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Pittsburgh
(AP) - Beautiful PNC Park in Pittsburgh was sparkling
last night, as the brightest stars in the ABPL took center
stage for the 2001 All-Star Game. Starters Jeff D'Amico of
St. Louis and Pedro Martinez of Detroit took center stage
for the gala event with countless other storylines weaving
their way through the evening. Just-traded shortstop Derek
Jeter enraged the hometown crowd by donning a Marlin's
uniform as he took his position in the first inning. And
American League fans were still fuming about the fact that
Mariano Rivera was left off the team. But following the
ceremonial first pitch by legendary muppet Kermit the Frog,
all eyes focused on the game to be played. Martinez looked
unusually mortal, giving up a pair of RBI singles to Todd
Helton in three innings pitched. Jeff D'Amico also gave up
an early run thanks to a Magglio Ordonez solo homer. The
National League built a 5-1 lead by the fifth, capped by a
monstrous 2-run homerun from Vladamir Guerrero. But Gary
Sheffield, the only AL starter not voted to the starting
squad, hit a two-run homerun off of Rich Garces in the 7th,
and another 2-run shot the very next inning to put the
junior circuit into the lead. Billy Koch and Derek Lowe shut
out the National League in the ninth, as the AL took the
exciting 6-5 victory. Todd Jones took the win, and Mike
Myers took the loss, and without question, the Royal's Gary
Sheffield was the unanimous choice for All-star MVP. |
