Wednesday, July 13, 2011

A great All-Star Game for the Dodgers

For the second straight year, the National League won the All-Star Game over their American League rivals, this time by a 5-1 score. The big blow was Prince Fielder's three-run shot that gave the NL a lead they would not relinquish.

The Dodgers had three representatives, and they all contributed to the win a big way. Let's take a look at how they performed on the big stage.

Matt Kemp
Kemp got the start in center and played six innings before coming out for Andrew McCutchen. Hitting in the #3 spot, he took a walk in his first at-bat with two outs in the first, but was stranded when Fielder flied out. His next at-bat was hit biggest, as he followed Carlos Beltran's leadoff single with his own single into left. That set up Fielder's homer to grab the lead. His night was over after flying out to right in his final plate appearance.

Andre Ethier
I wasn't so sure if Ethier would get an at-bat considering he was one of the last additions to the team, but there he was stepping to the plate in the fifth. Subbing at DH for Beltran, he waited for Rickie Weeks to swipe second for a two-out RBI opportunity. He delivered with an RBI single into right, but was caught in a rundown for the final out. No matter, as the damage was done to give the NL a 4-1 lead. It was only at-bat of the night as Gabby Sanchez came on in the seventh.

On a side note, Ethier's RBI broke a 15-year drought for the Dodgers. You have to go all the way back to Mike Piazza's MVP performance in 1996 for the last time a Dodger drove in a run. That's pretty crazy!

Clayton Kershaw
Don Mattingly was worried that Kershaw would get overworked, and possibly not be 100% for Friday's game in Arizona. Thankfully Kershaw was on the money, as he got through his only inning of work in the fifth with eight pitches. He struck out David Ortiz on a check swing, then got Robinson Cano and Alex Avila to ground out to Fielder at first. Jair Jurrjens took over in the sixth.

All in all, the Dodgers have to be thrilled with how well their boys played. I know this fan was. Not that home field means a whole heck of a lot to them... but nonetheless, it's good to get the NL a couple straight wins.

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