NEW YORK, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Vladimir Guerrero matched a career high with three stolen bases and moved closer to the exclusive 40-40 club Friday night as the Montreal Expos defeated the New York Mets, 6-1.
Guerrero has 39 steals and 37 homers with eight games to play. Alfonso Soriano of the New York Yankees also is threatening to turn the trick, which has been done only by Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez.
Montreal's franchise player came into the game batting .545 in 22 at bats against Mets starter John Thomson and he continued his dominance by going two for two with an RBI and a run, stealing all three bases off Thomson and catcher Mike Piazza.
Orlando Cabrera gave the Expos a 3-1 lead with an RBI single in the fifth inning that scored Guerrero, who reached 100 runs for a franchise-record fifth consecutive season.
Guerrero's performance helped extend Montreal's winning streak to seven games, placing the team two games above .500 for the first time since July 19.
Montreal starter Tony Armas, Jr. (11-12) allowed one run and nine hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out three. He has won his last two starts over the Mets, who lost at home for the first time in seven games after dropping an NL record 15 in a row at Shea Stadium last month.
Thomson (9-13) fell to 0-3 at home as a member of the Mets. He surrendered three earned runs and eight hits in five innings, striking out four and matching a season high with four walks.
