Clayton Kershaw Roughed Up in All-Star Game

After an exciting and fun Homerun Derby on Monday night, the All-Star Game was a big letdown not only for the National League who lost 6-3 to the American League but for the quintet of Dodger All-Stars.

The All-Star Game festivities began with a very lengthy pregame which seemed to almost push the World Series back to December. The FOX coverage began with a beautiful intro by our beloved Vin Scully who spoke in poetry.

Jul 14, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Sandy Koufax throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the 2015 MLB All Star Game at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

National League 3 6 0

American League 6 7 2

WP- Price (1-0)

LP- Kershaw (0-1)

HR- Trout, McCutchen, Dozier

The “Franchise Four” for the Dodgers was also announced, and the quartet included Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Duke Snider and Jackie Robinson. I would have chosen Pee Wee Reese since he is always No. 1 in my heart, but there are so many great Dodgers in history it is very difficult to narrow it to a mere four.

After some odd Pete Rose moments, some loud boos for Ryan Braun and the St. Louis Cardinals, the most special moment came when Sandy Koufax threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Johnny Bench.

With ugly caps more fit for Alcatraz, the All-Stars finally took the field at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.

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Zack Greinke served up a leadoff opposite field homerun to Mike Trout to begin the contest and then walked Josh Donaldson in the first inning. It probably didn’t help that Buster Posey was doing the catching instead of Yasmani Grandal who normally handles Greinke and adds his supreme pitch framing. Or maybe Mike Trout is just really good.

Zack Greinke settled down and struck out Albert Pujols and Nelson Cruz then induced a Lorenzo Cain pop out to end the inning.

In the second inning, Greinke struck out Adam Jones and Salvador Perez. Jose Altuve grounded out to second. Greinke ended up striking out four in two innings pitched. Not too shabby.

The National League tied it up in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a Josh Donaldson error and a Jhonny Peralta RBI single. Joc Pederson struck out versus Dallas Keuchel to end the inning.

Clayton Kershaw took over on the mound in the top of the fifth, and things got ugly. Alcides Escobar led off with a single to left field off the reigning N.L. M.V.P. and Cy Young Award winner. Mike Trout grounded into a force out, and pinch-hitter Manny Machado flied out to Joc Pederson in left field. Kersh then walked Albert Pujols. Prince Fielder, also a pinch-hitter, came up with the tie breaking RBI single to left to bring home Mike Trout. Lorenzo Cain then proceeded to double down the left field line, and suddenly the American League was up 3-1.

All I could think about is that Kershaw could have been home resting…

The inning finally came to an end when Kersh struck out Brett Gardner.

Joc Pederson struck out a second time in the bottom of the fifth against Chris Archer.

Andrew McCutchen, who is one of those player you have to respect, hit a solo homerun in the sixth to make it a one-run game. Then there is K-Rod, who you can’t help but loathe, and he gave up two runs to the A.L. in the top of the seventh.

Jul 14, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; National League pitcher Zack Greinke (21) of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after the second inning of the 2015 MLB All Star Game at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Adrian Gonzalez finally got an at-bat in the bottom of the eighth and struck out against Wade Davis. Yasmani Grandal also finally came into the game right after Gonzo as a pinch-hitter. Grandal was robbed of a hit by Jose Iglesias who made a really nice play at short on a grounder headed out of the infield which would have scored a run.

Grandal took over behind the plate in the top of the night with Aroldis Chapman on the mound. A Grandal/Chapman battery made me a bit giddy while Aroldis was throwing 103 MPH fireballs with diamonds in his ears.

Mike Trout was awarded the M.V.P. Award for the second straight year, and Trout chose the 2016 Z71 Chevy Silverado as his prize.

Clayton Kershaw was tagged with the loss, but that in no way reflects his amazing talent. This was also not Kershaw’s normal day to pitch. The Giants didn’t need home field advantage to win the World Series last season, and the Dodgers won’t need it this season!

Our regularly scheduled programming returns this Friday when the Dodgers open the second half in Washington.