National League takes the ASG in ‘Swing-off’

Rooker’s Power keeps the AL in the Game

The 95^th Major League Baseball All-Star game was held tonight at Truist Field in Atlanta, Georgia. The A’s had two representatives this year, one starter and one substitute. Starting for the first time ever is Athletics rookie Shortstop Jacob Wilson. He was joined later in the game by DH/Outfielder Brent Rooker, fresh off his 17-homer appearance in last night’s Home Run Derby. Rooker’s play would be huge in the end of this game.

The starting pitchers for tonight’s game were Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers and Paul Skenes from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Skenes was the first pitcher to start in his first two seasons as a major leaguer. He didn’t disappoint in year two, tossing a 1-2-3 inning. Skubal was not so lucky. Shohei Ohtani singled to centerfield. Ronald Acuña Jr., who skipped the Home Run Derby to protect his ailing back singled softly off the end of the bat to the second baseman. Ketel Marte then gave the National League a 2-0 lead with a double down the first base line scoring Ohtani and Acuña.

Clayton Kershaw entered the game to pitch the second inning for the NL. After striking out Vlad Guerrero Jr., Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulled him giving him an opportunity to walk off the field to an ovation, paying homage to the fact that this may be Kershaw’s final season.

With one out in the top of the third, Jacob Wilson got his first at-bat and in his typical style, swung on the first pitch, making contact but lining out to left field.

In the bottom of the fifth, after his second at bat, Wilson left the game as part of the first mass substitution for the American League. Bobby Witt Jr. replaced him.

The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the sixth. Kris Bubic, a Bay Area native, came in to pitch for the American League. Fernando Tatis Jr. led off with a walk, then stole second. Brendan Donovan singled softly to short. Pete Alonso, who has twice won the Home Run Derby, hit his first homer in an ASG. That gave the National League a 5-0 lead. Eugenio Suárez grounded out and then his D-backs teammate Corbin Carroll homered to right centerfield. That extended the lead to 6-0 for the NL. How appropriate that just prior to an on-field celebration of Henry Aaron’s 715^th career home run and his incredible life that the National League exploded with two homers.

In the top of the seventh, Alejandro Kirk singled, and Jonathan Aranda walked. That brought up Brent Rooker as a pinch hitter for Ryan O’Hearn. Rook made his A’s fans proud with a three-run homer to left field.

That brought the score to 6-3 in favor of the NL. That homer was the first homer by an A’s hitter since 1988. Maikel Garcia singled, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman. He scored on a Bobby Witt Jr ground out. Jazz Chisholm Jr. reached on a Matt Olson fielding error with two outs. But Steven Kwan grounded out to end the inning. At the end of seven the score was 6-4.

With one out in the top of the ninth, Byron Buxton doubled down the right field line. Bobby Witt Jr. did the same thing, scoring Buxton. Dave Roberts called his last available pitcher Edwin Díaz from the Mets to get the final two outs. Chisholm grounded out for the second out. Steven Kwan legged out an infield hit to third to tie the game 6-6. Kwan stole second. But Randy Arozarena was called out after a pitcher’s challenge overturned a ball to strike three and the last out of the inning.

The game went to a first ever “swing-off” to determine the winner. Each manager selected three hitters that get three swings. In the end, the most homers win. Our own Brent Rooker who already homered in the game to get the American League on the board went first. Rooker hit two homers in his three swings to put the American League ahead 2-0.

It looked like Rook might be the AL’s hero, but Kyle Schwarber homered on all three of his swings to give the National League the win 4-3 in the swing off and the All-Star Game victory.