Player of the Game
Despite Harold Reynolds trying to give Derek Jeter the All-Star Game MVP before the game even started, it was Mike Trout who was most deserving of the award. Trout hit a triple in his first at bat, then a double later in the game, knocking in two of the AL’s five runs and scoring another on Miguel Cabrera’s home run. His POG score of 4.71 just surpassed that of Cabrera’s who finished with a 4.24 after hitting the two run shot.
Recap
The Indians had just one player in the game, Michael Brantley (along with Terry Francona, who was there as a coach), but as always there were a few others worth mentioning for Cleveland fans. Against the preconceived notion that this would be a low scoring game, the AL scored three times in the first inning, lead by a double from Derek Jeter, a triple from Mike Trout and a two run home run to left off the bat of Tigers’ first baseman, Miguel Cabrera.
The player who beat out Corey Kluber for the final All-Star spot, Chris Sale, didn’t look as impressive in his inning as he has most of the year. Sale hit Chase Utley, then allowed an RBI double to Jonathan Lucroy, his second of the game. Pinch runner Dee Gordon scored from first on the play after a poor throw to the cut off man from Jose Bautista in right field.
Michael Brantley finally got into the game as a defensive replacement in the sixth inning, playing center field and replacing Adam Jones. At the same time, Yeonis Cespedes came in for Mike Trout in left as the American League featured the two best outfield arms in baseball in the same game at the same time.
In his first at bat, Brantley faced Milwaukee’s Francisco Rodriguez with two outs and Adrien Beltre on first after walking. Brantley took the first pitch for a ball, then grounded into the hole between first and second. Dee Gordon of the Dodgers made a tremendous play on the ball and the Braves’ Freddie Freeman completed the stretch at first for the inning ending out.
No Twins played until the ninth inning, despite being in the home park, but when they did Glen Perkins and his battery mate, Kurt Suzuki, made quick work of the NL squad for the two run save. Perkins retired the side 1-2-3, striking out Josh Harrison and retiring Charlie Blackmon for the final out.
Final Score: National League All-Stars 3 – American League All-Stars 5
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