The NL had a commanding 6-0 lead at the end of six innings. Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte hit a two-run double in the first inning to give the NL a 2-0 lead. The NL then added four runs in the bottom of the sixth on a 3-run HR by New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso and a solo HR from D'Backs outfielder Corbin Carroll.
However, the AL came roaring back with four runs of their own in the top of the 7th inning via a 3-run HR from Brent Rooker of the Athletics followed by a RBI groundout by Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt, Jr.
In the top of the 9th, Witt made his presence felt with a RBI double to make it a 6-5 game. Down to their final out, Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan stroked a single of Mets closer Edwin Diaz to tie the game at 6-6. The NL was unable to score in the bottom of the 9th.
But instead of going to extra innings in the All-Star Game for the first time since 2018, MLB took the easy way out and decided the game by way of HR Derby. Each squad selected three batters who got three swings apiece. The league with the most HR won the game which ended up being the NL on the strength of Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber getting 3 HR on three swings. For this he was bestowed with the All-Star Game MVP.
Of course, this was bound to happen as MLB formally dispensed with extra innings in the All-Star Game in 2022. Now that it has happened, it reminds me of why I don't like watching the game anymore. In deploying this gimmick, we have now witnessed the first ever MLB game with no winning pitcher or losing pitcher. Like the ghost runner, implementing a HR derby to determine the outcome of the game cheapens and dumbs down the baseball.
We could have had something like the 1994 All-Star Game from Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh which went 10 innings with the NL winning 8-7 on a double by Montreal Expos outfielder Moises Alou scoring future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn with a play at the plate sliding under the tag of fellow future Hall of Famer Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. It was the NL's first All-Star Game win since 1987.
But instead, we got this hoo-ha from Rob Manfred. Perhaps he will be tempted to deploy this method in the World Series. G-d help us.
Because of this nonsense, I prefer to watch old games on YouTube. Right now, I am amid watching a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Chicago White Sox at old Comiskey Park which took place on August 22, 1980. I am watching this game in memory of former Blue Jays pitcher Jim Clancy who passed away yesterday at the age of 69. Clancy was the starting pitcher in this game.
In watching that game, I remember why I loved baseball back then. The AL and NL were separate universes which only met during the All-Star Game and the World Series. Starters regularly threw complete games even if they were on the losing end. The game was played until there was a winner no matter how many innings it took.
In watching that game, I am also reminded of why I don't love baseball anymore. Of course, tonight's event didn't help matters much.
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