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2015 MLB All-Star Game Recap: American League Cannot Be Stopped

By Jacob Street
Published on: 15:48 PST, Jul 14, 2015

The 86th annual MLB All-Star Game took place on Tuesday Night at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it was one to remember.

As reported by ESPN, the starting line-up for the AL is:

1) Mike Trout, Angels, CF

2) Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays, 3B

3) Albert Pujols, Angels, 1B

4) Nelson Cruz, Mariners, DH

5) Lorenzo Cain, Royals, RF

6) Adam Jones, Orioles, LF

7) Salvador Perez, Royals, C

8) Jose Altuve, Astros, 2B

9) Alcides Escobar, Royals, SS

SP) Dallas Keuchel, Astros

NL: 1) Andrew McCutchen, Pirates, CF

2) Todd Frazier, Reds, 3B

3) Bryce Harper, Nationals, RF

4) Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks, 1B

5) Buster Posey, Giants, C

6) Anthony Rizzo, Cubs, DH

7), Jhonny Peralta, Cardinals, SS

8) Joc Pederson, Dodgers, LF

9) DJ LeMahieu, Rockies, 2B

SP) Zack Greinke, Dodgers

The MLB All-Star Game started off with a bang as Mike Trout of the Angels led off the game with a solo home run in the top of the first inning to give the American League the early lead. It is only the sixth time in history that a home run has been hit by the first batter in the MLB All-Star Game. Zack Greinke has not given up a run in his last five starts. That trend didn’t seem to mean much for Trout. Dallas Keuchel did not have the same trouble in his half of the inning, as he retired the side in order with ease. The score after the first inning of the MLB All-Star Game was 1-0.

Surprisingly, Greinke came out to pitch the second inning, after giving up a home run in the opening at bat of the MLB All-Star Game, and pitched similarly to how he has during the regular season. Zack struck out both Adam Jones and Salvador Perez, before Jose Altuve grounded out to second, retiring the side in order. The National League got one of the luckiest runs in the top half of the second inning. Goldschmidt led off the inning with a chop infield hit causing an error by Josh Donaldson, advancing Paul to second base. Posey followed with groundout, advancing the Diamondback to third. Rizzo grounded out to first, then Peralta hit a bloop single into left, scoring Goldschmidt, tying the MLB All-Star Game at one.

Gerrit Cole of the Pirates, who leads the NL in wins, was brought in, in the third inning, in place of Greinke. Cole pitched uneventfully in his one inning of work, allowing just one baserunner, by way of walk. Felix Hernandez of the Mariners, who is tie for the AL lead in wins, was brought in, in place of Keuchel. Hernandez made these all-stars look like rookies, as he retired the side in order, in a tedious third inning. The score at the end of the inning of the MLB All-Star Game was 1-1.

Madison Bumgarner of the Giants, who is the reigning World Series MVP, was brought in, in the fourth inning in place of Cole. Bumgarner’s inning was not as pretty, as he allowed base runners on the corners before getting the third out. David Price of the Tigers was brought in, replacing Hernandez. Price followed up Felix’s impressive showing, with one of his one, retiring the side in just 11 pitches. After four innings, the MLB All-Star Game was shaping up to be a pitching duel.

Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers replaced Bumgarner in the fifth inning. Clayton faced trouble in his frame, giving up a run on a Prince Fielder RBI single, bringing in Mike Trout, who had scored both of the AL’s runs at that point. On the very next pitch, Lorenzo Cain smacked a double down the left field line, scoring Albert Pujols, and advancing Fielder to third. In the top of the fifth, Manny Machado replaced Josh Donaldson, the aforementioned Fielder replaced Nelson Cruz, and Brett Gardner replaced Adam Jones. Machado was close to a two-run homer in his sole at-bat of the night. Gardner struck out looking, leaving two runners on base, and ending the inning. Chris Archer replaced Price in the bottom of the fifth inning. Archer continued the trend of great pitching from the American League, allowing only one baserunner (Jhonny Peralta by way of walk). Brandon Crawford of the Giants came in to pinch run for Peralta. The score at the end of the fifth inning of the MLB All-Star Game was 3-1, AL leading.

Jacob DeGrom of the Mets replaced Kershaw in the sixth inning. In the top of this inning, Stephen Vogt replaced Salvador Perez, Jason Kipnis came in for Jose Altuve, and Jose Iglesias replaced Alcides Escobar. All three of these substitutes struck out in an admirable pitching display by DeGrom. Chris Archer remained in the game, but his stellar pitching did not remain. Archer gave up a first-pitch home run to Andrew McCutchen. Both leadoff hitters had home runs in this game. After facing Todd Frazier, who went 0-3 to the dismay of fans, Chris Archer was replaced by Zach Britton of the Orioles. Britton was the first closer to enter this MLB All-Star Game. Britton continued what Archer started with shaky pitching. Zach threw very few strikes and allowed two base runners before getting the third out. In the bottom of the inning, Yadier Molina replaced Posey and Troy Tulowitzki replaced Anthony Rizzo. The score after six innings in the MLB All-Star Game was 3-2, in favor of the American League.

Francisco Rodriguez of the Brewers replaced DeGrom in the seventh inning. Mike Trout was walked to open the inning, and Ned Yost (AL manager) brought in Brock Holt of the Red Sox to pinch run. Holt showed his purpose by quickly stealing second base. Machado, who smacked the ball in his first at-bat, hit a double off the wall, bringing in Brock Holt and securing a two run lead for the American League in the MLB All-Star Game. Following, the Machado hit, Mark Teixeira, who replaced Pujols, grounded out to second base for the first out of the inning. Machado advanced to third. Prince Fielder flew out to deep center field, bringing in Machado and growing the AL’s lead to three runs. The Yankees setup reliever, Dellin Betances replaced Zach Britton. The first batter he faced was Brandon Crawford, who pinch ran for Jhonny Peralta earlier in the game. Crawford grounded out to Kipnis at second. The next batter faced was Kris Bryant, the young Chicago phenom. Bryant reached base via walk. Joe Panik, who replaced LeMahieu, had his first at-bat of the evening against Betances. Joe couldn’t handle the speed of Betances, and he struck out. AJ Pollock, who replaced McCutchen, grounded out to Machado, ending the seventh inning. The score at the end of the seventh inning of the MLB All-Star Game was 5-2, in favor of the American League.

Mark Melancon of the Pittsburgh Pirates replaced Rodriguez in the eighth inning. Both Brian Dozier and Russell Martin came in this inning. While Martin struck out, Dozier smashed a majestic blast deep to center field, extending the AL’s lead to four runs. Melancon had just the one bad pitch, as he retired the other batters with ease. Wade Davis of the Royals, who sports a .046 ERA, replaces Betances. Davis first faced Nolan Arenado, who is tied for first in RBI in the NL. Arenado couldn’t handle Davis, he struck out. Davis then faced Justin Upton, who had better luck, as he hit a single, reaching base in his first at-bat of the 2015 MLB All-Star Game. Two Dodgers, Grandal and Gonzalez, both were outed by Davis, ending the inning. After eight innings in the MLB All-Star Game, the score was 6-2, in favor of the American League.

Aroldis Chapman of the Cincinnati Reds replaced Melancon in the ninth inning. Chapman struck out the side in order with ease. Glen Perkins, who received the save last season in the MLB All-Star Game, replaced Wade Davis in the ninth inning. Ryan Braun led off the inning with a triple down the right field line. Brandon Crawford followed with a sacrifice fly, trimming the lead to 6-3 in the MLB All-Star Game. Perkins had no trouble getting the next two outs, as the MLB All-Star Game was won by the American League via a score of 6-3.

The MLB All-Star Game Most Valuable Player was Mike Trout, winning it for the second season in a row.

[Image Source: Jason Miller / Getty Images]

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mlb Baseball Mike Trout Zack Greinke Andrew McCutchen
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