Montreal Improves Its Wild-Card Hopes

National League

David Segui singled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and the Montreal Expos won their sixth in a row, improving their wild-card position with a 6-2 win Thursday night over the Florida Marlins in Miami.

The Expos increased their wild-card lead to one game over idle Los Angeles. Montreal trails Atlanta by seven games in the N.L. East.

Tied at 2 in the sixth, the Expos combined three singles with two walks to score twice off loser Pat Rapp (6-15).

Montreal’s Mike Lansing, who had three hits, singled in the eighth inning. He stole third base, then stole home as part of a double steal.

Phillies 6, Cubs 1

Philadelphia

Curt Schilling pitched a six-hitter, and all nine Phillies starters had hits as Philadelphia rolled.

The loss dented Chicago’s already slim hopes for the league’s wild-card spot.

Schilling (7-8), who had his shortest outing of the season - 3-1/2 innings - in his last start Aug. 31 against Los Angeles, rebounded with his fifth complete game of the year.

The Phillies, who got 12 hits, jumped on losing pitcher Frank Castillo (7-15) with a three-run first inning.

Clearing the bases

Before the Montreal-Florida game, Tony Perez presented former Minnesota Twins star Tony Oliva with a lifetime achievement award as part of Hispanic Heritage Night. … Jim Eisenreich, who hasn’t played since fouling a ball off his right foot Sept. 1, will undergo an MRI today. … Cubs president Andy MacPhail said the Tribune Co. has budgeted a player payroll next season “that will be a significant bump-up.” from this year’s $33 million total.