BC-BBN–Phillies-Expos, 1st Ld-Writethru,0431

Phillies 7, Expos 0

Eds: SUBS 3rd graf to UPDATE with Expos’ runs total fourth-lowest in major league history through 18 games

MONTREAL (AP) – Randy Wolf homered, hit an RBI double and pitched a four-hitter for his seventh career shutout, leading the Philadelphia Phillies over the Montreal Expos 7-0 Saturday.

Wolf (1-1), who pitched his 11th career complete game, hit his second major league homer in the seventh off Chad Bentz for a 6-0 lead. He added an RBI double in the ninth off Luis Ayala. Wolf struck out three and walked one, throwing 109 pitches.

Montreal, off to a franchise-worst start at 4-14, was shut out for the fifth time and has scored two runs or fewer in 13 games. The Expos have 32 runs, the fourth-lowest total through 18 games in major league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, ahead of only the 1907 Brooklyn Superbas (20), the 1909 Washington Senators (28) and the 1966 Kansas City Athletics (31).

The game drew just 6,899 despite a kids’ opening day promotion. On Friday night, the Expos drew 30,112, the smallest crowd for an Olympic Stadium opener since 1985.

Marlon Byrd had three hits for the Phillies, who had a season-high 17. Philadelphia won its second straight after being swept at home by Florida In a three-game series. The Phillies have won six of nine after a 1-6 start.

Tomo Ohka (0-4) allowed five runs – four earned – and 13 hits in six innings.

Byrd doubled to begin the game and hit an RBI single in a three-run second. He also singled in the sixth before scoring Philadelphia’s fifth run on Ricky Ledee’s two-out double.

Jose Vidro had two of Montreal’s four singles off Wolf, who was perfect in the second, third and fourth. Wolf allowed one-out singles to Orlando Cabrera and Vidro in the first before Tony Batista grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Wolf also got out of the fifth with a double play when Luis Lopez grounded to third.

Jimmy Rollins hit an RBI single to put the Phillies ahead in the second and Byrd beat out an infield single, driving in a run. Rollins scored on Einar Diaz’s passed ball.

Rollins hit another RBI single in the third.

Notes: Byrd, who pitched two complete games last season – both shutouts – also was the previous Phillies’ pitcher to homer. He hit his first career home run at Milwaukee on Aug. 22, 2002. … The Expos were shut out eight times last season. … Montreal’s previous worst start through 18 games was 5-13 in 1970, 1991 and 1998.

AP-ES-04-24-04 1613EDT