MONTREAL — You could forgive fans at Olympic Stadium for being caught off guard Tuesday night. The Montreal Expos came into the postseason not just hot—but historically dominant. Winners of 110 games, a league-best .679 winning percentage, and an 18–4 closing sprint through September. They were second in the United League in runs, average, and hits. First in OBP. First in bullpen ERA. First in strikeouts. First in swagger.
And now? Down 0–1 in the Division Series after a 5–0 shutout at home.
It’s the kind of loss that sends a shiver—not just because it happened, but because it’s happened before. Again and again. Montreal’s October ghosts don’t rest easily.
The Best Team in the United League
Let’s put this in context.
- Home record: 53–28 (.654)
- Road record: 57–24 (.704)
- Record vs. LHP: 33–12 (.733)
- Record in one-run games: 36–19 (.655)
- Team ERA: 3.40 (2nd in UL)
- Team OBP: .319 (1st in UL)
- Team OPS: .755 (2nd in UL)
- Stolen bases: 291 (1st in UL)
This wasn’t some overachieving group of plucky upstarts. This was a machine—equally lethal at home or on the road, against lefties or righties. A roster built for October. And yet, when the lights hit, the gears jammed.
A Familiar October Collapse
Since their DBL championship in 1977, the Expos’ postseason history reads like a therapy session:
- 1980: Swept 4–0 by the Mets
- 1981: Swept 4–0 by the A’s
- 1983: Lost 4–2 to Oakland
- 1985: Swept 4–0 by Detroit
- 1994: 97-win juggernaut… bounced by Colorado in six
Now, with the strongest team in franchise history, the Expos find themselves trailing the Washington Senators 1–0 in a best-of-seven series.
And make no mistake—this wasn’t some fluke loss.
Pedro’s Brilliance, Undone by Two Swings
Pedro Martinez was phenomenal. He struck out 17 batters, breaking the United League postseason record. Through seven innings, he had allowed just one hit.
But with two outs in the eighth, the game unraveled. Roberto Durham turned on a fastball and deposited it in the seats for a three-run homer. Two batters later, Alex Rodriguez followed with a two-run shot of his own.
Final line:
Pedro Martinez – 9.0 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 17 K, 2 HR
Dominant. Overpowering. And still—beaten.
Offense Goes Silent
The Expos offense that racked up 833 runs and 513 extra-base hits couldn’t find a spark. They finished with six hits, no walks after the fifth, and left seven men stranded. Their best scoring chance came in the sixth, when Brian Sweeney singled and advanced to third with one out—but cleanup man David Morris struck out, and Raul Mondesi flew out to center.
From there, the bats fell quiet.
Burkett Wasn’t Flashy—He Was Flawless
While Martinez racked up strikeouts, John Burkett went to work quietly, efficiently, and without fanfare. He scattered six hits across nine shutout innings, allowing just three runners to reach scoring position.
In a game built for headlines, he wrote his name in ink:
John Burkett – 9.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
What’s Next
The Expos now hand the ball to Roger Clemens in Game 2—because they have to. Lose this one, and they head to Washington down 0–2, needing to win four of five with three on the road.
This team was built to win now. They stormed through the regular season. They have a top-5 offense and the league’s most overpowering bullpen.
But for all their statistical might, there’s still that cloud overhead. The Expos have never come back from a 0–1 hole in a seven-game series.
History has never favored Montreal in October. If they want this year to be different, it starts tomorrow.
BOX SCORE – GAME 1:
Washington Senators – 5 R, 4 H, 0 E
Montreal Expos – 0 R, 6 H, 1 E
Key Players:
- John Burkett (WSH) – 9.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 5 K (W)
- Pedro Martinez (MTL) – 9.0 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 17 K, 2 HR (L)
- Roberto Durham (WSH) – 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
- Alex Rodriguez (WSH) – 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Final Thought
110 wins don’t mean a thing if they’re followed by four losses. The Expos aren’t done—not yet—but the weight of history is heavy, and Game 1 only made it heavier.