AL Star I at NL All Star II
AL leads 2 games to 0
George Brett hit a grand slam in lead the AL in game one; Jimmie Foxx reached base five times and the AL takes both games at home.
We head to Wrigley for Games 3-5. RH Ed Walsh pitching for the AL, the lefty Clayton Kershaw going for the NL.
AL Lineup
LF Henderson
2B Lajoie
1B Foxx
CF DiMaggio
RF Cobb
3B Rodriguez
SS Boudreau
C Mauer
RHP 1908 Ed Walsh
NL Lineup
CF Raines
3B Jones
1B McCovey
RF Ott
LF Gwynn
SS Yount
C Posey
2B Utley
LHP 2013 Clayton Kershaw
We've now seen all the position players on both sides, here, the AL right handed hitting lineup that won game 2 goes again, same players, a little shuffling in the order - while the NL lefty hitting game one lineup comes back, again, a little shuffling, as the AL is throwing a RH. New park - Wrigley Field for the next 3 games.
Top 1
Clayton Kershaw is 25, he won his second Cy Young this season, 16-9, 1.83, had a 194 ERA+.
Once again 1990 Rickey Henderson is leading off, in game 2 Henderson went 1-5 with a double and an RBI and a run scored. Kershaw strikes him out.
1910 Nap Lajoie is next, big game 2 for the second baseman, 3-5 with 2 doubles an RBI and a run scored. Lajoie singles to center.
1932 Jimmie Foxx moves up a spot in the order today, he reached base all 5 times in game 2, 3-3 with two walks, 2 doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Foxx singles to center, Lajoie goes to third and with just one out there's men on the corners.
1941 Joe DiMaggio comes to the plate, 1 out, runners on the corners, in game 1 he was 3-5, with both a triple and a double, 2 RBI and a run scored. Kershaw gets him to hit into an easy 6-4-3 and the threat ends.
Bottom 1
27 year old Ed Walsh on the mound for the AL. Walsh won 40 games this year, going 40-15 with a 1.42 ERA. Walsh added six saves which led MLB.
Leading off for the NL is the Rock, 1985 Tim Raines, back in game 1 Raines was 2-3, with a walk, a double and an RBI. Raines hits a scorcher - right at Lajoie for the first out.
2008 Chipper Jones hits second today, Chipper was 1-3 with a walk in game one. He bleeds one in the hole between first and second for a base hit.
1969 Willie McCovey was 1-4 in game 1 with a double and a run scored and walked as a pinch hitter in game 2, Stretch rips a liner to first, Foxx makes a hell of a play, stabbing the ball, stepping on first for one - and then throwing to Boudreau at the bag at second, he applies the tag on Jones and the inning is over.
Top 2
1917 Ty Cobb was 1-5 in game 2 with an RBI and a stolen base, he weakly grounds to first, McCovey takes it to the bag.
2007 Alex Rodriguez was 0-4 with an HBP in game 2, Kershaw blows him away - 3 straight fastballs for the K.
1948 Lou Boudreau comes to the plate with 2 out, he was 0-3 with a walk in game 2 - he singles to left here to extend the inning.
2009 Joe Mauer was 1-3 with a walk and a run scored, he grounds to second - flip to short for the forceout that ends the frame.
Bottom 2
1932 Mel Ott leads off for the NL, he was 0-4 in game 1 -- but he ropes a liner to right here and Ott is at first base with a single.
1987 Tony Gwynn was 1-4 in game 1, he surprises here by dropping a bunt - but Joe Mauer pounces - takes a shot at Ott --- and just does get him at second. Gwynn aboard at first on a force. Super athletic play by Mauer.
Gwynn steals second. NL has a man in scoring position. 1982 Robin Yount was 2-4 in game 1, he grounds to Foxx, tosses to Walsh for the second out as Gwynn now stands at third.
2012 Buster Posey was 2-4 in game 1 -- and he plates the game's first run, lining a ball hard to left, Gwynn trots home and it is 1-0. The 25 year old Posey won the NL MVP this year, leading all MLB with a 171 OPS+, which will be the high mark of his career.
2008 Chase Utley was 0-3 with a walk in game 1, he flies to right and the inning is over.
Top 3
Walsh leads off for the AL, shallow fly out to left.
Henderson struck out in the first - here, he rips a base hit to left. On the next pitch, he's gone and swipes second.
Lajoie singled in the first - he grounds to third, onto first and there are 2 away, Henderson unable to advance.
The NL still has not gotten Jimmie Foxx out, 5 times he reached in game 2 and he singled in the first - LaRussa showing him an unbelievable amount of respect here, he orders the intentional walk in the third inning with a 1 run lead and Joe DiMaggio on deck. Wow. Wow. Wow.
DiMaggio hit into a double play in the first -- but here he makes the NL play, singling to center, Henderson motors home from second and the score is tied 1-1. DiMaggio broke in back in '36, he hit .323 as the 21 year old center fielder for the Yankees, in his second season, a 22 year old DiMaggio led all MLB in slugging and finished second in the AL MVP. He had a 6th place finish in '38, hit .381 in winning the MVP in '39, finished third in the MVP in 1940 and this is 1941 DiMaggio.
Cobb ground out in the second and does it again here.
Bottom 3
Kershaw's first at bat in the tournament is three fastballs he swings through.
Raines lined out in the first, he hits a sinking liner to center that clanks off of DiMaggio's glove, Raines never stops running and slides into second with a 2 base error.
Jones singled in the first, he grounds out to second now.
A McCovey double play ended the first, and a foul pop to third ends the third.
Top 4
ARod struck out in the 2nd and does not have a hit yet - Kershaw strikes him out again here.
Boudreau singled back in the second and flies out to left now.
Mauer ground out in the second - here, HE HOMERS TO RIGHT CENTER! Joe Mauer hits a two out home run and the AL moves out in front. A 26 year old Mauer won the AL MVP this season, his 171 OPS+ would be the highest of his career. 2-1.
That's gotta be frustrating for Kershaw, giving up a homer with the pitcher on deck - and he fires three fastballs past Walsh to end the inning.
Bottom 4
Ott singled back in the second - he does it again now, slamming a ball to right.
Gwynn was safe on a force play in the second and then stole a base, he lines hard to first and Ott has to scramble to get back.
Yount's 0-1, and now he's 0-2 when Walsh wipes him away on 3 fastballs.
Posey singled home the game's first run - but here he grounds to short and we go to the 5th.
Top 5
Top of the order for the AL. Henderson's 1-2 and he walks here. Thats the danger zone, Rickey already has a stolen base today.
Lajoie is also 1-2, he hits a soft single to center - Rickey is off and running, all the way to third and the AL has men on the corners with nobody out.
Man - Rickey is really dancing off third base - really dancing off third -- Posey attempts to pick him off - Rickey dives back safely - ARod fires to first - and they get Lajoie! Lajoie is napping a little bit at first and ARod picks him off.
The NL has yet to get Foxx yet, this time LaRussa doesn't order the intentional walk, despite the open base - and Foxx hits a bomb - Deep - Deep Left Field - Gwynn makes the play at the base of the wall, easy tag up here and Henderson scores on the sac fly. 3-1. Foxx went 6-9 as a 17 year old catcher for the Athletics in 1925, he hit over .300 in part time duty the next two seasons. Foxx hit .328 as a 20 year old third baseman in 1928, moved to first in '29 and led the AL in OBP, hit .335 in 1930, the first season of his career where he hit less than .300 was last season and this year, Foxx won the AL MVP, leading all MLB in homers, RBI, slugging, OPS, OPS+ and total bases.
DiMaggio's 1-2, he grounds to first and the inning is over.
To the fifth we go - AL, already up 2 games to 0 leads 3-1 here.
Bottom 5
Utley's 0-1, he grounds to second.
Kershaw follows by doing the same.
Raines is 0-2, having reached by error and he works a walk.
Chipper's 1-2, he singles to right - the NL has men on the corners with 2 away and McCovey coming to the plate.
McCovey's 0-2, he walks here - and the NL has loaded the bases for Mel Ott, who is 2-2 today.
Long at bat, Ott fouling off pitch after pitch - but it ends with a ground out to second - Lajoie flips to Boudreau and the frame ends.
Top 6
Cobb's 0-2, he grounds to third.
Kershaw strikes out ARod for the third time today, given that Brett was one of the stalwarts in game one, this feels like perhaps a change is in the offing for the AL going forward.
Boudreau's 1-2, he grounds to third and the AL is down in order.
Bottom 6
Gwynn is 0-2, he flies to right.
Yount similarly is now 0-3 when he flies to right.
Posey's 1-2 with an RBI, and he doubles off the ivy in left to give the NL a runner in scoring position with two out in a game they really must win and currently trail 3-1.
But Utley pops out, he is 0-3 and we head to the 7th.
Top 7
Mauer homered back in the 4th, Kershaw strikes him out here.
Walsh flies to left.
Rickey grounds to short - Kershaw rolling now, can the NL find some runs?
Bottom 7
Kershaw hits for himself, although he shouldn't, and he grounds weakly to first.
Raines flies to left.
Chipper grounds to second - it's starting to get late for the National League.
Top 8
Lajoie opens the 8th with a double to right center, it's his third hit of the day, the NL just can't afford to give up another run here.
Kershaw gets Foxx - he was batting 1.000 until right now and he grounds to third.
And then DiMaggio grounds to third.
And then so does Cobb -- just a huge effort right there for Kershaw to keep the NL in this series.
Bottom 8
Ed Walsh is 6 outs away from the AL taking what would appear to be an insurmountable 3-0 series lead.
McCovey strikes out.
Ott flies to right.
Gwynn's foul tip is caught by Mauer - Walsh is rolling, the AL is rolling.
Top 9
ARod's hitless in the series - until now, a leadoff double down the right field line to open the 9th, AL looking for one more run.
Boudreau grounds to the right side, flip to first, ARod goes to third.
Joe Mauer adds to his homer with a triple -- Mauer drives a ball to center that kicks away from Raines -- a huge game for Mauer, ARod scores and it is 4-1. Mauer came up in '06 when he was 24, in his third year he led MLB in batting average, last year he finished 4th in the AL MVP and, as mentioned, it's 2009 for Mauer, he's 26 and the AL MVP.
Walsh flies to left.
Henderson lines to second and Walsh now has a 3 run lead as we go to the bottom of the 9th.
Bottom 9
Yount opens with a single to center. NL needs baserunners.
Posey works a walk - he's been on base 3 times today, and with nobody out the tying run comes to the plate for the NL (yes, there should be a pitching change, yes).
And Utley walks.
Well - here we are, the bases are loaded - there's nobody out, NL down 4-1 in a near must win spot.
Pitchers spot to the plate - it's Sosa. Sammy Sosa, at Wrigley Field, is coming to the plate.
Sosa grounds to third -- onto second -- over to first....Sosa beats it out, the run scores, 4-2 and the NL has men on the corners, top of the order coming to the plate, still just one out. It's 2001 Sammy Sosa, he's 32, he hit 64, count them, 64 home runs this season and finished 2nd in the NL MVP.
Sosa exits - a future Cub, Andre Dawson, comes in as a pinch runner.
And finally McCarthy goes to the pen.....here comes Mariano Rivera.
It's 2008 Rivera, he's a 38 year old right hander, the oldest man in the tournament. It's Rivera's 14 year in the big leagues. Rivera was 6-5, 1.40 ERA, 60 saves, what would be a career best 316 ERA+.
Raines to the plate - he hits a high, high pop up on the infield -- ARod has it. 2 away.
Chipper is the last hope for the NL, two on, two out, 4-2.
Easy ground ball to first -- Foxx will take it to the bag -- and it is done.
American League I 4 National League II 2
Joe Mauer homers and triples and the American League is a win away from sweeping the opening series of the tournament.
Henderson: 1-4, walk, 2 runs scored, SB (2-9, walk, double, RBI, 3 runs scored, SB)
Lajoie: 3-4, double (6-9, 3 doubles, RBI, RS)
Foxx: 1-2, walk, RBI (4-5, 3 walks, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, RS)
DiMaggio 1-4, RBI (4-9, triple/double, 3 RBI, RS)
Cobb: 0-4 (1-9, RBI, stolen base)
ARod: 1-4, double, RS (1-8, HBP, double, RS)
Boudreau: 1-4 (1-7, walk)
Mauer: 2-4, HR, triple, 2RBI, RS (3-7, walk, HR, triple, 2RBI, 2RS)
WP Walsh 8.1 IP 2 ER, 7 hits, 3 Ks/4 BB
Sv: Rivera .2 IP
Raines 0-4 (2-7, walk, double, RBI
Jones 2-5 (3-8, walk)
McCovey 0-3, walk (1-4, 2 walks, double, RS)
Ott 2-4 (2-8)
Gwynn 0-4, RS, SB (1-8, RS, SB)
Yount 1-4 RS (3-8, RS)
Posey 2-3, walk, double, RBI (4-7, walk, double RBI)
Utley 0-3, walk (0-6, 2 walks)
Sosa 0-1, RBI (0-6, RBI)
LP Kershaw 9 IP, 4 ER, 10 H, 6 Ks/2BB
AL was the favorite at the outset of the tournament and that has not changed - they go up 3 games to 0
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