The National All-Stars scored early and scored often en route to a 16-4 win over the American All-Stars in the 3rd annual Nicewonger All-Star Classic at San José Municipal Stadium.
20-year-old Joe Snyder (Royals) got the start for the American All-Stars. It was Snyder's first All-Star appearance. David Umfleet (Astros) walked to begin the game. Fernando Gonzalez (Brewers) followed with a double lined down the right field line scoring Umfleet as the night's first run. Gonzalez moved to third on Steve Goldberg (Reds) fly to center. Clean-up hitter Russell Laubach (Mets) drew a walk with Snyder throwing ball four to the backstop allowing Gonzalez to score from third. Chris Chambers (Giants) reached on a fielder's choice when his grounder to the first resulted in Laubach being forced at second. Chambers' teammate Spencer Maltbie (Giants) smacked a two-out single between short and third moving Chambers to second. With David Chezar (Colt .45s) at the plate Snyder balked the runners to second and third. Chezar then knocked in the two runners with an opposite field pop single down the right field line. Chezar then stole second, went to third when the throw went into center field and scored on a wild pitch. Danny Arballo (Reds) grounded to second for the final out of the National All-Stars five run first inning.
While the American All-Stars decided to go with youth, the National All-Stars went with tried-and-true experience as 60-year-old Mike Denevi got the start. Denevi is truly a living legend playing in his 26th San José MSBL season and most likely the all-time winningest pitcher in SJMSBL history. Andrew Sarratore (Orioles) led off for the American All-Stars and grounded a dribbler up the first base line for the first out. Denevi gave up the first of two hits to Dontay Brown (Red Sox) whose speed beat out a slow roller chopped to short. Jason Ethridge (Red Sox) singled past a diving third baseman moving Brown to second. Denevi then tossed a wild pitch moving the runners to second and third. Buddy Snyder (Athletics) then hit a sac fly to center to score Brown before John Angleson (Royals) grounded to second to end the inning.
National All-Stars lead 5-1 after one inning.
The second inning was less eventful than the first inning. Craig Doleshel (Mariners) took the mound for the American All-Stars and had an easy 1-2-3 inning. Randyn Trybom (Mets) flew to center, Roman Sadler (Nationals) grounded to third, and Cole Gummere (Marlins) flied deep to center for the third out.
Adam Parades (Reds) also had a fairly easy second inning. Ryan Fulton (Orioles) was the game's first strikeout victim. Frank Smith (A's) popped out to second for the second out. The only hit of the inning came off the bat of Neal Finch (Angels) as he popped a single to center after fouling off five pitches. Mark Cortez (Blue Jays) ended the inning striking out on three pitches.
National All-Stars lead 5-1 after two innings.
Doleshel returned to the mound in the third inning. Jimmy Carlton (Astros) led off with a first pitch single to right. Carlton then stole second, moved to third on Jarrod Esquibel's (Padres) groundout to second, and scored on Jeremy Irby's (Phillies) line single to center. Irby moved to second on Joey Morales' (Brewers) single between third and short. Jim Bellew (Braves) flied to right moving Irby to third. Both Irby and Morales scored when Mike Tremaine (Pirates) lined a double in the left-center field gap. Boone McLaughlin (Red Sox) was brought in to relieve Doleshel. Chris Chambers (Giants) ripped a triple down the right field line scoring Tremaine. George Lee (Braves) smacked a single to left to score Chambers and then Chase Clyma (Marlins) struck out for the third out.
Ben Glines (Pirates) was the next National All-Star pitcher. Esteban Garduno (Rays) ripped the first pitch down the left field line for a single and moved to third on Bobby Camarena's (Mariners) single to left-center. Camarena took advantage of the throw and moved to second. Aaron Leon (Red Sox) made the first out hitting a high comebacker to Glines. Garduno scored on Sergio Herrera's (Twins) groundout to short and Camarena scored on a wild pitch. Matt Frandzen (Indians) struck out to end the inning.
National All-Stars lead 10-3 after three innings.
McLaughlin, still on the mound, struck out David Gutierrez (Phillies) to start the fourth. Bryan Castro (Pirates) hit a grounder off the third base bag for a single. Nick Haug (Padres) lined a single to center moving Castro to third. Cordell Lundberg (Nationals) popped to third for the second out. Castro scored and Haug moved to second when Matt Labbie (Colt .45s Manager) grounded a slow roller past the first baseman for an infield single. Frank Chavez (SJ Giants) ended the inning popping out to third.
Ryan Genovese (Mets) threw the fourth for the National All-Stars. Roy Williams (Yankees) led off with an opposite field double down the right field line and moved to third on a wild pickoff attempt. Williams eventually scored on a wild pitch on Jeff Canter's (Royals) swinging strikeout. Canter was safe at first. That would prove to be the last run of the night for the American All-Stars. Rodney Lopez (White Sox) popped to second, Dave Smith (Tigers) flied to left, James Steinle (White Sox) lined a base hit to right, and Lonnell Chattmon (Yankees) flied to center to end the inning.
National All-Stars lead 11-4 after four innings.
The National All-Stars had their last big inning in the fifth. Kyle Madej (Twins) took the mound. Umfleet led off with a deep triple to right and scored on a wild pitch to Fernando Gonzalez scoring. Gonzalez then beat out a slow roller to short for a base hit. Goldberg hit a first pitch single up the middle moving Gonzalez to second. Laubach struck out for the first out. Chris Chambers hit a fly to center that the center fielder misjudged and misplayed into a two-base error scoring Gonzalez and Goldberg. Spencer Maltbie struck out for the second out. Chezar knocked in the last run of the inning with a single to left scoring Chambers. Arballo flied to center for the third out.
Evan Nakagawa (Colt .45s) had an efficient appearance on the mound. Roger Scala (Angels) hit a first pitch groundout to third, Brian Butcher (Rays) flied to center, and Charlie Gutierrez (Indians) struck out swinging for an easy 1-2-3 inning.
National All-Stars lead 15-4 after five innings.
The sixth inning was rather uneventful. Jason Ethridge (Twins) was the pitcher. Randy Trybom (Mets) struck out swinging, Roman Sadler (Nationals) was called out on strikes, and Cole Gummere (Marlins) grounded to short for another 1-2-3 inning.
Danny Lopez (Nationals) was almost as efficient, giving up only a lone single to TJ Brackett (Blue Jays) to lead off the inning. After Brackett's single, Lopez struck out Chris Rains (Orioles) and Joe Snyder (Royals). Lopez helped himself out snagging a liner back at him off the bat of Andrew Sarratore (Orioles) for the third out.
National All-Stars lead 15-4 after six innings.
The seventh inning was the last inning of offense for the night. Oscar Martinez (White Sox) was on the mound started the inning hitting Jimmy Carlton. Carlton quickly moved to second with his second stolen base of the night and moved to third when the right fielder booted Jarrod Esquibel's (Padres) fly ball. Jeremy Irby (Phillies) struck out. Carlton scored on Joey Morales's (Brewers) groundout to second. Jim Bellew (Braves) flew out to right for the third out.
Derek Carter (Marlins) was the next National pitcher. Another 1-2-3 inning as Dontay Brown popped to first, Jason Ethridge struck out, and Buddy Snyder flew to left.
National All-Stars lead 16-4 after seven innings.
Brooks Tamone (Twins) took the hill in the top of the eighth with an impressive three-strikeout performance. The only blemish was a walk to Danny Lopez.
Robert Reid (Astros) gave up a first pitch single to John Angleson (Royals) to start the bottom of the eighth. Ryan Fulton (Orioles) was called out on strikes, Frank Smith (A's) popped to second, and Neil Finch (Angels) grounded to second to end the inning.
National All-Stars lead 16-4 after eight innings.
Chris Rains (Orioles) threw the final inning for the American All-Stars. David Gutierrez (Phillies) and Bryan Castro (Pirates) both grounded to third for the first two outs. Neil Haug (Padres) knocked a Texas-leaguer down the right field line for a base hit. Cordell Lundberg (Nationals) reached on an error but Matt Labbie (Colt .45s) popped to second for the third out.
Ray Torres (Reds) was the final pitcher of the night. Esteban Garduno (Rays) popped one over first base for a single and Bobby Camarena (Mariners) reached on an error by the shortstop. Aaron Leon (Red Sox) struck out for the first out. The evening ended when Garduno and Camarena were forced out on Craig Doleshel's (Mariners) fielder's choice.
BALL GAME!
National All-Stars win 16-4.