This year’s MLB All-Star Game was quite the nail biter, with the NL All-Stars finally triumphing over the AL for the first time in a decade, in a score of 3-2.
Sadly, the boys from New York did not have much of a presence, as only a combined 3 players from the Yankees and Mets were selected to represent their respective leagues. And on top of that, reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge, who has been sidelined by a toe injury, did not play. So, New York was left with one player apiece: The Yanks’ ace, Gerrit Cole, and the Mets’ top slugger, Pete Alonso.
Alonso, who got off to a hot start this season, has been struggling as of late since coming back from a wrist injury, going 0-10 in New York’s series against San Diego. He went 0-2 in the All-Star showdown, striking out both times in two disappointing at-bats.
Gerrit Cole was chosen by the AL’s manager, Dusty Baker, to start the game, a good choice by the former World Series winning manager. Cole did his job, pitching a 1-2-3 1st inning with ease, but was not seen for the rest of the day.
Other than that, there isn’t anything else to say about the Yankees or Mets for this game. But other All-Stars made sure to make it a memorable game. Yandy Diaz of the Rays gave the AL the early lead with a 383 foot solo homer off Max Keller in the 2nd.
But it was the other Diaz, Elias Diaz, that had the biggest moment. Diaz sealed the deal for the NL with a come-from-behind, go-ahead homer off Felix Bautista, who recorded the loss. Diaz’s timely home run earned him the All-Star Game MVP, becoming the first Rockies player ever to win the award.
Atlanta’s Sean Casey became the first catcher with a caught stealing in an All-Star Game since 2011, when he threw out Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena in the 1st. Crazy enough, Luis Arraez of the Marlins was thrown out by Texas’ Jonah Heim in the 4th, also while trying to steal 2nd base.
Arraez, who has been absolutely incredible through 86 games, recorded 2 hits and an RBI in the 4th to help lift the NL over the AL. Arraez is having one of the greatest contact hitting seasons of all time, posting a godly .383 average and leading the NL in hits. The player with the second best average in the NL is a full .052 points lower, at .331.
If Arraez can keep his average at .380 or above, it would be the first time since 1994, when Tony Gwynn hit .394, that a player has done so. Since the end of WWII there have only been four instances when a player has batted .380 or higher. Arraez is looking to join Ted Williams, George Brett, and Gwynn in this elite club.
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