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Welcome to the Season 17 of the USMLB.

Monday, April 20, 2009

National League Championship Series - Game 4 Recap - Milwaukee at Jackson

Jackson, MS (USMLB AP) - Down by two runs late in the game, the Milwaukee Bucks used a three-run eighth inning to gain and keep the lead, as the Bucks defeated the Jackson BlaZers, 6-5, at Boon Stadium tonight. The win evens the ALCS at two games apiece.

With Bucks 2B Sal Moore on second and Wesley Stanley on first, Julian Hartley grounded a single to left field to bring Moore home.

The next batter, Chris Bellhorn, clipped a double to right field to bring Stanley and Hartley home, giving Milwaukee the 5-4 lead.

The Bucks added another run in the top of the ninth inning off of a single by Moore.

Jackson attempted to stage a comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning with a solo home run by Richie Daniels, but Bucks closer Vernon Bolton held strong to close out the game for Milwaukee.

Bucks reliever Abraham Guerrero was awarded the win for Milwaukee while BlaZers reliever Pepper Gunderson was tagged with the loss.

American League Championship Series - Game 4 Recap - Houston at Atlanta

Atlanta, GA (USMLB AP) - A walk with the bases loaded to Daniel Diaz and a two-out two-run single by Tomas Roque proved to be the difference in the ninth inning, giving Houston the Game 4 win, 6-2, and the commanding 3-1 series lead.

"That's all you need with the bases loaded... an easy single can bring you in two runs, and that's exactly what happened," Houston manager Ernie Key said. "Roque made contact, and it brought in two runs... it's a text book play."

"All I wanted to do was put the ball in play, and that's what I did," Roque admitted. "I was hoping to hit it out of the park, but I'll take the single."

Roque was 2-for-5 brought in three Hitmen on the night while Diaz brought in two, including the RBI on the walk in the top of the ninth. Todd Kirk brought in a run as well.

Kordell Trunk earned the win for the Hitmen, his second on the season, after pitching two innings and giving up two hits while striking out one. Mariano Belliard cleaned up the bottom of the ninth inning, but was not given a save as it was not a save opportunity. Hitmen starter Alberto Sanchez pitched six innings, giving up eight hits and two earned runs, while walking two and striking out four.

Ellie Bowman and Al Skinner brought in the runs for the Brave Vawts, both in the bottom of the second on singles.

William Hanson was tagged with the loss for Atlanta, pitching 1.1 innings and giving the Hitmen the lead with the bases loaded walk and single.