The 85th MLB All-Star Game last night was a victory for the American League, winning 5-3 against the National League. With this win, the American League has secured home-field advantage for the World Series.
The game served as a farewell to Derek Jeter, who will retire after this season, in his 14th and final All-Star Game. He hit a double in the first inning and scored the first run of the game. He was 2-for-2, making him the oldest player to have two hits or more in an All-Star Game. In the fourth inning, he was replaced at shortstop and left the field to loud cheering and applause among the crowd that lasted three minutes.
The night, however, was not without some controversy. Early in the game, St. Louis Cardinals’ pitcher Adam Wainwright said, “I was going to give [Jeter] a couple pipe shots just to — he deserved it. I thought he was going to hit something hard to the right side for a single or an out. I probably should have pitched him a little bit better.”
His statements caused quite a stir on the internet, leading Wainwright to clarify himself later on in the game. “It was mis-said. I hope people realize I’m not intentionally giving up hits out there.”
It was a memorable evening for L.A. Angels’ Mike Trout. He had a triple in the first inning and a double in the fifth. Trout now joins Ted Williams and Ken Griffey Jr. as the only players to have two extra-base hits in an All-Star Game before the age of 23. After the game, Trout was named the All-Star Most Valuable Player, making him the second-youngest player to win the prize.
Other highlights included Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers hitting a two-run homer in the first inning to bring the score to 3-0 for the AL, and L.A. Dodgers starters Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke each throwing a scoreless inning. Second baseman Dee Gordon also had a great All-Star debut who was able to score a run after stepping in as the pinch-runner for Chase Utley.
