Clutch Hitting + Ellis Gem Sends Expos To Second Round of the B.C (Minor) Baseball Wildcard Tournament

Ellis was spectacular in his 69 pitch 6 inning start as he allowed 1 run on 0 hits while racking up 5 strikeouts. Although falling behind 1-0 early to Victoria the Expos climbed back thanks to multi hit games by Baybay, Betonio and Domingo, final score 6-1 Vancouver.

VictoriaRed 1 EXPOS 6

Vancouver fell behind the eight ball early in this contest as the defence cost them a big run in the 1st, a routine shallow fly ball off the bat of the 2nd Victoria hitter went off the glove of the Vancouver right-fielder then an overthrow had the battter-runner standing on third. With the infield conceding the run, a groundball to SS by the next Victoria hitter scored the runner from 3rd. The Expos threatened in almost every inning in this game, in the bottom of the 2nd inning Baybay singled up the middle with 1 out and would eventually come around to score on a 2 out balk. Score after 2 innings, 1-1.

The bottom of the third had Betonio lead off the inning with another solid hit (already doubled off the centerfield fench in the 1st inning), a base hit through the left side to get things started. Two stolen bases and a fly out later, Domingo hit a medium line drive over the shallow infield to plate Betonio. 2-1 Vancouver after 3.

The 4th inning was Vancouver's breakout inning, a Suarez leadoff walk, Ellis single and Howse walk had the Expos threatening, bases loaded, 1 out and the dangerous Betonio up the bat who was already 2-2 in the ballgame. Takacs (Victoria's starter) wouldn't let Betonio tag him for the third time as Takacs would outsmart Betonio and sit him down on strikes, now just one out away from stranded the bases juiced. However, Antiporda would pick up Betonio and make up for his first inning errors in RF by hitting a clutch 2-RBI single, Domingo would follow that up with a clutch 2-RBI single of his own, giving him 3 RBIs on the day. 6-1 Expos after 4.

Meanwhile, Ellis was absolutely dealing as he blew smoke by Victoria batters all game. A rain delay and poor mound conditions didn't hold him back as the tall right hander pitched from the full windup most of the game, if he wasn't striking batters out he was inducing weak groundballs. The final line was 6 innings pitched, 0 hits allowed, 1 run (unearned) and 5 Ks in 69 pitches. Suarez came in, worked around an outfield error to shut the door on this ballgame. Expos over VicRed 6-1.

Vancouver Minor will look to continue its run in the winner's bracket as they face Bruce Faulkner's scrappy Cloverdale Spurs in a second round matchup 9am Saturday @ Bird Field.