AL Are Victors in the 2017 MLB All-Star Game
The American League All-Stars were victorious over the National League, 2-1, in the 2017 MLB All-Star game. The showcase game was played July 11, 2017, at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida. The All-Star game is a unique combination of the best players from the American and National leagues chosen by the fan voting, plus the opposing managers choosing the pitchers and filling out the remainder of the rosters for their team.
The managers from each team which participated in the last World Series are the starting managers for each league. The AL manager would have been Tony Francona of the AL Champion Cleveland Indians, however he was sidelined by illness. Assistant manager Brad Mills ran the AL squad in his place. The NL manager was Joe Maddon of the World Series champion Chicago Cubs.
There was a major change in the status of the 2017 contest. For the first time in the past 15 years, the winning team will not be rewarded by their champion receiving the home-field advantage for the World Series. The contest thus returns to its traditional status as a mid-season exhibition game.
A special ceremony honoring past All-Stars of Latin heritage was held just before the play began. They featured greats such as pitchers Juan Marichal and Pedro Martinez, and sluggers Ivan Rodrigeuz and Orlando Cepeda. Each of these players were also inductees into the MLB Hall of Fame.
Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros led off the first inning for the AL All-Stars. He hit a ground ball back to starting pitcher Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals who threw him out at first base. Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Indians was the next batter. He laced a single for the only hit against Scherzer. Sensation Aaron Judge of the N.Y. Yankees struck out followed by a strike out of George Springer from the Astros to close the top of the first.
Charlie Blackmon from the Colorado Rockies led off for the NL All-Stars with a fly ball out against pitcher Chris Sale from the Boston Red Sox. Miami Marlins Giancarlo Stanton followed and promptly struck out. Bryce Harper from the Washington Nationals shot a single to left field. He was left standing on first after Buster Posey from the San Francisco Giants hit a fly ball to record the final out of a scoreless first inning.
Carlos Correa from the Astros began the second inning with a fly-ball out. He was followed by Justin Smoak from the Toronto Blue Jays who singled to right field. Corey Dickerson from the Tampa Bay Rays hit a fly-ball for out number two. Catcher Salvador Perez from the Kansas City Royals closed the top of the inning with a fly-ball out.
Daniel Murphy from the Nationals struck a single to left field to begin the bottom of the second inning. Nolan Arenado from the Rockies hit a bloop single to right center and the NL All-Stars had two batters on with no outs. However, Ryan Zimmerman of the Nationals hit into a double-play and Marcell Ozuna followed by striking out to strand the runner at third.
Substitute pitcher Carlos Martinez from the St. Louis Cardinals cruised through the top of the third inning, giving up just a two-out single. The bottom of the third began with Zack Cozart from the Cincinnati Reds driving a single to left field. After two strikeouts delivered by pitcher Dillan Betances of the Yankees, Harper and Posey walked to load the bases. The threat ended when Murphy hit a ground ball and was thrown out for the third out.
The top of the fourth inning was the first where no batter reached base against Martinez. The bottom of the inning saw the NL All-Stars threaten briefly with a single by Arenado to begin the inning. However, a double-play and ground out ended the threat.
The AL All-Stars broke through in the top of the fifth inning to score a run. Sub Jonathan Schoop from the Baltimore Orioles smashed a two-out double down the left field line. Miguel Sano from the Minnesota Twins followed with a bloop single into right field to score Schoop. Judge finished with a fly-ball out to end the top of the inning with the AL leading 1-0. The bottom of the fifth was a one-two-three affair as new pitcher Brandon Kintzler from the Twins retired the side.
The top of the sixth featured all new players on each side as the managers are always committed to playing everyone in this mid-season exhibition game. New pitcher Zach Greinke from the Arizona Diamondbacks gave up a bloop single but the batter was stranded after Nelson Cruz from the Seattle Mariners hit a fly-ball out to make the third out.
In the bottom of the sixth the NL All-Stars tied the game thanks to a solo home run by Yadier Molina from the St. Louis Cardinals. The homer was followed by a strike out and pop-up to end the sixth with the score 1-1.
The seventh inning was all a pitchers show. Only one hit was recorded and neither team scored. The game remained tied 1-1 as the eighth inning began. The eighth inning was even quicker as no one reached base during the inning.
The top of the ninth began with a single by Yander Alonzo from the Oakland A’s. However, he was stranded after stealing second to end the AL half of the ninth. The bottom of the inning was shaky for the AL pitcher Kimbrel with two walks and a wild pitch. The NL batters did not take advantage and the ninth ended with a 1-1 tie.
The top of the 10th saw Robinson Cano of the Seattle Mariners untie the game with a solo homer. However, that was the lone run for the AL and they went into the bottom of the inning leading 2-1. That would end up the winning score as the NL did not score in the 10th.
Written By D.T. Osborn
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of D.T. Osborn
