CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott and shortstop Elly De La Cruz both appeared in the National League’s victory in the All-Star Game on Tuesday that was decided by a home run derby.
Abbott threw a perfect top of the sixth inning by coaxing back-to-back fly balls to center field by New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene before fielding a comebacker from Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena. The left-hander needed just 13 pitches, eight of those as strikes.
EDLC, who also entered the game in the sixth inning at shortstop for starter Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets, got to bat in the bottom of that inning against Tigers pitcher Casey Mize but struck out swinging on four pitches.
He then faced Andres Munoz of the Seattle Mariners in the bottom of the eighth inning and flied out to left on a 3-0 pitch.
The American League rallied from a 6-0 deficit to tie the score in the top of the ninth, which sent the game into a home run derby instead of extra innings.
The managers chose three hitters from their own squad — and those who were currently in the game — to each take three swings. Most total homers per side would win. The AL hitters were Brent Rooker of the Athletics (2 homers), Arozarena (1) and Jonathan Aranda of the Tampa Bay Rays (0). NL hitters were Kyle Stowers of the Miami Marlins (1) and Kyle Schwarber from the Philadelphia Phillies (all 3 swings). Pete Alonso of the New York Mets didn’t have to swing because the NL had already won the derby 4-3.