- The A.L. sported one of the most dominant batting lineups ever assembled but it ended up being their pitching that stole the show. The A.L. pitchers only allowed 3 hits and 1 walk combined, and game MVP Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect 8th inning in what will probably be the final All-Star game in his illustrious career. Rivera likely would have pitched the 9th inning for his 5th All-Star game save, however there was a small chance that the N.L. could have taken the lead in the 8th inning, which would have meant that they would not hit in the 9th. Rivera didn't want to take the chance and wanted to ensure that he could make an appearance.
- On the hitting side, the A.L. had nine hits including four doubles and a rare triple from Prince Fielder that would have been an inside the park home run if not for the hustle of infielder Matt Carpenter, who backed up a short fly ball and ended up fielding the ball deep in right field.
- Chris Sale of the White Sox, the only A.L. pitcher to pitch two innings, got the win and Joe Nathan of the Rangers got the save.
- Robinson Cano had to leave the game in the first inning after being hit in the leg by a pitch but he said he should be back in time for the Yankees first game following the All-Star break.
- Oakland Athletics masher Yoenis Cespedes had a massive first round and then outlasted Bryce Harper in the Finals to win the Home Run Derby which occurred on Monday.
AL First Half Review
- Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis ended the first half of the year tying Reggie Jackson’s AL record with 37 home runs before the All-Star Break. Davis, who also is second in the MLB with 93 RBIs, has had a break out season and was the highest receiving vote getter in the All Star voting.
- Davis is singlehandedly preventing Detroit 3rd baseman Miguel Cabrera (who is hitting .365 with 30 HR's and 95 RBI's) from being in the lead for a potentially historic back-to-back triple crown title. Cabrera is the only player in MLB history to hit 30 home runs and have at least 90 RBI’s before the All-Star break. He is in the middle of one of the greatest hitting seasons in MLB history.
- The second most surprising thing in the first half of the season is the team with the best record in the American League. The Boston Red Sox have used surprising amount of hitting from a roster of fill ins, as well as the resurgence from David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia. Only last season, they dealt superstars Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett, a move that (incorrectly) seemed to signify a decline in on-field production for the next few seasons. It will be interesting to see if they can continue this for the rest of the season.
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