Baseball Review // Rainbow Graphics, 4 Record-Journal Expos, 7 @ Ceppa Field, Meriden CT July 2nd 2024 (GHTBL)

https://ghtbl.org/

Official box score :::

https://ghtbl.org/event/graphics-expos-4

Additional photos can be found here :::

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1512918946104988&type=3

If you've been following the GHTBL or what I write you'd know that this was set to be a good game because it feels like the Rainbow Graphics and Record-Journal Expos are on similar paths this year and this is their first time playing each other.   It's still funny to me that the Expos played the Jets twice within the same week (and so did the Graphics) and yet these two teams didn't meet until the second month of the season.

Things got started hot right away as Stanley Cipkas singled onto base, stole second and then came home on a single by Ethan McDonough.   This put the Graphics up 1-0 early and showcased what the Rainbow Graphics have been so good at offensively this season- stringing those hits together to bring in the runs.

The bottom of the first inning saw possibly the most action of the game and it really set the tone for the rest of the night.  Sebby Grignano and Javon Malone both singled onto base and moved forward on a wild pitch.  "Superstar" Luke DiMauro singled to bring in Sebby Grignano, which made it a 1-1 game.  Javon Malone would score on a wild pitch, putting the Expos up 2-1.  Evan Wilkinson singled onto base and "Superstar" Luke DiMauro came home to make it 3-1.  

Jason Sullivan would single and on a wild throw to first base AJ Hendrickson would come home for the four run first inning by the Expos.   Not only did this put the Expos up 4-1 it felt like this was just such the type of inning that the Graphics couldn't really recover from.  

In the top of the third inning, Ryan Laubscher brought in Ethan McDonough with a shot to deep right field, making the game 4-2.   Tyler Repoli doubled in Laubscher, putting the score up to 4-3, and then Dan Orzech would single in Repoli, tying the game after three innings.   The Graphics were able to come back and meet the Expos' four runs but they couldn't get past it.

During the fifth inning, "Superstar" Luke DiMauro singled up the middle to bring Javon Malone home and give the Expos the 5-4 lead.  "Superstar" Luke DiMauro would advance bases with a sacrifice hit by Luis Delgado and then eventually come in on a wild pitch, making the score 6-4.   The bottom of the sixth saw Sebby Grignano single in Max Giacco to put the Expos up 7-4, which was the final score.  

This game had good pitching between both JD Tyler and John Griffin, and when there wasn't offense some of these innings went by pretty quickly.   Up until that fifth inning score of two runs, this really was that back and forth game which felt intense because at any point up until then it felt like it could've gone either way.

Much respect must be sent to Expos pitcher JD Tyler who went all seven innings and shut down the Graphics when it was needed most.  In those last few innings, after it was tied, there weren't really moments where the Graphics had RISP.   JD Tyler held them at bay and really was just responsible for a lot of the lack of offense of the Graphics by the end.

The Expos have now improved to 6-4 and tonight they play the South Windsor Phillies on the road, who are 5-8.   The Phillies are always looking to play spoiler so this should be an interesting last game on this first half of the season and before the Fourth of July holiday break.