NL notebook: Guerrero takes ride on 'Le Carrousel'

Vladimir Guerrero knew exactly what he needed for "Le Carrousel."

Guerrero homered in his final at-bat, completing the first cycle of his professional career in the Montreal Expos' 7-3 victory over the New York Mets yesterday.

"It was only one at-bat to go and I just went up there trying to swing hard and see what would happen, and it happened," Guerrero said as third-base coach Manny Acta translated.

Guerrero doubled off Tom Glavine (9-13) in the second inning, singled in the third and hit an RBI triple that put Montreal ahead for good in the fifth.

Facing Dan Wheeler in the seventh, Guerrero hit an 0-1 pitch over the right-field wall for a two-run homer.

"The closest I came was in (Class AA) Harrisburg," Guerrero said. "I was missing the double and I got a ball in the gap but just stopped at first."

The scoreboard flashed "Le Carrousel" for the second time this season. Brad Wilkerson singled, doubled, tripled and homered in order against Pittsburgh on June 24.

It was the first time teammates have hit for the cycle in the same season in the majors since 1998, when Colorado's Dante Bichette and Neifi Perez accomplished the feat.

After missing most of June and July because of a herniated disc, Guerrero hit his 24th homer in his 100th game of the season.

"I'm kind of surprised because a lot of people were diagnosing me to come back in August and I was able ... to come back earlier and be able to put up the numbers I've put up so far," Guerrero said.

He is the sixth Expo to hit for the cycle.

Arizona: RHP Curt Schilling (neck and shoulder) was encouraged by the results of his short bullpen session Saturday and is on target to start tomorrow.

Chicago: RHP Matt Clement expects to make his scheduled start today. Clement has been bothered by a sore groin. "Each day it's felt better than it had the day before," Clement said.

Cincinnati: The Reds won their major-league-leading 29th game in their final at-bat.

Colorado: The Rockies are 13-34 in Phoenix, their worst record in any existing National League ballpark.

Florida: RHP Brad Penny underwent an MRI exam that revealed no damage to his hyperextended pitching elbow, and he may be able to rejoin the rotation this week at Atlanta. Penny left Friday's game against the Braves in the first inning after hurting his elbow warming up. He'll play catch tomorrow, and if that goes well he'll throw from a mound Wednesday. "He should be ready to go Saturday," manager Jack McKeon said. An off day today will allow Dontrelle Willis to take Penny's normal turn in the rotation Thursday at Philadelphia.

Houston: Billy Wagner leads the majors in saves since the 2001 season with 117. ... LHP Tim Redding has a 1.44 earned-run average in day games this season.

Los Angeles: The Dodgers' three-game sweep of the Padres was their first against San Diego since May 1994.

Milwaukee: Danny Kolb's streak of 18 consecutive saves was snapped when he allowed Pedro Feliz's two-out RBI triple in the ninth inning.

New York: The Mets have lost 12 of 16.

Philadelphia: The Phillies are 20-11 when LHP Randy Wolf starts, the best mark of any of their starters.

Pittsburgh: The Pirates have lost their last seven day games and are 22-31 overall in the daytime. ... 1B Craig Wilson's homer was his fifth in seven games and his career-high 17th.

San Diego: The Padres' 114 homers are the second fewest in the majors, and one more than the Dodgers.

San Francisco: OF Barry Bonds was ejected in the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes from the dugout. Bonds walked as a pinch-hitter leading off the eighth. After he was replaced by pinch-runner Eric Young and Rich Aurilia struck out looking, Bonds argued with home-plate umpire Jim Reynolds from the bench. After Reynolds ejected Bonds, the San Francisco slugger sprung out of the dugout and held an animated, finger-pointing argument with Reynolds before manager Felipe Alou intervened.

St. Louis: Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and Edgar Renteria are the Cardinals' first 40-plus doubles trio since 1939, when Enos Slaughter, Joe Medwick and Johnny Mize did it.

— Times news services