The 85th edition of MLB’s All-Star Game at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota, took place tonight and with the lineups that were announced yesterday, we knew we’d be in for a good one. Being Derek Jeter’s final All-Star Game, we knew most of the coverage would be centered around the 14x All-Star who was looking to make the best of his final midsummer classic game.
With the pitching match-ups and the slugger stacked clubs, we figured the game would either be a low or a fairly high scoring one depending on what side decided to show up tonight. It’s safe to say that both did in a way as after the AL took the lead in the middle innings, the bullpen pitching staff took over and shut down the NL hitters to keep home field advantage in the American League’s favor for this year’s Fall classic.
Derek Jeter makes a diving stop in first inning to save extra base hit by Andrew McCutchen.
With what was probably a very emotional night for Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter with this being the future Hall of Famers final appearance at an All-Star game. He definitely wanted to make the best of it and that he did. In the top of the first inning Jeter flashed his leather a little bit making a diving stop to his left to snag a ball hit by Pirates’ center fielder Andrew McCutchen and missed him by a hair at a close play at first.
Fans and players give Derek Jeter standing ovation as he steps to the plate in first at-bat of final All-Star Game.
Leading off at the bottom of the first-inning, despite the “overrated” chant in the crowd by a Boston fan (Not confirmed, but let’s be real here, it probably was), Jeter ripped an opposite field double and scored following Los Angeles Angels’ outfielder Mike Trout’s triple off the right-field wall. The Captain finished the night going 2-2 with a double, a single and a run scored before being taken out of the game to a standing ovation.
Miguel Cabrera & Mike Trout celebrate after Miggy’s 2-run home run.
Detriot Tigers Miguel Cabrera extended the American League’s lead by three after he hit a 2-run bomb on St. Louis Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright in the second-inning. The National League shortened the lead to just one run in the following inning when Phillies second baseman, Chase Utley hit a RBI double off the center-field wall and then scored on an RBI double hit by Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who also doubled in another run in the fourth-inning to tie the game up at 3 a piece.
Chase Utley smacks a RBI double off the center field wall in third-inning.
The American League All-Stars took the lead once again in the fifth-inning on Mike Trout’s RBI double and a sac fly by Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve to put them up 5-3. The AL pitchers continued their dominance in the following innings, shutting down the National League hitters and held them to just two hits and a walk in the next four innings to keep the game at a two-run lead and secure their 40th win and second win in the last two years.
Mike Trout celebrates following his RBI triple in the first inning.
Making his third straight All-Star appearance, the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout performed as expected and landed his first of many All-Star Game MVP Awards on a night where he went 2-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. He is the second youngest player to receive this honer, next to Ken Griffey Jr. in 1992.
Derek Jeter tips cap after exiting field following his final All-Star Game appearance.
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