American League 4, National League 3: Berríos and Polanco represent Twins well

After back-to-back years of going extra innings for the Midsummer Classic, the American League and National League decided this year’s show of talent in regulation. However, it was a close game late as a comeback was under way.

Starting off with the Minnesota Twins representatives, both healthy Twins players represented their team well in this All-Star game. Jose Berrios, in his second All-Star appearance, took the mound in the third inning, and after yielding a lead-off double, he took to his nickname of La MaKina. The Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna swung through a trademark Berríos curveball to become the first out. Then the MLB home run leader, Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers, was frozen on a 95-mile-per-hour fastball at the bottom of the zone. Berríos then got his brother-in-law, Chicago Cubs’ Javier Baez, to fly out and end the inning.

Jorge Polanco did his part, as one of the four runs the American League scored was because of his bat. After striking out with a runner on in the bottom of the second, Polanco redeemed himself in the bottom of the fifth by singling and driving in the New York Yankees’ Gary Sanchez. He’d be lifted after the inning for the Cleveland Indians’ Francisco Lindor.

Otherwise, it was a pretty low-scoring affair between the two teams. The Houston Astros’ Michael Brantley doubled in the bottom of the second to push the A.L. ahead 1-0; Polanco’s aforementioned RBI single made it a 2-0 game. The N.L. would get on the board with a home run from Charlie Blackmon of the Colorado Rockies (and who said it’s only because of Coors Field??), making it 2-1.

The American Leaguers would pull away a bit in the bottom of the seventh when Boston Red Sox’s Xander Bogaerts would ground into a double play, yet scoring Oakland Athletics’ Matt Chapman. Joey Gallo, who we just saw when the Twins played the Texas Rangers this past weekend, would make it a 4-1 score with a jack of his own.

However, the National League would load the bases in the top of the 8th. Facing Cleveland’s Brad Hand, New York Mets player and Home Run Derby winner Pete Alonso notched a 2-RBI single to bring the N.L. within one run. A strikeout of Brewers’ Mike Moustakas would end the threat while Yankees’ Aroldis Chapman would close the door for good, ensuring that the A.L. maintains their overall winning record over the N.L. for at least a couple years.

American League 4, National League 3
W: Masahiro Tanaka (NYY)
L: Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
S: Aroldis Chapman (NYY)

NOTES

• Holy strikeouts! The A.L. pitchers totaled 16 strikeouts compared to the N.L. pitching squad’s seven.
• Only two homers in the game tonight. IS THE BALL REALLY JUICED?????
• As mentioned above, the American League now leads the National League 45-43-2 overall in All-Star games.
• Six players - all pitchers - did not make it into the game tonight.

STUDS

• Jose Berríos (MIN): 1.0 IP, H, 2 K
• Jorge Polanco (MIN): 1-2, RBI, K
• Michael Brantley (HOU): 1-1, RBI
• Joey Gallo (TEX): 1-1, RBI, R, HR
• Shane Bieber (CLE): 1.0 IP, 3 K

duds

• Brad Hand (CLE): 1,0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K

COMMENT OF THE GAME THREAD

SooFoo mentions that although Joel won the popular vote, he still lost the electoral vote. Maybe next time, Joel.

LIST OF TWINKIE TOWN ALL-STARS

Thank you to everyone who took a break from their baseball vacation to join us tonight!