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DENVER (AP) -- John Patterson has struggled to earn wins this season, so he tried a different approach against the Colorado Rockies.

"We stuck to our game plan and were aggressive with fastballs," Patterson said. "Things can get out of control in a hurry here, and you just have to be aggressive and stay ahead in the counts, and we did that today."

Patterson worked six strong innings and got offensive support from Juan Rivera and Ryan Church as the Montreal Expos won 8-2 on Sunday.

Patterson (3-2) allowed a run and four hits for his second win in eight starts. He has six no-decisions during that span.

"John got over the hump," Montreal manager Frank Robinson said. "He had decent location and was controlling his pitches and didn't leave a lot of pitches up."

Rivera went 4-for-5 with a homer, three RBI and three runs scored. Church had three hits and two RBI in his major league debut for the Expos, whose first five runs came with two outs.

"I know I can play at this level, and this was a good start," Church said. "We will see how it works and go from there."

The Expos scored two runs off Jason Jennings (11-11) in the first inning on two-out RBI singles by Church and Alex Gonzalez. Jennings walked Brad Wilkerson to lead off the game and, after retiring the next two batters, gave up three straight hits.

"It was a battle from the beginning," said Jennings, who struggled with his command. "It was the best I had."

Matt Holliday hit a solo homer in the second to make it 2-1.

In the fourth, Endy Chavez reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second when Tony Batista forced Wilkerson at third. Rivera followed with a single to left in the fourth.

Brian Schneider singled leading off the fifth and scored when Wilkerson slapped a two-out single to right to give Montreal a 4-1 lead.

Rivera hit a two-out solo homer off reliever Chris Gissell in the sixth to make it 5-1.

Colorado's Mark Sweeney hit his fourth pinch-hit homer of the season in the seventh off Luis Ayala to cut it to 5-2.

Montreal blew it open with three runs in the eighth on Church's swinging bunt with the bases loaded that drove in one. Two more runs scored when reliever Brian Fuentes threw the ball into the right-field corner for an error.

Jennings allowed four runs and eight hits, and walked six in five innings.

"This was embarrassing. The whole week was embarrassing," said Colorado manager Clint Hurdle after a 2-4 homestand. "We don't have time for this to be summer camp while we are at home."

Game notes

Expos 1B Nick Johnson has been shut down for the season, and will be sent home to recuperate from his broken cheekbone. ... Montreal hasn't decided whether Tony Armas Jr. will make his scheduled start Wednesday ... Montreal won the season series 4-2. ... Colorado OF Preston Wilson was given the day off with soreness in his left knee. ... 3B Vinny Castilla was rested and replacement Luis Gonzalez was a late scratch with the flu.