ASG memories last
But quiet night for Sox trio
CLEVELAND — None of the three Red Sox who played for the American League in the 90th All-Star Game injured themselves Tuesday night and they played for the winning side, so in that regard it was a successful experience for designated hitter J.D. Martinez, shortstop Xander Bogaerts and right fielder Mookie Betts.
Other than that, it was a quiet evening for the trio, who will be back together tomorrow at Fenway Park for the opener of a threegame series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, their victims in the World Series last October. Martinez went 0-for-2 Tuesday night, Bogaerts bounced into a double play in his lone at-bat and Betts played two innings in right field but did not bat.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora had a hand in one of the more memorable moments of the AL’s 4-3 victory at Progressive Field, the league’s seventh consecutive Midsummer Classic win.
Cora sent Yankees lefthander CC Sabathia, who started his career with the Indians, to the mound for a visit with Yankees closer
Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the ninth so that Sabathia could receive one more ovation from the Cleveland fans as he walked back to the dugout. Sabathia received one earlier in the night when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
“It was recognized that he’s one of the best pitchers in the big leagues for the last, what, 15 years,” said Cora, the AL manager. “The guy has won more than 250 games, 3,000 strikeouts. Everything started here in Cleveland. We all know he’s going to retire, so we wanted to let everybody know who he is and I think it was a nice tribute.”
The Cleveland fans also showered lots of love on former Indians outfielder Michael Brantley, now of the Astros, when he came to the plate, and saved the loudest ovations for Shane Bieber. The 24-year-old Indians right-hander became the third All-Star in history to win MVP honors playing in his home ballpark, following Sandy Alomar of the Indians in 1997 and Pedro Martinez of the Red Sox in 1999.
All of the Indians took part in another big moment during Tuesday’s game. At the end of the fifth inning, fans and participants held Stand Up to Cancer signs. Indians manager Terry Francona and his All-Star players, Bieber, Brad Hand, Francisco Lindor and Carlos Santana all wrote: “I stand up for: Cookie” on their cards. Cookie is Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco, who recently revealed he has been diagnosed with leukemia.
“We all know the type of person he is,” Bogaerts said of Carrasco. “He’s a good competitor and an even better person. I think that moment really touched us. Also, CC in the last inning, I mean, moments like that are once in a lifetime.”
The memories that will endure for the Red Sox from the night won’t have anything to do with what they did on the field.
In his first at-bat in the second inning, Martinez faced Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, Sunday’s possible starter in the finale of a three-game series at Fenway Park. Batting fifth, Martinez flied to the warning track in left. Reds lefty Luis Castillo struck out a swinging Martinez for the second out of a 1-2-3 fourth.
Bogaerts entered as a pinch hitter with runners on the corners and nobody out with the AL leading 2-1. He bounced to short into a double play. Matt Chapman scored on the play and Joey Gallo followed with a home run to give the AL a 4-1 led.
Reigning American League MVP Mookie Betts came on in the top of the eighth in right field, but didn’t get a chance to hit because the AL didn’t need its ninth inning at-bats.