Muncy, Alonso prove All-Star sluggers can D up
CLEVELAND -- The Indians fans in attendance were hoping for a Carlos Santana highlight in the bottom of the sixth inning of Tuesday night's All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, but instead were treated to some defensive wizardry by the Dodgers' Max Muncy at second base.
Batting with one out against Braves right-hander Mike Soroka, Santana teed off on Soroka’s first offering, a 94-mph fastball, and sent what looked like a line-drive base hit into right field. But Muncy had Santana positioned perfectly on the outfield grass. He made a diving stop, then threw from his knees to first. Mets first baseman Pete Alonso made a full-extension stretch to field the one-hopper for the second out of the inning.
The outstanding play helped Muncy redeem himself a bit. After coming into the game to replace the D-backs' Ketel Marte in the fifth inning, he wasn’t able to handle a Jorge Polanco ground ball with one out and Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez on third, allowing the American League to extend its lead to 2-0.
Muncy grounded out against Tigers closer Shane Greene in the seventh inning in his first at-bat.
The American League held off the National League, 4-3, to win its seventh consecutive Midsummer Classic.