INTERNATIONAL PLAY                     

Since 2002, baseball teams from around Boston have sent 18 teams to Canada to play regular season games at Major League stadiums. It began with play at Olympic Stadium, home of the Montreal Expos. When the Expos folded after the 2004 season, play moved to Roger's Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays. For the players who have made the trip thus far, it has been an unforgetable experience.

2006

Site: Roger's Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date: July 15 & August 16, 2006

On July 15th, the Padres defeated the Athletics, 9-2. Victor Ruiz records the win for the Padres tossing 5 strong innings allowing 4 hits and notching 8 strikeouts. Across both teams, Christopher DaCamara was the only player to score more than once. In 3 plate appearances, he walked 3 times and scored 3 times. The A's Santi Mazzeo had the only extra-base hit of the game -- a double. Kevin McGowan took the loss for the A's, after having won at Roger's Centre a season before.

On August 6th, the Boston Orioles bested the Quincy Grays by the score of 10-3 as Orioles pitchers combined to garner 14 K's. Kevin Bell started against his former team and struck out 5 in only two innings of work. Bryan Healey, Adam Clark, Luke Kieffer and Brad Hall combined to stymie the Grays after that and report that the Blue Jays' bullpen is well-stocked with a nice selection of seeds, gum and chocolate.

Chris Buckley
Chris Buckley of the Padres waves to crowd.
MABL Orioles
Orioles bring it in before game.
2005

Site: Roger's Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date: June 18, 2005

With the departure of the Expos from Montreal, athletes moved across Canada in 2005 to play the first Boston adult baseball game ever played at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario -- home of the Blue Jays. In this game, the Boston A's defeated the Boston White Sox 10-9 in extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th inning, the A's Eddie Perez walked to lead off and then stole second. Adam Nichols then delivered a 1-out GWRBI single to plate Perez for the walk off victory.

Also of note, Al Wiesner of the White Sox proposed to his then girlfriend Danielle, on the Jumbotron during the Blue Jays game.

Nate Pane
Nate Pane delivers a pitch.
Al Wiesner
Al Wiesner proposes to Danielle.
2004

Site: Cleveland Circle, Brighton, MA
Date: July 3, 2004

This 4th of July Weekend, Team USA from the Boston Men's Baseball League battled Team Canada from the Ligue de Baseball Senior Majeur of Quebec. The North American rivals squared off for two games at Cleveland Circle. In Game 1, the Canadians romped the Americans 12-1. In Game 2, the score was tied 6-6 going into the 7th inning before the Canadians went ahead to win 10-6 in 9 innings.

 

Site: Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Date: May 29 & August 14, 2004

On May 29th, the Boston Orioles defeated the Mariners 9-4. For the first seven innings, the matchup was a pitcher's duel between the Orioles pitching staff and the Mariners' Matt Englander. Chris Demers held the Mariners hitless through 3 innings. Brian Francoeur pitched the next three innings, giving up an RBI groundout in the fifth inning, cutting the lead to one. Of note, Francoeur loaded the bases in the sixth with nobody out, but found a way to get out of the jam without allowing a Mariner to cross the plate. Englander settled down after the second inning, pitching a quality ball game until he began to falter in the eighth. The Orioles then broke it open by posting six runs in that eighth frame. Al Cacciatore, Jay Thomas and Chris Roupa went a combined 5 for 10 with 6 RBI for the O's. Brian Wildeman went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI for the Mariners. Demers picked up the win. George Haseltine earned his second save of the year.

On August 14th, the Cubs and Cardinals met up in Montreal for their second straight year. This time, the Cubs edged the Cardinals, 9-8. Oddly, Mike Bristol started and finished the game earning the win, but only tossed 5 of the 9 innings (5 innings, 3 earned runs, 6 hits, 7 strikeouts and 3 walks). Doug Rexrode held the Cardinals scoreless for 3.2 innings as well laying down a critical sac bunt that allowed the Cubs to tie the score in bottom of the 7th. Jeremy Broadwell (2-3, 2B, HBP, 2R) blasted a ball to the wall to lead off the 8th and scored the go ahead run on an Aaron Bend (2-4, 3 RBI) single.

2003

Site: Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada
Date: June 21 & August 16, 2003

On June 21st, it took six different Sox pitchers for the Boston White Sox to defeat the Mets 9-6. Eamonn McDonough got the start and did not allow a run in 2 innings. Jim Lane, John Howe, Brian Houlding, Nate Pane and Al Wiesner also got work on the hill. Ultimately, John Howe (2-0) notched the win, tossing 2 innings of no-hit ball.

The Mets struck first in the 4th inning to take a 1-0 lead when Jason Joyce walked, stole his 100th career base, and scored on a Kit Kadlec ROE. But the White Sox quickly tied the score in the 5th inning when Luke Foskett reached, stole 2nd and scored on a Jim Baldyga RBI single. The score was tied at 1-1 going into the 6th inning. But the Sox scored 8 runs in the final 4 frames to walk away with their 2nd straight win in Montreal.

Later that summer on August 16th, the Beantown Cardinals and Cubs played up North, with the Cards coming out on top, 9-3. Chris Caprio led the way with 4 hits, while Dan Jalbert, Mike Greaney, Conrad Paquette each had multiple hits for the Cards. Greaney also got the win, tossing 5 innings of 1-hit ball. Brian Carvalho had 2 hits, including a double and 2 RBI, for the Cubs.

MABL White Sox
White Sox at Olympic Stadium.
Luke Foskett
Luke Foskett preps his bat.
2002

Site: Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada
Date: June 15, 2002

In the first Boston Baseball League regular season game ever played outside of the United States, the Boston White Sox defeated the Mariners 18-5 in 9 innings at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

Across both teams, 17 players had hits: Al Wiesner (triple & 2 singles), Sam Voolich and Jon Banchick, (2 doubles each), Jon Mead, (double & single), Aarron Hutchins, (triple), Kevin Gallagher, (double), Josh Gordon, Mike McInnis, Mike Lembo, Brett Rudy, Mike Burns, Darren Martineau, Mike Freni, Dave Salafia, Corey Aldoupolis, EJ Freni and Justin Wetherby (singles).

Sam Voolich was the starting pitcher for the White Sox, tossing the first 2 innings. Rob Gnoinski was the winning pitcher of record, tossing 2 innings on no-hit ball.

Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium welcomes BBL to Canada.
Sam Voolich
Sam Voolich of the White Sox on the mound.