2017 ALL-STAR GAME
The 2017 Mid-West Baseball League All-Star Game was held on Saturday Night, November 11th, 2017 in the home of the Fremont Cannons.
“Special. recognition is given here to Brandon Hogan for taking on the past All-Star Games Project as he has helped out playing these and catching up not only with the MWBL but also with some past MWWL All-Star Games. Thank you very much Brandon for helping out with these projects. I hope you enjoy the Mid-Baseball & Mid-West Winter League as much as we have the past 25 Years!”
STARTING PITCHERS:
Jon Lester 25-5 (1.82) vs. Noah Syndergaard 21-5 (2.00)
We’ve made it to another annual classic in the Mid-West Baseball League with the all-star game. The National League traveled to face the American League with a 4-game winning streak in the head-to-head matchup. This is great news as the A.L. holds the overall record at 12-8 through the first 20 renditions. It is the best of the best from the season getting one more crack at making fans happy. The A.L. decided to go with Noah Syndergaard as the starter and the N.L. countered with Jon Lester.
The N.L. got off to a hot start off Thor with singles by Charlie Blackmon, Francisco Lindor, and Joey Votto. Based loaded right from the get-go with no one out. Batting clean-up for the N.L. was Nolan Arenado and he got himself a pitch to hit but it just wasn’t enough as it was a long fly to right, however, Blackmon did score. 1-0 N.L. with only 1 out. Quickly the A.L. called to the pen and got Madison Bumgarner in to try and limit the damage to just 1. For the 2nd batter in a row, the N.L. got themselves a sac fly from Robinson Cano and doubled the lead to 2. The man in the 6 hole was Adrian Beltre and Bumgarner probably never wants to face him again, Beltre gave a fastball down the middle a ride that Mike Trout could only watch in centerfield. Just like that 4-0. Syndergaard has himself an 81.00 ERA for his efforts.
It was tough sledding coming out of the gates for the A.L. as they could only get 1 hit in the first few innings on a double from Altuve off Jon Lester. In their first 4 innings at the plate, the A.L. got the double and a Mookie Betts walk. Lester, Julio Teheran, Johnny Cueto, and Cole Hamels were phenomenal in their efforts to keep the lead at 4-0.
However, the game began to shift a bit as subs in the bottom of the 5th. After Xander Bogaerts came into the game, the first play to him was a ground ball by J.D. Martinez that he bobbled for an error. Sergio Romo did not recover as the next batter was Edwin Encarnacion and he slapped a double to left to put runners on 2nd and 3rd. That was it for him as he faced only two batters and Tyler Lyons was then called upon to maintain the lead. A Carlos Correa sac fly finally got the A.L. on the board and closed the gap 4-1.
The N.L. continued to struggle getting anything else going after the 1st inning leaving the door open for the A.L. In the bottom half of the 6th Buster Posey remained in the game to face Hector Neris and the gamble paid off. A solo shot to left field and now the lead was down to just 2!
Scoreless 7th and 8th innings brought us to the 9th with the N.L. still doubling up the A.L. 4-2. Both teams relied on pitching to dominate late and that continued for the A.L. as 3 pitchers got an out in the 9th to give the bats a chance. The N.L. turned to closer Kenley Jansen to end this once and for all but what would an all-star game be without drama?! Manny Machado led off with a double to bring the tying run to the plate. Mayhem ensued on the first pitch to Jackie Bradley Jr. as he put a ball to right field that Jay Bruce somehow managed to drop! 4-3 and Bradley ended up at 2nd. Exactly what the N.L. did not want to see in the late going. Jacoby Ellsbury followed and popped out to Jason Kipnis. Everyone in the crowd was expecting magic with Paul Goldschmidt but his line drive to Jonathan Villar was snagged. 2 out, runner on 2nd. Last chance the for the A.L. to end the streak. Carlos Correa with the game on the line smacked a ball over the head of Marcell Ozuna in left, TIE BALLGAME! The excitement ended when Trout grounded out to 3rd but to extras we go!
Both teams had their final pitchers in the game in that 9th inning so it was going to be a battle of who can survive. Top 10 Edwin Diaz gets the N.L. 1-2-3. Bottom 10 Jansen got two quick outs and Big Papi David Ortiz then greeted him with a double. Could this be the end? Negative, Machado flies out to Bruce who made sure to squeeze tight this time. Top 11 Diaz walks the leadoff hitter Brandon Belt but then cleans up quickly to get the next 3. Bottom 11 saw Jansen get his own 1-2-3 inning.
Once the 11th finished the managers and representatives from the league came out to discuss how to proceed at this rate the players were exhausted and the men on the mound were only going to risk injury right? The spirit of competition says otherwise, and the agreement was to continue but they would discuss again after 2 more innings.
In the top of the 12th, the N.L. had Bruce leading off and still wanted redemption for the blunder earlier that helped put us this deep into the game. For the 2nd time on the night, Bruce found himself aboard with a bases-empty double. Diaz was starting to feel it, he walked Evan Gattis next. With no one out Ozuna took advantage of the slowly wilting Diaz with the hit of the game. There was not a single double as soon as the bat made contact with the ball. Up into the upper deck in left field and just like that the game is now 7-4 N.L.! With nowhere else to turn Diaz needed to buckle down. A double by Starling Marte made everyone worry it was about to get out of hand, but Diaz found a new gear and sat down the next three without letting another run cross the plate.
Inning number 4 for Jansen was on the docket and now with a 3-run lead, there was no way disaster could strike for the 2nd time in his night, right? Right, Correa flies out to Bruce, Trout walks, and Brian 
Dozier closes out the night with a 3-6-3 double play. The N.L. streak lives on! 2012 is still the last time the A.L. were victorious. While Jansen had a great performance in his final 3 innings, the MVP was obvious for the N.L. Marcell Ozuna with his game-winning 3-run jack.
FINAL SCORE:
NATIONAL LEAGUE 7 – AMERICAN LEAGUE 4 – (12 Innings)
WP: Kenley Jansen 1-0 (0.00)
LP: Edwin Diaz 0-1 (8.10)
MVP: Marcell Ozuna – 1 for 3 with a 3-run Home Run in the top of the 12th to win it for the National League.
