Seattle's Robinson Cano Steals All-Star Show With 10th-Inning Home Run in 2-1 AL Win

Player of the Day for Tuesday, July 11, 2017

2017 All-Star Game

Cano: Game-winning HR

Heading into Tuesday's All Star Game at Marlins Park in Miami, the record since 1997 was American League 16, National League 3, with one tie (7-7, 2002).

Trends being friends, especially, in this case to the American League, mark up another win for the AL, as Robinson Cano's 10th-inning home run provided the difference in the 2-1 decision.

Cano's bases-empty launch to right field came with no outs in the top of the first extra frame, and it was too bad for reliever Wade Davis, who mowed down the next three batters in order. Hailing from the Seattle Mariners, Cano was chosen to play as a replacement for Yankees' second baseman, Starlin Castro, who is on the disabled list.

Despite a two out walk to Joey Votto, Andrew Miller finished the bottom of the inning for the save and the fifth consecutive win for the American League without allowing a hit.

Since the game has no impact on the anything other than player and team pride, the result has no impact on the future, as opposed to the last 14 years, in which winning the game meant home field for that league in the World Series.

The National Leaguers certainly had their chances, with with baserunners in every inning except the fifth and eighth, but the AL turned three double plays, largely keeping the senior circuit in check. The AL struck first when Baltimore's Jonathan Schoop doubled and scored on Miguel Sano's bloop single down the right field line in the top of the fifth.

St. Louis Cardinal catcher, Yadier Molina, homered in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game.

The regular season resumes Friday, July 14.

American League Wins All-Star Game Again, 5-3; Mike Trout MVP

Player of the Day for July 15, 2014

2014 MLB All Star Game

The American League continued its decades-long dominance over their Nation League rivals, winning the 2014 All Star game by a 5-3 score, ensuring the the AL entrant in the World Series will have home field advantage.

Trout, MVP

The AL has won 14 of the last 18 mid-summer classics, losing three straight from 2010-2012, but now having won the last two. The 2002 exhibition ended in a 7-7 tie at Milwaukee's Miller Park.

St. Louis pitchers, Adam Wainwright and reliever Pat Nesheck were tagged for all five runs, as AL hitters savaged starter Wainwright for three first inning scores, including a double by leadoff hitter Derek Jeter, a run-scoring triple by game MVP Mike Trout of the LA Angels, and a two-run homer by Detroit's Miguel Cabrera.

The National Leaguers evened the score at 3-3 with two runs in the second inning and one more in the fourth. Milwaukee's Jonathan Lucroy doubled in both innings, driving in a run in each.

But the NL could not maintain their momentum as the second Cardinal hurler to go to the mound, Pat Nesheck allowed a pair of one-out singles by Derek Norris and Alexi Ramirez and a double by Trout to give the AL a 4-3 lead. Jose Altuve delivered a sac fly scoring Ramirez from third to complete the scoring.

Trout finished 2-for-3, with a double, triple, two RBI and a run scored. Nesheck took the loss; Detroit's Max Scherzer took the victory, giving up a double in the fifth to Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki, but holding the NL scoreless.

Minnesota's Glen Perkins pitched a perfect nine-pitch ninth for the save.

Pitching and Prince Fielder Lead NL to Second Straight All Star Victory

Players of the Day for Tuesday, July 12, 2011

82nd All Star Game

The National League had boasted about its pitching, with good reason, but it was Prince Fielder's three-run homer in the 4th inning that boosted the NL to their second straight All Star win and home field for the NL entrant in this season's World Series.

Fielder's three-run
shot carries NL.

Roy Halladay set the tone for the Nationals, setting down all six of the batters he faced over the first two innings. His teammate, Cliff Lee, surrendered the only run of the game for the AL, a towering 4th inning solo shot off the bat of Adrian Gonzalez, who just a year ago would have been in an NL uniform.

Fielder did his damage in the bottom of the same inning, following singles by Carlos Beltran and Matt Kemp, with a booming belt to dead center field which hit the top of the wall and careened off a back wall of a private box and back onto the field. No doubt about it, Fielder's hit was a goner, and the NL never looked back.

The score could have been worse than the 5-1 final. Cubs' shortstop Starlin Castro stole second and third base in the bottom of the 5th, only to be gunned down at the plate on a nifty bare-handed snatch and throw by Jordan Walden on a Ricky Weeks chopper.

Walden could not get out of the inning unscathed, however, as Weeks stole second and scored on Andre Ethier's scratch single to right. The NL added another run in the 7th on Pablo Sandoval's screaming ground rule double into the left field corner, which plated Houston's Hunter Pence from second base.

The win was the the second in a row for the National League after losing 12 straight - plus one tie - from 1997 through 2009. The NL last strung together wins in 1994, '95 and '96. Fielder was named the All Star Game MVP, the first ever for a player from the Brewers. His homer was also a first in an All Star Game by a Milwaukee Brewer.

With World Series home field secured for the NL for a second straight season, maybe some of the defections on the AL side - like Justin Verlander, Derek Jeter, C.C. Sabathia and Felix Hernandez - will think twice next year about declining a fan vote or a roster selection.

In a related note, Mets' closer Francisco Rodriguez was dealt to Milwaukee for two players to be named later.

Ichiro Shines As Pujols Sits

All-Star Edition There isn't much the National League can do about losing every year to the American League in the mid-summer classic, though possibly getting your best hitter to the plate in a critical late-inning situation might help. While the AL won for the 10th consecutive time (not including the ridiculous tie in 2002), the Nationals put up a good fight, almost until the end. After Alfonso Soriano got the NL within a run at 5-4 with a 2-run homer in the 9th, the Francisco Rodriguez had walked the bases loaded with 2 outs as Aaron Rowand stepped into the batter's box. Not to knock Rowand; he's a decent player with good numbers, but manager Tony La Russa had Albert Pujols (right) sitting on the bench. Bases loaded. Rowand at the plate. Pujols on the bench. It didn't add up. It still doesn't add up, and it will never make sense. La Russa's refusal to insert arguably the best hitter in the National League deserves to be immortalized in the annals of the game as one of the most obvious coaching blunders of all time. Rowand, after looking at a perfect rght-down-the-middle-please-hit-me fastball from Rodriguez, Rowand swung at a high, outside pitch and lofted it to right field. End of game. Over. Fat lady singing. Following the game, La Russa explained that he was saving Pujols for extra innings, convinced (apparently) that Rowand would tie the game. He was wrong. For his part, Pujols was pissed, being one of just two position players not to get into the game. The fans were significantly short-changed, and the National League limped away - as they always seem to do - with another loss. Ichiro Suzuki (right) was named MVP for his 3-3 performance, which included the first ever All-Star game inside-the-park home run, in the 5th inning with Brian Roberts aboard. The stunning blow off the right field wall gave the AL a lead which they would not relinquish, at 2-1. Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford added a solo shot in the 6th and Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez coaxed out a 2-run job in the 8th. Ken Griffey Jr. was the star for the NL, with a single in the first inning which plated speedy Jose Reyes (who had stolen second) and a sac fly in the 6th to get Carlos Beltran home from 3rd. All told, it was an exciting game that was ultimately tarnished by some horrible coaching by a manager who once graced the cover of Sports Illustrated emblazoned with the words, "The Mastermind" (shown at left with my new, improved version at right). Maybe, now that La Russa has demonstrated his puerile fallibilities, SI can give him a cover shot with the headline, "Never Mind."