ST. LOUIS -- American League pitchers didn't just retire 18 straight batters in one stretch Tuesday.They retired 18 straight All-Stars.
On just 48 pitches.
"It's tough when you are facing closer after closer or No. 1 starter after No. 1 starter," NL third baseman David Wright said, "and everyone coming in for one ininng. We were fortunate to get that one inning we plated a couple. Then we're facing closer after closer and No. 1 after No. 1."
AL manager Joe Maddon set it up so he could finish with Jonathan Papelbon, Joe Nathan and Mariano Rivera for an inning each.
"You can see why they're so good," Maddon said. "When you're on the same side you can see they're very calm, they're very deliberate, they're in control of the moment."
| What a Relief! | |
|---|---|
| After starter Roy Halladay departed Tuesday, the AL relievers -- Mark Buehrle, Zack Greinke, Edwin Jackson, Felix Hernandez, Jonathan Papelbon, Joe Nathan and Mariano Rivera -- dominated their NL opponents. Here are their combined numbers: | |
| Category | Stat |
| IP | 7 |
| Hits | 1 |
| Runs | 0 |
| SO | 5 |
| BB | 1 |
| Pitches | 73 |
| Strikes | 49 |
| Balls | 24 |
Tuesday's performance was the second-longest streak of consecutive outs in All-Star history (in 1968, NL pitchers retired 20 in a row at one point).
"Everybody that came out of our bullpen tonight pitched efficiently and effectively," Papelbon said.
"It is and it isn't [surprising]. Because you know how hard it is to do, but then you look at the type of pitching that we threw out there and you could see why."
It started when Roy Halladay got Hanley Ramirez to ground out for the final out of the second inning. Then Mark Buehrle, Zack Greinke, Edwin Jackson (four pitches!), Felix Hernandez and Papelbon each threw a perfect inning.
Nathan got the first two outs of the eighth, then got ahead of Adrian Gonzalez 1-2 before walking him.
"Joe Mauer already came over to me and kind of gave me some business," Nathan said. "Every guy was like 10 pitches, nine pitches, eight pitches, five pitches, 11 pitches and then here I come and throw 19. He already let me know I screwed it up."
Nathan had the most pressure-packed moment, as Orlando Hudson singled Gonzalez to third to bring up pinch hitter Ryan Howard.
Maddon got lefty Brian Fuentes up in the bullpen but said later Fuentes was coming in only if Nathan's pitch count got too high. Maddon had no intention of replacing Nathan with a lefty to match up with Howard.
They battled for six pitches, the last a diving slider that Howard waved at to end the inning.
MLB All-Star Game Photos
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) greets National League All-Star Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals after throwing out the first pitch before the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Albert Pujols;Barack Obama
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: U.S. President Barack Obama throws out the first pitch before the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barack Obama
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: U.S. President Barack Obama walks onto the field before the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barack Obama
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: Sheryl Crow sings the National Anthem before the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sheryl Crow
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Victor Martinez #41 of the Cleveland Indians congratulates American League All-Star Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees after the American League team won the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mariano Rivera;Victor Martinez
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: A general view of Busch Stadium during the pregame ceremonies of the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Jessica Foster/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Victor Martinez #41 of the Cleveland Indians tags National League All-Star Ryan Howard #6 of the Philadelphia Phillies out after dropping the ball in the bottom of the eighth inning during the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Victor Martinez;Ryan Howard
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Carl Crawford #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays catches a ball off the bat of National League All-Star Brad Hawpe #11 of the Colorado Rockies during the seventh inning during the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carl Crawford
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: National League All-Star Miguel Tejada #10 of the Houston Astros turns a double play against American League All-Star Josh Hamilton #32 of the Texas Rangers in the sixth inning of the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Hamilton;Miguel Tejada
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins throws to first base during the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joe Mauer
MLB Photos via Getty Images
"I think everybody, probably, in the park was waiting for it," Nathan said. "I got into the dugout and all the guys were giving me heat because I should have thrown it probably four pitches before that."
By getting three straight outs, Rivera earned his fourth All-Star save, most all-time (one more than Dennis Eckersley).
"That's good, that's good," Rivera said.
In eight career All-Star appearances, Rivera has allowed just an unearned run.
"'Mo' was really sharp tonight," Maddon said.
"It's tough when you are facing closer after closer or No. 1 starter after No. 1 starter."
-- NL All-Star David Wright He wasn't alone.
"All the guys have the qualities, the abilities, and they showed it today," Rivera said.
Perhaps the only lousy pitch by someone in AL garb was President Obama's, which bounced just short of the plate.
"I think that was, what, a split he threw?" Papelbon said. "He almost spiked it there, which I don't think is very good."
Could he be a lefty specialist?
"Maybe. That's stretching it."
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Does anyone besides me find David Wright's comment just a bit too whiney ? He annoys the hell out of me and that little girl voice of his is just too much. Tough it up David and shut up. Oh yeah that goes for Derek "Captain double play " Jeter too. Excuses, excuses, just shut up and play the game. Mariano is the only one with any class.
Maddon is a coc_sucker for not getting Tim Wakefield into the game.