2015 ALL-STAR GAME

It’s a beautiful day south of the border down Mexico way for the 19th Annual MWBL All Star Game.  This year for the first time it’s south of the USA at Tijuana Coahuila Zone Park.  The American League leads the series 12 games to 6, however the National League has won the last 2, including a 4-0 shutout in Iron City.

STARTING PITCHERS:
Clayton Kershaw (27-2 1.18) vs. Wei-Yin Chen (20-3 1.89)

Wei-Yen Chen gets the call for the National League as does Clayton Kershaw does for the American League. Robinson Cano leads off the game against Kershaw. The pitch … whistled to right … in there for a hit … Stanton is over quickly, bobbles the ball momentarily … but Cano isn’t buying it … he sticks to first with a single. With Buster Posey behind the plate, Cano stretches his lead….The offering to Brantley … swung on … strike! … and there goes Cano! Posey strong arms it down there … Cano racks up a stolen base. With 1-out, Ian Desmond, who got the nod over Troy Tulowitzki, steps toward the plate when National League Manager Chris Douglass calls him back. Desmond looks distraught…I can’t believe this, Douglass is pulling him before he even gets to take the field. Desmond turns angry and starts smashing dugout water coolers. Asst Coach Rick Cooper has to hold him back as he heads toward Douglass. Folks this is one of the most bizarre happenings ever to happen in an All Star game. As Desmond heads down the ramp, Douglass turns to Tulowitzki to bat for Desmond. Tulowitzki grounds out which moves Cano to 3rd with 2-outs. With 2-outs, Victor Martinez steps to the plate. Kershaw looks at third … he lets it go … blooper to left … if it stays up Andrew McCutchen will get it….and it drops … McCutchen takes it on the hop … Cano scores as the throw comes in to second. The National League goes up 1-0 in the first inning! Kershaw gets Adrian Beltre on a ground out as we head to the bottom of the 1st. Leading 1-0, against his better judgement, Douglass sends Chen to the mound to start the bottom of the first. McCutchen strides to the plate to lead it off. Chen comes home with it … a blast to center … Michael Brantley runs straight back … turns…looks up … but he won’t touch it … it’s long gone! … home run for McCutchen to lead off the bottom half and he ties the game! Douglass nearly sprints out of the dugout and pulls Chen after 1 pitch! Chen is stunned and leaves the mound immediately and like Desmond did shortly before, heads down the tarmac to the locker room. Douglass has little patience and shows he will pull a guy quickly.

The game stays tied into the 4th inning. Beltre leads off the inning against Felix Hernandez. Hernandez comes home … hit hard toward the gap in right center … Trout’s racing back ….he won’t get it … it’s off the wall … Trout chases it down … Beltre cruises in to second with a double. Beltre is pulled in favor of Ben Revere. With 1-out, Revere now with an aggressive lead.. Hernandez with the pitch … low … ball … there goes Revere … big jump…Posey comes up throwing … and he’s safe! … he has third base stolen and the National League has their 2nd stolen base in this game. Nelson Cruz steps in. Hernandez watching Revere at third quick move to the plate … fastball … it’s a nubber to the left of the mound ….Hanley Ramirez charges … he refuses the play at the plate … the throw to first … and he’s gone but the run scores and the NL leads 2-1. Heading into the bottom half, Garratt Richards takes the mound for the NL, as Jose Abreu steps to the plate. Richards can’t find the strike zone … that’s ball four … and Abreu coaxes a walk. Dexter Fowlers is called on to run for Abreu. Jonathan Lucroy is pulled in favor of Yadier Molina. With Miggy coming up, hey start the runner … the delivery … slashed into the hole on the right side and it’s through … Cano had broken for second … and the ball sneaked through the hole and Dexter Fowler owns third easily … and Miguel Cabrera shows some good bat control a classic hit-and-run. Yasiel Puig comes in for Miggy with no outs and Hanley Ramirez at the plate. Piug flies out to shallow right and the runners have to hold. That brings up Buster Posey. Infield deep … to the plate … it’s a high bouncer to the left side…Tulowitzki takes it in the hole … his only chance is at first … nips Posey by a stride, but the run scores … tie game!

The game stays tied as they enter into the top of the 6th with Jonathan Papelbon in to pitch and Tulowitzki coming up. The pitch … that’s high and deep by Tulowitzki … Trout is on the run … on the run it’s starting to tail away from him … and it drops in … Tulowitzki is headed for second..he’s in to second ahead of the throw … the go ahead run is now at second base. TT is pulled in favor of Denard Span. V-Mart grounds out to put the runner on 3rd with 1-out. Daniel Murphy pinch hits for Ben Revere with 1-out. Infield deep … checks third … here he comes … drilled to right by Murphy … it is high it is far … it is… … caught by Upton… Span tags….they’re waving him home … here comes the throw … and he’s … safe at home! Murphy picks up a sac fly and an RBI and a NL 3-2 lead.

With the NL leading 3-2, we head to the 7th. Johnny Cueto takes the mound for the AL as Devin Mesoraco steps in. He lines it to right center … that’s good for extra bases..Upton’s chasing it down … but there’s nothing he can do … Mesoraco cruises in to second. He’s pulled for Yordano Ventura. Yadier Molina is pulled for pinch hitter Lucas Duda and Hollywood turns to Fernando Abad to get them out of the jam. Duda never steps in as he is pulled for Anthony Rendon. A bit of cat-and-mouse play between AL Manager (Steve) Cutler and Douglass. So Rendon faces Abad and walks. With runners on 1st & 2nd, Cano steps in. The pitch … swung on … it’s a fly ball to the gap in right … Gomez’s racing over but he won’t get it … it’s to the wall … Ventura scores … Rendon’s rounding third and holds. The NL is now up 4-2. The infield comes in as Micheal Brantley steps in. Hot smash to Altuve…tipped off his glove … Rendon will score … and Brantley’s aboard with a single. 5-2 NL. Span now steps in. They’re playing him in … the pitch … Span rips it down the left field line … fair ball! Cano crosses the plate … McCutchen tracks it down quickly … Brantley is around second…. the strong throw comes in to Ramirez … and they’re holding Brantley at second 6-2 NL. Abad is pulled after facing 4 battters, giving up 3 singles and a walk. Zach Britton comes in and after getting 1-out, Daniel Murphy comes up. The delivery from Britton … on the ground to deep short … Ramirez can’t get there…it’s through for a base hit … McCutchen running in … still coming..Brantley is around third … Span is around second…the throw comes in to Morneau … and they’re holding Brantley at third…Murphy loads them up with a single. With the bases loaded, Jose Reyes comes up. Infield deep … Britton cranks it up … it’s a high fly to center … Upton is over and makes the catch … the runners are tagging. Brantley coming down the line, they’re sending Span to third, here comes the throw home….here’s the play at the plate … and he’s … just safe under the tag…and Brantley just outran the ball … and Span moves to third … Murphy holds at first. The NL leads 7-2!! The American League down big heads to the bottom of the 7th with Charlie Morton on the mound and Starlin Castro at the plate. The pitch … he swings … it’s a fly ball to the gap in right … Brantley’s racing over..so’s Kemp … it drops in for a hit … and he will make second easily…a double for Starlin Castro. Douglass turns to Jeff Samardzija and Cutler turns to Yan Gomes to pinch hit for Buster Posey. Let’s listen the call. Castro extending his lead … he doubled to lead it off … the pitch..a towering fly ball to left center … it’s back … way back … gone! … home run for Gomes and Samardzija kicks the rubber … not happy with that pitch and neither was Douglass. He is immediately pulling him in favor of Collin McHugh. With the NL up 7-4 they need to stop the bleeding. Wait….McHugh is hurt during warm ups….that’s it for him – before he threw a pitch. They hand it to Mark Melancon. Melancon gets them out of the 7th with the 7-4 lead and he faces 6 batters, 2 strikeouts, He hands it to Jon Lester who sets them down 1-2-3 for the save and the NL wins 7-4.

Melancon is awarded the MVP for his 2 perfect innings at the end of the game.

FINAL SCORE: NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STARS 7, AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STARS 4

WP: Santiago Casilla
LP: Jonathan Papelbon
SAVE: Jon Lester

MVP: Mark Melancon (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 6 BF, 2 K)