The last 5 games pitcher Zack Greinke of the Los Angeles Dodgers has appeared in, he has not allowed a run. Of course, he hasn’t faced Los Angeles Angels centerfielder Mike Trout in any of those games. Leading off the Major League All Star Game Trout hit an opposite field home run to start the scoring. But his key contribution may have been his speed in avoiding hitting into a double play in the 5th inning. Extending that inning allowed him and team mate Albert Pujols to score the go ahead runs as Texas first baseman Prince Fielder and Kansas outfielder Lorenzo Cain got 2 out base hits off of Clayton Kershaw. That gave the American League a lead they would not relinquish as they went on to win 6 to 3. Fielder and Cain deserved MVP consideration, but the award went to Trout who became the first player to win back-to-back MVP awards. It probably won’t be his last. He has gotten a base hit in his first at bat of all four of his All Star appearances. In fact he has completed a cycle with a single, a double, a triple last year and the home run this year. Other highlights from the game were home runs by the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen and the Twins’ Brian Dozier. On the pitching side the performances of the Mets’ Jacob deGrom and the 100+ mile per hour fastballs of hometown Reds closer Aroldis Chapman grabbed your attention.
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