WhatIf Baseball Tournament

NLCS Game Four

19 Washington v 98 Atlanta

Washington leads the series 3-0

Game 4:

Washington gets on the board as Anthony Rendon takes Denny Neagle deep in the bottom of the first plating himself and Trea Turner with a two-run bomb.

After singles from Michael Tucker and Denny Neagle, Andruw Jones cut the Nats lead in half in the top of the second with a Texas league single to right.

Rendon got that run back in the bottom of the third by taking Neagle deep a second time, this time down the line to left. Nats up 3-1.

A single by Keith Lockhart and sac bunt from Neagle set up a run-scoring double from Jones followed by a two-run homer from Andres Galarraga as the Braves take a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth.

One inning later, Lockhart clears the wall in center with Tucker on base to push the Atlanta advantage to 6-3.

Tanner Rainey comes on in the sixth and is promptly met with a solo shot from Jones. Walks to Walt Weiss, Galarraga, and Chipper Jones load the bases for Javy Lopez who singles to center scoring one. A Ryan Klesko sac fly then plates Galarraga. Daniel Hudson enters to pitch. Michael Tucker laces a double to right scoring Chipper then Lockhart drives in Lopez and Tucker with a double to center. Braves lead 12-3 after five-and-a-half.

Nagle, settled down now, works through eight innings allowing only three runs and seven hits before Mike Cather closes it out in the ninth.

Washington leads the series 3-1


ALCS Game Four

84 Detroit v 95 Cleveland

Cleveland leads 2-1

Game 4:

Following a Lou Whitaker single to right, Kirk Gibson drives in the game's first run with a double to right center as the Tigers take a 1-0 lead in the first.

The Indians answer back in the second off Milt Wilcox with back-to-back jacks from Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome to take a 2-1 lead.

Cleveland loads the bases with one out in the fifth but manage only one run when Tony Pena scores on an infield ground out by Ramirez. Tribe up 3-1 after four-and-a-half.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Alan Trammell rips a liner down the rightfield line scoring both to knot the game at 3-all. Following a Dave Bergman walk, Lance Parrish plates Trammell with a single. Tigers up 4-3 through six.

The lead did not last long as Cleveland opened the seventh with singles by Eddie Murray and Albert Belle before Ramirez blasted a homer to center. Three batter later, Carlos Baerga makes it a 7-4 contest by smacking a solo homer to left center.

Detroit closes the gap in the eighth as Chet Lemon walks, but is forced at second on a fielder's choice from Trammell. Bergman popped out, but Parrish follows with a two-run shot to right as we go to the ninth with the Indians on top 7-6.

Jose Mesa enters to pitch the ninth with the Indians up one. Larry Herndon strikes out. Howard Johnson strikes out. Whitaker singles to right. Gibson doubles to center, tie ball game. Lemon grounds out to third, we go to extra innings.

Cleveland opens the top of the twelth with walks from Ramirez and Thome before Paul Sorrento pops out. Baerga singles to right scoring Ramirez and he advances to second on the throw home. Omar Vizquel then finds the gap in left-center scoring Thome and Baerga. Tony Pena then singles home Vizquel. Kenny Lofton walks to put runners on first and second then Murray clears the bases with a jack to right-center. One batter later, Belle makes it a 15-7 game with a homer to left.

Bud Black enters to pitch the twelfth. Following a Whitaker fly out, Gibson lines a single to center and he scores one batter later when Lemon drills a double down the rightfield line. After a Trammell ground out, Black hits Bergman with a pitch and walks Parrish to load the bases. Darrell Evans clears them with a double as the Tigers close to within four at 15-11. Ken Hill enters to pitch and retires Herndon on a ground out to short to end the contest.

Cleveland leads the series 3-1.