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The Willie Mays Honorary Star of all All-Stars Star of the Game
Difficult as this was, the most deserved winner is the collective fanbase of the San Francisco Giants. Without their late voting push, there's no way that Pablo Sandoval makes the starting roster (and, likely, the overall roster), and the same can possibly be said for Melky Cabrera. As a result of their 1960's era voting habits, the fans got their guys into the lineup, and both paid off in spades. Cabrera was 2 for 3 with a HR and 2 RBI, and Sandoval was 1 for 2 with a bases clearing triple.
So thank you, SF fans, for doing a great deed: supplying the NL team with enough ammo to let our Reds have home field advantage in the World Series this fall. Well played, indeed!
Key Plays
- The NL wasted no time in getting the runs going. In the first inning, Justin Verlander was tasked with shutting down the NL, but that failed to materialize. Joey Votto hit a 5 run HR, and the NL lead, 5-0.
- The game was quiet until the 4th inning. Aroldis Chapman struck out all 9 batters he faced in the first 3 innings, and then Jay Bruce hit a 3 run inside-the-park bunt Home Run against the shift in the top of the 4th. Silly Ron Washington! Don't you know Dusty Baker teaches his players to bunt?! NL leads, 8-0.
- Chapman struck out the next 17 batters, but then uncharacteristically allowed a fly ball to RF, but Jay Bruce was there to make the play. NL wins, 8-0!
via www.fangraphs.com
Other Notes
- The Reds became the first team in All-Star Game history to have two left handed batters each go 6-6.
- I'm still booing Robinson Cano. You should be, too.
- The song of the night will not be "Kansas City," despite Fox's best efforts. Seriously, I never thought something could ever be run into the ground more than Flo from Progressive...but Fox, you never cease to amaze me.
- Instead, rock some of this. It'll be worth your while.
- Come back soon, baseball!