By KYLE KEOUGH
DOUBLE DAY DAILY
George Forrest might someday be known as the man who showed the AL how to finally beat the NL.
The American League, who was 0-3 against the National League in All-Star Games and 0-3 against the National League in the World Series, finally earned itself a victory in a 6-5 extra-innings thriller.
The AL had played the NL close in the past, but this game, played in Jacobs Field, was expected to again favor the National League. In a league filled with high-powered offensive talent, the AL got its boost from a couple of unlikely catchers.
Rey Sweeney went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and his replacement in extras, George Forrest, drove in the game's winning two runs with a home-run to right field in the 10th inning.
The night's loser was Omaha's Danny Diaz, who has 110 saves over the last 2 1/2 seasons but could not close this particular game out. Diaz was pulled following the Forrest home run.
The typically unshakeable Rafael Mercado, a former NL Cy Young winner, was rocked in an offense-laden fourth frame. Mercado gave up a pair of two-run homers to Barry Broadhurst of Montreal and reigning AL MVP Jocko Sexson of Boston.
Also in the fourth, Robinson Dreifort got himself into trouble and a misplay by Reid Paul opened the floodgates for a four-run scoring spree by the National League.
At the game's end, the NL again threatened, with a leadoff solo homer by the NL's hero from a year ago: Derek McDermott. However, Raul Barajas came in and notched the save with three straight outs to close out the game and give the AL its first win in this competition.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Great article, Keo. The only bad thing I can say about it is that I wouldn't ever call Forrest or Sweeney "unlikely." Both have great career stats and Sweeney was batting over .400 for the first half of the season. I'm not trying to call you out or anything, I just think those are two guys who probably don't get the credit or recognition that they deserve.
Post a Comment