Bartolo Colon delivered just what the Montreal Expos expected.

Colon won in his first start since coming over from Cleveland, and Fernando Tatis hit a go-ahead grand slam as the Expos beat the Atlanta Braves 5-2 Tuesday night.

''He's the most impressive pitcher I've ever caught,'' Expos catcher Michael Barrett said. ''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.''

The Indians sent Colon, pitcher Tim Drew and cash to the Expos last week for first baseman Lee Stevens and three minor leaguers. In 16 starts with Cleveland, Colon was 10-4 with a 2.55 ERA and won his last three starts.

He didn't miss a beat in his first NL start. Colon gave up two runs in the first -- one earned -- and then held the Braves scoreless over his final six innings to pick up the win.

''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 through an interpreter. ''But other than that, it was another day at work.''

Colon appeared to get stronger as the game wore on, throwing a 98 mph fastball in the seventh inning on his 97th pitch. He allowed just five hits and struck out six.

Colon got the support he needed in the sixth when Barrett led off with a solo shot off Damian Moss (4-3). After Colon struck out, Jose Macias singled and moved to second an out later on Vladimir Guerrero's single. Wil Cordero walked, setting up Tatis' sixth career grand slam.

Giants 18, Rockies 5

Damon Minor, Tsuyoshi Shinjo and Reggie Sanders each homered twice to tie a major league record as San Francisco won at Coors Field.

The Giants became the 16th team to have three players with multiple homers in a game and didn't need any from Barry Bonds to do it. Minnesota was the last team with three players to have at least two homers in a game, on July 12, 2001, against Milwaukee.

San Francisco had 23 hits and seven homers -- two in an eight-run first inning against Denny Neagle (4-6).

Dodgers 8, Diamondbacks 0

Brian Jordan hit a two-run double and scored on the same play, injuring Arizona starter Rick Helling, as Los Angeles won at Arizona.

Paul Lo Duca continued to exact revenge against Arizona manager Bob Brenly for his All-Star snub, going 2-for-3 with a solo homer in the first inning. Cesar Izturis and Eric Karros also homered as the Dodgers opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the NL West.

Cardinals 11, Padres 5

Placido Polanco had three RBIs and three hits, including his fourth home run in 10 games, as St. Louis overcame another shaky outing from Bud Smith to beat visiting San Diego

Smith, who no-hit the Padres last September as a rookie, is 0-5 in eight starts this year with an 7.18 ERA and is winless since Sept. 22, 2001.

Polanco, Jim Edmonds and Albert Pujols homered on consecutive at-bats off Kevin Jarvis (2-4) with two outs in the second for the Cardinals.

Mets 12, Phillies 6

Jeromy Burnitz had two hits and three RBIs, and Mo Vaughn added two hits and two RBIs to lead New York past host Philadelphia.

Pedro Astacio (8-3) allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings to win for just the second time since May 14. Terry Adams (4-6) took the loss.

Brewers 12, Pirates 6

Ruben Quevedo (4-6) limited Pittsburgh to three runs over 6 2-3 innings and drove in three runs with a pair of hits as Milwaukee batted around twice to win at Pittsburgh.

Marlins 9, Cubs 7

Cliff Floyd had three hits, including a go-ahead home run off Jon Lieber (6-5) in the fifth inning, and Florida defeated visiting Chicago.

Sammy Sosa hit his 28th homer of the season for the Cubs, who have lost seven of eight.

Tom Gordon made his first appearance for the Cubs since Sept. 5, striking out two in a scoreless eighth. The Associated Press