Unknowns, Expos finally run out of firepower in 7-7 tie

Published July 10, 2019

WAKEFIELD — The fireworks may have been over on the Fourth, but the Twi-League fireworks continued on Monday as the Expos and Unknowns provided a starburst of excitement that concluded with a heart pounding 7-7 tie.

With the tie, there was a three way split for first place in the Twi League, between the Expos, Loafers,and Unknowns before the Brewers beat the Expos 7-6 last night. Now, the Brew Crew have a slim first-place lead with six points to the Expos’, Loafers’ and Unknowns’ five.

The Orange started the scoring right away. Brandon Panarese reached first on a strikeout/passed ball. Sean Alexander ripped a single to left and then rookie Bobby Pearl sliced a hit down the left field line for a two-run double.

MIKE CANNATA connected on a two-RBI base hit to bring the Expos to within one in the third inning of their 7-7 tie against the Unknowns on Monday night at Moulton Park. (Dan Pawlowski File Photo)

The Expos responded in their half of the inning. John Grossi walked against Unknowns starter Brett Maloney, moved to second on a passed ball and to third on a wild pitch. After an out and a walk, Steve Fiore drove one to the right center field gap, looking like a sure hit until Pearl came out of nowhere and dove making the spectacular catch and then getting up and firing the ball to first to double off the runner, but Grossi tagged and hustled home before the out was made to make it 2-1 Orange.

The Question marks went up 4-1 in the third inning as Alexander continued his torrid hitting by dropping a hit to left field. Pearl followed with a long blast to left center for his second double of the game that enabled Alexander to scamper around the bases to score. Maloney moved Pearl to third on his single to right and then Bryan Butt delivered a base knock to left plating Pearl.

The Expos closed the gap to 4-3 when Seth Johnston led off with an infield single. Grossi spanked a line drive to left and both runners moved a base on a passed ball. Mike Cannata stroked a hit to centerfield and both runners scored with Grossi just beating the throw at the plate.

ROOKIE Bobby Pearl collected three hits and four RBI’s to help the Unknowns keep up with a powerful Expos offense as the two teams played to an epic 7-7 tie on Monday night at Moulton. (Courtesy Photo)

The Expos exploded for three runs in the fourth inning. Sean MacDonald reached on an infield error. A walk and a hit by pitch loaded up the bases for the Expos catcher Johnston. Johnston ripped a single to right field, knocking in MacDonald and knocking Maloney out of the game. Adam Chanley came in for relief and got Grossi to hit a sac fly to right, scoring Zack Kane. Greg Jain followed with an infield force out that scored Matt Reilly from third to give the Expos a 6-4 lead.

The Unknowns, in a battle of back-and-forth with the Expos, scored twice in the top of the fifth to even the score at 6. Alexander reached on an infield error and moved to second on a wild pitch. Pearl collected his third hit and fourth RBI of the game as he singled to right, knocking in Alexander. Pearl stole second base, and moved to third on Geoff Eriksen’s infield dribbler. Luke Martin lofted a high fly ball to left for a sac fly, scoring Pearl and tying the score at 6.

The dramatics kept coming in the bottom of the fifth inning. Dave MacDonald reached first on a strikeout/pass ball. He moved to second on another passed ball. Kane ripped a ball down the line that the Unknowns fielder couldn’t handle and bounced into left field, allowing MacDonald to score the go ahead run.

With darkness closing in, the Orange mounted a rally before the night time limit was imposed. Chanley led off against Expo starting pitcher Jain by reaching first on an infield error. Ian Power walked. A beat up and bruised Panarese bounced a hit through the left side hole to score a sprinting Chanley to tie the game at 7 all. Jain got the next two batters to end the inning.

Both teams returned for a seventh inning, but both pitchers did their jobs getting the outs that left to two teams tied at 7 and officially ending the fireworks for the night at Moulton Park.