Up
on the blog today we have a 1970 “special” celebrating Major League
baseball’s entry into the Canadian market, as the Montreal Expos play
their first game on April 8th, 1969:
The Expos came out victorious in a slugfest against the eventual World
Champ New York Mets, winning 11-10 out at Shea Stadium, holding off a
Met ninth-inning rally that saw them score four runs to bring the game
down to a single run.
In the fourth inning Montreal pitcher Dan McGinn hit the first home run
in franchise history with a blast off of Mets starter Tom Seaver, while
Rusty Staub and Coco Laboy added shots in the 8th as well.
Jim “Mudcat” Grant started the game for Montreal but lasted 1.1 innings
before giving way to four relievers, with Don Shaw picking up the win
and Carroll Sembera picking up the save.
On the Mets side, Tom Seaver threw five innings, giving up two earned
runs, but didn’t factor in a decision as Cal Koonce picked up the loss
with two innings of work, giving up three earned runs.
Managed by Gene Mauch, the Expos finished up their inaugural season with
a record of 52-110, finishing last in the newly formed NL East.