Baseball Review // Record-Journal Expos, 0 Vernon Orioles, 10 at Frank J McCoy Field, Vernon CT June 10th 2024 (GHTBL)

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It was raining a little bit on the way to Vernon and once I got there a strong breeze brought in some dark clouds.   I thought for a little while there might be rain, but that has become a theme now as last Thursday's game took place right after the rain.   I didn't see any rain in the forecast for the week, so this was kind of strange but it's how the weather seems to be in Connecticut.

I'm not sure why (and I don't have any working theories) but it seems like every season the first time the Expos play the Orioles is in Vernon (I feel like it's been mostly on Sundays in seasons past) and the Expos just always seem to struggle to win these games.   This might also have something to do with the fact that the Vernon Orioles usually have a strong team in the beginning of the season.

The Expos have one loss this season, prior to this game, and it was to the Middletown Mets.  So one would suppose that if the Orioles could beat the Mets (and they did, exactly one week before this game) that then they could also defeat the Expos.   But we all know baseball isn't like that.   A 1-5 team could beat a 5-1 team just because baseball is a crazy ass game.   You never know what's going to happen.

Sometimes, some days, the hitter might be in a slump or maybe a star pitcher doesn't have their stuff.   But for this game, Jason Ray brought a true gem of a game and you had no choice but to applaud his efforts.   The saddest part about this game is that Jason Ray came out after only five innings and didn't go the distance, but I get it.  This is the third week of the season, not exactly a big stakes game, and with the lead they had the Orioles were smart to rest him.

Still, watching Jason Ray pitch is a thing of beauty.  Throwing strikes and then whenever he got into trouble with a full count he'd work his way out of it.  If this momentum can carry through to the playoffs, the Orioles might be in a more advantageous position this year.  Especially with their hitting line up.

The Record-Journal Expos had Luis Delgado and Brendon O'Connell on the mound.  This is a tough week for the Expos, who have had two games in the previous weeks and split them between Charlie Hesseltine and J.D. Tyler, but this week have three games.   Next week when the Expos only have one game it'll be nice to feel some rest, but life isn't always about that balance.  And in the playoffs, you might need to play three times in the same week.

There isn't a lot to say in a 10-0 game about the offense.  It was spot on for the Vernon Orioles and not as much for the Record-Journal Expos.  A seven run second inning pretty much secured the win for the Orioles as it felt like that's too much of a number to come back from.  Peter Kelly hit a deep homerun to center field in the fourth inning and that was pretty cool.

So the Orioles stay undefeated with a win over the Expos, but they will meet again on June 20th at Ceppa Field and that is the only Expos game that week so all of their pitchers will be available.  The Expos look to get back on the winning track Tuesday night with a game against the South Windsor Phillies and again at Ceppa Field on Thursday against M&T Bank.  The weather looks good now, but you never know.