The Loco Perro Expos must enjoy the losers bracket.

The last two season’s the team has begun the playoffs with a “win or go home” attitude and rose to the occasion. Last year it was a 1-0 thriller over the Willimantic Ridges, this year an 8-0 dominating performance taking down the Bristol Knights.

Luke Palma, the Knights sidewinder came out quick shutting down the Expos 1,2,3 in the first, but struggled to find the strike zone the rest of the game. In the second, the Expos jumped out to a 3-0 lead and wouldn’t look back. Brian Kohn provided a double down the right field line setting the tone for the game.

Alex Iannone, the Expos best pitcher all year, stepped up to the occasion throwing seven innings and allowing only two hits. One was a bunt to lead off the game by Julio Rivera-Ortiz and the second was a single the dropped in after the ball came out of Derek Turner’s glove when he attempted to make a sliding catch in right field.

The Expos forced the Knights to make a few errors by putting the ball in play and causing distractions on the base paths.

The Expos will play Rivals Indians on Tuesday at 6 p.m. after they lost to the Ridges 1-0 Monday night.

*****

Other first round finals…

Elmer’s defeated CS&D Twins, 6-3

Portland Panthers defeated Manchester Mayhem, 10-0 (Five inning mercy rule)

*****

Elmer’s will play the Mayhem at 8 p.m. Tuesday night while the Expos and Indians play at 6 p.m. Both games at Rotary Field in South Windsor.

The winners from the winner bracket: Willimantic will play #1 Glastonbury while the Portland Panthers will play the #2 East Hartford Angels, both on Wednesday.