Steve Webb
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — Topping off a wonderful few days of events in the City of Angels, the main event came off without a hitch on Tuesday night. The American League won the contest 3-2, but the final score was really an afterthought. The key point was the best players in the game getting together to celebrate the game.
Maybe the game had a few too many bells and whistles, a few too many in-game interviews and mic’d up players, but it was a great midseason introduction to the guys we’re going to be cheering all the way to the World Series this fall. Plus, your Los Angeles Dodgers’ fingerprints were all over this game.
Kersh takes the mound…
First, the good. Of course the best part of the game for Dodger fans came right away. Pitcher Clayton Kershaw got the start in the game, humbly accepting the honor while acknowledging he probably didn’t have the numbers this year to justify it.
But once he got on the mound, he showed why he’s such a tough customer. After giving up a broken bat single into center on the first pitch to Shohei Ohtani (his first hit in nine at-bats of Kersh), Kershaw got right to work. During Aaron Judge‘s at-bat, Ohtani strayed a bit too far off first and was picked off first on a nice move from the left-hander. Then, on the very next pitch, Kershaw broke out his Hall of Fame slider, and Judge came up empty. Just like that, there were two outs.
He got ahead of the next hitter, Rafael Devers, with an 0-2 count, but lost him on a walk. However, Kershaw got slugger Vlad Guerrero Jr. to ground to teammate Trea Turner for a 6-4 force out and the inning was over.
Betts drives in first run for NL
More Dodger fun in the bottom of the first as the NL jumped out to a 2-0 lead. After Ronald Acuna Jr. doubled off Rays starter Shane McClanahan to lead off the bottom of the first, Mookie Betts dug in for his first at-bat of the day. Betts, who already had had a moment in the sun before first pitch when he led the Dodger Stadium crowd in wishing Rachel Robinson a happy 100th birthday, got ahead of McClanahan quickly. Then, on a 3-1 count, Betts drilled a single into center, and Acuna scored easily.
Later in the inning, Paul Goldschmidt banged a solo home run, making it 2-0. Then, our second Dodger starter Trea Turner got his chance at the dish. Trea ripped a single into left, and the NL All Stars were back on the hunt. Unfortunately, Trea got stranded and that was pretty much the end of the good news for the Dodgers in the game.
Gonsolin gives up two mammoth shots
The NL kept it at 2-0 until the top of the 4th, when Tony Gonsolin took to the mound. And things could have gone better to be quite honest. Jose Ramirez led off with a gritty at-bat before singling to center. Then, Gonsolin got Guerrero to fly out. But then, oh lordy! Hometown boy Giancarlo Stanton absolutely obliterated an 0-2 split finger. 454 feet later, it was a tie game.
But not for long, Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton walloped a fastball from the Catman and sent it over the home bullpen in left. Neither of these guys got cheated. Gonsolin gave up another single to Tim Anderson before the inning came to a merciful end.
Freeman plays, Anderson does not
The two Dodgers who were added to the lineup late in the process were both in uniform on Tuesday, but only Freeman got into the game. Freddie Freeman pinch hit for Paul Goldschmidt in the third, but grounded out. Tyler Anderson never got the call to pitch in this one, which is actually a pretty good thing, since we need to have him available for the San Francisco series.
NL offense shut down by great pitching
After that flurry of scoring in the first inning, the NL bats went very silent. They only got one more hit the rest of the way against the dynamic AL pitchers. Framber Valdez got the win in this one, but every AL pitcher was throwing straight fire all night. Looking especially good was Cleveland reliever Emmanuel Clase, who very nearly had an immaculate inning to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth.
Back to Business on Thursday
Dodger players won’t have any traveling to do, so they can enjoy the day off on Wednesday before the second half of the season begins on Thursday night. Dodger skipper Dave Roberts has not announced his starter yet, but given that Kershaw and Gonsolin threw on Tuesday, it’s pretty likely it will be either Tyler Anderson or Julio Urias on Thursday. The second half of the season is jam-packed with games against the Giants and Padres, so there will be an opportunity to put this thing away before Labor Day. Let’s do this. LFG!
