Published July 15, 2020
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
CHRIS COSTA threw a complete-game shutout last night to lead the Expos to a 5-0 win over the Slappers in their first game of the Twi season. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
WAKEFIELD — The Expos kicked off their Twi League season with a convincing 5-0 victory over the Slappers last night at Moulton Field.
The shortened eight-game schedule means each team needs to go for wins right off the bat. The Expos took that to heart early on, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the 1st inning when they collected five of their nine hits on the night against Slapper starter Dave Harris.
John Grossi led off with a single, Greg Jain reached on an error and Expos starter Chris Costa drew first blood with an RBI single. Steve Boughus later came through with a two-RBI knock and Chris McNall made it 4-0 with another RBI single.
Costa (7IP, 6H, 9K, 2BB, 2HBP) a newcomer who typically pitches for Alibrandi’s in the Intercity League, got better as the game went on and came up big whenever the Slappers threatened like in the top of the 1st when he struck out Dave Papagni with two outs and the bases loaded. Or in the 3rd when he had back-to-back K’s to get out of another bases-loaded jam after Paul McGunigle and Harris reached on singles and Matt Mercurio was hit by a pitch. Or in the 4th, when Costa ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts again this time against Matt Rej and Andrew Patti.
The hard-throwing righty had two K’s for five innings in a row from the 2nd to the 6th.
While the Slappers were getting frustrated during every big moment in the top half of the innings, Harris (6IP, 9H, 3K, 1BB) and the defense were settling in during the bottom half’s.
Shortstop Jake Barresi had five putouts, his best two both coming in the 2nd. One was a slow roller that he barehanded and got Costa by a half-step. He had to cover a lot of ground for the other one and though the throw was off, Ryan DiBenedetto made a great play at first, the Wakefield High assistant soccer coach making a kick save to his right and somehow catching the ball at the same time. “All that soccer finally paid off Dibo!” joked a Slapper from the bench.
Barresi was also involved with a not-so-traditional double play in the 5th. After a Matt Reilly single started the inning, Grossi grounded out to “Dibo” at first who stepped on the bag and threw to Barresi at second. Barresi didn’t think “Dibo” stepped on first so figured a force was still on but he needed a tag. Reilly made the same mistake and came off the bag just quickly enough for Barresi to dive and tag him out. Just how they drew it up.
The Expos made some great defensive plays themselves including a nice catch on the run in left by McNall in the 2nd and a double-play catch and throw to first from Danny O’Brien at second to quiet a rally bid from the Slappers in the 7th.
But the defensive play of the game belonged to Patti in centerfield. Greg Jain blasted one seemingly far over the head of the speedy Slapper but Patti tracked it down and laid out for an incredible catch.
In the end, Costa was the story as the Expos made it clear they are well-prepared to make a run at the title with a new ace. The ‘Spos, already with one of the best pitchers in the league in McNall, are going to be tough to beat.
The Slappers and Expos will have a rematch on Sunday, 12 p.m. at Moulton.
Tonight, the Unknowns and Brewers will start their seasons, 6 p.m. at Moulton.
