2015 MLB All-Star Game: AL Earns Home Field Advantage In World Series
Some of the best players Major League Baseball has to offer were on the field Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park for the 86th annual All-Star Game. The National League appeared to be in good hands as Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke was first on the mound.
While Greinke owns an impressive 35.2 scoreless innings streak, he gave up a leadoff home run to Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim center fielder and reigning American League MVP Mike Trout. The home run added to Trout’s impressive success in his first at-bat over the last four All-Star Games.
Beginning in 2012, Trout has in order, a single, double, triple and now solo home run when he’s stepped into the batter’s box for the first time in the Midsummer Classic. Greinke walked Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson before ending the inning with two strikeouts and a pop out.
Houston Astros ace Dallas Keuchel protected the AL’s 1-0 lead by tossing a scoreless first inning of work. Greinke added two more strikeouts to his total as he retired the side in order in the second. With four strikeouts in two innings of work, Greinke became the first pitcher to do so in an All-Star Game since Pedro Martinez in 1999.
Additionally, he’s the first NL pitcher to do it since Lee Smith in 1987. Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the second and advanced to second base on Donaldson’s throwing error. He scored on St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta’s two-out single that tied the game.
Peralta moved into scoring position on a Keuchel wild pitch, but was stranded by Dodgers rookie center fielder Joc Pederson, who failed to check his swing and struck out. Pittsburgh Pirates starter Gerrit Cole replaced Greinke in the third and worked around a two-out walk to keep the game tied at 1-1.
Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners put forth a similar effort, retiring all three batters he faced in the bottom half of the inning. Kansas City Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain hit a one-out single of San Francisco Giants’ Madison Bumgarner in the fourth and stole second base.
Bumgarner then struck out Royals catcher Salvador Perez on a pitch in the dirt but the ball kicked away from Giants backstop Buster Posey, which allowed Perez to reach safely and Cain to take third. However, nothing came of it for the AL All-Stars.
Detroit Tigers left-hander David Price set the NL team down in order, striking out the first two batters faced.
CONTINUE READING: Clayton Kershaw Enters In The 5th Inning
