SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The Montreal Expos knew Phil Nevin was dangerous and he proved them right.

Nevin hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning off reliever Dustin Hermanson to give the San Diego Padres a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Expos on Saturday night.

Nevin connected on an 0-1 slider over the right-field wall that gave the Padres their eighth win in 12 games following an eight-game losing streak.

"With Eric (Owens) on second, I'm just looking to drive the ball the other way," Nevin said.

Expos manager Felipe Alou said he feared Nevin hitting in that situation, so he wasn't surprised he delivered.

"Nevin has done a lot of damage on the 0-1 count the last couple of years," Alou said. "He's hit many home runs in that situation. I have it in black and white."

Donne Wall (2-2) allowed one run and two hits in 1 2/3 innings. Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 10th save.

Nevin wasn't sure what to expect from Hermanson, who moved into the closer role after Ugueth Urbina went on the disabled list May 9.

"I wasn't sure how he'd approach me," said Nevin, who hit his 13th homer. "I was just trying to stay alive and hit it to the right side."

The home run spoiled a strong outing by Montreal's Javier Vazquez, who allowed two runs and nine hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Vazquez allowed a one-out single to Eric Owens in the eighth before he was replaced by Steve Kline (1-1). Pinch-hitter Ruben Rivera walked and Kline struck out Tony Gwynn.

Hermanson came on and gave up Nevin's homer.

"I'm disappointed because Javy pitched a great game," Hermanson said. "It was a good pitch. But (Nevin) did some more damage."

Peter Bergeron gave Montreal a 2-1 lead in the eighth with an RBI single up the middle off Wall to score Brian Schneider with two outs.

"We were in trouble in the eighth," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "But Nevin came through. It doesn't get much better than that."

Bergeron scored Montreal's first run when he led off the game with a walk and scored after one-out singles by Rondell White and Vladimir Guerrero.

Vazquez helped his own cause by escaping from a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fifth. Vazquez struck out pitcher Matt Clement, then induced Owens into an inning-ending double play.

Owens produced the first run against Vazquez when he pulled a fastball down the left-field line for a homer leading off the fourth inning.

Clement battled Vazquez evenly into the seventh inning. The right-hander had to overcome control problems as he walked five, threw three wild pitches and hit one batter in 6 2/3 innings.

Game notes
San Diego LHP Sterling Hitchcock was diagnosed with a mild strain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. Hitchcock, who injured himself Friday night against the Expos, will be re-evaluated in 2-3 days and will most likely go on the 15-day DL. ... Montreal's Jose Vidro extended his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games. ... Padres SS Damian Jackson, who committed his 10th error of the season, left the game in the fourth inning after jamming his left pinky finger diving for a ground ball in the first. ... San Diego's Al Martin was caught stealing for the eighth time in 13 attempts. ... Schneider collected his first major league hit with a sixth-inning double.