreaking single to key a six-run eighth inning for the Diamondbacks, who won at Chicago despite the Cubs’ Sammy Sosa hitting his 43rd homer.

Milwaukee 7, Colorado 6--Mark Loretta singled home the winning run in the ninth inning to give the Brewers a victory at Milwaukee.