NEW YORK
It may have been Mariano Rivera’s emotional going-away party, but after getting a first-hand glimpse of the dismal state of offense at Tuesday’s All-Star Game, he may want to reconsider his departure.
The American League suffocated the National League’s offense in their 3-0 victory at Citi Field, giving up just three hits while ending its three-year drought, giving the AL the home-field advantage in the World Series.
Rivera, who pitched in the eighth inning, stood on the mound and warmed up with only a catcher on the field, while players from both teams stood in the dugouts cheering. Yes, after four All-Star saves, he got his first hold in 11 years.
“Hey, I’m still not sold it’s his last year,” Boston Red Sox All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. “He’s dealing.”
Then again, so was every other pitcher Tuesday night, reminding everyone why the All-Star Home Run Derby is such a sensation among baseball fans.
It’s the only time they get to see anyone actually hit. The National League managed just three baserunners the entire night. There was one stretch when 18 consecutive batters from the two teams were retired in order.
The AL’s three runs hardly will be preserved on any highlight reel, but it was their biggest offensive output in four years, scoring just one run in the previous 23 innings.
The scary part for those baseball purists who like to see an occasional run, there’s a good chance these same dominant pitchers will be around for quite a while. New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey, 24, was the youngest to start the All-Star Game since Dwight Gooden in 1988, and seven All-Star pitchers were under 25.
“The game sure has changed,” Tigers All-Star outfielder Torii Hunter said.
Indeed, until Rivera’s entrance in the eighth inning, the only real drama in this game was provided in the first inning when Mets starter Matt Harvey drilled Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano in the right leg. He was forced out of the game with a bruised quadriceps.
It immediately launched a conspiracy theory on Twitter. Let’s see, Harvey happens to be a Scott Boras client. Cano left Boras for Jay-Z. So, retribution?
Uh, no. Harvey apologized. And Cano accepted.
“Obviously, that was the last thing I wanted to do – go out there and possibly injure somebody,” Harvey said. “Obviously, I apologized and made sure that he was OK. It definitely was not intentional.”
Said Cano: “I know he doesn’t want to hurt anybody. It’s just part of the game. Luckily it hit the quad. If it had been something where I couldn’t walk, then I would have been worried. Thankfully I was able to walk.”
And, yes, throbbing leg and all, Cano still hung around to the end of the game, wanting to see his teammate one last time, old No. 42.
“To be with a guy like Mariano, not only as a player but a person,” Cano said, “is an honor.”
Rivera, pitching in his final All-Star Game, entered with his signature song – “Sandman” – to the delight of the crowd and every All-Star.
“That’s why I’m here,” said Rivera, the last man who ever to wear Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 in an All-Star game. “That’s what I love to do.”
© 2013 USA TODAY. All rights reserved.
