EXTRA-INNING HIT
Miami throws a Latin-themed party for MLB, capped by the AL’s fifth straight victory.
Los Angeles and Houston are running away with divisions heading into second half, MIAMI — There’s never been an AllStar Game so close to the Caribbean, so it makes sense that Robinson Cano, the Dominican veteran with the flair for the dramatic during his long Yankees career, would win the thing for the American League with a home run in the 10th inning.
Cano plays for the Seattle Mariners now and a guy can get overlooked out there in that far corner of the country, but leave it to him to pop up every now and again on All-Star Week. He won the Home Miami opens a weekend series against Cody Bellinger and the Dodgers at 7:10 p.m. Friday on FSN Run Derby in 2011, too.
And so we had Cano as the game’s MVP, and classic Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, a Puerto Rican treasure, hitting a homer to force the game into extra innings at 1-1, and a pregame tribute to Latin-born Hall of Famers, such as Juan Marichal, Pedro Martinez and Rod Carew.
That’s how Miami flavors up an all-American classic, with an allnight soundtrack of Latin dance music pounding on the stadium speakers. I’m betting Major League Baseball officials got what they wanted out of this one, broadcasting to the world their game’s broadest possible appeal.
There will be grumbling, of course, about how long it took to empty the parking garages and the streets around Marlins Park. Ticket prices were too rich for most people’s blood, too, as always happens at big events. Overall, the facility