ROCKIN’ ROBBIE
CANO BLAST IN 10TH WINS IT FOR AL STARS
MIAMI — Low stakes. Low energy. Low scoring.
But at least the American League got itself a payday, with a pair of ex-Yankees contributing significantly.
Robinson Cano started the 10th inning with a solo homer to right field, vaulting the junior circuit to a 2-1 victory over the National League on Tuesday night at Marlins Park for the AL’s fifth straight Midsummer Classic victory. Cleveland’s Andrew Miller earned the save with a scoreless bottom of the 10th.
“It’s always good to be able to accomplish something great, especially in front of my family,” said the Mariners’ Cano, named the game’s Most Valuable Player and brought his daughter Galia and son Robinson Jr. to the podium.
The first All-Star Game since 2002 that didn’t determine World Series home-field advantage proved to be a bit of a snoozer. Perhaps the offensive disappointment resulted from the superior pitching on display. Or maybe the entire place, both the players and the fans, rode a hangover from Monday night’s electric Home Run Derby, in which rookie Aaron Judge’s triumph and hometown hero Giancarlo Stanton’s first-round fade captivated the joint. Neither Judge nor Stanton did so much as reach base safely Tuesday, and both were long out of the game by the time the final out was recorded.
At least the contest proceeded at a swift pace, lasting a reasonable 3 hours and 16 minutes, even with the extra frame.
As per the rules of baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement, which eliminated the “This Time It Counts!” format, each member of the AL team will receive $20,000 for its victory. The World Series home-field advantage will go to the pennant winner with the superior record.
“I really honestly like that way,” Cano said of the new, old format. “That way, you’re able now to joke around, make the game more fun, like the way it used to be before.”
Eh. The most fun occurred when Cano hit his bomb, offering hope that this game wouldn’t go deep into extra frames and challenge the club’s pitching staffs. After that came Cano’s Seattle teammate, Nelson Cruz, bringing his cell phone to home plate and posing for a photo with veteran umpire Joe West.
Another nice moment occurred before the game, when eight Latin-born Hall of Fame members participated in the ceremonial first-pitch proceedings. Cano was among eight active Latino All-Stars who served as catchers; he caught his fellow Dominican Juan Marichal. Roberto Alomar, Rod Carew, Orlando Cepeda, Pedro Martinez, Tony Perez, Pudge Rodriguez and the family of the late Roberto Clemente also took part.
“Those guys started this game for the Latin American players,” Cano said. “[They were] guys that really made this game so fun and exciting, made fans come and watch, and opened the doors for us.”
On the AL roster only as an injury replacement for the Yankees’ Starlin Castro, Cano connected squarely on a 1-1 breaking ball from Cubs closer Wade Davis, driving it well over the wall in right. The veteran had entered the game in the seventh inning.
“Nobody wants, in a game like this, to have it go too long,” AL manager Brad Mills said. “So that was huge for him to come up, and besides, it was a Cubs pitcher. That was kind of nice.”
It provided a touch of revenge for Mills, whose Indians fell to the Cubs in last year’s World Series. For most folks, though, Cano’s shot just ended more than a touch of boredom.