Expos beat Braves behind Colon

The Montreal Expos got a whiff of the sweet smell of success, courtesy Bartolo Colon.

Colon (1-0) hurled seven impressive innings in his Expos debut as Montreal beat the Atlanta Braves, 5-2 at Turner Field on Tuesday.

The ace righthander, acquired from the Cleveland Indians last week, yielded two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and a walk while striking out six.

"They're such a good team and they're playing so well, I knew it wasn't going to be an easy job," Colon said. "But other than that, it was another day at work."

"He got a few bad breaks in the first inning, but he shut them down and didn't give them anything else," added Expos manager Frank Robinson. "He comes right at you.

"He doesn't let up."

Colon was 10-4 with a 2.55 earned run average in 16 starts for Cleveland.

But he and Tim Drew wound up packaged with cash to Montreal for first baseman Lee Stevens and three minor league prospects.

"In the first inning, I felt very nervous," Colon said. "Even warming up in the bullpen.

"After the first inning, everything went away and it just felt great."

"He's the most impressive pitcher I've ever caught," added Expos catcher Michael Barrett. "I know that's going to make some of my boys jealous.

"I was trying really hard not to smile too much back there. I was so happy."

Fernando Tatis belted a grand slam while Barrett contributed a solo home run as the Expos snapped a three-game losing streak.

Tatis is the only major leaguer to hit two grand slams in one game, as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

He accomplished the feat against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Apr. 23, 1999.

Damian Moss (4-3) was dealt the loss after surrendering five runs on five hits over seven innings.

He walked three and fanned four.

Rafael Furcal went 2-for-4 with a triple for the Braves, who had a five-game winning streak halted and lost for just the second time in 13 games.

The Braves jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Furcal led off with a triple.

Julio Franco followed with a line drive to right field that Vladimir Guerrero misplayed, allowing Furcal to trot home.

The play was ruled a sacrifice fly and a three-base error.

Franco scored when Gary Sheffield reached on a throwing error by shortstop Orlando Cabrera.

But the Expos exploded for five runs in the sixth inning for an insurmountable 5-2 advantage.

Barrett led off with a homer to left to halve Montreal's deficit to 2-1.

One out later, Jose Macias singled up the middle, but Moss sent Jose Vidro down swinging for the second out.

Guerrero singled and Wil Cordero walked to load the bases and bring up Tatis, who ripped the first pitch over the wall in right.

"I looked at the replay and it was where I wanted it," Moss said of the pitch. "I don't think he should have hit it out.

"I think a lot of guys were sitting on my changeup, but I thought if I threw it where I wanted it I could still get them out."

Ironically, Atlanta won the series opener, 7-5 on the strength of Matt Franco's grand slam.