Every year around mid-July, the fan-voted best players in Major League Baseball gather in the same stadium for a showcase of skills, a hallmark of summer, and a celebration of sport: the All-Star Game.
This year’s All-Star Game was hosted at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida on July 11, 2017. For the fifth consecutive year, the American League came out victorious. In the 10th inning, Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano hit a solo home run to put the AL up 2-1, and the National League could not come back. Coincidentally, the last time an extra-innings homer decided the All-Star Game was exactly fifty years ago on July 11, 1967 when Tony Perez went yard in the 15th and won the game for the National League.
The rosters of both teams were stocked with power hitters, including the winners of the past two Home Run Derbies, Aaron Judge (2017) and Giancarlo Stanton (2016). However, the game more closely resembled a pitcher’s duel, in which runs were few and far between. The scoreboard hung all zeroes until the fifth inning, when Miguel Sano drove in Jonathan Schoop for an AL lead. In the sixth, Yadier Molina’s solo shot tied the game 1-1.
Molina’s home run wasn’t the only memorable moment of the sixth inning. Right before taking his at-bat, Mariners player Nelson Cruz pulled out his phone and asked Molina to take a picture of him and home plate umpire Joe West. West is just one of three umpires to call over 5,000 games, and this was a way for Cruz to show his admiration!
FOX Sports pulled out impressive antics for the All-Star Game as well. Before the second inning, former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez re-defined an on-field interview when he literally walked onto the infield to conduct interviews with NL basemen Daniel Murphy, Zack Cozart, and Nolan Arenado. Watch the interview below:
From 2nd to 3rd on the field before the 2nd inning, @AROD interviews Daniel Murphy, Zack Cozart & Nolan Arenado #ASG https://t.co/77ysAm9L1q
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 12, 2017
More unique interviews occurred when outfielders George Springer and Bryce Harper were interviewed in real time while they were playing outfield. The players were given communication equipment, including a microphone and an earpiece, and conversed with commentators while playing defense. Check out a segment of Bryce Harper’s interview below:
https://twitter.com/SportsFunhouse/status/884947808624627714
The All-Star festivities concluded with the naming of the All-Star Game MVP: game-winning home run hitter Robinson Cano. To celebrate, he sent out a tweet of appreciation to his “fans and supporters”:
??What a great night!! Thank you so much to all the fans and supporters and especially the 2017 MLB All-Star Game CHAMPS! #Blessed pic.twitter.com/MXKINjeIAJ
— Robinson Cano (@RobinsonCano) July 12, 2017
What did you think of the 2017 MLB All-Star Game? Tweet us @CelebMix!