The 2006 All Star Game: NL Winless String Continues …
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After going winless in the prior 9 All Star games, the NL was on the verge of breaking the losing string in the 2006 All Star Game in Pittsburgh’s PNC Park. But a 2 out, 2 strike, 2 run triple by Texas Rangers shortstop Michael Young (7 HRs, 57 RBIs, .316 BA) won another All Star game for the AL by the score of 3-2 and built the NLs winless string to 10 games.
Brad Penny (10-2, 2.91 ERA) of the L.A. Dodgers started the game for the NL vs AL’s lefthander Kenny Rogers (11-3) of the Detroit Tigers.
Penny began the game in grand style striking out the side in the 1st inning, Seattle rightfielder Ichiro Suzuki (6 HRs, .343 BA), Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (5 HRs, 52 RBIs, .345 BA) and Boston 1st baseman David Ortiz (31 HRs, 87 RBIs, .278 BA). Penny became only the 2nd pitcher in All Star game history to accomplish this feat, the other being Pedro Martinez, then of the Boston Red Sox, in the 1999 All Star Game.
In the 2nd inning, L.A. Angels rightfielder Vladimir Guerrero (18 HRs, 62 RBIs, .299 BA) put the AL in the lead 1-0 with a solo homer off of starter Brad Penny.
The NL tied the game in their half of the 2nd inning as NY Mets 3rd baseman David Wright (20 HRs, 74 RBIs, .316 BA) also solo homered off of starter Kenny Rogers.
In the 3rd, the NL took a 2-1 lead as Washington Nationals leftfielder Alphonso Soriano (27 HRs, 56 RBIs, .272 BA) singled. Carlos Beltran (25 HRs, 68 RBIs, .279 BA) of the NY Mets then singled to centerfield and Soriano was nailed at home attempting to score from 1st base on a single. Beltran took 2nd base on the throw. He proceeded to steal 3rd base and then score on a wild pitch by Roy Halladay (12-2, 2.92 ERA) of Toronto.
The score remained 2-1 NL until the AL 9th inning. After San Diego Padres Trevor Hoffman (0-1, 1.03 ERA, S24) retired the first 2 batters he faced on nubbers to the pitcher, Chicago White Sox 1st baseman Paul Konerko (21 HR, 67 RBIs, .313 BA) singled to left for his second hit of the game. Javier Lopez (9 HRs, 58 RBIs, .280 BA) of Seattle ran for Konerko. Toronto’s 3rd baseman Troy Glaus (23 HRs, 60 RBIs) hit a ground-rule double to deep left moving Lopez to 3rd base. This set the stage for Texas Rangers shortstop Michael Young’s dramatic last-gasp triple scoring Lopez and Glaus with the game winning runs for the AL.
Toronto lefthanded reliever B.J. Ryan (1-0. .084 ERA, S24) who pitched a scoreless 8th inning was credited with the win. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera (4-4, 1.76 ERA, S19) recorded the save. Padres closer Trevor Hoffman who gave up the two 9th inning runs was charged with the loss.
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July 18th, 2006 at 1:38 am
[…] In Hoffman’s last appearance, the All Star game, he also blew a save in the same fashion as the AL beat the NL by a 3-2 score. […]
July 20th, 2006 at 5:29 am
[…] The Phils fell behind early 3-1 to the San Diego Padres but came back to tie 3-3, only to see the Padres go ahead 4-3 in the 7th inning, before winning with the game by a 5-4 score with 2 runs in the 9th inning off of Padres closer and losing pitcher Trevor Hoffman (0-2, 2.21 ERA, S25). It was Hoffman’s 2nd blown save in his last 3 chances, not including his blown save in the All Star Game. […]
November 15th, 2006 at 9:52 am
[…] But despite Hoffman’s impressive stats; 65 games, 63 innings pitched, 16 runs allowed, 15 earned runs, 50 SO, 13 Walks, 2.14 ERA and 46 Saves, he folded big-time at several crucial times during the season costing both the NL All Stars and the Padres numerous times throughout the 2nd half of the season and during the stretch drive for the NL wild card berth; notably his part in giving up 2 homers on 2 consecutive pitches against the Dodgers in their now-famous and record-tying feat of 4 consecutive homers in the 9th inning in defeating the Padres in 10 innings. Ultimately, the Padres made the NL wild card berth despite Hoffman’s folds. […]