Marathon Man

Steve Politi of the Star Ledger put it best, Yankee Stadium had the last laugh last night. The American League finally prevailed in 15 innings, 4-3. Michael Young's sac fly brought home Justin Morneau with the winning run at 1:37 a.m., some 4 hours and 50 minutes after play began. We were sacked out by the 11th inning, but would have continued to watch had the game started, at oh 8:00. But Fox Sports sucks.

23 pitchers were used in the game, including Brandon Webb, who had pitched Sunday and said he wouldn't be able to go last night. The NL was down one pitcher due to the hospitalization of Giants starter Tim Lincecum, who was dehydrated and suffered from flu-like symptoms.

Perhaps the MLB front office should change the game to a Thursday and then teams can have a full 3 days off before the game so that pitchers will be more rested and can go more than one inning. Aaron Cook was the hero of the night, going 3 innings, and escaped a Dan Uggla disaster to extend the game.

We did enjoy seeing Bud Selig sweating at the possibility of another game ending in a tie. Other highlights included the Bleacher Creatures doing roll call for Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, and chanting "Bobby Murcer". They threw out some "Red Sox suck", as well.

There was a video tribute to Bobby Murcer in the 2nd inning, which was neither mentioned nor shown. But as we said Fox Sports Sucks.

The pre-game festivities with all of the Hall of Fame members in attendance it was truly special. Kudos to Wade Boggs, who went into the Hall as a member of the Red Sox, but wore a Yankees hat last night. And Dave Winfield, who wore a Padres hat, but carried a Yankees hat as well. And having Yogi, Whitey, Reggie, and Goose throw out the first pitch. George Steinbrenner, bawling his eyes out, delivering the balls to the mound. Dan Graziano says George wasn't a nice person back in the day, but he deserves to be in the Hall. We have to agree.

We found it odd that Joe Morgan was there for the home run derby Monday night, but didn't stick around for the game. Was he concerned about the possibility of being booed? No Johnny Bench either.

One person who was at the game was Willie Randolph, as a guest of George Steinbrenner. Willie will always be a Yankee.

Joe Buck and Tim McCarver did a good job, which is not an easy compliment to make. Buck did a very good job handling the pre-game ceremony, and was self deprecating at mispronouncing Justin Duscherer's name.

The excitement of Mariano Rivera coming on in the 9th, and Fox cutting away before he reached the mound, because Fox really sucks. Mo looked like he would get the win before Cook pulled his Houdini act.

It was a typical game for Derek Jeter, a single and a double play grounder in 3 at-bats. A-Rod failed with a runner in scoring position. The Mets didn't fare well either. Billy Wagner blew another save, and David Wright struck out his first two times up before getting a single and a walk.

Boston's J.D. Drew homered, drawing the only applause for a Red Sox player, and captured the game's MVP award.

July 15, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15		R	H	E
NL All-Stars	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		3	13	4
AL All-Stars	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1		4	14	1

NL All-Stars	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Ramirez, H, SS	3	1	2	0	0	1	0	.667
Tejada, SS	3	1	2	0	1	0	0	.667
Utley, 2B	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	.333
Uggla, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	3	6	.000
Berkman, 1B	2	0	0	1	0	1	0	.000
Gonzalez, A, 1B	3	0	1	1	0	1	3	.333
Pujols, DH	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	.667
a-Wright, PH-DH	3	0	1	0	1	2	1	.333
Jones, C, 3B	3	0	1	0	0	1	2	.333
Ramirez, A, 3B	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.000
1-Guzman, PR-3B	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	.000
Holliday, RF	3	1	1	1	0	0	3	.333
Hart, C, RF	3	0	0	0	0	1	3	.000
Braun, LF	3	0	0	0	0	2	1	.000
Ludwick, LF	2	0	0	0	1	1	2	.000
Fukudome, CF	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
McLouth, CF	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.250
Soto, C	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
Martin, C	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	.333
McCann, C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Totals	52	3	13	3	4	17	25
a-Struck out for Pujols in the 8th. 1-Ran for Ramirez, A in the 9th.
BATTING HR: Holliday (1, 5th inning off Santana, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Ramirez, H 2; Tejada 2; Utley; Gonzalez, A; Pujols 2; Wright; Jones, C; Holliday 4; McLouth; Martin. RBI: Holliday (1), Berkman (1), Gonzalez, A (1). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Braun; Holliday; Gonzalez, A 2. S: Martin. SF: Berkman; Gonzalez, A. GIDP: Uggla. Team LOB: 11. BASERUNNING SB: Tejada (1, 2nd base off Papelbon/Navarro). CS: Guzman (1, 2nd base by Rivera/Navarro). FIELDING E: Ramirez, H (1, throw), Uggla 3 (3, fielding, fielding, fielding). Outfield assists: McLouth (Navarro at home). DP: (Ramirez, H-Utley-Berkman). Pickoffs: Zambrano (Bradley at 1st base).

NL All-Stars	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Sheets	2.0	1	0	0	2	3	0	0.00
Zambrano	2.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Haren (H, 1)	2.0	2	0	0	1	2	0	0.00
Volquez (BS, 1)	1.0	2	2	2	0	2	1	18.00
Wilson (H, 1)	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Wagner (BS, 1)	0.1	2	1	1	0	0	0	27.00
Dempster	1.0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0.00
Cook	3.0	4	0	0	3	1	0	0.00
Marmol	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0.00
Webb	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0.00
Lidge (L, 0-1)	0.2	2	1	1	1	0	0	13.50

AL All-Stars	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Suzuki, RF	3	0	1	0	0	1	2	.333
Drew, RF	4	1	2	2	1	1	0	.500
Jeter, SS	3	0	1	0	0	0	3	.333
Young, SS	4	0	1	1	0	2	1	.250
Hamilton, CF-LF	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	.333
Quentin, LF	4	0	0	0	0	1	3	.000
Rodriguez, A, 3B	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000
Crede, 3B	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
b-Guillen, PH-3B	3	0	1	0	1	1	0	.333
Ramirez, M, LF	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
Sizemore, CF	5	1	1	0	0	2	5	.200
Bradley, DH	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	.000
c-Longoria, PH-DH	4	0	1	1	0	2	4	.250
Youkilis, 1B	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000
Morneau, 1B	4	2	2	0	1	0	4	.500
Mauer, C	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	1.000
1-Kinsler, PR-2B	5	0	1	0	0	1	4	.200
Pedroia, 2B	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	.000
Varitek, C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
a-Navarro, PH-C	4	0	1	0	1	2	1	.250
Totals	57	4	14	4	7	17	34
a-Struck out for Varitek in the 7th. b-Struck out for Crede in the 8th. c-Doubled for Bradley in the 8th. 1-Ran for Mauer in the 5th.
BATTING 2B: Morneau (1, Volquez), Longoria (1, Wagner), Guillen (1, Cook). HR: Drew (1, 7th inning off Volquez, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Suzuki; Drew 5; Jeter; Young; Hamilton; Guillen 2; Sizemore; Longoria 2; Morneau 3; Mauer; Kinsler; Navarro. RBI: Drew 2 (2), Longoria (1), Young (1). 2-out RBI: Drew 2; Longoria. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez, A; Pedroia; Jeter; Bradley; Morneau 3; Quentin 3; Kinsler 2. SF: Young. GIDP: Jeter. Team LOB: 17. BASERUNNING SB: Drew (1, 2nd base off Marmol/Martin), Sizemore (1, 2nd base off Wagner/Martin), Jeter (1, 2nd base off Sheets/Soto), Hamilton (1, 2nd base off Haren/Martin), Bradley (1, 2nd base off Sheets/Soto), Kinsler (1, 2nd base off Haren/Martin). CS: Kinsler (1, 2nd base by Cook/Martin). PO: Bradley (1st base by Zambrano). FIELDING E: Navarro (1, throw). Outfield assists: Suzuki (Pujols at 2nd base). DP: 2 (Navarro-Kinsler, Kinsler-Young-Morneau).

AL All-Stars IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Lee 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0.00 Saunders 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Halladay 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Santana 1.0 1 1 1 0 2 1 9.00 Duchscherer 1.0 3 1 1 0 1 0 9.00 Nathan 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Papelbon 1.0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0.00 Rodriguez, F 0.1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 Rivera 1.2 2 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 Soria 1.2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0.00 Sherrill 2.1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 Kazmir (W, 1-0) 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00

IBB: Guillen (by Cook), Morneau (by Cook), Tejada (by Soria). Pitches-strikes: Sheets 42-24, Zambrano 20-12, Haren 36-22, Volquez 18-11, Wilson 12-7, Wagner 9-6, Dempster 18-10, Cook 42-21, Marmol 19-12, Webb 13-8, Lidge 19-12, Lee 20-16, Saunders 12-8, Halladay 9-8, Santana 20-15, Duchscherer 22-15, Nathan 8-5, Papelbon 11-9, Rodriguez, F 8-4, Rivera 26-18, Soria 30-17, Sherrill 25-18, Kazmir 14-7. Ground outs-fly outs: Sheets 0-3, Zambrano 4-0, Haren 1-3, Volquez 1-0, Wilson 0-1, Wagner 1-0, Dempster 0-0, Cook 6-0, Marmol 1-0, Webb 0-1, Lidge 0-2, Lee 2-1, Saunders 2-1, Halladay 1-0, Santana 1-0, Duchscherer 0-2, Nathan 0-2, Papelbon 0-1, Rodriguez, F 0-1, Rivera 2-0, Soria 1-2, Sherrill 2-3, Kazmir 1-1. Batters faced: Sheets 9, Zambrano 6, Haren 9, Volquez 5, Wilson 2, Wagner 3, Dempster 3, Cook 16, Marmol 4, Webb 3, Lidge 5, Lee 7, Saunders 4, Halladay 3, Santana 4, Duchscherer 6, Nathan 3, Papelbon 4, Rodriguez, F 2, Rivera 5, Soria 9, Sherrill 8, Kazmir 4. Inherited runners-scored: Rivera 1-0, Sherrill 3-0. Umpires: HP: Derryl Cousins. 1B: Ed Rapuano. 2B: Tom Hallion. 3B: Mark Wegner. LF: Greg Gibson. RF: Phil Cuzzi. Weather: 82 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, Out to CF. T: 4:50. Att: 55,632.

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