AN AMERICAN HERO YOUNG'S TWO-RUN TRIPLE KEEPS AL'S WIN STREAK GOING AMERICAN LEAGUE 3, NATIONAL LEAGUE 2.Byline: TONY JACKSON
Anthony (Antonio) Jackson, best known as Tony Jackson Staff Writer PITTSBURGH -- For a brief, fleeting moment, the American League's annual triumph didn't seem so inevitable. For a brief, fleeting moment, it appeared the sadsack National League might for once hold onto its lunch money, not to mention its dignity. The impossible dream began with Dodgers right-hander Brad Penny Bradley Wayne Penny[1] (born May 24, 1978 in Blackwell, Oklahoma)[2] is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers.[3] Early career . He started and pitched two solid innings, relying almost entirely on a fastball that came tantalizingly tan·ta·lize tr.v. tan·ta·lized, tan·ta·liz·ing, tan·ta·liz·es To excite (another) by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach. close to triple digits on the speed meter. His only hiccup hiccup or hiccough, involuntary spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm followed by a sharp intake of air, which is abruptly stopped by a sudden, involuntary closing of the glottis (opening between the vocal cords); the consequent blocking of air was a homer by the Angels' Vladimir Guerrero Vladimir Alvino Guerrero (born February 9, 1976 in Don Gregorio, Nizao, Dominican Republic), and known in his native Dominican Republic as Miquéas (Spanish for Micah), is a Major League Baseball right fielder who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. . It continued through the middle, with the NL grabbing a one-run lead and its manager trying to protect it by using nothing but closers from the sixth inning on. But then, with two outs and none on in the ninth inning of an All-Star Game An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league. The players are often chosen by a popular vote of fans of the sport and the game often occurs at the halfway point of the regular season, although this is not the case for some all-star games that to that point had been far too uneventful for comfort, one of those closers finally cracked. The one who is fast approaching baseball's all-time saves record. Trevor Hoffman Trevor William Hoffman (October 13, 1967 in Bellflower, California) is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who has played for the San Diego Padres since 1993. He bats and throws right-handed. gave up a single to Paul Konerko Paul Henry Konerko (born March 5, 1976 in Providence, Rhode Island) is a first baseman in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox. He previously played with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1997-98) and Cincinnati Reds (1998). and a double to Troy Glaus Troy Edward Glaus (born August 3, 1976 in Tarzana, California) is a Major League Baseball player who plays third base for the Toronto Blue Jays. Previously, Glaus played with the Anaheim Angels (1998-2004) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (2005). that would have tied the score had it not bounced into the left-field stands. He then got two quick strikes on Texas' Michael Young, but Young drove Hoffman's next pitch, a curiously chosen fastball, up the gap in right-center, a two-run triple that gave the AL a foregone conclusion of a 3-2 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 38,904 at PNC Park • • [ and earned the game's Most Valuable Player award. Mariano Rivera Mariano Rivera (born November 29, 1969, in Panama City, Panama) is a Panamanian baseball player. He is a relief pitcher for Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. He throws and bats right-handed. was characteristically lights-out in the bottom of the inning Noun 1. bottom of the inning - the second half of an inning; while the home team is at bat bottom inning, frame - (baseball) one of nine divisions of play during which each team has a turn at bat . And with that, order suddenly had been restored to the baseball universe. ``We know the change is (Hoffman's) signature pitch, but he was throwing some fastballs,'' Young said. ``I was just going to see the ball and make some contact. Down 0-2 to a guy like that, it's tough, and I knew I had my work cut out for me.'' Hoffman said catcher Brian McCann called for the fastball. ``Brian might have thought (Young) was moving up in the box,'' Hoffman said. ``In a spot like that, you have to go with your bread and butter. My 86-mile-an-hour heater isn't going to scare too many people.'' The AL won for the fourth consecutive year, the NL failed to win for the 10th consecutive year, and, as a result, the AL will enjoy home-field advantage in the World Series for the fifth consecutive year. But no one can ever say Penny didn't do his part. At least not while he was in the game. Clearly excited by the starting assignment in his first All-Star appearance and knowing he won't pitch again until Sunday at St. Louis, Penny cut loose, routinely hitting 97-99 mph. He struck out all three batters he faced in the first inning, blowing fastballs by Ichiro Suzuki and Derek Jeter before freezing David Ortiz with 99-mph gas. Penny then got Alex Rodriguez to ground to short to begin the second, gave up the homer to Guerrero into the front row in right field, got Ivan Rodriguez to line out to second and retired Vernon Wells on a routine fly to center. Upon leaving the game, Penny did the mandatory interviews with the television and radio networks broadcasting the game live, but left the ballpark without meeting with print reporters. Although that is in keeping with Penny's occasional pattern this season, a baseball official whose responsibility it was to arrange such interviews said that due to a miscommunication, Penny was never told he needed to speak to the writers. The official also said the pitcher was ``very cooperative'' with all other media requests. No matter. There were plenty of others who spoke on his behalf. ``I was mad at him, because he didn't throw for us the way he threw here,'' said AL manager Ozzie Guillen, who before taking over the Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are a professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the White Sox have played in U.S. was Florida's third-base coach while Penny was with the Marlins. ``I never thought Penny could throw 98, 99 on this stage. I know he was pumped up. He is one of the best. I coached him for a couple of years, and I never saw him throw the ball that well. ``God bless him. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and help the Dodgers do it.'' First baseman Nomar Garciaparra, the Dodgers' only other All-Star, didn't play. Manager Phil Garner planned to have him hit for Hoffman in the ninth, but that spot never came up. tony.jackson@dailynews.com (818) 713-3675 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Michael Young's two-run triple gave the American League All-Stars a come-from-behind victory. Jim McIsaac/Getty Images (2) National League All-Star Brad Penny, of the Dodgers, went two innings and gave up just one hit -- a homer to the Angels' Vladimir Guerrero. He had three strikeouts Tuesday. Charles Krupa/Associated Press Box: STORY LINES |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion