E.K. NATION

But the Giants win nonetheless, beating the Expos 5-4 on J.T. Snow's single in the bottom of the ninth, after the Giants' relievers gave up a walk and a couple of measly grounders that managed to get two runs home. I can think of at least three instances right away where Schmidt had a win locked up only to have the relievers lose it. This time, however, Schmidt had something wrong with him when he left; he wasn't pulled by Felipe as in past games. So Alou doesn't face the E.K. Nation wrath today.

Barry got two more home runs, although they weren't the prodigious blasts we are used to. The first one, in the first inning, went about one row deep into the right-centerfield stands, and the second one, one at-bat later, hit off the top of the wall in front of the Cove.

• Matt Williams, guest commentator last night, after a foul ball by Snow: "You have a round ball and a round bat. It doesn't always come square for you."

Also, Williams said, "If there's a batter the Giants want up at this time, this guy would be it." Quick guess as to who he was talking about.

It was J.T. Snow. Ya know, as good as J.T.'s been recently, there's one other Giant we can think of whom we would rather have batting.