Widger Makes Up for His Mistake

MONTREAL — Chris Widger didn’t have to wait long to make amends for a costly throwing error.

Widger and Shane Andrews hit consecutive home runs in the eighth inning Sunday, lifting the Montreal Expos over the San Diego Padres, 4-2.

With one out, Widger connected against reliever Carlos Reyes (3-2) for his 13th homer.

The catcher was grateful for the opportunity to make up after his throwing error in the sixth had allowed a run to score and let the eventual tying run move to third.

“I needed it after I cost Javy [Expo starter Javier Vazquez] his win with that throw into center field,” Widger said.

“I needed to go out and do something so it’s good to do it late in the game.

“You can’t take your defense out there when you’re going out to hit and you can’t take your offense back behind the plate, either.”

Andrews followed with his seventh homer on a 3-and-0 pitch, a shot that cleared the stands behind the outfield wall down the left-field line.

“I hit that ball pretty good,” Andrews said. “I just thank [Expo Manager] Felipe [Alou] for giving me the green light on 3-0.”

Montreal has won nine of its last 13 games, including seven of nine. The Expos have won their last two after losing, 12-10, Friday night in the first game of a four-game series.

“We have a chance to win another series [the teams play again today],” Widger said. “We don’t want to get a split. We’d like to win the game and it would be nice to take three of four.”

The Padres lost for the 13th time in their last 16 games after going on a 24-7 run that drew them to within two games of the NL West lead.