GAME RECAP: AL Defeats NL 6-3
An unquestionably successful All-Star experience in Cincinnati saw
some its most memorable moments delivered by two guys from New Jersey. Third
baseman Todd Frazier of the
host Reds, with an assist from a new format, provided the drama and energy
while winning the Gillette Home Run Derby sponsored by Head and Shoulders on
Monday. Then, Angels superstar Mike Trout added his own sizzle on Tuesday to the
86th All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile. Trout hit a leadoff home run and
scored two runs, setting the tone for the American League in a 6-3 victory over
the National League before 43,656 fans at Great American Ball Park. It was the
third straight All-Star win for the AL, which will have home-field advantage
once again in the World Series. Trout became the first
back-to-back winner of the All-Star Game MVP Award
presented by Chevrolet. "It means a lot," Trout said.
"Obviously, [we] came out with a 'W.' That's the biggest thing. When I go
out there, I play my hardest every day. … It's just an incredible honor to be a
part of the All-Star Game and win the MVP twice. It's something special, for
sure." It was two AL runs in the top of the fifth inning against
Clayton Kershaw that snapped a 1-1 tie.
Pinch-hitting,
Prince Fielder hit an
RBI single with one out and was followed by
Lorenzo Cain, who laced an RBI double.
Andrew McCutchen hit a homer for the NL to lead off
the sixth, but the AL added on with two runs in the seventh on
Manny Machado's RBI double off the wall in
right-center field and Fielder's sacrifice fly off
Francisco Rodriguez.
Brian Dozier provided an eighth-inning homer to give
the AL insurance. The winning pitcher was
David Price, who threw a perfect fourth inning with
two strikeouts, while Kershaw was the losing pitcher. Unforgettable moments
began even before the first pitch, when the
"Franchise
Four" players from all 30 teams were announced.
The Reds were saved for last and introduced on the field, with the fans
erupting for Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Barry Larkin and, especially, Pete Rose.
It was followed by the introduction of the four greatest living players --
Henry Aaron, Bench, Sandy Koufax and Willie Mays. "It was awesome to see
guys like that," Trout said. With a strong All-Star week behind it,
Cincinnati passes the baton to San Diego, the host for the 2016 Midsummer
Classic.
OTHER
NOTES FROM THE DAY:
- The AL jumped out to a lead
immediately when Trout led off the game by hitting NL starter Zack Greinke's 1-2
pitch into the first row of right-field seats. The ball had an exit
velocity of 100.2 mph, according to Statcast™.
It was only the fourth time in All-Star Game history that there has been a
homer to begin the top of the first inning, and it was the first time
since the Reds' Joe Morgan did it in 1977. The last first-inning leadoff
homer in the All-Star Game was by Bo Jackson of the Royals in the bottom
of the first in 1989. Trout finished the game 1-for-3 with two runs scored
and improved to 5-for-10 in his All-Star career. "It was a lot of
fun," AL manager Ned Yost said. "We've been really working on
our game plan for the last week. We tried to punch holes in it every which
way we could, and we worked it to perfection. We wanted to put power at
the top of the lineup and hopefully get a quick strike. Mike Trout took
care of that for us."
- The AL starter, Astros ace Dallas Keuchel,
allowed just one ball out of the infield in his two innings but
surrendered an unearned run in the second. He recorded one strikeout,
inducing four ground-ball outs. Keuchel became the fourth Astros pitcher
to start an All-Star Game and the first since Roger Clemens in 2004 (Mike
Scott in 1987 and J.R. Richard in '80 were the others). "The best
experience I've ever had in my life," Keuchel said. "I'm just
thankful I was able to get the nod and I guess throw strikes. I was
worried about being too amped up and being all over the place, but I was
able to calm down after that first pitch and able to settle
in."
- Following the Trout homer, Greinke
did not give up another hit. His line was one earned run with one hit, one
walk and four strikeouts. His four K's were the most by an All-Star
pitcher since Boston's Pedro Martinez struck out five at Fenway Park in
1999, and the most by an NL pitcher since Lee Smith in 1987. Greinke
hadn't allowed a run in 35 2/3 innings entering the Midsummer Classic.
- After Paul Goldschmidt
reached on an infield single and a throwing error by third baseman Josh Donaldson,
the NL evened the game in the second with an unearned run. Jhonny Peralta blooped
a two-out RBI single to short right field that scored Goldschmidt to make
it a 1-1 game. The NL did not have another baserunner until Peralta walked
with one out in the fifth, and it lacked another hit until McCutchen's
homer to begin the sixth.
- Price struck out NL sluggers Bryce Harper and
Goldschmidt during a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth inning. Price has been on
five All-Star teams and has pitched in three All-Star Games, allowing just
one hit and no runs over four innings. He started for the AL in 2010 and
pitched two innings, then tossed another perfect frame for the AL in
'12.
- Madison Bumgarner
retired Salvador Perez to
end Game 7 of the 2014 World Series and also struck out Perez in the top
of the fourth, his lone inning in the All-Star Game. The Bumgarner-Perez
rematch was an entertaining battle in which Perez worked a full count, but
eventually Bumgarner got the Royals' catcher to strike out swinging.
However, strike three was a wild pitch, allowing Perez to reach first
base. In Bumgarner's scoreless fourth, he did allow a single to Cain. The
Royals outfielder added an RBI double in the fifth, becoming the first
Royals player to have a multihit All-Star Game since Jackson in 1989.
George Brett did it three times.
- With two outs and a runner on second
in the top of the fifth, Kershaw had a 1-2 count on Albert Pujols
before walking him with three straight balls. That opened the door for the
AL, and Fielder snapped a tied game with a single to left field that
scored Trout. Cain followed with an RBI double scorched down the
left-field line to score Pujols and make it a 3-1 game. "Not
great," Kershaw said. "I gave up a couple of runs, so it's never
the best."
- Right-hander Jacob deGrom, the
Mets' lone All-Star, represented his team well in the top of the sixth
inning by striking out the side -- Stephen Vogt, Jason Kipnis and Jose Iglesias --
on only 10 pitches, including nine strikes. Eight of his pitches were
clocked at 96 mph or faster, including a 97-mph heater that fanned Vogt
for the inning's first out. deGrom is the first pitcher in All-Star Game
history with three strikeouts in an inning while using 10 pitches or
fewer. Brad
Lidge used 11 pitches in 2005. "That was
unreal," deGrom said. "I was looking forward to getting a chance
to throw, and I was pretty nervous in the bullpen, but when I got out
there the nerves kind of went away, it was an awesome
experience."
- Trout's speed on the basepaths was a
huge factor in a two-run fifth inning for the AL off Kershaw. Trout reached
a top speed of 21.3 mph in beating out a forceout after Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar
led off with a single. Following a walk by Angels teammate Pujols, Trout
scored the go-ahead run on a single by Fielder, topping out at 20.4 mph as
he raced home from second base to beat a throw from Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson that
was clocked at 92.5 mph.
- In the bottom of the sixth inning on
the first pitch he saw from Chris Archer,
McCutchen led off with a home run into the left-field seats that cut the
NL's deficit at the time to one run. According to Statcast™, McCutchen's
drive left the bat at 107 mph and was projected to land 406 feet away.
McCutchen's homer, coupled with Trout's, marked the first time since 1965
that both starting leadoff batters had homered in an All-Star Game. In
'65, Mays (NL) and Dick McAuliffe (AL) both homered.
- Playing in his first All-Star Game,
Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias helped cut short a potential rally by the
NL with a great play in the hole to end the eighth inning. With a runner
on second and two outs, Iglesias ranged to his right to scoop a sharp
ground ball off the bat of Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal.
With his momentum carrying him away from first base, Iglesias then threw
across his body, firing a strike to Mark Teixeira for
the out.
- The home fans weren't disappointed
when Reds closer Aroldis Chapman
entered for the top of the ninth and struck out the side, getting Brock Holt, Mike Moustakas and
Teixeira. Chapman threw 14 pitches, 12 of which were clocked at 100 mph or
faster. He twice reached 103 mph facing Moustakas, including his K for the
second out. "I feel really happy," Chapman said via translator
Tomas Vera. "I can't describe it, but I feel like I had so much fun.
I want to do this. I'm happy I threw the ninth. I had a chance to show the
fans and everybody else what they're used to seeing every night, pitching
the way I do."
- Trout's first All-Star Game at-bats
keep improving each year. His first at-bat in 2012 was a single. In 2013?
A double. Last year? A triple. And now the homer to start his 2015
Midsummer Classic. Trout became the ninth player to hit for a career cycle
in the All-Star Game, and Fielder became the 10th with his single in the
fifth. The other eight: Lou Whitaker, Brett, Mike Schmidt, Steve Garvey,
Ernie Banks, Roberto Clemente, Mays and Ted Williams.
- The National League's edge over the
American League in All-Star Games continued to shrink. The NL leads the
all-time series, 43-41-2. The AL is 21-5-1 over the last 27 All-Star
Games.
- "That was good. That was fun.
Obviously, when you spend 12 years coming to Cincinnati and you beat them
so many times, they're going to boo you. It was a great time. I was
enjoying it." -- Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, on
fans of the NL Central-rival Reds booing him and his teammates.
- The Phillies don't have much history
facing Fernandez, but one player who has enjoyed success off him is Freddy
Galvis, who is 3-for-6. Chase Utley, who's on the DL, is 2-for-9.
- The Marlins and Phillies will meet
for their third series this year, and second in Philadelphia. Miami holds
a 4-2 advantage in the season series.
- Dee Gordon, Miami's All-Star second
baseman, is not expected to go on the disabled list. The Marlins are
aiming to reinstate third baseman Martin Prado (right shoulder) from the
DL, and he's a candidate to be a short-term option at second beginning
Friday.
NEXT
GAME:
After the All-Star break, the club returns home to open a
three-game series against the Miami Marlins on Friday night. Left-hander Adam Morgan makes his fourth career start as he
squares off against the Marlins' Jose Fernandez. Morgan is 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA in his
rookie season. The Marlins' ace, who made both of his first-half starts in
Miami, will open the second half against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on
Friday. Fernandez already has regained his old form, notching wins in each of
his first two starts back from Tommy John surgery. While the hard-throwing
right-hander has dominated at Marlins Park (14-0, 1.17 ERA) in his career, he
has been vulnerable on the road, where he is 4-8 with a 3.93 ERA. He is 1-1
with a 4.91 ERA in his career in Philadelphia. The Phillies are starting the
series off with rookie Adam Morgan, who is 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA in three starts.
The lefty has 12 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings, and this will be his second home
start. He's lost back-to-back decisions on the road after opening his career
with a 5 2/3-innings win over the Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park on June 21.
PHILS PHACTS:
Enjoying The Experience – Earlier in his career, during several of his initial
All-Star experiences in the mid-2000s,
Jonathan Papelbon recalls huddling with Mariano
Rivera and some of the game's other top closers. He picked their brains, eager
to extract any nuggets of wisdom he could find. "Speak of the devil,"
Papelbon said Tuesday, nodding to a clubhouse television. Replays of Rivera were
flashing across the screen. These days, Rivera is retired, his presence in big
league clubhouses confined to such video reels. But Papelbon is still kicking
as one of the game's best closers, despite going unused in the National
League's
6-3
loss to the American League in the All-Star
Game presented by T-Mobile at Great American Ball Park. Papelbon may not wish
to continue playing for the Phillies, as he stated in no uncertain terms during
Monday's All-Star media day. But his 1.60 ERA and 14-for-14 record in save
situations prove he still has plenty left to give at age 34 -- in Philadelphia
or elsewhere. He's one of the old guys now, one of the Riveras, older than all
but six of the 76 players on this year's All-Star rosters. Papelbon's six
All-Star appearances matched
Francisco Rodriguez and
Ryan Braun for the second-most of anyone in the NL
clubhouse, so he felt like he had something to offer. "Of course you want
to come in to pitch, make it feel worthwhile, you know?" Papelbon said. Yet
not pitching, Papelbon said, hardly ruined his experience, considering he had
appeared in four of his previous five All-Star Games, striking out five batters
over 3 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run. He considered this week in
Cincinnati just as worthwhile. If Papelbon is indeed traded and this winds up
being his last All-Star Game as a Phillie, he'll remember it for the
conversations he had and the wisdom he imparted to those younger than he -- so
much of it garnered from the Riveras of the world over a career's worth of
All-Star Games. "Those are some of the top experiences that I'll remember
the most," Papelbon said of his talks with the NL's other top relievers.
"I give them the best advice I can give, whatever the subject or topic may
be."
THE BEGINNING:
The
Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the
NL east at 29-62. Given the departures, aging stars,
injuries, and performance so far this season, this could end up being the
worst team in franchise history! All time, the Phillies are 45-58-0 on
this day.
