MONTREAL (AP) -- Two out of three pitches was good enough for Hideki Irabu to get his first National League win.

Irabu pitched seven strong innings to rebound from a rough first NL outing and lead the Montreal Expos to a 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

"He had good command today," Expos manager Felipe Alou said. "No curveball again but his splitter and fastball worked well for him."

Lee Stevens hit a bases-loaded single in the sixth to tie the game at 1 and Trace Coquillette walked to force in the go-ahead run. Montreal came back to win the three-game series after losing Friday's opener.

Irabu (1-1) made his first career appearance against San Diego, the team he forced to trade his rights to the New York Yankees in April 1997.

After allowing six runs in two-plus innings in a 10-4 loss to Los Angeles in his Expos debut last Tuesday, Irabu lowered his ERA from 27.00 to 7.00

"He still doesn't have his curveball," Expos catcher Chris Widger said. "It was nice to see he got through without it because it's a big pitch for him."

Irabu managed just fine, giving up one run and seven hits, including Wiki Gonzalez's RBI single in the fifth.

"He's got enough on his fastball to keep you honest," said Tony Gwynn, who singled off Irabu in the sixth for his 3,070th career hit.

"You can't sit on something offspeed. He threw hard enough that you had to honor the fastball, and then he could get you with the forkball."

Ugueth Urbina pitched the ninth for his second save in three chances.

In his first start of the season, Brian Boehringer (0-1) held Montreal hitless and faced the minimum until Rondell White singled with two outs in the fourth.

With one out in the sixth, Boehringer allowed a single to Jose Vidro and, after a visit from pitching coach Dave Smith, walked White on four pitches.

Vladimir Guerrero walked on four straight pitches from Will Cunnane and Stevens singled off left-handed reliever Matt Whisenant.

"It was nice to sneak that one in there," Stevens said. "Both guys were pitching well. Hideki threw a great game and Boehringer threw a good game, too."

Stevens, a left-handed batter, was acquired from Texas on March 16 to protect Guerrero in the batting order.

"I feel comfortable against left-handers," Stevens said. "I had a good year against left-handers last year. It's a good challenge."

He hit .304 against left-handers last season with the Rangers after going .167 against them in 1998.

Coquillette then walked to force in the go-ahead run before Widger grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Boehringer allowed both runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two.

The Padres scored their only run when Eric Owens singled and stole second with one out in the fifth and scored on Gonzalez's RBI single.

Game notes
The Padres scored first in each game of the six-game road trip. ... Gonzalez stole second following his RBI single for his first steal in the majors. ... Gwynn's single was his 2,330th, tying him with Cap Anson for 10th in career singles. ... Only 9,782 attended the game as a snowstorm that dumped eight inches of snow in the Montreal area wreaked havoc with traffic throughout the city. All ticketholders will be permitted to exchange their stubs for a ticket to another regular season home game. ... Scott Strickland pitched a perfect eighth in relief of Irabu. ... First base umpire Marvin Hudson left the game due to illness.