Final Score: Montreal 10, Houston 2

Montreal, Quebec (Sports Network) - Zach Day tossed eight scoreless innings before losing his shutout in the ninth to lead Montreal over Houston, 10-2, in the first game of a three-game set at Olympic Stadium.

Day (2-1), who moved up one day in the rotation since Tony Armas Jr. was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday, earned the win after yielding just two runs in 8 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old righthander also surrendered six hits and five walks, while striking out four before coming within two outs of his first career shutout.

Wil Cordero homered and finished with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored for the Expos, who won for the fifth time in seven games. Orlando Cabrera also tallied two hits, two RBI and two runs scored as Montreal pounded out 14 hits.

Richard Hidalgo and Gregg Zaun each scored a run for the Astros, who have dropped five of their last six games.

The Expos scored four runs in the bottom of the first and they never looked back. Endy Chavez led off with a double and scored when Jose Vidro followed with a double to left. The next batter, Vladimir Guerrero, walked and he raced home behind Vidro courtesy of a two-base hit by Cabrera. Still with no outs, Fernando Tatis drove Cabrera around on a single up the middle.

Jeriome Robertson (1-3) suffered the defeat and is now winless in his last three outings. The Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year in 2002 was tagged for six runs on six hits and two walks in just three innings of work.

In the third, the Expos increased their edge to 6-0 on a two-run homer by Cordero. His second shot of the season to left-center also plated Cabrera, who got aboard with a single.

Montreal added another run in the fourth as it took advantage of a lead-off single by Chavez. The centerfielder got pushed to second on a walk to Vidro and he advanced to third on a Guerrero base hit before crossing the plate when Cabrera grounded into a double play.

The Expos capped off their scoring with three runs on four hits in the seventh. Cordero drew a one-out walk and moved to third after back-to-back singles by Brad Wilkerson and Michael Barrett. Cordero came home on a Day groundout, Wilkerson scored on a Chavez single and Henry Mateo drove in Barrett with another base hit.

In the top of the ninth, the shutout was lost when Octavio Dotel brought around Hidalgo with an infield single and Zaun scored on an error by Jamey Carroll.

Game Notes

Day and Mateo each picked up their first career RBI...The Astros are two games under .500 for the first time this season...Montreal's Claudio Vargas will make his major league debut on the mound Saturday.

04/25 22:08:32 ET