The heavy San Diego influence of the pregame ceremonies carried into the first inning when Bryant, a University of San Diego alum, homered on the first pitch he saw from American League starter Chris Sale in an all-Chicago matchup.
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“I was supposed to hit a home run in my second at-bat”.
I say this because of the one major strike that continues to overshadow what is often an entertaining enough game on its own merits, the fact that home-field advantage in the World Series is still bestowed on the league whose All-Stars prevail in what, in most every other way, remains an exhibition.
The All-Star Game has delivered its verdict, and the American League will have home-field advantage in the World Series after Tuesday night’s 4-2 victory over the National League that was a snooze most of the way. Because the 87th All-Star Game was originally scheduled for an American League city, the National League was the visiting team, although the game was played in San Diego. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been that proud of two players in a moment like that”.
“We had six teams that needed to be represented and I wanted those – that fan base to have somebody to cheer for”, he said. “My boy told me he was going to throw me a fastball, and the first pitch was a changeup”, Ortiz said.
Still, the policy isn’t changing.
“It was really, really hard not to put him in that final vote”, said Yost. It was damaged by a rash decision, which is one of the great taints left on the game by Selig. They know it’s meaningful.
If it is to have such meaning, then, shouldn’t we treat it like a real game, with 25-man rosters and with players selected on merit rather than popularity (hello, Addison Russell!) or per-team quotas?
The two obviously were not phased by the big stage, as they lifted the American League to a 3-1 lead over the National League.
The Royals shine in the Midsummer Classic.
SAN DIEGO – Eric Hosmer stood in the middle of the field, holding up a trophy. Only once, in 86 previous All-Star Games, had any player hit a home run off a pitcher he had played with the year before. This year, they made sure Hosmer and Perez would have their moment here at Petco Park-and the two took full advantage, driving in all four runs the AL scored.
If the defending champion Royals reach the World Series for the third straight year, they will start at home, sweet, home once again. In 2018 the game will be in Washington, and I’m looking forward to Bryce Harper’s reaction to dressing in the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park.
“Hopefully this is something we can all rally upon for the second half and find a way to use that home-field advantage”, Hosmer said. It’s not even a real game.
There weren’t many dry eyes in the house.
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“I think I have (faced Tapia) a little bit in spring training”, Hoffman said. “But seeing what he means to the city, I know I’m definitely not The Padre”. If the NL guys had been able to get to the home dugout, they probably would have joined Big Papi’s receiving line as well. Britton allowed a leadoff single to Murphy, who reached base in all three of his plate appearances, but got Paul Goldschmidt and Arenado to ground out, the latter into an around-the-horn 5-4-3 double play to clinch Yost’s second All-Star win in as many opportunities. “I looked at him and I was like, ‘what happened?'”
