Washington Nationals Minor Leagues: All-Star Games Roundup
While the Washington Nationals are still enjoying their All-Star Break, there were a couple of games that were played last night in the minor leagues. Some of the Harrisburg Senators and Syracuse Chiefs were taking part in their respective league’s All-Star Game. One of those games was decided in a very unique fashion.
The only representative for the Syracuse Chiefs in the triple-A All-Star Game in Omaha, Nebraska was Jason Martinson. The Syracuse shortstop was one of the reserves for the International League team. His first at-bat came in the top of the seventh inning and he struck out swinging against Ryan Buchter (Los Angeles Dodgers).
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However, with the International League down 3-1 in the top of the ninth to the Pacific Coast League, it was Martinson who started the rally by drawing a leadoff walk. He would score later in the inning on a Kyle Roller (New York Yankees) RBI single in the top of the ninth. The IL squad would go on to score three in the ninth en route to a 4-3 win.
As for the Eastern League (double-A) game, that took place at Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine. The Harrisburg Senators had three representatives playing on the West team: catcher Pedro Severino, reliever Gilberto Mendez, and starter Austin Voth. Both did not play in last night’s game because he pitched for the Senators on Monday.
Pedro Severino entered the game in the bottom of the fifth as the backup catcher. In his first at-bat in the top of the seventh, with the West down 4-1 to the East squad, he led off with a base hit to center against Austin House (Colorado Rockies).
Severino would come around to score on a RBI triple by Wynton Bernard (Detroit Tigers) to cut the lead to 4-2. Severino went 1-for-2 on the night after he later flew out to right to lead off the eighth. The West would end up tying the game before the inning ended on a Anthony Gallas (Cleveland Indians) RBI single and a bases loaded walk by Josh Bell (Pittsburgh Pirates).
Harrisburg closer Gilberto Mendez, who was added as a replacement for recently promoted Paul Demny, came in the game to pitch the eighth and struck out two of the three batters he faced. Since the game was tied after nine inning, the Eastern League All-Star game would end in a unique fashion.
For the first time, the game would be decided in a sudden death Home Run contest. In the 11th round, Reading’s Brian Pointer (Philadelphia Phillies) won it with a homer to right field.