PHILADELPHIA — It was an MLB All-Star Game that will be remembered for the sheer pitching dominance, the offensive ineptitude, players holding sparklers in front of the dugout, fireworks shooting up in the air, kids riding bicycles on the field, a star player who nearly broke his hand, but missing that one magical moment.
Instead, it was seemingly harmless two-run, first-inning single by a former MVP participating in his first All-Star Game in seven years whose hit proved to be worthy of the All-Star MVP award.
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger, who stood in front of his locker before the game reminiscing when he was the National League’s MVP for the Los Angeles Dodgers at the age of 24, and six hours later Tuesday night was sitting behind a podium holding the MVP award after the American League’s 4-0 victory.
Bellinger is the fourth Yankee to win the All-Star MVP award, joining Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Giancarlo Stanton, and also the first in MLB history to win Rookie of the Year, LCS MVP, All-Star MVP and a World Series title.
“Pretty special,’’ Bellinger, 31, said. “My first few years in the big leagues, I was here two of my first three years. I was, like, 'Oh, I'll be here every year. It took a long time to get back.'
“It's hard to be an All-Star. You know, health, performance, it all has to come together. Honestly, this one I just really enjoyed it.’’
Really, Bellinger was one of the few hitters in the 96th All-Star Game to actually have a satisfying evening. There were a record 27 strikeouts, the most in a nine-inning All-Star Game, including 15 by the American League pitchers. There was only one extra-base hit the entire game, an eighth-inning homer by Chicago White Sox infielder Miguel Vargas, one of 26 first-time All-Stars.
“It’s not really fair, I don’t know how those guys can even hit the way guys are throwing,’’ Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith said. “Everybody’s motion is completely unique. Then, there’s the different release points, arm angles. I wouldn’t say I feel sorry for them, but I don’t understand how they do what they do. It’s very impressive. It’s a hard line of work for sure.’’
While the game was rather dull, it was the city of Philadelphia that stole the show. They broke out an old-fashioned piece of Americana after the fourth inning with kids coming from the center-field gate on bicycles, camping out by the All-Stars on the field, some trading baseball cards, and others playing catch, like 14-year-old Noah with Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman.
“That was pretty cool, pretty fun,’’ said Freeman, who spoke to the team before the game along with Bryce Harper and Chris Sale, who had a combined 29 All-Star appearances. “I was telling them to appreciate the game, take a step back, and make sure you realize how special this is. So, make sure you take a step back and realize it’s not just you making it. It’s your parents, your friends, everyone who helped you along the way.’’
Bellinger, the son of former Yankees infielder Clay Bellinger, indeed heeded the advice, and watching the kids come out onto the field riding their bicycles, resurrecting memories for Bellinger growing up in Chandler, Arizona, and playing ball every day with all of the neighborhood kids.
“I think it was special,’’ Bellinger said. “We do play a kids' game. We're all little kids at heart playing this game, even though it's a challenging game. But ultimately, we all fell in love with the game at a young age. We're all still those little kids with big dreams. We're just out here playing a game, and it's always nice to have that perspective.
“It was a really good weekend.’’
One that almost turned into an utter nightmare for the Tampa Bay Rays. They watched their season flash before their eyes when All-Star third baseman Junior Caminero was hit by a pitch in the left hand on a 98-mph sinker by St. Louis Cardinals reliever Riley O’Brien in the third inning, writhing in pain, with his face planted in the dirt.
He got up, ran through the visiting dugout, into the clubhouse, and was escorted into the X-ray room at Citizens Bank Park with the Phillies’ team doctor. O’Brien, who was visibly shaken, later accompanied him.
While the Rays held their breath, said their prayers, and clutched their rosary beads, X-rays came back negative. Caminero walked out of the clubhouse in a cream-colored suit, a rubber protective sleeve on his pinkie finger, and a huge relief on his face.
“I feel good,’’ Caminero said. “Thank God that nothing’s broken and it was just more of a scare than anything. I was just scared. You’re thinking the worst, and I honestly thought something might have been broken.
“But look, thank you to God that everything’s fine. It’s just a little bit sore, but we’re all good.’’
And just like that, the Rays’ five-man All-Star contingent, along with a fan base that has watched their team take a surprising three-game lead over the Yankees at the All-Star break, could exhale.
“It was extreme panic,’’ said Rays closer Bryan Baker, who recorded the final out. “We were stressing. I can take a breath now.’’
Said Rays starter Nick Martinez, who was making his first All-Star appearance at the age of 36: “Super scary. That’s our guy. Obviously happy that he’s doing all right.’’
Really, the only one who might have been the most relieved was O’Brien, who also visited Caminero in the clubhouse and apologized for the errant pitch.
“I felt terrible about that,’’ O’Brien said. “Last thing I want to do in an All-Star Game is hit someone, and God forbid, hurt him. I went over there just wanted to check on him to make sure he was all right. He was very understanding and classy about it, and understood.’’
Said Caminero, who plans to play in both games of the Rays’ doubleheader Friday, July 17 against the Boston Red Sox: “I really appreciate the gesture. He came into the clubhouse and he took a few seconds to apologize. But I told him, “Look, it’s part of the game.’ He was really worried, but I told him that these things happen. We’re here to have fun. We’re here to enjoy the night.’’
Few enjoyed the festivities more than Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout, who was born and raised in nearby Millville, N.J., and was treated to a thunderous ovation when he was introduced. The folks in Philly are notorious for booing the opposition, with the loudest boos of the night reserved for all of the rival players in the National League East, even including Mr. and Mrs. Met, the Mets' mascots, but they showed their love for Trout.
“This was one of the best All-Star experiences I ever had,’’ said Trout, who played in his first All-Star Game since 2019. “Just to be able to spend it with family, and a lot of friends, made it special. This was really cool.’’
And for the Phillies’ hometown contingent, like Kyle Schwarber, who leads baseball with 31 homers, it was the ultimate experience. It was his fourth All-Star Game, but easily the best time he’s had at the event, with the sellout crowds greeting him with thunderous ovations every time he stepped to the plate at the Home Run Derby and All-Star game.
“It’s definitely No. 1 for me,’’ he said. “It’s one that I’m going to remember for the rest of my life, and happy that my kids and family were able to be here and witness it. They did an unbelievable job to have a spectacle like this.’’
And, well, perhaps no one enjoyed it more than Bellinger, who’s a living, breathing testament to how difficult it is to make the All-Star Game. He hit eight homers with 38 RBI his first two months of the season, hitting .304 in May, but wounder up batting just .226 with three homers and 13 RBI in June and July.
“It’s just hard man,’’ Bellinger told USA TODAY Sports before the game. “You don’t get off to a hot start, and then you get like a decent May and have a good June, it’s too late. It just depends on your starts, and it’s hard to hit in April, it’s just cold.’’
Look no further than Hall of Famer Robin Yount, who produced 3,142 hits for the Milwaukee Brewers, but only made three All-Star Games in his career.
“That’s just crazy,’’ Bellinger says. “That just shows you how hard it is. And, the pitching today, man, you see it. It’s just unbelievable.’’
Yes, a night like Tuesday, when the best hitters in the world can step to the plate 69 times, produce just nine singles and a homer, with 23 hitters striking out at least once, and Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski becoming the first pitcher to strike out five batters in an All-Star Game since Pedro Martinez in 1999, you realize just how utterly dominant the pitching is in today’s game.
“Yeah, tell me about it,’’ Bellinger said. “Just unbelievable, isn’t it?’’
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cody Bellinger stands out in pitching-dominated MLB All-Star Game
