In Majors baseball, advancing in the winners bracket tonight meant surviving exciting and close games.  In Tuesday’s first game, the Yankees staved off the Cardinals 6-5.  The Cardinals jumped out to a 3-0 lead only to watch the Yanks claw back on top 5-3 in the bottom of the first.  The Cardinals pecked their way back into the game, but could not overcome the deficit.  In the Majors nightcap, the Reds took an early 4-0 lead, but the Cubs fought back and eventually lead 8-5.  The Reds bravely battled back to tie the game in the top of the 6th inning, but the Cubs scored the winner in the bottom of the sixth.  The Cardinals play the Reds on Wednesday evening while the Cubs and Yankees battle on Thursday.

In AAA, the Phillies and Jays survived elimination games over the Rockies and Royals and play each other on Wednesday evening.  That game will be followed by the Marlins and the Twins battling for supremacy in the winners side of the bracket.

In AA, the Pirates eliminated the Braves and move on to the AA Championship game on Saturday afternoon.  They will play the winner of Wednesday’s Dodgers-Tigers battle.

All brackets are posted at http://zionsvillelittleleague.org/2012/06/16/2012-rec-tournament-brackets/