[stevem810]

A pair of teams in tight pennant races in their respective leagues squared off in Ottawa for three games. The Snake Eyes are chasing the Expedition while the Nice Orchids and Paris Artists are matching each other for the best record in the French Baseball League.

Game one featured a balanced attack as the Artists had 8 players with at least one hit and the Expedition had 7. But, it was Nao Yamada who entered the game batting .195 who provided the spark with 3 singles and a swipe of second base earning him POG honors. Sam Smith got the win elevating him to 4-1.

In the middle game it was an explosion of hits in the 5th inning including homers by Xavier Rolland (he kills Paris) and Tim Oulton leading the way to a 7 spot on the board for the Expedition. Five RBI's for Xavier was too much for the Artists as they fell 10-5 in spite of 13 of their own base knocks.

The final game of the set had seldom used Pascal Blanchet in the OF for Julien Henri who looked lethargic at the plate the game before. The benching proved to be key to the win as Blanchets three run homer in the top of the 6th put it out of reach for Ottawa. Laurant Mercier, the quintessential pro player had a 4 for 4 day. Dave Coronado with the win is now 7-2 for Paris.

The Artists, with 24 wins, have at least two more than every other team and now lead the Orchids by two games in the competitive France league. The Marseille Soleis, riding a 3 game win streak (a sweep of Le Morne Rouge in Martinique), are two behind Nice.