MONTREAL (AP) -- Like so many other games this season, it just wasn't Jose Lima's day.

Lee Stevens hit a three-run homer and rookie Andy Tracy also homered off Lima, leading the Montreal Expos over the Houston Astros 8-3 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

Houston lost its fifth in a row as Lima (1-7) was tagged for seven runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings, giving him an 8.77 ERA.

	Javier Vazquez (5-1) received a standing ovation when he left in the ninth. He allowed two runs on seven hits.

A 21-game winner last year, Lima has allowed 19 home runs in nine starts this season.

"I stunk," Lima said. "Sometimes you try to keep the ball down and it doesn't go your way. When things are not going your way, there's nothing you can do about it. It's part of baseball."

Astros manager Larry Dierker didn't hesitate to lay blame for the loss squarely on Lima's shoulders after his beleaguered starter popped out on a sacrifice attempt in the fifth and failed to cover first in the bottom half to open the gates to a four-run Expos outburst.

"Every game has its moments," Dierker said. "And this one, when you look at the things you're supposed to do as a starting pitcher, like get a bunt down, or cover first base, our starting pitcher didn't do it. That's a four-run swing. We lost by more than four runs, but you never know."

Peter Bergeron, who fell a triple short of hitting for the cycle Saturday night, hit a one-out single in the fifth, and advanced to third on Jose Vidro's single.

Rondell White then hit a check-swing grounder to Ward for a run-scoring single as Lima forgot to cover first.

"Sometimes you react and get to first base," Lima said. "I don't know if I had a chance, even if I got there quick, because I know Rondell can run. I looked bad right there because the pitcher always has to come over to first base and make the play."

Vladimir Guerrero then struck out before Stevens followed with a three-run shot.

"If he covers first, he's out of that with one run," Dierker said. "He gets a bunt down and we score a run there and it's anybody's ballgame."

A crowd of 20,111, the largest at Olympic Stadium since opening day, gave Javier Vazquez (5-1) a standing ovation when he left in the ninth inning. He exited after giving up Richard Hidalgo's leadoff home run.

Vazquez allowed seven hits, including Daryle Ward's two-run homer in the fourth. He struck out six and walked one.

Tracy homered down the right-field line in the second and Stevens hit his 10th to cap a four-run fifth. The Expos claimed their first three-game sweep since last Aug. 23-25 against St. Louis.

Vidro had three hits for the Expos, including his first triple of the season, to increase his average to .393.

"He's not going to be struggling for the whole year," Vidro said of Lima. "I think he's one of the best pitchers in the league. One of these days he's going to get out of this slump and I think he's going to be OK."

Geoff Blum homered for Montreal off reliever Billy Wagner.

The Expos finished their 12-game homestand with an 8-4 mark to raise them seven games over .500 for the first time since July 21, 1997.

White's first-inning sacrifice fly put Montreal ahead 1-0 and Tracy homered leading off the second.

Vazquez retired the first eight batters before Lima singled with two outs in the third.

Moises Alou singled leading off the fourth and two outs later, Ward, who started at first base as Jeff Bagwell was rested, hit his ninth homer deep into the right-field stands to tie it at 2.

Vidro singled home a run in the sixth.

Game notes
Astros second baseman Craig Biggio returned to the lineup despite a heavily bandaged right hand. Biggio left Saturday night's 8-7 loss after he was accidentally spiked by Vidro after he stole second in the first inning. ... Montreal had not swept Houston in a three-game series since Aug. 8-10, 1995 at the Astrodome.