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'Spos Falter in Game Two, Settle for Split Versus A's | Article Posted July 17, 2009
The Meron's/Renzi Expos came out firing on
all cylinders in game one of their doubleheader versus the
Fourth Ward Athletics, dominating from both the plate and
the mound to secure a 9-1 victory. However, the promise of
game one was not realized in the tail end of the twinbill, as
costly defensive miscues and an inability to shut the door on
the A's resulted in M/R's first-ever loss to the Fourth Ward
squad.
Nick
Lamica led the offensive barrage for the Expos in game one,
peppering the A's pitching to the tune of 4-4 with a double and
setting the tone for a 6-7, two-double performance on the day.
Mike Bergman was
predictably strong on the mound, allowing only a single run
while going the distance to pick up his sixth complete game.
Game two found the Expos falling into a
sloppy style of play in stark contrast to the crisp execution of
the first contest. The Spos' bats continued to hum -
Lamica, Justin Mahan, and
Casey Brighton each
turned in a multi-hit performance as M/R posted 7 runs - but
timely hitting by the Fourth Ward and uncharacteristic blunders
by the Expo D conspired to neutralize their offensive output.
With only a single week of games separating
the Expos from the playoffs, the unanticipated loss throws what
appeared to be an excellent shot at the #2 seed and accompanying
first-round bye into chaos. While possibilities abound
based on the outcome of next week's doubleheader at the
Timberjaxx, the setback means that the Expos do not fully
control their destiny even in the case of an M/R sweep. Be
that as it may, winning both ends versus the Jaxx is still of
paramount importance: another loss would eliminate nearly every
scenario that could give the Expos the bye. And so the
task at hand is the one that Meron's/Renzi has struggled with
all season long: play consistently strong baseball over both
ends of a doubleheader, and nail down the sweep. This time
around, the Expos' playoff fortunes could be at stake.
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