Henderson, Vaughn Are a Winning Pair

Rickey Henderson led off the seventh with his 250th career homer and Greg Vaughn added a two-run double in the inning as the San Diego Padres rallied to defeat the Montreal Expos, 6-4, Tuesday night.

Henderson, who is attracting interest from several American League contenders, connected on a 1-0 pitch from reliever Rick DeHart to tie the score at 4-4. It was his sixth homer of the season.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Vaughn’s double off reliever Dave Veres took a weird bounce past left fielder F.P. Santangelo, giving the Padres a 6-4 lead. The ball landed near a patch of grass that withered while the stadium was in its football configuration for Charger exhibition games.

Vaughn, who would regain the left-field job if Henderson is traded, went one for two with two walks and three RBIs. Vaughn has started six of the last eight games. Henderson went three for five as he started in right field a fourth consecutive game for Tony Gwynn, who had a kidney stone removed Sunday.

Doug Bochtler (3-5) gave up two hits and no runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief for the win. Trevor Hoffman pitched 1 1/3 innings for his 29th save.

DeHart (0-1) gave up three runs on two hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.

A one-out error by Gold Glove third baseman Ken Caminiti on a high hopper by Vladimir Guerrero led to two unearned runs in the seventh inning as the Expos took a 4-3 lead. Mark Grudzielanek, who earlier hit a two-run homer, drew a walk, and Chris Widger singled to score Guerrero. With two outs, Santangelo singled in Grudzielanek.

The Padres scored two unearned runs in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. San Diego had one hit, benefiting from a hit batsman, wild pitch, two walks and an error by Grudzielanek at shortstop.

Grudzielanek’s bad throw on Caminiti’s grounder pulled David Segui off first, and Jim Bullinger hit Wally Joyner to load the bases. Vaughn walked to force in the first run and the second scored when Chris Gomez hit into a double play.

Bullinger gave up five hits and three runs in six innings.