#361---All-Star Game, 7/19/2022

 

The NL looked ready to snap their long losing streak by jumping on Shane McClanahan in the first inning, pushing across two runs on four hits (although it could have been worse were it not for the flashy double play turned by Andres Gimenez and Tim Anderson). But hometown pitcher Tony Gonsolin yielded a massive two-run shot to Aaron Judge and a follow-up to the next batter Byron Buxton, and that concluded the day’s scoring. As an AL partisan, I held my breath as a succession of starters without great stuff each got their scoreless inning (Nick Blackburn, Martin Perez, Nestor Cortes) before turning it over to the closers. Emmanuel Clase sealed it by blowing away Garrett Cooper, Kyle Schwarber, and Jake Cronenworth in the ninth, coming just a first pitch ball to the latter away from an immaculate inning.

We’re a little close to make a judgment call on which names will stand in history as most surprising all-stars, but early favorites are Jose Trevino and Joe Mantiply.