Baseball Review // Record-Journal Expos, 1 M&T Bank, 5 June 11th, 2023 at Wethersfield High School, Wethersfield CT (GHTBL)

Official Box Score :::

https://www.ghtbl.org/event/mt-bank-vs-record-journal-expos-2/

Additional photos can be found here :::

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1263657064364512&type=3

M&T Bank started their season a little bit after everyone else and they have new uniforms that look nice.   As of this writing they remain undefeated and it was back on Thursday when M&T Bank met the Record-Journal Expos for the first time this season and both teams were undefeated.  Seeing as how M&T Bank handed the Expos their first loss just three days before, this felt like a bit of a second chance game for the Expos to give M&T Bank their first loss as well.

The lineup of M&T Bank has not changed too much from last season, however they did have Nason Busca and third generation GHTBL Cooper Johnson added as new players to the league as well as Malcolm Kinder coming over from the now defunct Wallingford Cardinals.   Things felt switched up in that way and the starting pitcher, Eric Corhouse, is also debuting in the GHTBL this season.

This game started with Max Giacco on the mound for the Record-Journal Expos and while Giacco has had some relief outings this was his first complete game and as such I'd say he held his own rather well.   The inning which really did in the Expos was the third and there wasn't a lot to be done there in terms of the pitching and defense it was just one of those parts of the game.   

The first two innings went by scoreless and it felt like it was going to be a pitching duel.  In the bottom of the third inning, with two runners on, Willy Yahn hit this twisted shot to center field that didn't fly out there straight but felt like someone was controlling the ball to get it up, over and around the Expos outfielders.   It was a double that ended up scoring two and no one even in MLB was making that play.

Willy Yahn would also be brought in to score via a ground out to first, which would put M&T Bank up 3-0 after three innings.   In the top of the fourth, the Expos answered back with one run though.  Kyle Hartenstein was advanced to second base when new M&T Bank pitcher Jack DeGirolamo balked.  Hartenstein would steal third as AJ Hendrickson was walked onto first.  Hendrickson would steal second base and as Javon Malone grounded out to first, Kyle Hartenstein came around to score.

M&T Bank would put up one run in the bottom of the fifth and sixth inning, making it a final 5-1 score, but for his first complete game outing in GHTBL Max Giacco did well and as the season goes on this is going to be important to watch, especially in the playoffs.   The teams at the top right now certainly seem to be there because they've made some changes to their lineups and so far those changes have been for the better.   I realize I said this after seeing Rainbow Graphics, but after seeing M&T Bank I feel like the top of the standings is more competitive than last year and will change right up until the end.

While the South Windsor Phillies come to Ceppa Field in Meriden tonight to take on the Record-Journal Expos, the Rainbow Graphics welcome M&T Bank to Northwest Park in a battle of the first and second place teams.  Rainbow Graphics might be the team to give M&T Bank their first loss, but M&T Bank might also hand the Graphics their second loss and move higher up in the rankings.