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Kratz’s Second All-Star Game Is Even Better Than His First; D’Arnaud Blasts A Grand Slam

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The PCL dented the scoreboard first.� In the top of the 2nd inning with two outs, LF Matt Miller (Colorado Springs/ Rockies) singled to second base where IL 2B Chris Valaika (Louisville/Reds) bobbled it.� 1B Mark Trumbo (Salt Lake/Angels) walked, and SS Darwin Barney (Iowa/Cubs) lined a single into center field, bringing Miller around from second base to score.

Valaika started the IL’s rally in the bottom of the 6th.� He doubled into left field, and moments later 3B/1B Chase Lambin (Syracuse/Nationals) doubled into right field, plating Valaika to tie the score.� SS Eliot Johnson (Durham/Rays) lined a single into left, and Lambin raced around from second base.� The throw to the plate was in time, but PCL catcher Josh Donaldson (Sacramento/A’s) could not hold onto the ball, and Johnson slid in behind him with the go-ahead run.� DH Dan Johnson (Durham/Rays) lifted a fly ball into center field, which looked like it was going to fall in, but PCL CF Doug Deeds (Reno/ D’backs) made a spectacular catch at the last second, then was able to throw in to second base to double up Eliot Johnson .� IL 2, PCL 1.

Former Indy Indian/Pirate (2009) Jeff Salazar, now with Norfolk/Orioles, came in to play left field in the top of the 6th.� He had a turn at the plate in the bottom of the 7th, and grounded out to first base, and he also made the last out of the game with the catch of a fly out in left. �� Another former Indian/Pirate,� Luis Cruz, now with Nashville/Brewers, entered the game in the bottom of the 6th, taking over at shortstop.� Cruz grounded out to third to begin the top of the 7th and struck out in the 9th.

Overall, pitching dominated in the game, as each team collected only 5 hits, and all the pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts.� The 8th inning was full of strikeouts — IL pitcher Michael Dunn (Gwinnett/Braves) gave up a single to DH John Lindsey (Albuquerque/Dodgers) in the top of the inning, then struck out the next three batters.� PCL pitcher Fernando Salas (Memphis/Cardinals) struck out the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the frame, then gave up a single to pinch-hitter Barbaro Canizaros (Gwinnett/Braves).� Salas was relieved by Matt Reynolds (Colorado Springs/Rockies), who struck out Chase Lambin to finish the inning.

Josh Banks (Round Rock/Astros), who pitched the bottom of the 6th was charged with a Blown Save and the loss.� Anthony Slama (Rochester/Twins) had pitched the top of the 6th for the IL, so he was the pitcher of record when the IL squad took the lead in the bottom of the inning, and he earned the win.� He pitched a scoreless inning, with no hits, a walk, and a strikeout.� Jonathan Abaladejo (Scranton/WB/Yankees) earned a save with a perfect 9th inning, including a strikeout.

Eastern League All-Stars: � West� 10,� East� 3 (box)

Altoona’s Chase d’Arnaud was the hero for the East squad, as he put the game away with his grand slam in the bottom of the 7th inning.� He earned the game’s MVP award for his trouble.

Curve players 2B Josh Harrison, C Hector Gimenez, and 1B Matt Hague were all starters for the West team, and in fact batted all in a row in the lineup (2nd, 3rd, 4th).� D’Arnaud came in as a replacement at short int he top of the 6th.� Curve Pitcher Rudy Owens pitched the 3rd inning, and Derek Hankins pitched the 6th, so all of the Curve players on the team got into the game.� Former Curve Ray Chang, now with Portland/Red Sox, was the starting shortstop for the East team.

The first two innings were quiet for both teams.� Harrison singled in the 1st, but was erased when Gimenez� bounced into a double play, which was started by SS Chang.� Hague grounded out to third in the 2nd inning.� When Rudy Owens took the mound to begin the 3rd, things got going.� Owens gave up two singles, including one to Chang, and a double, bringing in one run.� A sacrifice fly scored Chang with the second run for the East team.� But the West team came right back in the bottom of the inning.� DH Thomas Neal (Richmond/Giants) led off with a single, and after an out, a fielding error by Chang put Neal on second base and SS Danny Espinosa (Harrison/Nationals) on first.� The next batter struck out, then Josh Harrison tied the game with a triple into the left-center alley, off the glove of CF Ben Revere, scoring Neal and Espinosa.� Gimenez flied out to end the inning.

Three more relatively quiet innings continued the tie.� Chang singled again in the 5th, after a walk by 1B Matthew Rizzotti (Reading/Phillies), but both were left on base.� Derek Hankins took the mound for the top of the 6th.� He gave up a walk, but retired the other three batters he faced, including two strikeouts.� The East team went down in order in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings.

Then the West squad exploded in the bottom of the 7th to take a definitive lead.� With one out, LF John Drennen (Akron/Indians) singled and RF Tyler Henson (Bowie/Orioles) doubled, moving Drennen to third.� Neal walked, loading the bases.� 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (Akron/Indians) singled through the hole into left field, scoring Drennan.� That brought Chase d’Arnaud to the plate.� He blasted a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall for a grand slam, giving the Westies a 7-2 lead.� CF Andy Dirks (Erie/Tigers) made it back-to-back with a solo homer over the right field wall, pushing the score to 8-2.

The Easterners scored one run in the top of the 8th, on three consecutive singles.� D’Arnaud started a double play that halted the East team’s momentum and a strikeout ended that inning before any further runs scored.� 1B Chris Marrero (Harrisburg/Nationals) singled to begin the bottom of the 8th, and Drennen followed that with a 2-run homer, to give the East team a 10-3 lead.

Rafael Martin (Harrisburg/Nationals) earned the win for the West team.� He pitched the top of the 7th, and retired the side in order, including 2 strikeouts.� He was the pitcher of record when the West batters took the lead in the bottom of the inning.� Drew Naylor (Reading/Phillies), who gave up all those runs, was charged with the loss.� Josh Harrison was 2-for-2 with 2 RBI at the plate, and Chase d’Arnaud went 1-for-2, though his one hit was spectacular, with 4 RBI.� Both Hector Gimenez and Matt Hague went 0-for-2 at the plate.

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