07/13: All 3 Yankee All-Stars Play in A.L. Victory
Posted by: Seamus
It looked like perhaps not each Yankee selected to this year's All-Star game would get a chance to play as Bob Wickman entered the game to close out the N.L. Stars with a 7-3 lead in the 9th. However, after two runs were given up by both he and Orioles' reliever B.J. Ryan, Mariano Rivera came into the game with a 7-5 lead and two outs. Mo struck out Astros' slugger Morgan Ensberg to record the save.
Alex Rodriguez started the game at third base and went 1-2 with a single and a walk before being pulled in the top of the 5th for Orioles' 3B Melvin Mora. Gary Sheffield entered the game in the 6th inning and grounded into a double play before being replaced in the 9th inning by White Sox OF Scott Podsednik.
Other highlights from the game included a long home run from Miguel Tejada, a home run from Mark Teixeira which was his first this season from the right side of the plate (he has 25 home runs overall this season), a spectacular play at second by Marlins' 2B Luis Castillo, and a nifty double play turned by the Orioles' middle infield combo of Tejada and Brian Roberts. Tejada, who went 1-3 with a solo shot won the game's MVP award.
Overall I'd say it was a fun night. You can say what you want about the idea of the All-Star game deciding home field advantage in the World Series (I'm still not 100% sold on it), but I am certainly glad that if the Yankees do get the opportunity to play in the World Series, they won't have to open up the series in St. Louis or Washington (not saying that one of those teams will win the N.L., but those are two of the toughest places to win on the road).
Hopefully the break served as a good rest for all the Yankees who weren't invited to this year's mid-summer classic. We got a tough stretch coming up with a four game series at Fenway starting Thursday to start an 11-game road trip that also includes stops in Texas and Anaheim.
Alex Rodriguez started the game at third base and went 1-2 with a single and a walk before being pulled in the top of the 5th for Orioles' 3B Melvin Mora. Gary Sheffield entered the game in the 6th inning and grounded into a double play before being replaced in the 9th inning by White Sox OF Scott Podsednik.
Other highlights from the game included a long home run from Miguel Tejada, a home run from Mark Teixeira which was his first this season from the right side of the plate (he has 25 home runs overall this season), a spectacular play at second by Marlins' 2B Luis Castillo, and a nifty double play turned by the Orioles' middle infield combo of Tejada and Brian Roberts. Tejada, who went 1-3 with a solo shot won the game's MVP award.
Overall I'd say it was a fun night. You can say what you want about the idea of the All-Star game deciding home field advantage in the World Series (I'm still not 100% sold on it), but I am certainly glad that if the Yankees do get the opportunity to play in the World Series, they won't have to open up the series in St. Louis or Washington (not saying that one of those teams will win the N.L., but those are two of the toughest places to win on the road).
Hopefully the break served as a good rest for all the Yankees who weren't invited to this year's mid-summer classic. We got a tough stretch coming up with a four game series at Fenway starting Thursday to start an 11-game road trip that also includes stops in Texas and Anaheim.
