TONY BATISTA IS THE EXPOS PLAYER
OF THE MONTH FOR JULY

MONTREAL – Besides playing solid third base, the veteran Batista led the team with five home runs and 26 RBIs. He tied for the lead with nine doubles. The RBI total was 16 better than the next best on the team.

In a ballot conducted by the Montreal chapter of the Baseball Writers Association, Batista had eight of the 11 first place votes. RHP Luis Ayala had two and CF Endy Chavez one. On a 5-3-1 point basis for first second and third, Batista had 49 points, Ayala 31 and Chavez 19.

Ayala was 3-0 with a save. He pitched 17.1 innings in 15 games without allowing either a run or a walk. He struck out 14.

Chavez led the team with 34 hits and a .337 average.

MONTREAL EXPOS - 6 August 2004