=== Montreal Expos Team Report - July 18 ===

(My Sportsbook) - The Montreal Expos can salvage a split of their four-game series with the Atlanta Braves when they play the finale today at Turner Field.

The Braves grabbed a two games to one lead in the series with Saturday's victory. Russ Ortiz allowed just one hit over 7 2/3 innings to win his fifth straight start, and Marcus Giles' two-run homer in the seventh inning lifted Atlanta to a 6-2 victory over Montreal.

Montreal starter Tony Armas was lifted after six innings of six-hit, two-run ball, but reliever Chad Bentz did not fare as well. He began the seventh by walking Rafael Furcal and then served up a two-run homer to Giles that put Atlanta up 4-2. Giles had attempted to bunt Furcal over a pitch before the home run.

The Expos have dropped six of their last 10 games and are currently in last place in the NL East.

Brad Wilkerson finished 0-for-3, and is hitless in his last 23 at-bats, with 11 strikeouts. Montreal shortstop Orlando Cabrera played in his 258th straight game and is one shy of Rusty Staub's second-place spot on the Expos' all-time list. Vladimir Guerrero holds the all-time Expos mark of 276 consecutive games played.

Scott Downs tries to win his second consecutive start, as he heads to the mound for the Expos today. Downs picked up his first win of the season and just the fifth of his career last Sunday against Pittsburgh. He surrendered just one unearned run in seven innings of the 2-1 victory over the Pirates. Downs struck out five batters and walked two in the victory.

The 28-year-old lefthander is 0-2 with a 2.79 ERA in two career starts against the Braves.

Atlanta owns a 27-15 mark against the NL East this season. That includes a 9-3 record versus the Expos. Last week the Braves swept the Expos in a three- game series in Puerto Rico, outscoring Montreal 26-6. The Braves have won 12 of the last 15 matchups.