MLB All Star Tournament, Rnd 1, NL1 v AL2, Gm 2

 

AL 2 at NL 1, Dodger Stadium, AL2 upset NL1 in game 1, Bert Blyleven throwing a complete game shutout.  

Resetting briefly - four team tournament, each team has two lefty/two right starting pitchers and entirely separate RH/LH hitting lineups.  And they'll play them (so that's why Mays is on the bench, for ex) as given the talent here/lack of ability to change players during the game (it's a simple simulation by necessity, given time constraints) each position player gets two starts in each series (the exception being the situation that arose in the first series, a 3-0 lead where game 4 is an elimination game - in elimination game's, the team has to be able to use any bullet it has).

American League 2 Lineup

LF Speaker

1B Carew

RF Jackson

CF Griffey, Jr.

3B Boggs

2B Gehringer

SS Jeter

C Berra

RHP 1975 Jim Palmer

National League 2 Lineup

2B Morgan

LF Bonds

1B Musial

RF Harper

CF Snider

3B Mathews

C Bench

SS Vaughan

RHP 1985 Dwight Gooden

Top 1

This is 20 year old Dwight Gooden's second season in the big leagues, he was second in the Cy Young as a rookie and won it this year.  24-4, 1.53. His 229 ERA+ will be by far his best ever mark.  

24 year old Tris Speaker leads off.  He was 0-4 in Game 1.  Speaker grounds to first.  

31 year old Rod Carew was 1-4 in Game 1, Gooden strikes him out.

23 year old Reggie Jackson accounted for the only runs scored in game 1 with a 2 run homer - AND HE HITS A LONG DRIVE...CENTER FIELD....GONE...GONE...REGGIE JACKSON HOMERS AGAIN 1-0.

26 year old Ken Griffey, Jr was 0-4 in Game 1, and he grounds back to the mound.  Once again - Reggie, he homers off of Gooden and the AL goes up.

Bottom 1

29 year old Jim Palmer takes the hill for the AL2 squad in Game 2, Palmer broke in at 19, won a Cy Young at 27, and his second Cy was this season.  23-11, 2.09.  Palmer led MLB in ERA+.  

31 year old Joe Morgan was 0-4 in Game 1, he grounds to second.

36 year old Barry Bonds was 0-3 with a walk, he flies deep to right.

27 year old Stan Musial was 1-3 with a walk - he dribbles a grounder that Palmer easily tosses to first.

Top 2

27 year old Wade Boggs was 0-4, he grounds to short.

31 year old Charlie Gehringer was 1-3 with a walk, he grounds to short.

25 year old Derek Jeter was 2-3, he slaps a base hit up the middle.

25 year old Yogi Berra was 0-3, he flies to right center - nice running grab by Snider to end the inning.

Bottom 2

22 year old Bryce Harper was 1-4, he grounds to short.

26 year old Duke Snider was 1-3 with a walk and becomes the NLs first base runner by walking again.

27 year old Eddie Matthews was 1-4 in game one, he lines to left.

And then Palmer ends the inning, 24 year old Johnny Bench was 1-3 with a walk, he grounds out to third and we go to the third.

Top 3

Gooden strikes out Palmer on 3 pitches.

Back to the top of the order - Speaker gets his first hit of the series, a single to right.

Carew struck out in the first, he rips a single to right - Speaker to third and with nobody out and Reggie coming to the plate, the AL has men on the corners.

Reggie hits a fly ball to the right field wall - Harper makes the catch but Speaker easily trots home 2-0.  This is 1969 Jackson when he had what would be his career high in runs, homers, RBI, walks, OBP and slugging.  

Griffey's yet to have a hit -- BUT THAT ENDS NOW - GRIFFEY HITS A BALL DEEP INTO THE LOS ANGELES NIGHT - A 2 RUN HOME RUN TO GIVE THE AL A 4-0 lead.  

Boggs follows with his first hit of the series, a single to center - Gooden ends the inning by getting Gehringer to ground to first, but the damage, as they say, is done - the American League B squad now up 4-0.

Bottom 3

23 year old Arky Vaughan was hitless in game 1 and he grounds to third.

Palmer strikes out his opposite number Gooden.

Joe Morgan's hitless - UNTIL NOW - A BLAST TO DEEP RIGHT - JOE MORGAN HAS A HOME RUN 4-1, the NL gets one back, it's their first run of the series.  It's 1975 Joe Morgan, the first of his back to back MVP campaigns.  Morgan's .466 OBP would be the highest of his career.  

Bonds is still hitless - he grounds to second.

Top4

Jeter pops to short.

Yogi gets his first hit of the series, a bloop to right.

Palmer bunts him over.

And Speaker drives him home - Tris Speaker rips a single to right center, Yogi comes around - and the AL is now up 5-1.  

Speaker then steals second - the AL is all over the NL. 

Carew grounds to second.  4 run AL lead.

Bottom 4

Musial flies to right.

Harper grounds to first.

Snider grounds to second - easy inning for Palmer, still 5-1 AL B Squad.

Top5

Gooden strikes Jackson out.

Griffey homered in his last at bat - he lines a base hit to left.

Gooden gets Boggs to go 5-4-3.

Bottom 5

Mathews grounds to first.

Bench flies to left.

Vaughan flies to right - Jim Palmer cruising now, up 4 runs as we go to the 6th.

Top6

Gehringer leads off with a single to right.

Gooden strikes out Jeter.

Yogi grounds to third - no play on the lead runner - Mathews throws to first.

Gooden strikes out Palmer on 3 fastballs.

Bottom 6

Jim Palmer has given up just one hit, the NL hasn't had any success with the bats at all in the series.

Gooden grounds to third.

Morgan homered in in his last at bat and he doubles over Griffey's head here, just the second hit for the NL.

Bonds continues to struggle, a weak ground ball back to the mount - Morgan holds at second.

Musial comes through with 2 out, punching a base hit to right center - Morgan will score without a throw.  5-2.

Harper rips a line drive that is snagged by a leaping Jeter - super play by the shortstop to end the inning.

Top7

Speaker grounds to short.

Carew singles to right.

Reggie grounds to first - they knock off the lead runner, but Jackson beats out the attempt at the double play.

Griffey pops to short and we hit the stretch.

Bottom 7

Snider grounds to short.

Mathews grounds to short.

Palmer strikes out Bench - the AL just six outs away from taking both games at Dodger Stadium.

Top8

Gooden strikes out Boggs.

Gehringer singled in his last at bat - and does so here, bleeding one between first and second.  

Jeter walks.  

Berra hits a slow roller to first - Musial steps on the bag, both runners advance.

AL doesn't go to the bench - Palmer hits for himself and strikes out.  

Bottom 8

AL still up 5-2.  

Palmer hits Arky Vaughan on the knee - he stays in to run - McGraw goes to the bench to get a hitter, it's Hornsby, he was also called on to pinch hit in game one.  Hornsby grounds to third - they get the force at second, no play at first.

Morgan hard line drive to le -- stopped by the diving Jeter - Jeter throws to first -- Morgan just beats it out - okay, so here's where we are.  2 on, 1 out - NL down 5-2 and Barry Bonds, hitless in the series, coming to the plate. 

Palmer strikes him out.  Just a huge, huge spot there. 

Musial then grounds to second - that could do it here in game 2.

Top9

Randy Johnson threw two perfect innings in relief in game one, John McGraw calls on him again here.

Speaker grounds to second.

Carew is able to work a walk.

Johnson then strikes out Reggie/Griffey back to back and it's the bottom of the 9th.

Bottom 9

Palmer strikes out Harper.

Snider routine grounder to first.

Mathews is able to work a walk on a long, long plate appearance to give the NL a breath of life.

Palmer walks Bench.

2 on, 2 out - Casey Stengel has Eckersley warmed up in the pen - he sticks with Palmer.

And Palmer walks Arky Vaughan.  

 Bases loaded - 2 outs in a 5-2 game - pitchers spot up, who will McGraw call on now?

It's Pujols - 2009 Albert Pujols makes his first appearance of the series.  

Palmer stays on for the AL -- and Palmer walks his 4th consecutive batter, all with 2 out - Mathews will score and now it is 5-3, bases still loaded - Honus Wagner makes his first appearance of the series, pinch running for Pujols.  

Joe Morgan has homered and doubled.  He's coming up now with the tying run in scoring position.

He won't face Palmer - it's Eck, 1990 Dennis Eckersley is 35, 4-2, 48 saves, a 0.61 ERA, a career best 603 ERA+.

And he walks Morgan!  The NL has 5 straight walks - it is now 5-4 - the bases remain loaded, the tying run at third, the winning run at second - 2 outs.

And once again - it's Bonds, still hitless in the series.

And Bonds hits one high --- Deep --- to the Left Field Wall ---- But it's Caught By Tris Speaker - and the game is over.

AL B 5 NL A 4

The National League plates two in the 9th - but a really brutal series for Bonds gets worse, and the American League B team takes both games in Dodger Stadium and the series now shifts to Fenway.

Series Stats

Speaker 2-9, RBI, RS, SB

Carew: 3-8, walk, 2RS

Jackson: 2-8, 2HR, 4RBI, 2RS

Griffey, 2-9, HR, 2RBI, RS

Boggs: 1-8, 

Gehringer: 3-7, walk

Jeter: 3-6, walk, 

Berra: 1-7, RS

Palmer 1-0, 8.2 IP, 4ER, 4 H, 4 K/5BB

Blyleven: 1-0 9 IP 0ER 6 hits, 4 K/4BB

Eckersley .1 IP BB

Morgan: 3-7, walk, HR, 2B, 2RBI, 2RS

Bonds: 0-8, walk

Musial: 2-7, walk, RBI

Harper: 1-8

Snider: 1-6, 2 BB

Mathews: 1-7, BB, RS

Bench: 1-6, 2BB, RS

Vaughan: 0-6, BB, HBP

Hornsby: 0-2

Pujols: BB, RBI

Gooden: 0-1 8 IP 5ER, 12H, 1BB/7K

Mathewson: 0-1, 7IP 1 ER, 5 hits, 5K/1BB

Johnson: 3 IP, 4K/BB

MLB All Star Tournament, Rnd 1, NL1 v AL2, Gm 1

 

And the tournament shifts venue now, to LA, Dodger Stadium, for Games 1 and 2 of the next series, NL1 v AL2.

American League 2 Lineup

3B 1985 Wade Boggs

LF 1912 Tris Speaker

1B 1977 Rod Carew

RF 1969 Reggie Jackson

CF 1996 Ken Griffey, Jr.

2B 1934 Charlie Gehringer

C 1950 Yogi Berra

SS 1999 Derek Jeter

RHP 1973 Bert Blyleven

It's the LH hitting lineup for AL2, Jeter is the only RH bat among position players.

National League 1 Lineup

2B 1975 Joe Morgan

LF 2001 Barry Bonds

1B 1946 Stan Musial

RF 2015 Bryce Harper

CF 1953 Duke Snider

SS 1935 Arky Vaughan

3B 1959 Eddie Mathews

C 1972 Johnny Bench

RHP 1908 Christy Mathewson

It's the LH hitting lineup for NL1, Bench the only RH bat among position players.

Off we go to Dodger Stadium for Game 1.

Top1

27 year old RH Christy Mathewson takes the hill for the National League, 37-11, 5 saves. 1.43 ERA.  

Wade Boggs is also 27 and he leads off for the AL, he grounds to second.  

Tris Speaker is 24, batting second, grounds to first - Musial flips to Mathewson.  2 away.

Rod Carew is 31 - easy grounder back to Mathewson, onto first.  Quick inning.

Bottom 1

Bert Blyleven is a 22 year old RH and he's going for the AL today; he's been in the bigs for four years. 20-17, 2.52.  His 156 ERA+ would be his career best over a 22 year career.

31 year old Joe Morgan leads off - he flies to center.

Barry Bonds is next, 36, with the top WAR on the NL roster.  He hits a ball to dead center -- Ken Griffey, Jr all the way back to the wall.  2 out.

Stan Musial is 27 - he lines sharply to second and the inning is over.

Top 2

Mathewson back to the mound - up first is Reggie Jackson, 23 years old, he lines a ball hard to left, but Bonds has it played perfectly and there's one away.

Ken Griffey, Jr. is 26 - he rockets one to center, but there's Mike Trout - sprinting to track it down.

31 year old Charlie Gehringer then gets the first hit of the game, a clean single to right.

The inning ends, 25 year old Yogi Berra popping up to second.

Bottom 2

22 year old Bryce Harper singles between short and third.

26 year old Duke Snider follows with a rope to right.  2 on, nobody out.

23 year old Arky Vaughan goes 6-4-3, Harper is at third, but there are now 2 away.

27 year old Eddie Mathews flies to right and we are off to the third.

Top 3

25 year old Derek Jeter bloops a single to left.  

Blyleven attempts to move Jeter over - but Bench pounces on the bunt - fires to second and they get Jeter.  Blyleven now standing at first as the lineup turns over.

Boggs ground out back in the first - he hits another grounder to second here, Morgan to Vaughan to Musial and the inning is over.

Bottom 3

24 year old Johnny Bench leads off with a walk.

Mathewson's sacrifice is successful, Bench to second, one away.  

Morgan's 0-1, he grounds to the right side - Gehringer throws to first - 2 out now with Bench at third.

Casey Stengel manages the AL B team - and he knows he does not want to face Barry Bonds in this spot, ordering the intentional pass.

It works - Musial grounds out to third and now it's the 4th inning.

Top 4

Speaker's 0-1, he grounds to short - but Vaughan boots it and the leadoff man is aboard.

Carew's 0-2, he hits a tough grounder to short - Vaughan is able to get the force at second, Carew safe at first.

REGGIE JACKSON HITS A 2 RUN SHOT OFF THE RIGHT FIELD FOUL POLE AND THE AL TAKES A 2-0 LEAD!!

Reggie's 23, in his third season, his rookie year was in Kansas City, the A's moved to Oakland in '68, and this is '69.  Reggie's 189 OPS+ will be the top mark for this big league career.  This is the only season he slugged over .600.  

Mathewson gets the next two - Griffey flies to center, Gehringer pops to short.

Bottom 4

Blyleven strikes out Harper.

Snider grounds to short.  

Vaughan grounds to second - quick 1-2-3 for Blyleven and we head to the 5th.

Top 5

Berra grounds to second.

Jeter is now 2-2, he laces a single to center.

Blyleven moves him over with a bunt.

Mathewson strikes out Boggs.  

Bottom 5

Mathews grounds to short.

Bench grounds to short.

Mathewson comes through with the bat, blooping a base hit to left.

But Blyleven gets Morgan on a route fly ball to right and now we head to the 6th, still 2-0 AL.

Top 6

Mathewson strikes out Speaker.

Carew singles to right he's now 1-3.

Mathewson strikes out Jackson.

Griffey grounds to short.

Bottom 6

Bonds pops to short.

Musial works a walk.  

Harper rips a ball to right - Reggie dives for the catch - huge catch for Reggie after hitting the two run homer that has provided the game's only runs.

Snider walks -- NL in business, 2 on, 2 out - down 2-0.  Arky Vaughan coming to the plate.

Routine ground ball to short.  Flip to second for the force and Blyleven is out of the inning.

Top 7

Gehringer walks.  

Yogi grounds back to the mound - Mathewson knocks off the lead runner.

Mathewson strikes out Jeter and Blyleven and we now head to the 7th inning stretch - the NL A Team only has 3 hits in their opening game of the tournament.

Bottom 7

Eddie Mathews opens by slapping a base hit between third and short.

Bench singles to left and the NL has 2 on and nobody out and this might be the shot.

NL going to the bench - it's 1924 Rogers Hornsby; Hornsby is 28.  

Blyleven gets him to go 3-6-3 - just an enormous double play for the 22 year old Blyleven who continues his shutout.  Mathews now on third with 2 out.  

Morgan grounds to third - and man oh man - we head to the 8th inning.

Top 8

The NL's oldest player is 37 year old 2001 Randy Johnson and he comes out of the pen.

Boggs grounds to first.

Speaker grounds to short.

Carew grounds to first.

Bottom 8

Bonds pops to second.

Musial singles sharply to center.  

Blyleven strikes out Harper/Snider back to back -- Bert Blyleven is shutting out NL All Star Team 1 in Dodger Stadium in Game 1 of the series.

Top 9

Johnson strikes out Jackson.

Johnson strikes out Griffey.

Gehringer flies to left.  6 up, 6 down for Randy Johnson out of the pen and it is the bottom of the 9th.

Bottom 9

Blyleven stays on, Dennis Eckersley warming up in the pen for the AL.

Vaughan grounds to second.

Mathews grounds to first.

Blyleven strikes out Bench -- and Bert Blyleven has shut out the National League.

American League II 2 National League I 0

Boggs: 0-4

Speaker: 0-4

Carew: 1-4, RS

Jackson: 1-4, HR, 2RBI, RS

Griffey: 0-4

Gehringer: 1-3, walk

Berra: 0-3

Jeter: 2-3

Blyleven: 1-0 9 IP 0ER 6 hits, 4 K/4BB

Morgan 0-4

Bonds: 0-3, walk

Musial: 1-3, walk

Harper: 1-4

Snider: 1-3, walk

Vaughan: 0-4

Mathews: 1-4

Bench: 1-3, walk

Hornsby: 0-1

Mathewson: 0-1, 7IP 1 ER, 5 hits, 5K/1BB

Johnson: 2 IP, 2 Ks

MLB All Star Tournament, Rnd 1, AL1 v NL2 Game 4

AL Star I at NL All Star II

AL leads 3 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.  In game three, Joe Mauer homered and tripled, and the AL is one away from moving forward into the winners bracket.  One more loss and the NL heads to the losers bracket.

We stay at Wrigley for Games 4  RH Juan Marichal pitching for the NL, the lefty Rube Waddell going for the AL.  The AL will return to their game 1 lineup, the LH lineup that hits against the RH Marichal.  For the NL, they are able to go with any position players they want, as it is an elimination game for them.

American League I

LF Williams

RF Ruth

1B Gehrig

CF Mantle

3B Brett

2B Collins

SS Ripken

C Dickey

LHP 1904 Rube Waddell

National League II

2B Robinson

1B Goldschmidt

RF Clemente

LF Sosa

SS Banks

3B Santo

C Posey

CF Raines

RHP 1965 Juan Marichal

Top 1

NL has their backs against the ivy covered wall today, down 3 games to 0, here's game 4 at Wrigley.  On the mound, a 27 year old Juan Marichal.  22-13, 2.13 with what would be a career best 169 ERA+.

1946 Ted Williams leading off, he went 2-5 in game one; he flies to right to open game 4.

1923 Babe Ruth does not have a hit - but he has walked four times; he singles to right.

1927 Lou Gehrig homered and had 3 RBI in game 1 -- AND HE BOMBS A BALL - THATS OUT ONTO WAVELAND AVENUE - GEHRIG CLEARS THE BLEACHERS, ONTO THE STREET, 2-0.

The AL strikes fast in game 4, Lou Gehrig with his second home run of the series.  The Iron Horse was 20 when he broke in with the Yankees in '23, he became the starting first baseman in '25, he led the AL in triples in '26 and this year won the AL MVP, his 220 OPS+ would be the highest of his career.  

1957 Mickey Mantle was 2-4 in game one and flies to right for the second out.

1980 George Brett hit a grand slam in game one, AND HE HITS A LONG DRIVE...THAT....JUST DISAPPEARS OVER THE CENTER FIELD WALL -- George Brett homers in the first and the AL is up 3-0.  Brett was 20 when he broke in back in '73, he was third in the AL Rookie of the Year in '74 and led all MLB in triples in '75 and '76. 3 years later Brett finished 3rd in the AL MVP and this year was 1980, where Brett won the MVP.

1915 Eddie Collins went 2-4 in game 1, Marichal strikes him out but the damage is done, 3-0.

Bottom 1

1904 Rube Waddell is a 27 year old lefty, he pitched in Chicago for season, with the Orphans in '01. 25-19, 1.62.  167 ERA+.  

1951 Jackie Robinson went 2-4 with a walk in game 2, and he drops a bunt down the third base line on the first pitch of the game --- it stays fair and it's a base hit.

2015 Paul Goldschmidt is 1-5 with a walk, Waddell strikes him out.

1967 Roberto Clemente went 1-2 with 2 walks in game 2, Waddell strikes him out; Robinson was running on the pitch and takes second.

2001 Sammy Sosa is 0-6, Cubs are hitting 4-5-6 for the NL here in Wrigley today; Sosa bloops a single to right center, Robinson scores and the NL dents the lead.  3-1.  Sosa was 20 when he broke in with the Rangers in '89, he was sent out at the deadline to the White Sox as part of a deal with Harold Baines headed the other way.  He became a Cub three years later as part of a deal for George Bell.  Sosa's first All Star team nod was '95, his first 40 homer season was '96. And then in '98, it started - 66 home runs, then 63 in '99, 50 in 2000 and this is 2001, when his 203 OPS+ would be the highest of his career.

1959 Ernie Banks went 2-4 in game 2 and he walks here, two on two out for 1967 Ron Santo who went 1-3 with a walk in game 2.  Waddell gets him to ground to second, Collins flips to Ripken and the inning is over.

Top 2

1991 Cal Ripken was hitless in game 1 and he grounds to second.

1937 Bill Dickey was also hitless in game 1, with a walk, he slaps a single to center.

Waddell successfully bunts Dickey over to second.  Two away.

Back to the top of the order, Williams is 0-1 -- he ropes a single to right center -- Dickey will come around to score and the AL lead is 4-1.  1946 was Williams's first season back after losing three for WWII and he won the AL MVP.  Williams led the AL in OPS+ at the ages of 22 and 23 -- then lost 3 years - and then led the AL in OPS+ the first four years he was back. Ted Williams didn't hit below .317 in any big league season until he was 40.  

Ruth walks.  That's 5 walks for Ruth, he has 1 hit. 

Gehrig walks - the bases are loaded with 2 away; this AL squad is threatening to end this series right now.

Mantle clears the bases with a 3 run double to right -- everyone will score -- it is 7-1 and the AL All Star team is about to sweep their way into the winners bracket. The Mick was 25 in 1957, it was the second of his back to back MVP seasons.  Between '55-64 he led the AL in OPS+ all but two years, 1963 where he played only 65 games - and this year, where his OPS+ was a career best 221.  

Brett homered back in the first -- and he blasts a triple here; Brett running forever, George Brett triples off Juan Marichal and that will be the last batter he faces, Mantle jogs home and it is 8-1.  In his career, Brett played in 43 postseason games (all but 3 either ALCS or World Series).  His career OPS was 1,023.  

2018 Jacob DeGrom pitched 2/3 of an inning back in game 1 and he comes on in relief of Marichal now.

DeGrom gets Collins to ground to second.  And the inning is over.

Bottom 2

At 8-1, this series is pretty clearly over.

Posey singles to right center.

Raines fouls to third.

DeGrom fouls to third.

Robinson grounds to first to end the inning.

Top 3

Ripken flies to center.

Dickey grounds to first.

Rube Waddell hits a 2 out single and the inning stays alive.

AND TED WILLIAMS HITS A LINE SHOT DEEP INTO THE RIGHT FIELD BLEACHERS, THE ROUT IS ROUTING.  10-1.  

Ruth walks.  Again.  

Gehrig singles to right center.

And then Mickey Mantle follows up his second inning double with a triple - everyone score -- the AL is letting the pigeons loose.  12-1.

Brett grounds to second.  

Bottom 3

Goldschmidt grounds to second.

Clemente strikes out.

Sosa flies to left.  

Top 4

Collins was 0-2, but he leads off with a double to center.

Ripken pops to short.

Dickey singles to right -- Collins will score 13-1.

DeGrom walks Waddell - just a brutal day for the NL in an elimination game.

Williams gets his third hit of the day, a single to right that scores Dickey 14-1.  Waddell takes third on the throw home.  

Ruth grounds to second - flip to short for 1 -- onto first --- Ruth beats it out, Waddell scores 15-1.

Gehrig flies to center and the frame ends.

Bottom 4

Banks grounds to short.

Santo singles to center.

BUSTER POSEY HITS A 2 RUN HOMER TO LEFT; Posey came into the game 4-7 in the series, earned the spot here against a RH, and he's 2-2 today.  15-3.

Raines reaches on a Waddell throwing error.  

DeGrom fails to get a bunt down (no, he should not be hitting) and strikes out.

Robinson singles to left, Raines running on the pitch and the NL has men on the corners.

Goldschmidt grounds to third and the inning is over.

Top 5

Mantle walks.

Brett flies to right.

Collins grounds to third.

Ripken grounds to short.

Bottom 5

Clemente singles to right.

Sosa singles to left.

Banks singles to right - a Ruth throw sails into the crowd, Clemente scores, Sosa to third, Banks to second.  15-4.  

Santo grounds to first, Gehrig goes to the bag - Sosa scores.  15-5.  

Posey singles to right -- Buster Posey is 3-3 and has had a great series, Banks is going to score.  15-6.

Raines rips a triple -- Posey is going to score and the NL has another run.  15-7.

NL going to the bench for Willie McCovey.  Waddell walks him.

Robinson singles to left - it is his third hit of the day, Raines scores.  15-8.

That's all for Waddell - making his first appearance of the series is a 28 year old RH, 2000 Pedro Martinez.  2 on.  1 out.  Goldschmidt grounds to short.  Clemente pops to short and the inning is over.

NL hasn't made a game of it - they still trail by 7 runs and we're headed to the 6th, but if you turned the channel, maybe you're turning back.

Top 6

2018 Max Scherzer comes on for the NL, he got hit hard in his prior appearance in the series.

Dickey grounds to second.

Pedro pops to third.

Williams grounds to first and it's a quick one.

Bottom 6

Sosa strikes out.

Banks works a walk.

Santo strikes out.

Posey singles to right - that's a 4 hit day for Buster Posey; he has 8 hits in the series.  2 on, 2 out.

And Raines singles to right -- Banks will score, one more for the NL, 15-9.

Scherzer hits for himself, and shouldn't, and he flies to left to end the inning.

Top 7

BABE RUTH HITS THE FIRST PITCH ACROSS THE STREET!  WHOA. 16-9.  Ruth was 0-1 with a couple of walks, had only one hit in the series as the NL has been very careful with him - Scherzer throws him a fastball and there's the result.

Gehrig's 1-2 with a walk, he pounds a double off the wall in left.

Mantle's walked, doubled, tripled, AND HE HITS A 2 RUN HOMER TO DEAD CENTER!  18-9, Do not bring this left handed hitting lineup from the AL into Wrigley - they are pounding away. 

Brett grounds to first.

Collins grounds to short - Banks goes deep into the hole for that one, maybe the best play so far.

Ripken walks.

Dickey flies to right.

There have been 31 hits today.  

Bottom 7

Robinson grounds to short.

Goldschmidt singles to left center.

Pedro strikes out Clemente and Sosa back to back.  AL six outs from wrapping up the series.

Top 8

Pedro strikes out.

Williams walks.

6-4 Fielders choice for Ruth.

Gehrig ground to second.

Bottom 8

Banks flies to left.

Santo grounds to short.

Posey grounds to short and we head to the 9th.

Top 9

Only story remaining is Mantle, he is a single away from a cycle.

Scherzer strikes him out.

Brett walks.

2021 lefty Josh Hader makes his first appearance of the series.

Collins beats out a slow grounder to short.

Ripken walks to load the bases.

Dickey goes 4-6-3 and it's the bottom of the 9th.

Bottom 9

Raines strikes out.

1932 Mel Ott comes on to hit for Hader.  He doubles to center.

Robinson grounds to first and the AL is one away.

Pedro strikes out Goldschmidt and it is done.

American League I 18 National League II 9

American League Sweeps the Series.  4-0.

AL - Series MVP Lou Gehrig

Williams Series Totals: 5-10, walk, HR, 4 RBI, 3RS

Ruth Series Totals:        3-7, 5 walks, HR, 2 RBI, 7 RS

Gehrig:                          5-10, walk, 2 HR, 2 doubles, 5 RBI, 6 RS

Mantle:                          5-9, 2 walks, HR, triple, double, 7 RBI, 5RS

Brett:                             4-8, 3 walks, 2 HR, triple, 6 RBI, 2RS

Collins:                          4-10, walk, 2 doubles, 3RBI RS

Ripken:                          0-8, 2 walks

Dickey:                          2-10, walk, RBI, 2RS

Henderson:                    2-9, walk, double, RBI, 3 runs scored, SB

Lajoie:                           6-9, 3 doubles, RBI, RS

Foxx:                             4-5, 3 walks, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, RS

DiMaggio                      4-9, triple/double, 3 RBI, RS

Cobb:                            1-9, RBI, stolen base

ARod:                           1-8, HBP, double, RS

Boudreau:                     1-7, walk

Mauer:                          3-7, walk, HR, triple, 2RBI, 2RS

Johnson, 1-0, 9 IP, 1 ER 9 hits, 3 walks, 4 Ks

Newhouser: 1-0, 8 IP, 1 ER, 7 hits 2 Ks, 6 Walks

Walsh 1-0  8.1 IP 2 ER, 7 hits, 3 Ks 4 BB

Martinez: 1-0, 4.2 IP, 1ER, 4 hits, 6 Ks, 1 BB

Rivera Sv  .2 IP 

Waddell: 4.1 IP, 8 ER, 12 hits, 4 Ks, 2BB

Clemens: 1 IP, 1 K, 1 Walk

NL Series Totals

Robinson: 5-11, walk, RBI, 3RS

Goldschmidt: 1-11, walk, double, RBI

Clemente: 2-7, 2 walks, RBI, RS

Sosa: 2-11, RBI, RS

Banks: 3-7, 2 walks, RBI, 2RS

Santo: 2-8, 2 walks, RBI, RS

Posey: 8-12, walk, HR, double, 4RBI, 2RS

Raines: 4-12, walk, triple, double, 2RBI, 2RS

McCovey: 1-4, 3 walks, double, RS

Ott: 3-9, double

Chipper 3-8, walk

Gwynn 1-8, RS, SB

Yount 3-8, RS

Utley 0-6, 2 walks

Dawson: 0-3, walk

Carter 0-4

Alexander, 0-1 6 IP  2ER 4 hits, 5 walks, 4 Ks

Hubbell, 0-1 8 IP, 6 ER, 13 hits 3 Ks/4 walks.

Kershaw 0-1 9 IP, 4 ER, 10 H, 6 Ks/2BB 

Marichal 0-1 1.2 IP, 8 ER, 7 hits, 1 K/2BB

Scherzer 4.2 IP, 10 earned 

DeGrom 4 IP, 8 earned

Hader .2 IP

MLB All Star Tournament, Rnd 1, AL1 v NL2 Game 3

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

MLB All Star Tournament, Rnd 1, AL1 v. NL2 Game 2

  

NL All Star 2 at AL All Star 1

 AL Leads 1 Game to 0

 Second game of the tournament, Yankee Stadium, in Game 1, a George Brett grand slam paced the home team to the 10-1 win.  

NL Lineup

2B 1951 Jackie Robinson

LF 2001 Sammy Sosa

1B 2015 Paul Goldschmidt

RF 1967 Roberto Clemente

SS 1959 Ernie Banks

3B 1967 Ron Santo

CF 1981 Andre Dawson

C 1982 Gary Carter

LHP 1933 Carl Hubbell

AL Lineup

LF 1990 Rickey Henderson

2B 1910 Nap Lajoie

CF 1941 Joe DiMaggio

1B 1932 Jimmie Foxx

3B 2007 Alex Rodriguez

RF 1917 Ty Cobb

SS 1948 Lou Boudreau

C 2009 Joe Mauer

LHP 1945 Hal Newhouser

Top 1

Hal Newhouser takes the hill in Game 2 for the AL, Newhouser's 24, he won his second consecutive MVP this year, going 25-9 with a 1.81 ERA. 

Both starting pitchers are lefties for game 2 and the lineups turn over entirely - leading off the NL is a 32 year old Jackie Robinson - Robinson grounds to short - but ARod kicks it and Robinson's aboard on the first error of the tournament.  

Sammy Sosa is also 32, he grounds to the right side, Nap Lajoie throws him out at first and Robinson is at second with one away.

Robinson then steals third - Robinson stole 25 bags this year and now stands at third during Paul Goldschmidt's plate appearance - Goldschmidt walks and the NL has men on the corners.  

Roberto Clemente comes to the plate, he's also 32 -- and he punches a single to left, Robinson trots home, and the NL has men on first and second.  1-0.  Clemente was third in the NL MVP vote this year, he hit .357, which led all MLB, and his 171 OPS+ will be his career high.  

Back to back Cubs now - 28 year old Ernie Banks and 27 year old Ron Santo.  Newhouser gets them both, Banks with the infield pop up thats taken by Lajoie - and then Santo with the routine grounder to Lajoie and the inning ends with no further damage.

Bottom 1

30 year old lefty Carl Hubbell gets the ball in game 2 for the NL.  He's met by a 31 year old Rickey Henderson -- and he gets him to ground to second.

The oldest position player on the AL squad is 35 year old Napoleon Lajoie - he flies out to Clemente in right.

Joe DiMaggio is 26 years old and he takes over in center where Mickey Mantle patrolled in game one, the Clipper drives a single to left.  

24 year old Jimmie Foxx is at first today for the AL - and he follows with a single that goes just past the diving Robinson into right center - DiMaggio takes the extra base and the AL has men on the corners with 2 out.

Alex Rodriguez is 31, he's the AL third baseman today - and Hubbell drills him in the back - the AL has the bases loaded.

Ty Cobb to the plate, he's 30 years old - big spot early on, and he smokes a line drive -- that is right at Banks and the inning is over.  

Top 2

Back to Back Cubs in the NL lineup are followed by back to back Expos, 26 year old Andre Dawson and 28 year old Gary Carter.  Dawson draws a walk and is then immediately erased when Hubbell gets the 6-4-3 double play.

Hubbell's at the plate, easy fly out to left and Newhouser's back in the dugout.

Bottom 2

30 year old Lou Boudreau is at short today for the AL, he hits a knuckling liner that Santo makes a terrific diving catch for the first out.

Joe Mauer is 26 and he's catching today - he laces a base hit through the box.  

Newhouser's up to sacrifice, he does - to the third base side of the mount, Hubbell doesn't think he has a play at second, so throws to first, two outs and Mauer is in scoring position.

Rickey Henderson's 0-1 -- and he ties the score by ripping a drive into the left field corner - Mauer easily scores and Henderson has a game tying double.  1-1.  Henderson was AL MVP this year, leading all MLB in OBP, OPS and OPS+.  

Lajoie is 0-1...and singles to left - Henderson running with the pitch - Henderson will beat the throw and the AL takes the lead.  2-1.  The 35 year old Lajoie hit .383 this year, leading all of MLB.  

DiMaggio singled back in the first - he flies to left here and the inning ends.  

Top 3

Top of the order for the NL - Robinson's 0-1, safe on an error in the first - he beats out an infield single.

Sosa's 0-1, Newhouser strikes him out swinging.  

Goldschmidt walked in the first - he rocks a double to right center - it rolls to the wall - Jackie will score all the way from first base and the NL has tied this game up  2-2.  Goldschmidt's 27, in his fifth big league season, he finished second in the NL MVP race.  

Clemente singled home the game's first run - he grounds to short and then Newhouser strikes out Banks to end the inning.  

Bottom 3

Foxx singled in the first and he leads off the third with a ground ruled double to left.  

ARod got hit by the pitch in his first plate appearance, easy groundout to short here and Foxx stays at second.

Ty Cobb's 0-1, he punches a base hit over short, Foxx beats the throw home, Cobb moves up a base and the AL has taken a 3-2 lead.  30 year old Cobb led MLB in doubles, triples, hits, batting average, OBP, SLG, OPS, and OPS+ this season.  Cobb will then steal third, taking another base.

Boudreau's 0-1, he hits a shallow fly to left, Cobb doesn't attempt to advance.  2 down.  Mauer's 1-1 and with the pitchers spot next, Hubbell puts him on intentionally.  

Men on the corners - Newhouser hits the shallow fly ball, Gwynn snags and the inning ends.

Top 4

Santo's 0-1, but he singles to open the frame.  Dawson walked in his first appearance, he works a full count and then grounds to short - the lead runner is erased, there's no play at first.  

Carter hit into a double play in his first appearance --- and does it again to end the frame, 6-4-3.  

Bottom 4

AL still up 3-2 as they bat in the 4th.  Henderson lines hard to Santo and is now 1-3.

Lajoie doubles down the left field line and is now 2-3.

Hubbell gets DiMaggio to ground to the right side, he's 1-3 and Lajoie is on third with 2 away.

Jimmie Foxx is 2-2 and LaRussa takes the bat out of his hands.  That will bring up ARod, 0-1 with a HBP.  2 outs, men on the corners.  

ARod grounds to short - the strategy works for the National League and we head to the 5th.

Top 5

Hubbell remains in the game, he's out on a soft grounder to short.

Robinson walks, he's 1-2 and has now reached 3 times.  

The inning ends when Sosa goes 6-4-3, Sammy's 0-3.

Bottom 5

In his last at bat, Cobb drove home the go ahead run, he flies to right and is now 1-3.

Boudreau walks, its his first time on base today.

Mauer's 1-1 and has been on base both times, he strikes out looking, locked up on the Hubbell screwball.

And the inning ends on a Newhouser fly ball to center.  Let's go to the 6th, AL still up 3-2.

Top 6

Goldschmidt's got an RBI double and has reached both times, he dribbles a ground ball back to the mound.

Clemente walks, he's 1-2 and has now reached twice.

Banks singles to left, he's now 1-3, Clemente stops at second and the NL has the potential go ahead run on base with just one out.  

Santo hits a foul pop to first - he's 1-3 and now there are 2 out.

Newhouser ends the inning by getting Dawson to foul out to third, Dawson's 0-2 with a walk, and the NL does not score.

Bottom 6

Top of the order for the AL - Henderson is now 1-4 after grounding out to second.

Lajoie grounds to third and is 2-4.

DiMaggio is also 2-4 when he just drops a ball right behind the third base bag - JoeD doesn't break stride, making it all the way to second with a 2 out double.

Once again - here's Jimmie Foxx and once again - LaRussa calls for the free pass; Foxx has now reached in all 4 plate appearances and once again it's ARod with 2 away and men on base.

And again it works, Hubbell gets him to ground to 2nd, ARod is now 0-3 with a HBP and lets go to the 7th, still American League up 3-2.

Top 7

Tough game for Gary Carter, 2 double plays, leading off this inning, so no possibility of a hat trick, but he does line out to second.

(ideally, even if the simulation didn't allow for moves to be made, there would be an "aggressive" setting to indicate it's a non regular season game, as Hubbell is hitting for himself here, despite the game situation).

.....and it works out for the NL.  Hubbell squibs a ball down the third base line that looks for all the world like it's going foul....and it does not.  It's an infield single for Hubbell and the NL has the tying run aboard.

But the inning ends there when Robinson goes 3-6-3, he's now 2-4 and its the stretch.

Bottom 7

Cobb strikes out, he's 1-4.

Boudreau's 0-2 and then flies out to left.

Mauer hits a route grounder to first - Goldschmidt takes it himself, and it remains 3-2 as we go to the 8th inning.

Top 8

Here we go - 3-2 AL, they're up 1 game to 0, Sammy Sosa hits a bloop to center - and DiMaggio snags it with a tumbling dive.  

Goldschmidt flies to left.

Clemente goes down a quick 0-2, but works his second walk of the game.

Banks then singles to right - Clemente goes to third - men on the corners with 2 away for Santo.

Newhouser pitching very carefully - he walks Santo and the bases are loaded, 2 away (go to the pen, for the love of god) with the AL clinging to a run one lead.

Andre Dawson's hitless, he comes to the plate here -- and hits the easy grounder to third - ARod onto first and the inning is over.

Bottom 8

AL going to bench - for Babe Ruth.

If you're going to send up a pinch hitter in the 9th, you could do worse.  

Ruth singles to right.

Top of the order now - Hubbell strikes out Henderson.

Nap Lajoie gets his third hit - a double that bounces over the wall in right - Ruth has to hold at third and the AL has two men in scoring position.

And Joe DiMaggio plates them both - a 2 run triple to dead center - the AL opens it up 5-2. The 26 year old DiMaggio won his second AL MVP this season, his 185 OPS+ would be his career high.  

And now they decide to pitch to Foxx -- and Foxx beats them, blasting a double to the gap, DiMaggio scores and the AL is up 6-2; Jimmie Foxx reaches base 5 times.  Foxx is 24, came up at 17 - he won his first MVP this season, he hit 58 homers and had a 207 OPS+.  6-2.

That's all for the AL - ARod lines to third.  Cobb flies to center.  Lets go to the 9th.

Top 9

Finishing up for the AL - the Rocket, 34 year old RH Roger Clemens. Clemens won the Cy Young this season, it's his 4th.  21-7, 2.05. Led MLB with a 222 ERA+.

Carter flies to right.

Willie McCovey comes on to hit for Hubbell - and he walks.

Jackie Robinson singles to right.

Clemens strikes out Sosa.  One out to go.

And he gets it - Goldschmidt grounds to second and the American League takes a 2-0 lead.

American League I 6 National League II 2

13 AL hits today.

Henderson: 1-5, double, RBI, run scored

Lajoie: 3-5, 2 doubles, RBI, run scored

DiMaggio: 3-5, double/triple, 2 RBI, run scored

Foxx: 3-3, 2 walks 2 doubles, RBI, run scored

ARod: 0-4, HBP

Cobb: 1-5, RBI, stolen base

Boudreau: 0-3, walk

Mauer: 1-3, walk, run scored

Ruth: 1-1

Newhouser: WP, 8 IP, 1 ER, 7 hits 2 Ks, 6 Walks

Clemens: 1 IP, 1 K, 1 Walk

Robinson: 2-4, walk, 2 runs scored

Sosa: 0-5

Goldschmidt: 1-4, walk, double RBI

Clemente: 1-2, 2 walks, RBI

Banks: 2-4

Santo: 1-3, walk

Dawson: 0-3, walk

Carter: 0-4

Hubbell: 1-3

McCovey, walk

Hubbell, LP, 8 IP, 6 ER, 13 hits 3 Ks/4 walks. Hubbell threw 145 pitches, which is probably too much given the quality of the other pitchers on the staff and that this is a short series.  

The series shifts now to Wrigley, NL down 2-0.