MWWL - 70 - ALL-STAR GAME

It was a beautiful 86 degrees at Riverfront Stadium as 51,838 fans pack the newly open stadium. The American League will turn to the ONLY 30 game winner, Bob Gibson (32-6 2.31 ERA) while the home team National Leaguers turn to Wayne Simpson (19-6 1.95 ERA). This looks like a pitching duel written all over it. The National League strikes first in the bottom of the 2nd after a leadoff double by Frank Robinson and an RBI base hit by Bob Bailey give the NL the 1-0 lead. Wayne Simpson pitches a perfect 3 innings to start the game for the NL. In the bottom of the 3rd inning the AL turns to Jim Palmer, after Gibson was pinch-hit for in the top of the 3rd. He's greeted with a base hit by pinch hitter Orlando Cepeda. With Cepeda leading off, Bobby Tolan attempts to sacrifice him over when he pops it in the air.. Torre dives for it and MAKES THE CATCH! The throw to 1B...DOUBLE PLAY! Roberto Clemente then singles to center. Johnny Bench doubles to deep left center and Clemente just beats the throw giving the NL a 2-0 lead. Frank Robinson follows with a base hit to left...Aaron with the throw home and Bench scores easily. 3-0 NL. The NL then loads the bases, but Palmer gets Rose on a popup and the side is retired. The American League gets on the board in the top of the 4th off of Tom Seaver. Willie May leads off with a double and with 2-outs, Billy Williams base hit to right scores Mays ahead of the Clemente throw. NL leads 3-1. The National league extends the lead in the 5th off of Ray Culp. With 2-outs and the bases loaded, Jimmy Wynn laces a single to right scoring 2-runs. NL leads 5-1. With 2-outs in the top of the 6th, Billy Williams slashes a double to right scoring Joe Torre and cutting the lead to 5-2. The AL was not about to die. With 1-out in the top of the 8th, Joe Torre launches a rocket off of Jack Aker to cut the lead to 5-3. But that is at close as it will get as the National League holds on and wins 5-3. The MVP was National League Wayne Simpson with 3 perfect innings and 2 strikeouts.