American League Championship Series - Game 1 Recap - Atlanta at Houston

Houston, TX (USMLB AP) - Alberto Sanchez pitched seven strong innings and Sean Foster's thirteenth inning walk-off double gave Houston Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, 2-1, this afternoon in Minute Maid Park.

In what was an absolute pitcher's duel, Houston came out on top. Hitmen starter Sanchez showed a strong outing, pitching 7.2 innings in the game, giving up seven hits and one earned run, while walking one batter and striking out nine.

"Both teams pitched an absolute gem of a game today," Houston manager Ernie Key commented. "Our guys just kept battling through, and we came out with the win."

"I gave up more hits than I wanted to, but I kept my focus and pushed through," Hitmen starting pitcher Sanchez said. "Our bullpen did a great job after I was taken out of the game, and that was the key to our victory."

Pitching has been a strong suit for the Hitmen all season, posting a team 4.04 ERA, good for fifth in the league.

Who was fourth in the league this year with a 3.97 ERA? You guessed it... the Brave Vawts.

"We knew, going into this series, that it was going to be the battle of the pitchers," third-year coach Trevor Patrick recalled. "This game was a great example of what's most likely to come."

Both teams were held to under .200 batting average in the game.

The scoring started in the bottom of the fifth inning when Hitmen designated hitter, Geraldo Rodriguez, crushed a solo home run to right center field.

The Brave Vawts tied the game at one apiece when Cookie Pena hit a line drive single to left center to bring in Mitch Durbin.

"We needed that run pretty badly considering how strong Sanchez had been pitching all game" coach Patrick commented. "I'm not sure we would have had a chance to score in the ninth considering how well Trunk had pitched in the regular season."

The Hitmen had a chance to win the game in the tenth with Rocky Meadows on second base after a two-out steal, putting him in scoring position. After an intentional walk to Tomas Roque, Todd Howry was caught looking at a pitch on the inside corner for strike three.

Atlanta had a chance to take the lead in the top of the thirteenth. With Mitch Durbin on second base and Ellie Bowman on first with one out, a ground single to left center field gave an opportunity for Durbin to score the go-ahead run, but he was thrown out at home by Hitmen left fielder Donaldo Calderon. Cookie Pena grounded out to shortstop which ended the threat.

In the bottom of the thirteenth inning, with Edgar Tejada on second base after a double, the Brave Vawts made a pitching change, hoping that William Hanson could get the Vawts out of the jam. Unfortunately for Atlanta, Foster lined a double to bring in the winning run for Houston.

AL Division Series Recap - Milwaukee vs. Tacoma

AL DIVISION SERIES RECAP:

MILWAUKEE BUCKS VS. TACOMA PIONEERS
Milwaukee Bucks win the series, 3-0.


Game 1 - Tacoma-5 Milwaukee-6
Down 5-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Milwaukee overcame adversity and scored four runs in the last two innings of the game to steal the win from Tacoma in, winning Game 1, 6-5.

"We were having a tough run against Peter Baek. He held us to five hits in the game, but we never lost our focus," commented Milwaukee fourth year bench coach, Terry Giles. "Moreno came through for us tonight with that homer."

Rafael Moreno only batted .245 on the season, but he came through in a big way in the bottom of the ninth. With two men on base and two out, Moreno hit a walk-off home run to left center that barely cleared the wall to give Tacoma the win.

"I know I'm good... I just proved it again tonight," said a confident Moreno. "Anyone who doubted me was wrong, and I say to them, 'it's time to believe'".

Milwaukee was able to shake off a shaky start from Raymond Walton, and Jim Nathan pitched a scoreless 3.2 innings to set up Cameron Knight for the win.

2B Sal Moore had two hits and two runs on the night to aide in the cause.

Tacoma's offense was provided by 1B Jackson Cooper, who went 3-5 on the day with three RBI, two runs, and a stolen base.

LF Vinny May and starting pitcher Peter Baek knocked in a run each as well. Baek pithced eight strong innings, giving up five hits, three earned runs, and a walk while striking out six.

Reliever J.J. Blank gave up two hits and two earned runs in .2 innings for the Pioneers, blowing the save opportunity and taking the loss for Tacoma.


Game 2 - Tacoma-1 Milwaukee-5
Wesley Stanley and Julian Hartley homered, and P.T. Ramirez pitched six strong innings as Milwaukee won Game 2 of the five game series, 5-1, at Miller Park.

The Bucks gained the early lead with an RBI double in the first inning by Danny Harding and a two-RBI single by P.T. Ramirez in the second.

Tacoma put their first run on the board off of a groundball single by Norberto Manuel, bringing in Jackson Cooper. Manuel was 2-for-3 on the night while Cooper was 2-for-4.

Solo home runs by and Julian Hartley and Wesley Stanley put the game out of reach for the Pioneers, giving Milwaukee the 2-0 series lead.

P.T. Ramirez had an outstanding outing, giving up only one earned run and three hits in six innings, while striking out six. Cameron Knight, Abraham Guerrero, and Tomas Olivares closed out the game for the Bucks, giving up no runs, two hits, and two walks to close out the game. Olivares earned his first save of the postseason.

Pioneer starter Brandon Ellis took the loss for Tacoma, giving up six hits and three runs. Ellis struck out three. Relievers J.J. Blank and Duke Ford pitched an inning and gave up a run each.


Game 3 - Milwaukee-13 Tacoma-7.
Milwaukee had a lot of motivation going into this game... their first appearance in the League Division Championship Series in organization history... and they made it known to Tacoma that they were going to have a battle on their hands, to which Milwaukee ended up victorious, 13-7, to make organization history.

"We are quite proud of this unbelievable achievement in our organization's history," said team GM and owner waydogg5. "We can't revel in this achievement just yet since our eye is on winning the world championship."

Tacoma did not waste time in their must-win game, scoring a run in the bottom of the first.

Milwaukee answered in the top of the second with a 2-run home run by Heinie Miller.

The Pioneers battled back to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Ray Hines.

Tacoma tied the game in the bottom of the third on a play at home in which Vinny May avoided the tag on a throw from Orber Sierra.

"It was a great throw by (Orber) Sierra, and I thought he may have had me," May told reporters. "Somehow I was able to .avoid the tag and get the run."

"That was a great play by May to avoid the tag," Bucks coach Terry Giles remarked. "He has a great head on his shoulders and saw where he needed to slide in to avoid the tag. That run was huge for us."

Milwaukee countered in the top of the forth inning with a monster 2-run home run by Chris Bellhorn, his first home run of the post-season.

Jackson Cooper didn't waste any time in the bottom of the fourth inning, hitting a home run as the lead off batter to left field. The Pioneers deficit was down to one.

Milwaukee decided once and for all that they didn't want to keep Tacoma in the game, scoring five runs in the top of the fifth inning. Sierra and Danny Harding knocked in a run each while Miller knocked in his third and fourth RBI of the game. Sal Moore scored in the inning off of an errant to first by Tacoma left fielder Vinnie May.

The Bucks added two more runs off of a Harding triple and a Stanley single in the top of the sixth.

Tacoma tallied four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cut their deficit to four runs. With two runners on base, Peter Herndon grounded out to shortstop, but pitcher Keith Donovan scored on the play. On the next play, Tony Rodriguez doubled to score Quilvio Belliard. Jackson Cooper hit his second home run of the game, a two-run home run, to score Tacoma's fourth run of the inning.

Milwaukee added two runs in the eighth inning to seal the victory, and the series, for the Bucks.

AL Division Series Recap - Jackson vs. Monterrey

AL DIVISION SERIES RECAP:

JACKSON BLAZERS VS. MONTERREY STARS
Jackson BlaZers win the series, 4-3

Jackson, Mississippi (USMLB AP) - After posting the best record in the league, the Monterrey Stars were thought by many to breeze to their third championship in four seasons, but he Jackson BlaZers thought otherwise, upsetting the number one team in the league, three games to one.

"Though we didnt' meet during the regular season, our scouts did a fantastic job in helping us get ready for this series", commented BlaZers first year manager Marc Purcell. "Though we were the underdog, I think our guys used that as motivation to win this series."

"I'm really proud of our guys", BlaZers President and GM bodean remarked. "All of the hard work and 5-a-days during spring training really paid off."


Game 1 - Jackson-4 Monterrey-2
In Game 1, the BlaZers took the early lead and held on for the victory, posting a 4-2 score, thanks to a stellar pitching performance by Wilt Frank . Frank held the Stars to four hits in seven innings, giving up two earned runs and two walks while striking out four.

The scoring started in the top of the second inning when, while helping his own cause, Frank knocked in CF Sven Griffin on a ground single to center field. 2B Donatello Carpenter followed with a line drive single to right center field, plating Norman Richard.

In the top of the third inning, Jackson extended their lead another run on a fielder's choice by RF Phil Martin, plating SS Ken Lincoln.

Monterrey put two runs on the board in the third inning, thanks to a two-run homer to left center field by Stars CF Rondell Lowe, cutting the BlaZers lead to one run.

Griffin added an insurance run to Jackson's lead with a solo home run to right center field in the top of the eighth inning, sealing Jackson's victory and giving them the 1-0 series lead.


Game 2 - Jackson-4 Monterrey-7
Monterrey struck back in Game 2, winning the game, 7-4, in front of a sold out crowd in Monterrey.

The Stars, this time around, scored the first two runs in the game thanks to a two-run home run to centerfield by 3B Bobby Henry which brought in Stars second baseman Brian Turner.

Jackson struck back in the third inning, putting three runs up on the board. With 1B Tim Perry on second after a stolen base, CF Norman Richard smoked a line drive single to right center, bringing home Perry. After a walk to the next batter, C Red Sullivan, 3B Sven Griffin smacked a fly ball double to center, scoring Richard and Sullivan to give Jackson the one-run lead.

Monterrey added a run in the bottom of the inning off of a line-drive single from Star catcher Brooks Surtain, but Jackson would answer in the top of the inning with a sacrifice to center field by Richie Daniels, plating 2B Donatello Carpenter to maintain the one-run lead.

Monterrey blew the game open in the bottom of the fifth inning with a three-run home run by
LF Eric Flynn.

Brian Turner would add one more run in the bottom of the sixth to seal the victory and bring the series to a 1-1 tie.


Game 3 - Monterrey-3 Jackson-6
Jackson takes the 3-1 series lead by defeating the Stars, 6-3.

Monterrey started the scoring in the top of the second inning off of a two-run home run by Clem Barkley.

Jackson responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Red Sullivan hit a single to score Sven Griffin. Two batters later, Donatello Carpenter hit a fly ball single to left center field to even the score. LF Pep Chang popped a single through to right center field to plate Sullivan and give Jackson the 3-2 lead.

Monterrey evened up the score two innings later with a solo home run by Rondell Lowe.

Jackson took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth when SS Ken Lincoln and Tim Perry scored off of a single to center field by Sven Griffin.

Lincoln would add one more run for the BlaZers in the bottom of the six to ensure the win for Jackson and give them the 3-1 series lead.


Game 4 - Monterrey-3 Jackson-8
Jackson takes it to Monterrey to clinch the series, 4-1.

In a must-win situation, Monterrey put the first run on the board in the top of the fourth when SS Clem Barkley hit a line drive to left center field to bring in 3B Bobby Henry, taking the 1-0 lead.

Jackson took a commanding lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a walk by Monterrey starter Wilson Fisher to Jackson CF Norman Richard, and a single by Red Sullivan, Jackson starting pitcher Bey Dillon helped his own cause by ripping a line drive to right field to bring both Rihard and Sillivan in, giving the BlaZers the 4-1 lead.

Monterrey cut the lead down to one run in the top of the seventh on a solo home run by Rondell Lowe and a double by lead-off hitter Benny James. Just like that, Monterrey was back in the game.

Unfortunately for Monterrey, Jackson answered Monterrey's two runs with three runs in the bottom of the seventh and one run in the bottom of the eighth.

Monterrey had a prime chance to make a miraculous comeback with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth inning after Jackson reliever Pepper Gunderson threw himself into a jam, giving up three hits to the first three batters he faced. After Gunderson struck out Stars pinch-hitter Ricardo Ramirez, BlaZers skipper Marc Purcell brought in his closer, Kane Hines, hoping to help Jackson get out of the jam. What a smart move it was to bring in his reliable closer as Hines got Benny James to fly out and 2B Brian Turner to strike out, ending the game and clinching the series.

With the win, Jackson was able to pull off the upset and ensure the BlaZers first appearance into the League Championship Series since the inaugural season of the league.