Published in the August 18, 2016 edition
THE Unknowns proudly display the Twi-League Championship trophy after defeating the Expos in four games. The Unknowns secured the championship after defeating the Expos 3-2 last night at Moulton Field. (Mary Anne Power Photo)
By DAN BYRNE
WAKEFIELD—The Twi-League Playoff Finals finished up their series this week with a pair of games that will leave the fans and players looking forward to next season. It took four games but the Unknowns triumphed with a 3-2 win in their final at bat last night at Moulton Field.
Game 4 on Wednesday had to be played because the Unknowns failed to close out their opponents, the Expos, in game 3 on Monday, with the Expos taking the win 15-6.
Game 3 saw fireworks right from the first inning, with the Unknowns plating five runs in the top of the first and the Expos responding with six runs in their half of the inning.
The teams combined to slug eight extra-base hits in game 3, including a pair of triples from Nick Roberto and a double and a triple from Mike Cannata. Cannata went 3-4 on the day, finishing a homer shy of the cycle.
The story defensively for the Expos in game 3 was pitcher Chris McNall, who settled down after a tough five-run first inning to allow just one run the rest of the way. McNall surrendered just six runs (two earned), five hits and four walks while striking out 11.
The Expos win on Monday set up the game 4 match up. The Unknowns still held the edge going in with a 2-1 series lead but the big win meant the Expos had some momentum.
The Unknowns’ strategy for quelling the Expos’ momentum was to deploy Brendan Cobb to the pitcher’s mound in game 4. Steve Grasso called his own number and took the ball to start for the Expos.
Cobb came out firing, striking out the side in order in the top of the first inning.
The Unknowns got off to a good start in the bottom of the first inning, starting off with three straight hits and scoring a pair of runs. Geoff Eriksen and Chad Dwyer led off with a pair of singles, followed by Graham Robertson’s RBI base hit to get the Unknowns on the board. Cobb followed with an RBI ground out and it was 2-0 early on.
Canatta managed a two-out base hit in the second inning off Cobb but Dennis Diccico grounded out to end the inning.
Grasso settled down for the Expos and allowed just one hit each inning over the next three innings. In the fifth, he worked around a pair of singles to escape without allowing a run.
The Expos got on the board in the top of the fourth as Roberto led off with a walk and was replaced at first when Dave McDonald grounded into a fielder’s choice. Canatta struck out for the inning’s second out but a pair of singles by Diccico and Steve Boghos brought McDonald around to cut the lead to 2-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, Grasso allowed a hit and an intentional walk but got three fly ball outs to strand a pair of runners for the Unknowns.
Facing their final three outs of the season and trailing by a run, the Expos got the top of the seventh off to the kind of start they were hoping for when John Grossi doubled to left to lead it off. Next up, pinch hitter Andrew Worden tied the game with an RBI base hit through the middle into center field. McNall flew out to deep left field and Worden tagged up moving from first to second with one out.
Next up, Roberto slapped one up the middle, but Cobb was able to snare it and catch Worden between second and third. Worden stayed in a rundown long enough for Roberto to hustle around into second. The inning came to an anti-climactic end for the Expos as Dave McDonald struck out swinging with a runner on second and two away.
Headed to the bottom of the seventh tied at two runs each John Andrick came in to relieve Grasso and things didn’t go well right away. Cobb led off with a walk but Andrick got the next batter, Bryan Butt to ground to second. The throw from Boghos to Worden tipped off the glove of the shortshop and went into left field. Now, with two on and nobody out, Kevin Murray laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up. Key on the play was the injury at third base to Cobb, who limped off and Brian Eriksen had to pinch run the final 90 feet.
The Expos elected to intentionally walk Sean Alexander to load the bases but that didn’t make much of a difference in the end. Pinch hitter and longtime Twi League veteran Ian Power stepped in and worked the count to 2-2 before fouling off a few tough pitches from Andrick. Finally, Power lifted one into medium depth center field, easily handled by JR Richard but Eriksen was able to tag up from third base and slide into home just seconds before the throw from Richard reached.
The 3-2 win means the Unknowns will once again hold the Championship trophy until next season.
