All-Star Game – I Didn’t Waste My Time Watching!
By Matt DeLucia
For the second consecutive year the American League squeaked by the National League with a victory by a 4-3 score, in the All-Star Game. Personally I have to say that I’m happy I didn’t waste my time watching the game live last night. I had the sense enough to tape it and watch it this morning, which is great since I was able to see the entire game in less than 90 minutes. Instead of wasting my time watching the live version which ran 3 1/2 hour last night. Plus another bonus is you’re able to remove a ton of commercials and all of the useless commentary. Which is always supplied when you team Joe Buck and Tim McCarver together.
The 80th edition of MLB’s mid summer classic which was played in St. Louis, saw the AL side extending their unbeaten streak to 13 straight years. It was actually a pretty boring game overall, as both sides went homeless for the first time since 1999 at Fenway Park. Baseball fans around the world saw a total of 13 hits, two combined errors (1 each) and only 8 strikeouts, in this very fast paced game.
The AL which is now 12-0-1 over that span, can thank Carl Crawford from the Tampa Bay Rays for preserving the streak. As it was Crawford’s leaping catch in the bottom of seventh that stole the go ahead run and potential victory away from the NL. With Jonathan Papelbon from the AL East leading Boston Red Sox, on the mound with the game knotted at 3 a piece. Brad Hawpe from the Colorado Rockies stepped to the plate and smacked the first pitch he saw from Papelbon to deep left field.
With the ball destined to clear the wall it was Crawford coming in to save the day and the game for the AL. Crawford needed everything he had to catch up to the ball and bring it back into the field of play. His one of a kind play in the field and 1-3 (single) at the plate was enough for Crawford to be named the MVP of this year’s classic.
The AL took the lead for good in the top of the eighth off of Heath Bell from the San Diego Padres. After the Rays Jason Bartlett grounded out for the first out of the seventh, Curtis Granderson from the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers lined a triple over Justin Upton from the Arizona Diamondbacks. After NL manager Charlie Manuel had Bell intentionally walking Victor Martinez of the Cleveland Indians to set up the possible double-play ball. Adam Jones of the Baltimore Oriolessecured the game for the American league with a sacrifice fly to right field, that brought Granderson in from third with the winning run.
Joe Nathan from the Minnesota Twins and Mariano Rivera from the New York Yankees both shut down the NL hitters in the eighth and ninth innings, securing the victory for the AL side. Riveria also added another save to his record, as he now becomes the all-time saves leader in All-Star Games, with 4. The game’s winning pitcher was Papelbon (1-0) and the loss went to Bell (0-1). With yet another victory the American League for a 7th straight year will have home field advantage in the World Series.
Congratulations to the American League on their victory, and THANKS for giving the Red Sox home field advantage, once again come October this year in the World Series!