2015 MLB All-Star Game: AL Earns Home Field Advantage In World Series
Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw, named to the team as a replacement for Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals, caught some bad luck in the fifth and the AL team capitalized.
Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar hit a chopper that got under Cincinnati Reds third baseman Todd Frazier’s glove for a leadoff single. After a force out at second base, Kershaw got pinch-hitter and Baltimore Orioles third baseman to fly out to the warning track in left field.
The reigning NL MVP then had Angels first baseman Albert Pujols down to his final strike when he appeared to paint the black with an outside fastball. It was instead called for ball and Pujols worked a walk. Texas Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder broke the tie with an RBI single and Cain tacked on another run with an RBI double before Kershaw ended the inning on a strikeout.
Pitching with a 3-1 lead, Tampa Bay Rays starter Chris Archer issued a one-out walk to Peralta. Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford then pinch-ran for Peralta. Pederson struck out for the second time in the game and Colorado Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu flied out to end the inning.
Jacob deGrom represented the New York Mets well by striking out the side on 10 pitches in the sixth. With the NL team still trailing 3-1, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen turned on the first pitch he saw to hit a leadoff solo home run off Archer in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Orioles lefty Zach Britton replaced Archer and allowed Goldschmidt to reach on a throwing error. Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina followed with a single before Rockies shortstop grounded out to end the inning. Milwaukee Brewers reliever took the mound in the seventh and issued a leadoff walk.
Boston Red Sox infielder Brock Holt pinch-ran for Trout and immediately stole second base. He then scored on a Machado RBI double. Machado later scored on a Fielder sacrifice fly and the AL lead grew to 5-2 heading to the bottom of the seventh.
Minnesotta Twins second baseman hit a solo home run off Pirates reliever Mark Melancon in the eighth. Adrian Gonzalez and Yasmani Grandal were the final Dodgers to bat in the game and both were retired by Wade Davis of the Royals; Gonzalez striking out on a pitch in the dirt and Grandal grounding to shortstop.
Reds closer Aroldis Chapman sat in the low 100s on his fastball as he struck out the side in the ninth. Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun hit a leadoff triple and later scored, but the NL team failed to complete their comeback bid and lost, 6-3.
The win was a third consecutive in the All-Star Game for the AL and thus gave home field advantage in the World Series to the eventual AL champion. Price was credited with the win and Kershaw was the pitcher of record in the loss. Trout was named All-Star Game MVP, becoming the first player in MLB history to win the award in consecutive years.
Zack Greinke On Scoreless Innings Streak
