Cano flies the flag for American League
Mariners’ second baseman walks away with MVP honours in All Stars game
Robinson Cano belted a solo home run in the 10th inning to lift the American League to a 2-1 win over the National League in the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday.
Cano pulled a 1-1 pitch for a shot over the right field fence off pitcher Wade Davis, who has allowed just one homer in 76 appearances over the past two years.
“A breaking ball and I hit it out of the park,” said the Seattle Mariners second baseman who was named MVP.
“He [Davis] is a guy you have to take advantage of when he puts it over the plate. We know he is one of the best pitchers in the game.”
The AL won their fifth consecutive All-Star Game and tied the all-time series 43-43-2.
Craig Kimbrel earned the win while Cleveland Indians lefthander Andrew Miller picked up the save with a scoreless bottom of the 10th. Miller got assistance on a diving catch in right field by the Detroit Tigers’ Justin Upton.
In the bottom of the sixth, catcher Yadier Molina tied the score 1-1 on an opposite-field homer. The 34-year-old Molina is the oldest catcher to hit a home run in an All-Star Game, beating the previous record by Yogi Berra.
Fernandez tribute
Washington Nationals player Bryce Harper endeared himself to Miami fans with his choice of shoes. Harper wore cleats that honoured the late Jose Fernandez, the Marlins pitcher who was killed in a boat crash in September. Harper’s shoes had an image of Fernandez’s face along with the pitcher’s number 16.
Harper went one-for-one with a walk and a diving catch.
NL starter Max Scherzer pitched just one inning, but he was solid, striking out two batters.
AL starter Chris Sale of the Boston Red Sox pitched two scoreless innings.