Cheers brighten ASG for hitless Goldy

SAN DIEGO -- All-Star Paul Goldschmidt couldn't help but spot Diamondbacks fans along the parade route before the All-Star Game presented by MasterCard. But what stood out to him more was fans of division rivals wishing him luck.
"You know what surprised me, people are rooting for the league that their team is in," Goldschmidt said. "So all the Padres and Dodgers and Giants fans, they're usually talking trash to us, and now they're like, 'Come on, hit a home run for us' or 'You're on my team today.' That was kind of cool to see the fans who usually root against you cheering for you."
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Goldschmidt and the rest of the NL squad were unable to do their part, losing, 4-2 on Tuesday night. It was the fourth consecutive season that the AL was victorious, as Goldschmidt has appeared in all four games.
"It was definitely fun," Goldschmidt said. "I had three guys on base, I wish I could have come through. I thought I had pretty good at-bats. I just missed some pitches. We had some guys on as a team and just weren't able to get that hit. You're facing All-Star pitchers. I definitely enjoyed it, though."
Goldschmidt went 0-for-3 in the loss. He entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Bryce Harper in the fifth inning and flied out to right off Jose Quintana of the White Sox in his first at-bat. In his second at-bat, Goldschmidt got a look at Yankees' reliever Dellin Betances, falling behind in the count 1-2 before flying out to center.
Goldschmidt saw nothing but fastballs from Baltimore's Zach Britton in his final at-bat in the ninth. On the fifth pitch, Goldschmidt hit a chopper to the mound, ultimately reaching on a fielder's choice. Moments later, a double play ended the game.

"I faced him in the All-Star Game last year," Goldschmidt said of Britton. "I saw one pitch and grounded out. I saw him on TV and I know what he has. He has a really good arm. That fastball, 98 with a ton of movement. It's really tough. I was trying to fight there when I got two strikes. I fouled one, maybe two balls off. Then probably swung at a ball, but it started in the zone and moved out. He's a good pitcher."
Goldschmidt is now 2-for-11 in All-Star Games over his career. However, his four straight All-Star appearances matches Hall of Fame left-hander Randy Johnson (1999-2002) for most consecutive All-Star appearances as a D-back.
And at 28-years-old and in his sixth season, it appears he has many Midsummer Classics on the horizon.
"It's a huge honor," Goldschmidt said. "It's something I don't take lightly, representing the Diamondbacks and the National League. Just to get to play with all these guys and be in the same locker room with them and compete with them instead of against them, that's fun."