International League prevails in Triple-A All-Star game

From The Morning Call

Runs were hard to come by Tuesday night in the major league All-Star Game in Anaheim.

They were ever harder to come across in Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star game.

Pitching dominated the 23rd annual showcase at Coca-Cola Park as the two teams combined for just nine hits, but the International League strung together three in the sixth inning to score both its runs in a 2-1 victory before a capacity crowd of 10,000.



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Elliot Johnson's pinch-hit single capped the rally with an RBI pinch-hit single, giving the International League its second straight win and sixth in eight years. The IL has won seven of the 13 games between the two leagues (the first 10 were between affiliates of the National and American Leagues).

Chris Valaika led off the sixth with a double off Round Rock's Josh Banks, only the IL's second hit in the game, just inside the third-base bag. After an out, Chase Lambin chased him in with a game-tying double to right center.

Johnson, batting for Scranton's Eduardo Nunez, followed with a single to left. IronPigs manager Dave Huppert, coaching third for IL manager Charlie Montoyo, waved Lambin in as the throw from Matt Miller beat the runner to the plate but was a few feet up the first base line, and PCL catcher Josh Davidson couldn't hold onto the ball as he tried a swipe tag.

The PCL took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single by Iowa's Darwin Barney after a single by Colorado Springs' Miller and a walk.

The International League was held without a hit until hometown hero Andy Tracy singled to center to lead off the fifth inning. Pinchrunner Wes Timmons moved up to second on a wild pitch but the Gwinnett Brave was stranded when Dustin Miller went down on strikes and Scranton's Jesus Montero flied out to right.

The IronPigs' Nate Bump faced four batters in the fourth, allowing a two-out single to Salt Lake's Mark Trumbo before getting Barney to bounce in to a fielder's choice.

Lehigh Valley's third all-star, pitcher Scott Mathieson, didn't get into the game.

Although Indianapolis catcher and Telford native Erik Kratz flied out to right in his only at-bat, the night was more than memorable for the 30-year old when he received word during the game he was being called up to the majors. It's the first time for Kratz, who will replace former IronPig Jason Jaramillo who was optioned back to Indianapolis.

Lambin was named the International League's top star. Thomas Diamond, the starting pitcher, was named the PCL's top star.

Source: http://www.mcall.com/sports/baseball/ironpigs/mc-all-star-game-20100714,0,7476941.story