For those of you who missed it, last night marked Major League Baseball's 88th Annual All-Star Game. The first Midsummer Classic was played in 1933 at Comiskey Park in Chicago and resulted in a 4-2 American League win over the National League. The game featured none other than the Great Bamino, Babe Ruth, blasting the first home run in All-Star game history to give the American League a 3-0 lead. This year's installation of the game looks to be a thrilling affair. We live in a rare age of both prolific pitching and prodigious power. It is the year of the strikeout and the year of the home run and we're seeing the ball leave the park at historic rates (the MLB is on pace for more than 6,100 home runs). In 1933, the year of the first MLB All-Star game, there was grand total of 1,067 home runs. Likewise, strikeouts are being recorded at a record pace. Midway through the year, we are already at 21,855 punch outs. Truly, we are in the age of the slugger. Since 2010, the winner of the All-Star game has determined home field advantage for the World Series. However, that rule has been rescinded this year and this will be a true exhibition game. This is the first time that the event will take place in Miami.
Any thought that this was just an exhibition game is dispelled, however, as National's hurler Max Scherzer pumps in a 96 mph fastball for strike one of the game to diminutive Houston Astro's second baseman, Jose Altuve. Altuve raps a grounder back to the mound which is fielded cleanly by Washington's ace and thrown to first for the game's first out. Cleveland Indian's third baseman, Jose Ramirez, absolutely rockets a ball to right field past a diving Ryan Zimmerman for the game's first hit. Up next is the Judge! Aaron Judge's 30 home runs before the break is mind-boggling. However, at this point, Scherzer is building up quite a lather and I'm sure that the entire stadium can hear him as he fires in fastball after fastball. 98 mph! As entertaining as it is, I can't help, but feel slightly nervous in an exhibition game of any sort with the ever-pervasive risk of arm injury. I love Dusty Baker as a manager; he seems to have built a great chemistry in the Nats clubhouse this year. That being said, some of the issues he had when he was the Cubs manager exist to this day. He loves letting his starters pitch and he lets them work deep into their games. On a 3-2 count, Scherzer punches out Aaron Judge on a nasty slider to the outside corner. Astro's center fielder George Springer is up next and starts his at-bat off with a flailing swing on a sweeping slider that almost skips to the backstop. Four Washington Nationals are in the starting line-up for the National League with Max Scherzer, Ryan Zimmerman, Bryce Harper, and Daniel Murphy drawing the start on the mound, at first, in right field, and at second base respectively. A swinging strikeout by Springer ends the top of the first inning for the energetic Scherzer who pumps his fist as he walks off the field.
Rockies center fielder and home run derby contestant Charlie Blackmon leads off for the National League. He'll be facing off against Boston Red Sox pitcher, Chris Sale. Sale has the distinction of being the first player in Major League history to start back-to-back All-Star games for the Chicago White Sox and then the Boston Red Sox. Don't you just love those bizarre little statistics that Ken Rosenthal comes up with? First pitch by Sale is a 98 mph fastball in the dirt. Blackmon lines out to Aaron Judge in right field for the first out in the bottom of the first. The crowd gives out a lusty cheer for its hometown hero, Giancarlo Stanton, as he steps up to the plate. A Bugs Bunny slider by Sale puts Stanton down by two strikes and then Stanton is blown away by a cannon shot at 98 MPH on the outside corner which he flails at feebly. It has to be really tough to face a guy who can ramp it up to almost 100 MPH, but also have to be aware of that low-80s slider. Tough lefty-on-lefty match-up now for 2015 NL MVP Bryce Harper. Harper fists a single out to left field for a two out hit. The National's right fielder has done a great job this season cutting down his swing and putting the ball in play. Giants stalwart, Buster Posey, rips a ball down the left field line that looks to be going for extra bases, but hooks foul. There is a scary moment later in the at-bat as Kansas City Royal's catcher Salvador Perez took a 0-2 foul tip off of his throwing hand. Perez is a tough player, though, and he remains in the game. The first pitch after that brief injury timeout is flown out to center to Red Sox center fielder Mookie Betts to end the inning. One inning down. On to the 2nd.
Phillies sidewinder Pat Neshek takes over for the NL on the mound. Houston shortstop Carlos Correa flies out to Charlie Blackmon in center field to start the second inning. Toronto Blue Jay's first baseman Justin Smoak steps up to the plate and it's good to see that he has finally evolved into the type of hitter scouts thought he would be years ago (it's hard to believe that he's been in the majors for eight years now). Smoak smokes a ball to right field for a one-out single. Tampa Bay Rays DH Corey Dickerson is up next. Dickerson flies out to right field on a quick pitch by Neshek for the second out of the inning. Salvador Perez steps up next and quickly works the count to 2-1 before launching a ball to the right center gap. Bryce Harper closes in, though, and makes a lunging grab before sprawling out on the grass to end the inning.
Rockies center fielder and home run derby contestant Charlie Blackmon leads off for the National League. He'll be facing off against Boston Red Sox pitcher, Chris Sale. Sale has the distinction of being the first player in Major League history to start back-to-back All-Star games for the Chicago White Sox and then the Boston Red Sox. Don't you just love those bizarre little statistics that Ken Rosenthal comes up with? First pitch by Sale is a 98 mph fastball in the dirt. Blackmon lines out to Aaron Judge in right field for the first out in the bottom of the first. The crowd gives out a lusty cheer for its hometown hero, Giancarlo Stanton, as he steps up to the plate. A Bugs Bunny slider by Sale puts Stanton down by two strikes and then Stanton is blown away by a cannon shot at 98 MPH on the outside corner which he flails at feebly. It has to be really tough to face a guy who can ramp it up to almost 100 MPH, but also have to be aware of that low-80s slider. Tough lefty-on-lefty match-up now for 2015 NL MVP Bryce Harper. Harper fists a single out to left field for a two out hit. The National's right fielder has done a great job this season cutting down his swing and putting the ball in play. Giants stalwart, Buster Posey, rips a ball down the left field line that looks to be going for extra bases, but hooks foul. There is a scary moment later in the at-bat as Kansas City Royal's catcher Salvador Perez took a 0-2 foul tip off of his throwing hand. Perez is a tough player, though, and he remains in the game. The first pitch after that brief injury timeout is flown out to center to Red Sox center fielder Mookie Betts to end the inning. One inning down. On to the 2nd.
Phillies sidewinder Pat Neshek takes over for the NL on the mound. Houston shortstop Carlos Correa flies out to Charlie Blackmon in center field to start the second inning. Toronto Blue Jay's first baseman Justin Smoak steps up to the plate and it's good to see that he has finally evolved into the type of hitter scouts thought he would be years ago (it's hard to believe that he's been in the majors for eight years now). Smoak smokes a ball to right field for a one-out single. Tampa Bay Rays DH Corey Dickerson is up next. Dickerson flies out to right field on a quick pitch by Neshek for the second out of the inning. Salvador Perez steps up next and quickly works the count to 2-1 before launching a ball to the right center gap. Bryce Harper closes in, though, and makes a lunging grab before sprawling out on the grass to end the inning.
Chris Sale stays in to start the bottom half of the second inning and Nat's second baseman Daniell Murphy leads off the inning by punching a single to left field on the first pitch. Rockie's slugger Nolan Arenado follows Murphy's hit up with a single of his own. To this point in the season, Arenado has already amassed fifty extra base hits. A truly remarkable statistic for a truly remarkable player. Nat's first baseman (still feels weird to say that) Ryan Zimmerman grounds into a sharply turned 4-6-3 double play that features the Houston middle infield duo of Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. Marlin's outfielder Marcell Ozuna comes up with a chance to drive in the first run of the game and he takes a wild hack that results in strike one. Ozuna strikes out on a ball in the dirt that is thrown down to first to end the inning.
To start the third inning, we get to see the second coming of Pedro Martinez, Cardinal's ace Carlos Martinez. A ground out by Mookie Betts on a 101 mph fastball to Ryan Zimmerman results in out number one. Back to the top of the lineup, Martinez gets Jose Altuve to strikeout on a nasty slider low and away for the inning's second out. Jose Ramirez moves to 2-2 on the day with another line drive single to right field. Home run derby champion, Aaron Judge, comes up for his second at-bat of the game. With Martinez focused solely on punching out Judge, Jose Ramirez gets a huge jump and steals second base easily. Posey's throw down wasn't even close. However, a routine groundout by Judge to Cincinnati Red's shortstop Zach Cozart ends the top half of the inning.
Yankees set-up stud Dellin Betances is on the mound now for the AL and Zach Cozart greets him by ambushing his first pitch fastball, blasting it to center field. George Spinger is apparently miked up for the inning which makes me wonder how difficult it would be to play a game while having to hold a conversation with Joe Buck. The man is so boring that he couldn't even entertain a doubt. Betances buckles down and gets Charlie Blackmon to go down on strikes and then punches out Giancarlo Stanton on four pitches. Overpowered is about the most appropriate term for that at-bat that I can think of. Bryce Harper steps up for his second at-bat of the game and Betances works the count quickly to 1-2. After that leadoff single, Betances is hoping to strikeout the side. A curveball spiked in the dirt eludes Salvador Perez and sends Cozart to second. It has to be difficult for the catchers in these games to manage these pitching staffs. Every pitcher's pitches move a little bit differently and it can't be easy getting a feel for a pitcher based on a handful of warmup throws. Harper fouls off a couple of tough pitches and walks to put runners on first and second now (unofficially, it is his fifty eighth walk of the season). A fastball to Buster Posey flies to the backstop moving the runners to second and third (Betance's second wild-pitch of the inning). Three pitches later, Buster Posey trots on to first base to loads the bases for Daniel Murphy. However, Betances works out of trouble by getting Murphy to groundout to end the inning. Score remains tied, 0-0.
Carlos Martinez still in for the National League. George Springer leads off and strikes out on a whiffle ball curveball. Carlos Correa up next. Harper is miked up now and he looks considerably more comfortable being talked to than Springer did. It is amusing how Harper's voice (and thoughts) seem to trail off as the pitch heads into home plate. Bryce gets Joe Buck on the discussion of football and they converse about the upcoming NFL season. Buck is clearly a better football commentator than a baseball broadcaster. Carlos Correa strikes out as well and Martinez is making quick work of the AL All-Star lineup. Justin Smoak is up for his second at-bat and he works a four pitch walk. Corey Dickerson gets carved up by Carlos Martinez and punched out for the inning's final out.
Crafty Kansas City hurler Jason Vargas is in now for the AL. There have been a lot of changes for the American League as the Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano comes in at third. First time All-Star Yonder Alonso comes in at first and Orioles' second baseman Jonathan Schoop round out the changes. Nolan Arenado bangs a leadoff single to left field on the fifth pitch of his at-bat. Vargas isn't quite the fire-baller that his All-Star counterparts are, but he works quickly and is throwing a variety of pitches checking in at under 80 mph (pretty sure I saw faster traffic on I-95 this past weekend). Ryan Zimmerman hits into his second DP of the game (a rather unconventional one) as he flies out to Mookie Betts in deep center and Nolan Arenado is absolutely hosed trying to take second base by a strong throw the Red Sox outfielder. A ground ball out by Marcell Ozuna ends the inning, perhaps the quickest half inning of the game by the soft-tossing lefty from Apple Valley, California.
Alex Wood of the Dodgers is in now for the NL. The slender lefty boasts a perfect 10-0 record to start the season. Combined, Wood and Clayton Kershaw are 24-2 this year atop the Dodgers starting rotation. Come post-season, that duo is going to be tough to beat in a seven game series. Salvador Perez pops out to Daniel Murphy for out the first out. Mookie Betts flies out to Charlie Blackmon in center field for out number two. You know, it looks like I may have jinxed things by mentioning the quick half inning by Vargas. Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop is up now and he falls down in the count quickly to 0-2. Schoop is one of the few Orioles who is showing any form of consistency on a team that looked to be the MLB's best early on in the season, but has fallen on hard times the past month and a half. Schoop sneaks a two-out double past a diving Nolan Arenado down the left field line. Home run derby runner-up Miguel Sano is up now and as the commentators discuss the great velocities he has posted on some of his base hits, he bloops a perfectly placed ball that lands in between Harper, Murphy, and Zimmerman in right field. That hit leads to the game's first run as Schoop was off and moving on contact. Aaron Judge is up for the third time now and he puts a charge into one out to center field that looks initially like it might be the first rookie home run ever in an All Star game, but it's caught by Charlie Blackmon to end the inning. 1-0 American League now and we're on to the bottom of the fifth.
Twins closer Brandon Kintzler is in now. There are a handful of changes defensively for the National League. Detroit Tiger's Justin Upton comes in for Aaron Judge out in right field and Francisco Lindor comes in at shortstop for Carlos Correa. Zach Cozart grounds out meekly to start the inning. Charlie Blackmon moves to 0-3 as he grounds out to second base for the second out. Giancarlo Stanton clips a little chopper just in front of the mound and is thrown out at first base by Salvador Perez to end the inning.
There is a sweet moment to start the sixth as players, umpires, and fans paid honor to those battling cancer by holding signs signifying who they "stood up for". Cancer is a disease that affects us all in some way, shape, or form. Fox's coverage followed that moment up with a commercial featuring Anthony Rizzo, a Hodgkin's lymphona survivor himself. Well done, MLB.
Zack Greinke is in now for the National League and there are some wholesale defensive changes as well. Arizona Diamondback's first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has subbed in for Ryan Zimmerman. Justin Turner, Corey Seager, and Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers are in at third base, shortstop, and right field respectively. Turner's beard is threatening to gain sentience. Pittsburgh Pirate Josh Harrison comes in at second base and New York Met Michael Conforto trots out to left field. Eight time All-Star Yadier Molina comes in at catcher. Lastly, Ender Inciarte, the talented Braves outfielder, takes over in center. George Springer flies out to newly entered Inciarte for the inning's first out. Francisco Lindor strikes out on a tough pitch that was running away from him by Greinke for out number two. Oakland Athletic Yonder Alonso bloops a single to right field. Seattle Mariner Nelson Cruz has subbed into the game and he gets Yadier Molina to snap a picture himself and Joe West. It's a funny moment that I'm sure took Joe West by surprise. Nelson Cruz blasts a ball to deep center that is caught by Inciarte to end the inning. On his way back to his dugout, he shakes hands with Angel Hernandez. It's good to see that from an All-Star. Baseball is supposed to be fun and Cruz is putting on a good show for millions of young fans everywhere.
Minnesota Twin Ervin Santana is in now. It is the second career All-Star selection for the lanky right hander out of the Dominican Republic. Joining him as substitutes are Cleveland Indian Michael Brantley and the Miguel Cabrera doppelganger known as Avisail García. Cody Bellinger steps to the plate and he grounds out to Jonathan Schoop who fires the ball to Alonso at first to get the inning started. New York Yankee Gary Sanchez has taken over for Salvador Perez behind home plate as well. Yadier Molina crushes the third pitch of his at-bat into the right field bullpen to tie the game at 1-1. It is an awesome moment for the old veteran and the crowd goes wild. Molina is batting .625 (5-for-8) as an All-Star. It is an impressive fact, but it isn't nearly as impressive as the fact that, with his 385 foot blast, Yadier Molina etched his name in the record books as the oldest catcher to hit a home run in the Midsummer Classic. Josh Harrison comes up now for the NL. For the second time in a game, a foul tip catches a catcher on his throwing hand. Harrison strikes out on a slider low and away for the inning's second out. Justin Turner goes up swinging and he pops out to Jonathan Schoop to end the inning.
Former Marlin, now San Diego Padre Brad Hand is in for the National League on the mound and he'll face off against Gary Sanchez. Jake Lamb of the Diamondbacks takes over at third as well. Sanchez grounds out to Harrison at second base to start the inning. Avisail García is up next. García leads the American League in batting average vs. lefties so this could bode well for the American League. Garcia ropes a ball to left field, but it's caught by Michael Conforto for the inning's second out. Mariner's star Robinson Cano, in now for Jonathan Schoop, strikes out on three pitches. Good morning, good afternoon, good night. Score is tied at 1.
Toronto Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna comes and he'll face off vs. Paul Goldschmidt. The burly first baseman flies out down the right field line to start the inning. Mike Moustakas has come in as well at third base. The American League team has now used all of its position players which is good to see. Fans come to these games to see their favorite players play and Brad Mills had done a great job ensuring that all his position players get in to show off for the fans. Michael Conforto steps up to the plate and he drives the ball to left field for a one-out single. Corey Seager grounds into a routine 4-6-3 double play on a high bouncing ground ball. Inning over and we're on to the eighth!
Former teammates Greg Holland faces off against Mike Moustakas and the Moose launches the first pitch deep to right field which is caught by Cody Bellinger near the warning track. Holland has been one of the driving forces behind the Rockies strong first half of the season. Hopefully, he can keep it going in the season's second half. Justin Upton goes down on strikes after a five pitch at-bat. Indians left fielder Michael Brantley is up now for his first at-bat. I can't help but wonder if last years World Series would've had a different outcome if Brantley were healthy for the Indians. The talented left fielder only played eleven games for the American League champions last year, but he has returned back to form this season. Brantley drives a two out single to right field to keep the inning going. Francisco Lindor goes down on strikes for the second time in the game to end the inning.
Chris Devenski of the Houston Astros is in now. I can't wait to see the "circle of death", the nickname for his change-up. It is almost as if he has a little string tied to the ball that he can yank as it nears home plate, slowing it down to elude opponent's bats. Ender Inciarte lines out to Yonder Alonso on a 1-1 count for the inning's first out. Joey Votto is in for the NL and strikes out on that aforementioned circle of death. Simply filthy movement from the Astro's young reliever. Cody Bellinger grounds out to Cano at second base for the inning's final out.
Kenley Jansen is in now and he gives up a lead off single to Yonder Alonso that finds its way through the infield shift. Although Kenley Jansen is similar to fellow cutter extraordinaire Mariano Rivera in that they rely heavily on their moving fastballs, make no mistake that Jansen is in a league of his own with the velocity which he throws that pitch. Nelson Cruz steps in for the second time of the game. During the at-bat, Yonder Alonso steals second base easily (not going to lie, I really didn't see that one coming; Alonso isn't your typical speed demon). Cruz strikes out on a nasty cutter by Jansen for the innings first out and Gary Sanchez strikes out as well. Avisail García is up now. Yonder Alonso advances to third base on a balk by Jansen moving the tie-breaking run only ninety feet away. García strikes out, though, to end the threat.
It is the bottom of the ninth and Red Sox finisher Craig Kimbrel is in now. Yadier Molina leads off and he works a four pitch walk. Josh Harrison gets punched out by the Red Sox relief ace. Jake Lamb steps up to the plate for the first time today finally. A passed ball by Gary Sanchez on a high throw from Kimbrel moves Molina to second base to put the winning run in scoring position. Jake Lamb works out a walk to put runners on first and second. Paul Goldschmidt flies out to center, but it is far enough for Molina to move up ninety feet to third base. Met Michael Conforto gets the chance to play hero for the NL if he can drive in a run here. However, Conforto strikes out though to end the inning. Looks like we're in for some free baseball, folks!
The Cubs' lone All-Star Wade Davis is in now and he'll face Robinson Cano to start the 10th inning. Cano leads off the inning with a homer to right field on a screaming line drive. Mike Moustakas is up next and he strikes out. Justin Upton singles to center field early on in his at-bat, but Michael Brantley grounds into a slickly fielded 1-6-3 double play to end the inning. The damage has been done, however, and the AL leads 2-1 headed to the bottom of the 10th!
Toronto Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna comes and he'll face off vs. Paul Goldschmidt. The burly first baseman flies out down the right field line to start the inning. Mike Moustakas has come in as well at third base. The American League team has now used all of its position players which is good to see. Fans come to these games to see their favorite players play and Brad Mills had done a great job ensuring that all his position players get in to show off for the fans. Michael Conforto steps up to the plate and he drives the ball to left field for a one-out single. Corey Seager grounds into a routine 4-6-3 double play on a high bouncing ground ball. Inning over and we're on to the eighth!
Former teammates Greg Holland faces off against Mike Moustakas and the Moose launches the first pitch deep to right field which is caught by Cody Bellinger near the warning track. Holland has been one of the driving forces behind the Rockies strong first half of the season. Hopefully, he can keep it going in the season's second half. Justin Upton goes down on strikes after a five pitch at-bat. Indians left fielder Michael Brantley is up now for his first at-bat. I can't help but wonder if last years World Series would've had a different outcome if Brantley were healthy for the Indians. The talented left fielder only played eleven games for the American League champions last year, but he has returned back to form this season. Brantley drives a two out single to right field to keep the inning going. Francisco Lindor goes down on strikes for the second time in the game to end the inning.
Chris Devenski of the Houston Astros is in now. I can't wait to see the "circle of death", the nickname for his change-up. It is almost as if he has a little string tied to the ball that he can yank as it nears home plate, slowing it down to elude opponent's bats. Ender Inciarte lines out to Yonder Alonso on a 1-1 count for the inning's first out. Joey Votto is in for the NL and strikes out on that aforementioned circle of death. Simply filthy movement from the Astro's young reliever. Cody Bellinger grounds out to Cano at second base for the inning's final out.
Kenley Jansen is in now and he gives up a lead off single to Yonder Alonso that finds its way through the infield shift. Although Kenley Jansen is similar to fellow cutter extraordinaire Mariano Rivera in that they rely heavily on their moving fastballs, make no mistake that Jansen is in a league of his own with the velocity which he throws that pitch. Nelson Cruz steps in for the second time of the game. During the at-bat, Yonder Alonso steals second base easily (not going to lie, I really didn't see that one coming; Alonso isn't your typical speed demon). Cruz strikes out on a nasty cutter by Jansen for the innings first out and Gary Sanchez strikes out as well. Avisail García is up now. Yonder Alonso advances to third base on a balk by Jansen moving the tie-breaking run only ninety feet away. García strikes out, though, to end the threat.
It is the bottom of the ninth and Red Sox finisher Craig Kimbrel is in now. Yadier Molina leads off and he works a four pitch walk. Josh Harrison gets punched out by the Red Sox relief ace. Jake Lamb steps up to the plate for the first time today finally. A passed ball by Gary Sanchez on a high throw from Kimbrel moves Molina to second base to put the winning run in scoring position. Jake Lamb works out a walk to put runners on first and second. Paul Goldschmidt flies out to center, but it is far enough for Molina to move up ninety feet to third base. Met Michael Conforto gets the chance to play hero for the NL if he can drive in a run here. However, Conforto strikes out though to end the inning. Looks like we're in for some free baseball, folks!
The Cubs' lone All-Star Wade Davis is in now and he'll face Robinson Cano to start the 10th inning. Cano leads off the inning with a homer to right field on a screaming line drive. Mike Moustakas is up next and he strikes out. Justin Upton singles to center field early on in his at-bat, but Michael Brantley grounds into a slickly fielded 1-6-3 double play to end the inning. The damage has been done, however, and the AL leads 2-1 headed to the bottom of the 10th!
Cleveland Indian Andrew Miller is in now for the AL and he'll have the change to earn the save. Corey Seager is leading off for the National League and he smacks a pitch that looks to be a double at the very least, but a sliding snag by Justin Upton robs Seager of extra bases. Ender Inciarte follows that up with a ground ball up the middle that gets fielded by Francisco Lindor and is thrown out at first base. Joey Votto does what he does best and draws a four pitch walk, a tough job given the lefty-on-lefty match-up. Cody Bellinger steps up and has the chance to be the hero, but the rookie goes down on strikes to end the game for a 2-1 American League victory.
All images provided by mlb.com and sbnation.com.
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