Cusson's gem is upstaged by Farrar's diamond


Dorval (AP) - Expos Nation is used to cheering for their beloved number 24, but this year, there is a new 24 in town, with walk-on Chris Kelly outperforming all expectations. "Honestly," explained General Manager Pat McCarthy, "he was the first guy who paid his fees... so I didn't mind giving him my number. Any production we got out of him was a bonus for me." Kelly did not disappoint Expos fans on Thursday night, tearing up the diamond and turning a crucial double play at a pivotal moment in Game 4 against the Beers. With a runner on 1st and 3rd, with no outs, Beers' cleanup hitter, Lieutenant Captain Colonel Sergeant Bob Bell hit a liner up the middle. Kelly ranged to his right, dove, snagged the ball easily, stood up and fired to first base, doubling off the dazed and confused Beers' runner. Kelly followed up on that play, with several key outs, proving that he's not just another pretty face.

"Hey guys? What about me? I just pitched 7-innings of 3-hit, shutdown baseball. Hello...?" asked a confused Marc Cusson after the game as Kelly was getting all the attention. "Why is no one talking about how well I played? Can someone pay some attention to me? Screw you guys. I'm going to talk to the umpires!"

The Expos had a balanced attack during the game, scoring multiple runs in 4 separate innings. Starting in right bench and left bench respectively, Pat McCarthy and Dan Bleho combined for a 4-6, 4-RBI evening, batting out of the 11 and 12 position. All in all, the bottom six batters in the Expos lineup accounted for 9 hits, 7 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. "Yeah, bottom half rules!" yelled an exuberant Robert Andrej on hearing the news. "I'm so excited I'm going to break something... like another one of Doug's bats".

The offence was slow to get started, as Beers' starting pitcher Denis Bastien cruised by the first five hitters. With two outs in the second, Robert Gartshore (aka - the friendster) got the Expos going with a 2-out hit and sparking what would be a three-run inning. "This was definitely the turning point," explained skipper Glen Norman remotely via satellite from an exclusive anger management clinic. "All year long, when we have needed a big hit, or someone to pump us up, or someone to drink all our beer, Rob has been there. Clutch!"

With the win, the Expos advance to the BWISL B Finals for the 3rd time in 4 years. The final series kicks off in Verdun on Monday night, against the #1 seed Verdun Indians.