2007 America's Baseball League All Star Game
American League wins 2007 All Star Game with a walk off home run.
Michael Young is voted MVP!
The
2007 All Star game was played today, managed by Ted Talbott for the NL
and replacement manager Jarrod Sinclair for the AL.
Talbott sent rookie Jered Weaver to the
hill countered by Angels SP Francisco Liriano. The NL got the balling
rolling with the leadoff hitter as Jose Reyes led off the game with a
double followed by a couple of sacrifice flys by Freddy Sanchez and Vlad
Guerrero as the NL took a quick 1-0 lead.
The lead did not last long as the AL's lead off hitter, Robinson Cano deposited a 1-0 pitch into the right field seats to tie the game 1-1.
Not to be outdone, the NL put their "Belt's" into it
in the top of the 2nd inning when Beltran and Beltre hit back to back
doubles to give the NL the lead back at 2-1.
The National League's fielding would get the better
of them in this game. In the bottom of the 4th and down 2-1, pinch
hitter Nomar Garciaparra hit a ground ball to first baseman Pujols who
booted the ball allowing Garciaparra to get on. Manny Ramirez, pinch
hitting for Barry Bonds, doubled to left scoring Garicaparra from first.
In the top of the 5th and Papelbon on the mound, the
NL started to put something together. Pinch hitter Brian Roberts doubles
to left then Carl Crawford, trying to sacrifice Roberts to third, gets
the bunt down so good, that he beat out the throw putting runners on the
corners. At this point the AL brought their infield in, when Reyes hits
a ground ball to SS. Michael Young came to the plate, but just a little
too late. Later in the same inning, Guerrero would hit yet his 2nd sac
fly of the game bringing the score to 4-2.
Talbott brought in Chad Cordero to face David Ortiz
in the bottom of the 6th inning and Big Papi got the better end of that
deal, driving an 0-1 pitch into the stands to bring the game to 4-3.
Again the NL's defense would prove to be costly. In
the bottom of the 7th inning, Manny Ramirez hits a routine ground ball
to Tejada who throws the ball away for the two base error. Pudge
Rodriguez would follow with a double to tie the score at 4.
In a tense moment in the game, the AL brought BJ Ryan
in to pitch. Ryan proceeds to walk the first two hitters he faces, when
Sinclair quickly brought the hook. With runners on first and second and
Brandon Webb on the mound, Raul Ibanez lined a single to left. Vlad
Guerrero tried to score and was gunned down at the plate by Manny
Ramirez giving the AL one out with runners on 2nd and 3rd. Webb
intentionally walked VMart to set up the double play. With the corners
up, Carlos Beltran grounded out to first, forcing the runner at the
plate for the second out. The AL brought in Erik Bedard to face the hot
hitting and great right handed hitting Brian Roberts, who flied out to
left and end the threat.
To the bottom of the 9th, the score tied and
Pittsburgh's Trevor Hoffman on the mound. The AL was to send up Brian
McCann pinch hitting for Ivan Rodriguez, Michael Young and Ray Durham.
Hoffman got McCann to strike out bringing up Young. Young deposited an
0-1 pitch into the left field seats for the walk-off home run, giving
the American League home field advantage and even the series at 2 games
a piece.
MICHAEL YOUNG of the Mariners was selected as the
All-Star game MVP for 2007.