2014 MLB All-Star Game

2014 MLB All-Star Game

Everyone wanted to know if National League starter Adam Wainwright had thoughts of grooving a pitch for Derek Jeter to start the All-Star game, so the retiring super star could further bask in the limelight after the standing ovation he received as he walked up to the plate in the first inning.

Wainwright was grooving pitches to just about every American League batter he faced in his first inning.  He was a single shy from giving up the cycle in that first inning.

Although his initial response leads one to believe that he did gift wrap a pitch to Jeter.

Wainwright then tried clarify his comments.

“What I meant to say was I’m intentionally trying to throw a strike to get him out. It’s what I do most of the time, almost all the time,” he said. “‘Piping one’ is the wrong window for that. It really is. If I’m going to get taken to the slaughterhouse for saying a stupid phrase, then I deserve it. What can you do?”

Wainwright gave up a double to Jeter, a triple to Mike Trout and a home run to Miguel Cabrera.  The AL Stars jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held on for a 5-3 victory.  It was the American’s 13th win over the last 17 seasons.  Once again the AL pennant winner grabs home field advantage for the World Series.


Other notables as they relates to Missouri ties to the game:

Cardinals reliever Pat Neshek, pitching in his native Minnesota, took the loss.  Mike Matheny brought him in the fifth inning of a 3-3 ball game and after one out, gave up two singles and an RBI double to Trout.  Neshek was pulled and a sac fly charged to Neshek put the AL up for good at 5-3.

Former Missouri Tiger and Chesterfield native Max Scherzer, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, pitched the top of the fifth and allowed just one hit and struck out two.  He was named the winning pitcher.

Royals closer Greg Holland pitched the seventh inning and threw nine pitches, six for strikes, including strike out of Colorado’s Charlie Blackmon.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez started behind the plate and just missed throwing out Andrew McCutcheon at third base in the first inning.  He went 0 for 1 at the plate.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter did not play.

Milwaukee catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who got the start behind the plate for injured catcher Yadier Molina, had a big night for the National League, going 2 for 2 with two doubles and two RBIs.