All-Star Game, AL 4, NL 1: Twins contribute big as the Junior Circuit wins (simulated)

Today’s lineups:

AL: Max Kepler RF, Jorge Polanco SS, Mike Trout CF, Alex Bregman DH, Miguel Sano 1B, Luis Arraez 2B, Mitch Garver C, Aaron Judge LF, Matt Chapman 3B, Shohei Ohtani P

NL: Ronald Acuna Jr RF, Ketel Marte DH, Juan Soto LF, Cody Bellinger CF, Nolan Arenado 3B, Anthony Rizzo 1B, J.T. Realmuto C, Trevor Story SS, Ozzie Albies 2B, Ryan Helsley P

AL Bench: Austin Romine, Gary Sanchez, Whit Merrifield, Rafael Devers, Yoan Moncada, Jose Ramirez, Bo Bichette, Francisco Lindor, Gleybar Torres, Christin Stewart, Kyle Tucker, Joey Gallo

AL Bullpen: Jose Berrios, Aaron Civale, Gerrit Cole, Tyler Glasnow, Marco Gonzales, John Means, Hoby Milner, Rafel Montero, Matt Wisler, Nick Anderson, Liam Hendricks, Taylor Rogers

NL Bench: Yadier Molina, Will Smith, Eric Thames, Joey Votto, Jeff McNeil, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Fernando Tatis Jr, David Dahl, Corey Dickerson, Marcell Ozuna, Christian Yelich

NL Bullpen: Chris Archer, Jack Flaherty, Mitch Keller, Chris Paddack, Noah Syndergaard, Andrew Triggs, Bryse Wilson, Shane Greene, Reggie McClain, Jairo Diaz, Josh Hader, Will Smith

I let the computer pretty much set the line-ups, the only thing I did was switch Kepler and Arraez on the AL side, because I couldn’t abide that stupidity.

Even with that being said, every position player the Twins sent to the game was a starter. All three pitchers made an appearance as well. In total, eight Twins participated, which was the most of any team.

When the American League scored their first couple runs in the bottom of the first, the Twins contingent was heavily involved. Jorge Polanco got on by hitting a tapper to first that Rizzo misplayed. A walk by Mike Trout and a HBP for Alex Bregman put Polanco on third with Miguel Sano at the plate, and Sano’s near-home run to left traded on out for a run, sacrificing Polanco home. Luis Arraez loaded the bases back up with a single, the only hit in an inning that saw eight men come to the plate. Mitch Garver drew a walk to bring in a man. Max Kepler’s lead-off flyball was the only Twin to not have a productive plate appearance in the first.

Matt Wisler pitched the second inning. He struck out Nolan Arenado, issued a ten-pitch walk to Anthony Rizzo, and then also struck out J.T. Realmuto. Trevor Story tagged Wisler for the only hit the Twins’ surprise find gave up, and that was on pitch number seven of the at bat. Finally, on the eighth pitch he saw, Ozzie Albies flew out to end the inning.

Jose Berrios’ pitching performance exceeded Wisler’s. Berrios got the top of the fourth, and faced the minimum. He struck out Anthony Rizzo and Trevor Story, sandwiching a pop up into foul territory behind first by J.T. Realmuto in between. He also missed pitching to his brother-in-law by only a couple batters.

Speaking of Berrios’ brother-in-law, Javier Baez collected the National League’s only RBI in the top of the fifth. Ozzie Albies had led off with a triple, and then Javy brought him in on a sac fly. The AL got the run back in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run by Bo Bichette, pinch-hitting as the DH.

Taylor Rogers sat three National Leaguers’ in a row down in the eighth inning. David Dahl struck out, and Rogers induced 4-3 groundballs from both Cody Bellinger and Kris Bryant.

The AL scored their final run in the bottom of the eighth, but by then all the Twins had been subbed out, so you’re forgiven for not caring. If you do care, Jose Ramirez hit a single, Yoan Moncada walked, and Gleybar Torres singled to load the bases. Joey Gallo hit a sac fly and brought in the run.

• Mitch Garver caught eight innings, and went 0-2 at the plate with a walk and an RBI.
• Jorge Polanco played four innings in the field, and went 1-2.
• Miguel Sano played eight innings on defensive, he went 0-2 at the plate, with an RBI on a sac fly, and two strikeouts.
• Max Kepler played seven innings, he went 0-3 with a strikeout.
• Luis Arraez played until the middle of the fifth. He was 1-2 with a single.
• Matt Wisler got the win, and pitched one inning. He struck out two, while giving up a walk and a hit.
• Jose Berrios pitched one inning. He struck out two men.
• Taylor Rogers was credited with a hold, pitched one inning, and got a strikeout.