I am scratching my head this morning over why Lorenzo Cain was not chosen as the All-Star Game’s MVP. Instead, for the second year in a row that honor went to L.A.’s Mike Trout. Granted, he did lead off the game with a homer off Zach Greinke, who will enter back into season play with 35.2 innings of scoreless baseball. Trout drew a walk and scored the game winning run in the fifth inning, but I, (and many Midwestern fans) could make a good argument for Kansas City’s Lorenzo Cain.
Cain was the only All-Star player from both leagues to have multiple hits. After popping out to the second baseman to end the first inning, Cain singled to center in the fourth, stole second and moved himself over to third after teammate Sal Perez struck out against Madison Bumgarner, but reached base on a dropped third strike. Then in the fifth, with the American League up 2-1, Cain delivered a double down the third base line giving his club a two run advantage.
Our Missouri hitters did a great job at the plate.
In addition to Cain’s 2-for-3 night, starting shortstop Alcides Escobar started the fifth inning with a leadoff single, before he was thrown out on a fielder’s choice at second. Perez reached on the dropped third, but finished the night 0-for-2. Mike Moustakas struck out as a pinch hitter.
Watch Cain’s night at the plate (video/MLB)
Jhonny Peralta quickly squashed the early momentum that American League built on Trout’s leadoff homer, when he singled Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt with a single to right field. That came in the second inning with two outs and tied the score 1-1. Peralta also drew a walk. Yadier Molina entered the game in the sixth inning and hit a two-out single that moved Goldschmidt into scoring position with the National League down 3-2. That was Molina’s only at-bat of the game.
The Royals/Cardinals hitting line for the All-Star game: 5-for-10 with a double, 2 RBIs and a walk with two strikeouts.
