Pete Rose Gets Cheers; Mike Trout Leads A.L. To All-Star Game Win
Mike Trout of the L.A. Angels homered off L.A. Dodgers’ ace Zack Greinke to lead off the game, and the American League doubled up the National League, 6-3, in the MLB All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Tuesday night. Trout won his second consecutive All-Star Game MVP, becoming the first player in MLB history to accomplish the feat.
However, the loudest ovation of the night went to a star who hasn’t been in the big leagues in more than 25 years: Pete Rose, the Reds’ legend who returned to the city where he collected many of his MLB-record 4,256 hits before receiving a lifetime ban for betting on baseball in 1989.
Ineligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame because of the ban, Rose, 74, was named one of the Reds’ Franchise Four - a MLB promotion which polled fans on their franchise’s four best players. Rose was introduced to thunderous applause after Reds’ Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Barry Larkin preceded him on to the field in pre-game ceremonies.
Rose maintains hope the lifetime ban will be lifted someday, but new MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has not yet set a meeting to review the case.
In the game action, the hometown fans cheered on Reds’ third baseman, and new MLB Home Run Derby champ, Todd Frazier and were wowed by Cincinnati reliever Aroldis Chapman, who reached 100-plus mph. on 12 of his 14 pitches as he struck out the side in the ninth inning.
Still, the Junior Circuit prevailed, with Trout going 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. Texas Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder drove in two runs for the A.L., and Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier smacked an eighth-inning homer to pad the lead.
Detroit Tigers starter David Price got the win in relief.
The American League’s third consecutive victory in the Midsummer Classic means its eventual league champion will have home-field advantage in this October’s World Series.
Next year’s MLB All-Star Game is scheduled for Petco Park in San Diego.