The Montreal Expos came into the postseason as the class of the United League. Winners of 110 games. First in OBP. First in bullpen ERA. Pedro Martinez punched out a record-breaking 403 batters, blowing past Randy Johnson’s single-season mark like it was batting practice. They were deep, balanced, dangerous.
And they’re done.
Out in five games. Again.
This time, at the hands of the Washington Senators — a wildcard team with a bullpen in question, a lineup hitting under .200 in the series, and no business knocking off a juggernaut.
And yet they did.
The Numbers Say “Dominance”
Let’s be clear: Montreal earned their regular season rep. They were second in the entire DBL behind Kansas City’s 113-win buzzsaw. They ranked second in runs scored, second in batting average, first in OBP, and first in strikeouts. Their bullpen ERA? A league-best 2.87.
Pedro was Pedro — unhittable more often than not. He struck out 17 in Game 1, tying and then breaking the UL playoff record along the way. And yet he lost. Montreal lost. Because once again, the bats just… didn’t show up.
The Bats Disappeared
Over five games, the Expos scored just eight runs total — 1.6 per game. They were shut out twice: 5–0 in Game 1, and 6–0 in the Game 5 elimination. Raul Mondesi went 2-for-18. Jeff Kent finished 3-for-20 with no extra-base hits. Todd Hundley homered in Game 3 but struck out six times in the series and went just 4-for-20. Timely hits were nonexistent.
Game 1? Pedro struck out 17 and gave up just four hits. But two of them were two-out home runs in the eighth — a three-run blast by Ray Durham and a two-run shot by Alex Rodriguez. That was the game.
Game 3? They had a lead. Hundley and Mondesi each homered off Erik Hanson. But the bullpen couldn’t hold it, and Felix Jose walked it off in the 12th.
Game 5? The Expos fell behind early — and stayed there. Pedro gave up three home runs, including a devastating grand slam by Mike Stanley, who had been 1-for-18 in the series before that swing. That was the final nail.
This Isn’t Bad Luck — It’s a Pattern
Montreal finally broke through last season with their first playoff berth since 1985. But they bowed out quickly. This year was supposed to be the redemption arc — the year they proved they belonged among the DBL’s elite in October, not just July.
Instead, they were out-hit, out-pitched, out-managed.
Game 4? Tied late. Washington’s bullpen held. Montreal’s gave up the lead.
Game 5? A 6–0 shutout. In an elimination game.
This wasn’t a slugfest that just tilted the wrong way. It was a controlled dismantling.
All Guts, No Glamour
The Senators didn’t win with flash. They won with execution.
John Burkett? Two starts. Two complete-game shutouts.
Erik Hanson? 7 innings, 3 runs, kept them in Game 3.
The bullpen? 10.1 scoreless innings from Lance Smith and Greg McMichael.
The lineup? Opportunistic. Clutch.
Alex Rodriguez hit .158 but had a .238 OBP and played flawless defense. Albert Belle only had four hits—but one was a homer. Mike Stanley had one hit too—but it cleared the bases. That’s the kind of October edge Montreal never found.
Where Do They Go From Here?
Pedro’s still 23. The core is still intact: Hundley, Mondesi, Kent, Morris. The bullpen is deep. The rotation has one of the greatest strikeout arms the league has ever seen.
But something’s broken.
Montreal built this roster for October. It dominated in the regular season. But twice now, they’ve watched it crumble in the postseason. Same uniforms. Same disappointment.
If the Expos ever want to rewrite this story, they’ll need more than talent. They’ll need urgency. They’ll need leadership. They’ll need grit.
Because right now? The only team the Expos can’t seem to beat in October…
Is the Expos.