Expos Drop 8-7 Decision to Community in Exhibition Play

The Expos could not rally in the top of the 9th as Community scored what would be the game-winning run in the bottom of the 8th thanks to an infield single. Howse was almost a one man show today as he pitched 2 scoreless innings striking out 5/6 batters he faced and went 4/5 hitting cleanup. The rest of the Minor lineup showed the ability to get on base (10 walks and a .447 OBP) but the inability to bring the runners home cost them as the Expos stranded 13 base runners and fell 7-6 to Community in 9 innings exhibition play.

EXPOS 6 VancouverCommunity 7

It was a battle between two (BC Minor) provincial bound teams who did not participate in the Baseball BC Qualifier hosted by Burnaby this weekend. While Abbotsford, Cowichan, Delta and Richmond were still licking thier wounds after quick exits from the qualifier pool play, Minor and Community squared off in exhibition play, both teams well rested. It had been a week since Minor clinched a provincial berth in the emotional winner's bracket final vs. Chiliwack but the Expos showed no signs of rust as they jumped on the scoreboard first. The boys in dark blue scored two runs in their first offensive inning, back to back leadoff singles by Antiporda and Fukuda had the Expos up 1 off the bat, later a Howse single plated their second run to go up 2 before Howse (Minor's starter) could throw a pitch.

Howse was amped to get some game action in after the week long layover and it showed, his fastball was lively and was spotting it on a dime. Community hitters looked well-overmatched and were relieved to see Howse only throw 2 innings in this contest before giving way to the next pitcher in line. Howse faced the minimum (6 batters) striking out 5 of them, he bolstered his stat line by racking up 4 hits in 5 at-bats in arguably one of his best game performances to date.

Minor held a 4-3 lead into the bottom of 6 and that was when Community would explode for 4 runs, Ellis was not sharp on the mound as 5 free passes and 2 Community base hits amounted to a 7.00 WHIP on the day, it was an ugly showing for the big right hander; that being said, his teammates would pick him up at the plate.

The Expos scored 3 runs in the 8th to tie the game, a clutch 2-out 2-strike 2-RBI single by the aforementioned Ellis knotted the game up at sevens. However, Community would bloop two singles on well-executed pitches by Inomata , the game-winning run would score from second on a 2-out infield single that was bobbled by Yamamoto who was receiving a flip behind the bag from Howse. That was all she wrote as Minor could not come up with a run in the 9th as Community won their fourth straight game against Minor (dating back to early exhibition play).

Vancouver Minor will now face Richmond on Wednesday as they look to right the ship against a team that has had their number all year. 6pm start time at Blundell Field.